Ulmara azurula St Laurent

St. Laurent, Ryan A., 2016, Revisions of the genera Lurama Schaus, 1928 and Ulmara Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the descriptions of three new Ulmara species and a new genus, ZooKeys 611, pp. 57-92 : 78

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Ulmara azurula St Laurent sp. n. Figs 20, 26; Map 2

Type material.

Holotype, ♂. PERU: Huánuco: Carpish, Huanuco [ Huánuco], Peru 2700 m, Oct. 25, 1946/ Felix Woytkowski Collector/ St Laurent diss.: 4-8-16:2/ HOLOTYPE ♂ Ulmara azurula St Laurent, 2016 [handwritten red label] (AMNH).

Paratypes, 4 ♂. PERU: Huánuco: Carpish, 2700 m: 8.X.1946 (2 ♂), 14.X.1946 (1 ♂), 26.X.1946 (1 ♂), Felix Woytkowski Collector, St Laurent diss.: 4-5-16:5 (AMNH). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE ♂ Ulmara azurula St Laurent, 2016.

Diagnosis.

Ulmara azurula is the smallest species in the genus (on average), and so far the only species known from central Peru. The small size and distribution should allow this species to be distinguished from the previous two. The following characters differentiate Ulmara azurula from the most similar species, Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. to be described below, but also differentiate it from both Ulmara rotunda and Ulmara conjuncta . Although Ulmara azurula is externally similar in size and coloration to Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n., namely by the metallic bluish sheen, in Ulmara azurula , the postmedial line of the fore and hindwings is located closer to the wing margin than in Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. Furthermore, the width of the splayed, setae-covered sclerotizations of VIII are much wider than the vinculum, whereas in Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. these sclerotizations are highly reduced overall, and have shorter setae. Additionally, the gnathos of Ulmara azurula is the most reduced of the entire genus, and exists as only weakly-sclerotized lateral bars, whereas in Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. the gnathos nearly converges mesally. The setae-covered flaps projecting inward from the transtilla in Ulmara azurula bear thicker setae than in any other Ulmara . Finally, the phallus shape is perhaps the best genital character for distinguishing these two Peruvian species: in Ulmara azurula the phallus is uniformly cylindrical from a dorsal perspective, whereas in Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. the phallus is very wide distally.

Description.

Male.Head: As for genus. Thorax: As for genus. Legs: As for genus. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17.5-19 mm, avg.: 18.1 mm, wingspan: 35-36 mm (approximate), n= 5. As for genus but ground color nearly black, overall metallic-blue sheen present due to angled, reflective scales. Postmedial line about one-fourth wing length away from wing margin, postmedial line obvious due to pale blue-gray suffusion surrounding line, postmedial line nearly straight between Rs4 and costa. Forewing ventrum: As for genus. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, antemedial line absent, discal mark absent, outer margin of wing weakly serrate. Hindwing ventrum: As for genus. Abdomen: As for genus. Genitalia: (Fig. 26) n=2. Vinculum somewhat box-like, ventrally with reduced saccus, bilobed saccus attached to VIII, forming paired, setae-covered sclerotizations; splayed sclerotizations wider than ventral margin of vinculum. Uncus simple, highly truncated apically with wide base. Gnathos highly reduced, with only weakly sclerotized lateral arms. Valves small, subtriangular, with single tooth projecting from saccular edge near apex of valve, tooth variable in length. Transtilla with weakly-sclerotized, inward-facing setae-covered extensions; setae very thick. Setae pointed outward directly over phallus. Diaphragm forms small balloon-like sac expanded inward into abdomen, sac covered in fine, inward-facing setae surrounding phallus. Juxta partially fused to phallus, encircling it, lightly sclerotized, especially dorsal to phallus. Phallus short, anterior half cylindrical, straight, ventral apex heavily sclerotized as elongated, sharp point, vesica small, sac-like, weakly scobinate; base of phallus narrower than apical half, basal part shorter than, and in same plane, as cylindrical terminal part. Female. Unknown.

Distribution

(Map 2). This new species is known only from the type locality in Huánuco, central Peru, at an elevation of 2700 m.

Etymology.

This species is named for its small size (diminutive -ula Latin) and blue (azurea Latin) iridescence.

Remarks.

Although the known range of this species is located between the distributions of Ulmara conjuncta in Ecuador and Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. in southern Peru, Ulmara azurula is not intermediate in external or genital morphology between these species, but is instead more similar to Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. than either previously described species. Considering the consistently smaller size, almost entirely absent gnathos, narrower phallus, and more elongated saccular extensions relative to Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n., as well as previously mentioned wing characters, this species is apparently distinct from the southern Peruvian populations named Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. below. The iridescent blue sheen, characteristic of the genus Ulmara , is most distinct in the Peruvian species, but is not clearly reproduced in photographs.