Bardaxima procne ( Schaus, 1892 )

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 : 6-10

Bardaxima procne ( Schaus, 1892)

Figs 31–33, 57–59

Symmerista procne Schaus, 1892: 336 . Lectotype female, BRAZIL: [RJ], Corcovado (USNM), designated by Schintlmeister (2016: 432) [examined].

Gisara meyeri Schaus, 1928: 32 . Lectotype male, FRENCH GUIANA: St. Laurent (USNM), designated by Schintlmeister (2016: 323) [examined]. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. Male ( Fig. 31) FW length 23–25 mm (52–56 mm wingspan), female ( Figs 32, 33) FW length 30–33 mm (66–72 mm wingspan). FW gray, minutely mottled blackish; large white patch on tornus; termen dark fuscous, from apex to Cu1. Thorax, dorsally, with a conspicuous white dot at middle. HW dark gray, cilia white. Distal margin of 8 th male sternite ( Fig. 59) shallowly concave. Male genitalia ( Fig. 57): uncus thin, tapering distad to a sharp tip; socii small, thin.

Valva broad, costa slightly curved at distal third; sacculus long, narrow, reaching tip of valva, with pair of thin, sharp pointed teeth at middle. Aedoeagus ( Fig. 58) curved ventrad; three sharp pointed teeth at apex; vesica smooth.

Material studied. Types; 12 males (g.s. 4536, 5615), 2 females ( VOB); 2 males ( AMC) .

Distribution. French Guiana to Brazil, throughout the Amazon region, south to São Paulo.

Remarks. Easily distinguished from other similar species by the conspicuous white dot on the center of thorax, dorsally. Specimens tend to be darker (= G. meyeri ) towards the northern portion of the distributional range. Genitalia of both phenotypes, as well of intermediate phenotypes, are identical. It is very likely that B. brauni , the next species, from Colombia, is just a local, darker phenotype of B. procne .