Bebelis acuta Pascoe, 1875

(Figs 53–58, 67–68)

Bebelis acuta Pascoe, 1875: 73; Lameere, 1883: 61 (cat.); Bruch, 1912: 209 (cat.); Breuning, 1971: 244; Zajciw, 1972: 59 (distr.).

Bebilis acuta; Chemsak et al., 1992: 115 (checklist; misspelling).

Bebelis acuta acuta; Monné, 1994: 8 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 186 (checklist); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 225 (checklist); Monné, 2005: 290 (cat.); Wappes et al., 2006: 24 (distr.); Monné et al., 2010: 247 (distr.); Monné et al., 2012: 54 (distr.); Monné et al., 2016: 23 (distr.)

Dorcasta acuta; Aurivillius, 1923: 362 (cat.); Zikán & Zikán, 1944: 32 (distr.); Blackwelder, 1946: 606 (checklist); Buck, 1959: 602 (distr.); Duffy, 1960: 275 (larvae).

Dorcasta geometrica Bates, 1880: 130; Lameere, 1883: 60 (cat.); Bates, 1885: 372 (distr.); Pittier & Biolley, 1895: 28 (distr.); Aurivillius, 1923: 362 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946: 606 (checklist); Chemsak & Linsley, 1970: 409 (lect.). Syn. nov.

Bebelis acuta geometrica; Breuning, 1960: 175 (cat.); 1971: 244; Monné, 1994: 8 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 186 (checklist); Noguera & Chemsak, 1996: 404 (checklist); Monné, 2005: 290 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 225 (checklist); Hovore, 2006: 375 (distr.); Audureau, 2008: 15 (distr.); Swift et al., 2010: 50 (distr.); Maes et al., 2010: 97 (distr.).

Bebilis acuta geometrica; Chemsak et al., 1992: 115 (checklist); Turnbow et al., 2003: 20 (distr., misspelling).

Dorcasta laetabilis Belon, 1903: 54; Aurivillius, 1923: 362 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946: 606 (checklist). Syn. nov.

Bebelis laetabilis; Breuning, 1960: 175 (cat.); 1971: 244; Monné, 1994: 9 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 186 (checklist); Monné, 2005: 291 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 225 (checklist); Wappes et al., 2006: 24 (distr.).

Pascoe described Bebelis acuta based on syntypes from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), and Bates (1880) described Dorcasta geometrica based on syntypes from Guatemala and Costa Rica. Breuning (1960) considered D. geometrica as a subspecies of Bebelis acuta, status maintained until today. According to Breuning (1971) on D. geometrica (translated): “As the typical form [ B. acuta], but the antennae a little less strong, the pronotum as long as wide, the blackish bands of the pronotum not very distinct, the blackish lateral ones situated a little higher, the dark curved band before middle of the elytron reaching the suture a little further back and no white stripe on the mesanepisternum.” However, all the differences pointed out by Breuning (1971) are not true or, sometimes, they are just variations found both in specimens from southern South America (Figs 53–55) and in species from Mexico and Central America (Figs 56–58). Accordingly, Dorcasta geometrica is synonymized with Bebelis acuta .

Later, Belon (1903) described Dorcasta laetabilis based on a single specimen from Bolivia, and compared it with D. geometrica (translated): “ D. laetabilis is of a somewhat larger size; the prothorax is weakly concave close to the posterior angles that are not acutely projected; the subconvergent oblique lines of the pronotum are slightly shorter and hardly exceed the middle; the circum-scutellar macula of the elytra is more triangular than semicircular, clearly less elongated, covered with a fine persistent and fairly tight pubescence, grayish in appearance, under which the dark and is less dark, the tomentose white fascia which borders in behind the circum-scutellar macula is relatively larger; the same is true of the flexuous white band which outlines the external lateral spot and separates it from the fulvous-testaceous median region and its two extensions toward the humerus and toward the dorsal area; finally, a single white line extends on each side of the suture without interruption until the apical slope which it does not exceed.” All these differences pointed out by Belon (1903) are variable in specimens from South America, Mexico, and Central America; even the posterolateral angles of the prothorax may or may not be acutely projected in specimens from these three regions. Accordingly, Dorcasta laetabilis is synonymized with B. acuta .

Material examined (all specimens from MZSP). COSTA RICA, San José: La Caja, 8 km W. São José, 2 females, 1930, Schmidt leg. ; 1 female, 23.XI.1928, Schmidt leg.; San José, 1000–1200 m, 1 male, 13.X.1932, F. Nevermann leg. ; 1000–1200 m, 1 female, VIII.1924, F. Nevermann leg.; 1 female, 30.V.1924, F. Nevermann leg.; 3 males, 4 females, 26.VIII.1928, F. Nevermann leg. Cartago: Turrialba, 800 m, 1 male, no date indicated, F. Nevermann leg. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais: Pouso Alegre, 1 male, IX.1962, Pereira leg. ; Belo Horizonte, 1 female, no date indicated, O. Monte leg. Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Biológico, Entomologia Agrícola, 1 male, no date and collector indicated . São Paulo: 1 female, VII.1918, Newman leg.; 1 male, VI.1925, J. Alves leg.; Barueri, 1 female, 30.VII.1960, K. Lenko leg. ; Amparo, 1 male, 1 female, no date and collector indicated; 1 male, 2 females, 1931, Rick leg. ; São Paulo, Piracicaba, 1 male, no date and collector indicated; Guarulhos, 1 specimen, 1.XI.1943, Pereira leg. ; Itú, Fazenda Pau d’Alho, 1 male, IX.1959, U.R. Martins leg. ; São José dos Campos, 1 male, XII.1934, H.S. Lopes leg. ; São Sebastião, 1 specimen, 8.XI.1954, A.P. Silva leg.