Aziba falcata (C. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875) comb. rev.

(Figs 7, 15, 24, 34)

Siculodes falcata C. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875 . Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. Von Wüllerstorf-Urbair. Lepidoptera . Rhopalocera, 2 (2): 18, plate 134, fig. 2 (d); female, Amer. [South America].— Guenée, 1877. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, (5) 7: 296.— Pagenstecher, 1892. Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift “Iris”, 5: 89.— Duarte et al., 2012, Lepidoptera, in Rafael et al. Insetos do Brasil: 665.

Siculodes serpula Guenée, 1877 . Annales de la Société entomologique de France, (5) 7: 296; 1 female [holotype], Brazil, collection Guenée.— Möschler, 1882. Verhandlungen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 31: 414. [SYN. REINST.]

Risama falcata; Hampson, 1897. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1897 (1): 630; syn.: serpula .— Dalla Torre, 1914. Lepidopterorum Catalogus, 20: 41; syn.: serpula .— Gaede, 1936, in Seitz. Die Gross -Schmetterlinge des Amerikanischen Faunengebietes. Die amerikanischen Spinner und Schwärmer, 6: 1208, fig. 175e (d); syn.: serpula .— Costa Lima, 1949. Insetos do Brasil. Lepidópteros, 6 (2): 15.— Bondar, 1913. Insectos daninhos na Agricultura, 2: 39.— Silva et al., 1968. Quarto catálogo dos insetos que vivem nas plantas do Brasil seus parasitos e predadores, 2 (1), 259.

Aziba falcata; Warren, 1900. Novitates Zoologicae, 7 (2):118; syn.: serpula .

Risama falcata matusi Köhler, 1940 . Revista de la Sociedad entomológica Argentina, 10: 368; Cotypes, Posadas, [Misiones, Argentina], III-1940, collection Köhler. [SYN. NOV.]

Siculodes falcata falcata; Whalley & Heppner, 1995, Thyridoidea, in Becker et al. Checklist: Part 2, Hyblaeoidea—Pyraloidea—Tortricoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera, 3: 31.

Siculodes falcata matusi; Whalley & Heppner, 1995, Thyridoidea, in Becker et al. Checklist: Part 2, Hyblaeoidea—Pyraloidea—Tortricoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera, 3: 31; syn.: serpula .

Taxonomic history. Siculodes falcata: C. Felder & Rogenhofer (1875) described the species from Amer. [sic] [South America] and illustrated it without specifying the number of specimens used in the description. In the same book, the authors described other species of the same family and tribe and the localities given refer to the Amazon Region and other South American countries; hence, it is believed to be South America where this species occurs.

Siculodes serpula: Guenée (1877) described and illustrated the species based on one female [holotype] from Brazil, citing that S. serpula can be distinguished from S. falcata by the forewing with a short, obtuse apex and two rounded spots. It was synonymized with Risama falcata by Hampson (1897) and followed by Dalla Torre (1914) and Gaede (1936) and also synonymized with Aziba falcata by Warren (1900). Without stating a reason, it was erroneously considered a synonym of S. falcata matusi by Whalley & Heppner (1995).

Risama falcata matusi: Köhler (1940) described it as a subspecies without illustration and based on “Cótipos” or “cotypes” from Posadas [Misiones, Argentina], without specifying the number of specimens and sex. The description reported only general coloration of the wings and spots, without alluding to closely related taxa as the nominotypical subspecies of S. falcata and S. serpula .

Taxonomic comments. Siculodes serpula and R. falcata matusi: Whalley & Heppner (1995) erroneously consider S. serpula as a junior synonymy of R. falcata matusi, however, the former is the oldest name. Nevertheless, after analyzing the wing morphology, male and female genitalia of the lectotype (designated below) of S. falcata, the holotype of S. serpula, and the lectotype and paralectotype (designated below) of R. falcata matusi, we found that they are similar in all localities studied and that the difference in the spots on the hindwing, described by Guenée (1877), are variations of the same species. Consequently S. serpula Guenée, 1877 syn. reinst. and R. falcata matusi Köhler, 1940 syn. nov. are junior synonyms of S. falcata .

Siculodes falcata: C. Felder & Rogenhofer (1875) described the species in Siculodes based primarily on wing characters. Warren (1900), when describing Aziba substrigata, mentioned S. falcata in Aziba and commented that both are similar in wing morphology. After examining the wing morphology and genitalia of both sexes of the lectotypes of S. falcata and of A. transversa, the type-species, we conclude that, as Warren (1900) described, both species share the same characters that defines the genus, so we consider S. falcata as belonging to the genus Aziba gen. rev. and consequently Aziba falcata comb. rev. is herein revalidated.

Type material. Aziba falcata comb. rev.: C. Felder & Rogenhofer (1875) described the species without specifying the number of specimens. A syntype female was found in the NHMUK, with the author’s original labels matching the information provided in the original description. To give stability to the proposed name and ensure correct identification of the species, this syntype, not holotype as labelled by Michael Shaffer in 1989, is herein designated as the lectotype; with the following labels: / Novara CXXXIV 72 Siculodes falcata m. Am[érica do Sul]. / FELDER COLLn. / Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1. / Type / Holotype / Abdomen missing / HOLOTYPE Siculodes falcata Felder & Rogenhofer det. M. Shaffer, 1989 / NHMUK 010921206 /, and the following labels will be added: / LECTOTYPE / LECTOTYPE Siculodes falcata C. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1875, Queiroz-Santos, Casagrande & Mielke det. 2024 /.

Siculodes serpula: The female [holo]type was found in the NHMUK, with the author’s original labels matching the information provided in the original description: / 4. S. Serpula Gn. Cat. N ° Brésil / Serpula Brésil / Ex. Oberthür Coll. Brit. Mus. 1927—3. / Holotype / HOLOTYPE Siculodes serpula Guénee det. M. Shaffer, 1989 / NHMUK 010921223 /.

Risama falcata matusi: Köhler (1940) described the species without specifying the number of specimens of “Cótipos”, deposited in his collection. Two females “Cótipos” were found in MLPA with the author’s original labels, which match the information provided in the original description. To give stability to the proposed name and ensure correct identification of the species, the female with wings intact is herein designated as the lectotype and the other female, with the left apex of the forewing broken off, is herein designated as a paralectotype. Lectotype with the following labels: / COTYPUS / 2282 / Risama falcata mathusii [sic] K DET KOEHLER / MISIONES / LEG. KÖHLER /, and the following labels will be added: / LECTOTYPE / LECTOTYPE / Risama falcata matusi Köhler, 1940, Queiroz-Santos, Casagrande & Mielke det. 2024 /. Paralectotype with the following labels: / COTYPUS / 2282 / Risama falcata mathusii [sic] K DET KOEHLER / MISIONES / LEG. KÖHLER /, and the following labels will be added: / PARALECTOTYPE / PARALECTOTYPE Risama falcata matusi Köhler, 1940, Queiroz-Santos, Casagrande & Mielke det. 2024 /.

Diagnosis. Aziba falcata comb. rev. can be easily distinguished from all its congeners by wings overall dark gold, as the tegulae, irregular brown spots more defined on ventral surface, both surfaces with oblique brown stripe dividing near inner margin and single semi-translucent spot on the hindwing (Figs 7A–D). In addition, by combination of the following characters: i) valva with parallel dorsal and ventral margins (Figs 15A–C) and ii) signum trapezoidal (Fig. 34).

Redescription. Forewing: length—male 15.0–20.7 mm (n = 16), female 17.0–35.0 mm (n = 45); retinaculum above CuA; both surfaces with an oblique postdiscal brown stripe from apex to two-thirds of inner margin, dividing near inner margin; veins R 3 +R 4 bifurcates half of costal margin.

Hindwing: length—male 9.0–17.0 mm (n = 16), female 10.0–21.0 mm (n = 45); outer margin convex; male with one and female with two or three bristles in frenulum; a discal diagonal brown stripe, continued with forewing postdiscal stripe, but thicker, from center of costal margin extending as two narrow stripes below discal cell until mid area of inner margin; semi-translucent spot in discal cell.

Male genitalia (Fig. 15): tegumen rectangular in dorsal view with a subtle indentation on distal margin; saccus rectangular with dorsal margin convex in lateral view, ventral margin slightly undulated; uncus slightly narrower than tegumen and ending in a ventrally curved tip, with slight elevation at base; gnathos V-shaped in posterior view, anterior margin straight; valva with straight dorsal margin, ventral margin paralell to dorsal margin narrowing obliquely from center; fultura inferior U-shaped with convex apex; aedeagus curved ventrally in lateral view, dorsal opening for ductus ejaculatorius oval, vesica without cornutus.

Female genitalia (Fig. 24): tergite VIII rectangular in lateral view; posterior apophysis twice as long as anterior apophysis; bursa copulatrix membranous except by short sclerotized antrum, ductus bursae eight times longer than antrum, signum trapezoidal and with spinules more concentrated on extremities (Fig. 34).

Geographic distribution (Fig. 45). BRAZIL: Pernambuco: Bonito; Recife. Bahia. Distrito Federal: Brasília. Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte; Caldas; Passa Quatro, Fazenda dos Campos; São Roque de Minas, São José do Barreiro . Espírito Santo: Alegre, Fazenda Jerusalém; Santa Leopoldina, Tirol . Rio de Janeiro: Petrópolis, Independência; Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca . São Paulo: Amparo; Campos do Jordão, Umuarama; Iperó, Floresta Nacional de Ipanema; São Paulo. Paraná: Ponta Grossa. Santa Catarina: Blumenau; São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal; Timbó; Urubici, Santa Bárbara. Rio Grande do Sul: São Leopoldo; Pelotas. PARAGUAY: Boquerón: Blumental. Cordillera. Distrito Capital: Assunção. Guairá: Paso Yobai; Villarrica. Paraguarí: Sapucay. ARGENTINA: Entre Rios: Concordia, Estación Experimental de Concordia. Misiones: Posadas.

Natural history. Immatures induce galls on Psidium guajava Linnaeus, 1753 ( Myrtaceae). Larvae pass through all instars in the gall, making an opening at the base for adult emergence; the pupal stage lasts four to five weeks (Bondar 1913). Based on label data, the species occurs in open and forested areas of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, adults were caught in almost every month of the year, except May and July.

Examined material (19 ♂, 56 ♀).

SOUTH AMERICA: 1 ♀ (Lectotype of Siculodes falcata), NHMUK 010921206 (NHMUK) .

BRAZIL: 1 ♀ ([Holotype] of Siculodes serpula), NHMUK 010921223, 2 ♀ , NHMUK 010921109, NHMUK 010921102 (NHMUK), 1 ♀ (MfN), 1 ♂, Y. Preto & S. Waehner leg. (SMT); 1 ♀, 1854, Pechetto leg. (MNHN), 1 ♂, 1978, NHMUK 010921088 (NHMUK); Pernambuco: Bonito, 1 ♀, A. Koebele leg. (USNM); Recife, 1 ♀, 25.IV.1959, H. Ebert leg. (MSFR). Bahia: 3 ♀, 1 ♂, 1926, G. Bondar leg., NHMUK 010921218, NHMUK 010921220, NHMUK 010921239, NHMUK 010921104 (NHMUK). Distrito Federal: Brasília, 1 ♀, NHMUK 010921106 (NHMUK). Minas Gerais: Belo Horizonte, 1 ♂, 10.VI.1930, Renault leg. (CEIO); Caldas, 1 ♀, 2.II.1907, 1 ♀, 2.XI.1908, J. Arp leg. (MSFR); Passa Quatro, Fazenda dos Campos, 1 ♀, 25.XI.1917 (CEIO) , 1 ♀, 19.XI.1915 (MSFR), 1600m, Zikán leg. (CEIO); São Roque de Minas, São José do Barreiro, 1 ♀, 10– 13.X.1988, 900m, 20°18’36.19’’S 46°32’25.45’’W, C. Mielke leg., CCGM 37.377 (CCGM). Espírito Santo: 1 ♀ (MZUSP), 1 ♀ (MfN), Alegre, Fazenda Jerusalém, 1 ♀, 12.VI.1915, Zikán leg. (CEIO); Santa Leopoldina, Tirol, 1 ♀, VI.1998, 700m, 24°75’S 40°50’W, H. Thöny leg., MWM 19.213 (MWM). Rio de Janeiro: 1 ♂ (USNM), 1 ♂, NHMUK 010921229 (NHMUK), 1 ♂, Derg leg., NHMUK 010921225 (NHMUK), 1 ♂, VIII.1924, Mario Monet leg., DZ 39.368 (DZUP), 1 ♀, 1956, NHMUK 010921235 (NHMUK); Petrópolis, 1 ♂ (USNM), 1 ♀, II.1915 (MZUSP), 1 ♀, II.1916 (MZUSP), Independência, 1 ♀, 17.IX.1934 , 1 ♀, 19.VII.1936, Gagarin leg., DZ 39.306, DZ 39.408 (DZUP); Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca, 1 ♀, 1902, S. R. Wagner leg., NHMUK 010921238 (NHMUK). São Paulo: 1 ♂, 700m, E. D. Jones leg., NHMUK 010921230 (NHMUK), 1 ♂, 1910, Ihering leg., NHMUK 010921236 (NHMUK); Amparo, 2 ♀, 1925 (MNRJ); Campos do Jordão, 1 ♀, II.1958, K. Lenko leg. (MZUSP), Umuarama, 1 ♂, 8–15.III.1937, 1800m, Gagarin leg., DZ 39.236 (DZUP); Iperó, Floresta Nacional de Ipanema, 1 ♀, 1819– 1822, J. Natterer leg. (NHMV); São Paulo, 1 ♀, 700m, E. D. Jones leg., NHMUK 010921240 (NHMUK), 1 ♀, IV.1950, Diringshofen leg. (MZUSP). Paraná: Ponta Grossa, 1 ♀, IV.1948, F. Justus leg., DZ 39.468 (DZUP) . Santa Catarina: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, NHMUK 010921227, NHMUK 010921234 (NHMUK), 1 ♀, Wernicke leg. (ZSM); Blumenau, 1 ♀, 25.X.1929, 1 ♀, 2.IV.1930, E. Wenzel S. G. leg. (MfN); São Bento do Sul, 1 ♂, Ivo Rank leg. (IR), Rio Natal, 1 ♀, 4–11.XII.2006, 700m, 26º19’S 49º18’W, Rank & Moser leg., CLAM 147 (CLAM); Timbó, 1 ♀ (SMT); Urubici, Santa Bárbara, 1 ♀, 1–3.II.1989 , 1 ♀, 1–3.II.1990, 1360m, 28°8’30.70’’S 49°38’6.84’’W, C. Mielke & E. Joerke leg., CCGM 38.729, CCGM 38.782 (CCGM). Rio Grande do Sul: 1 ♀ (MZUSP), São Leopoldo, 1 ♀, 25–26.XI.2012, 50m, 29º46’S 51º08’W, Moser leg., CLAM 147 (CLAM); Pelotas, 1 ♂, 7.II.1959, J. Lucia Mantovani & Biezanko leg., DZ 39.448 (DZUP), 1 ♀, 17.XI.1959, C. M. Biezanko leg. (MSFR) .

PARAGUAY: 1 ♀ (USNM); Boquerón: Blumental, 1 ♀, 3.III.1929, F. Schade leg., NHMUK 010921103 (NHMUK). Cordillera: 1 ♂, B. Podtiaguin leg. (AMNH). Distrito Capital: Assunção, 2 ♀, B. Podtiaguin leg. (AMNH), 1 ♀, 20.VIII.1952 (AMNH) . Guairá: Paso Yobai, 1 ♀, XII.1951, Schade leg. (AMNH); Villarrica, 1 ♂, 1.XI.1925, F. Schade leg., NHMUK 010921097 (NHMUK) . Paraguarí: Sapucay, 1 ♀, 12.IX.1903, 1 ♀, 29.IX.1903, 1 ♂, 18.III.1905, W. Foster leg., NHMUK 010921110, NHMUK 010921117, NHMUK 010921089 (NHMUK) .

ARGENTINA: Entre Rios: Concordia, Estación Experimental de Concordia, 1 ♂, 10.XI.1935, 1 ♀, 19.I.1936, Hayward leg., NHMUK 010921076, NHMUK 010921092 (NHMUK). Misiones: Posadas, 2 ♀ (Lectotype and Paralectotype of Siculodes falcata matusi), Köhler leg. (MLPA) .