Bardaxima sambana (Druce, 1895), 2021

Becker, Vitor Osmar, 2021, A review of the Neotropical moth genus Bardaxima (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae: Nystaleinae), with special reference to the species occurring in Brazil, Zoologia (e 63526) 38, pp. 1-14 : 10

Bardaxima sambana (Druce, 1895) stat. rev.

Figs 34–38, 60–62

Nystalea sambana Druce, 1895: 50 . Holotype female, COSTA RICA [San José]: “ Candelaria Mts. ” (NHMUK) [examined].

Gisara brewsteri form panamensis Draudt, 1932: 987 . Holotype male, PANAMA: Chiriqui (MfH) [not examined]. Syn. nov.

Bardaxima bolivari Thiaucourt, 2010: 105 . Holotype male, VENEZUELA: Bolivar, pistes Sta. Elena-Icaburu/ Betina , vii.1989 (Bleuzen) [not examined]. Syn. nov.

Bardaxima belizensis Thiaucourt, 2010: 106 . Holotype male, BELIZE: Augustine Pine Mt. Ridge, 500 m, 24–25.ix.1973 (Becker) [not examined]. Syn. nov.

Bardaxima coloradorum Thiaucourt, 2010: 106 . Holotype male, ECUADOR: Pichincha, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Tinalandia , 650 m, 19–22.i.1975 (Descimon et. al.) [not examined]. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Male ( Figs 35, 37, 38) FW length 22–27 mm (50–60 mm wingspan), female ( Figs 34, 36) FW length 27–30 mm (60–68 mm wingspan). FW dorsally gray, minutely mottled with blackish scales; large white patch on dorsum; postmedial band double. HW gray, darker towards margins, cilia white. Distal margin of 8 th male sternite ( Fig. 62) slightly rounded. Male genitalia ( Fig. 60): uncus short, blunt, expanded at middle. Socii long, thin, curved ventrad. Valva with costa nearly straight, broadened towards base; sacculus narrow, as long as valva; a strong tooth at middle, another at the end, directed dorsad. Aedoeagus ( Fig. 61) nearly straight, expanded distad, with a long, bent tooth, and two smaller laterally.

Material studied. Type of N. sambana ; 20 males (g.s. 4272, 4585, 5605–5608), 6 females ( VOB); 1 male ( AMC) .

Distribution. From Belize and Guatemala, through Costa Rica and Ecuador, Bolivia, and east to Brazil (Bahia and Distrito Federal).

Remarks. This widespread species was synonymized under B. procne by Schaus (1901: 310), a similar species, from South America, that does not reach Central America. They are very similar indeed but B. sambana does not have the conspicuous white dot on thorax that is observed in B. procne . There is a male, from Belize, collected by the present author, together with the holotype of B. belizensis , that matches exactly the type of B. sambana . The illustration of the type of G. panamensis (Draudt 1932: pl. 152a) also matches the types of both B. sambana and B. belizensis . It is very likely that B. brewsteri is merely a local color form of B. sambana , with whitish HW. The long series of specimens examined show slight differences in genitalia, as shown in Thiaucourt’s work (2010), but not more than what would be expected in specimens from different localities of a widely distributed species. “Candelaria Mts” (see above under B. fulgurifera ).