Key to species of Ruppeliana (males)

1. Forewings without any stripes or maculae (Figs 10A–B, 15A) ........................... R. robusta sp. nov.

– Forewings with stripes and/or maculae (Fig. 15B–E) ...................................................................... 2

2. Forewings marked with both longitudinal, and rounded maculae (Figs 8A–B, 15B) ...................... 3

– Forewings marked with longitudinal, transversal, or rounded maculae (Fig. 15C–E) ..................... 4

3. Forewings with rounded maculae basally, followed by a longitudinal stripe (Cavichioli et al. 2017: fig. 15) .................................................................................... R. longiphallus Cavichioli et al. 2017

– Forewing’s mottled with spots, with a longitudinal stripe in costal margin (Fig. 15B) ...................... ............................................................................................................................... R. delicata sp. nov.

4. Forewings marked with longitudinal maculae (Fig. 15C) ................................................................ 5

– Forewings marked with transverse or rounded maculae (Fig. 15D–E) ............................................ 7

5. Aedeagus basidorsal processes not surpassing shaft’s length (Carvalho et al. 2014: fig. 22) ........ ............................................................................................. R. flavivirescens Carvalho et al. 2014

– Aedeagus dorsal processes surpassing shaft’s length (Fig. 1G) ....................................................... 6

6. Subgenital plates attaining to pygofer’s apex, which, in dorsal view, is directed inwards (Figs 1D, 16A) ...................................................................................................... R. coronata (Signoret, 1853)

– Subgenital plate not attaining to pygofer’s apex, which is not directed inwards in dorsal view (Figs 3D, 16B) ....................................................................................... R. nigripes (Signoret, 1853)

7. Forewings marked with transverse maculae (Fig. 15D) ................................................................... 8

– Forewings marked with rounded maculae (Fig. 15E) .................................................................... 12

8. Forewings transverse maculae greenish, almost reaching each other (Fig. 15D) ........................... ................................................................................................................. R. signiceps (Stål, 1862) .

– Forewings transverse maculae bluish and distant from each other .................................................. 9

9. Aedeagal atrium dorsal margin with a pair of subapical projections (Young 1977: 750, fig. 612f) ..........................................................................................................................................................10

– Aedeagal atrium dorsal margin without projections (Young 1977: 752, fig. 614f) .........................11

10. Aedeagus shaft expanded preapically, with apex truncated; aedeagal atrium subapical processes short and triangular (Young 1977: 750, fig. 612f) ........................................... R. episcopalis Young, 1977

– Aedeagus shaft curved ventrally, with apex rounded; aedeagal atrium subapical processes short and spiniform (Carvalho et al. 2014: fig. 7) ................................. R. caelimaculata Carvalho et al. 2014

11. Aedeagus with only one pair of basidorsal processes (Young 1977: 752, fig. 614f) ...................... ................................................................................................. R. glaucomaculata (Germar, 1821)

– Aedeagus with two pairs of processes, one basidorsal and one basiventral (Young 1977: 753, fig. 617f) ............................................................................................................ R. tatia Young, 1977

12. Forewings mottled with small rounded maculae (Fig. 15E) ........................................................... 13

– Forewings with large and sparse rounded maculae (Fig. 14A–B) .................................................. 14

13. Subgenital plates not attaining pygofer apex in lateral view (Fig. 12D) .......... R. tridentata sp. nov.

– Subgenital plates attaining pygofer apex in lateral view (Fig. 3D) ...... R. fulva (Taschenberg, 1884)

14. Rounded maculae restricted to forewings basal portion (Fig. 14A–B) ............................................ ....................................................................................................... R. grossii Cavichioli et al. 2017

– Rounded maculae distributed along the entire forewing (Cavichioli et al. 2017: fig. 1) ............... 15

15. Aedeagus processes surpassing shaft’s length (Cavichioli et al. 2017: fig. 5) ................................. .............................................................................................. R. barbarensis Cavichioli et al. 2017

– Aedeagus processes not attaining to shaft’s apex (Cavichioli et al. 2017: fig. 26) ......................... ..................................................................................................... R. serrana Cavichioli et al. 2017

Occurrence map

The specimens of Ruppeliana under study were primarily collected in high-altitude regions (> 800 m), as indicated by label data (Fig. 17). In cases where altitude was not specified, the locality name “Serra” suggests a mountainous area and thus implies elevated terrain (see Supp. file 1).

In Rio de Janeiro State, multiple species were collected in mountainous regions. The type localities of R. tridentata sp. nov. and R. grossii are situated in Serra dos Órgãos National Park (PARNASO), with a median altitude of approximately 1600 m. Other collection sites include Caledônia Peak (2219 m), Macaé de Cima (1500 m), Revolta Valley (900 m), and Concórdia Mountain Range (1000 m), where species such as R. longiphallus, R. signiceps, R. grossi, and R. episcopalis have been recorded. In Minas Gerais State, R. barbarensis was collected in Caraça National Park (Caraça Mountain Range, 900 m), along with R. episcopalis . In Caratinga (average altitude 578 m), R. glaucomaculata was found. In Itamonte, part of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range (average altitude 1000 m), several species occur, including R. barbarensis, R. coronata, R. flavivirescens, R. nigripes, R. serrana, and R. tatia . Specimens of R. nigripes were also collected in Wenceslau Braz (1780 v) and Maria da Fé (1329 m) in olive orchards, based on recent studies (Froza et al. 2024). The Caparaó National Park, located on the Minas Gerais-Espírito Santo border (1984 m), yielded specimens of R. serrana and R. fulva .

In Espírito Santo State, R. signiceps and R. caelimaculata were collected in the Santa Lúcia Biological Station (600–900 m).

In São Paulo State, R. coronata was extensively collected in the Cantareira Mountain Range (800 m). R. episcopalis was recorded in Itapetininga (660 m), a city in the countryside. The Bocaina Mountain Range, a segment of the Serra do Mar shared with Rio de Janeiro, has an average altitude of 1600 m and also hosts multiple species occurrences, such as R. nigripes . This species was also collected in São Bento do Sapucaí (1512 m) in recent studies (Froza et al. 2024). In Paraná State, numerous specimens of R. fulva and R. signiceps were collected in São José dos Pinhais (880 m), Mananciais da Serra (1100 m), and the Private Nature Preserve (RPPN) Guaricica (200 m). Ruppeliana robusta sp. nov. was recorded on Araçatuba Hill (1600 m) and Perdidos Hill (1423 m).

In Santa Catarina State, a single specimen of R. fulva was collected in Rio Vermelho, in São Bento do Sul (850 m). The type locality of R. delicata sp. nov. is São Joaquim National Park, situated in the municipality of Urubici (1600 m).

The sole northeastern records are from Bahia State. Ruppeliana signiceps and R. glaucomaculata were recorded in Bonita Mountain Range, in Camacã (800 m), and in the coastal locality of Igrapiúna, respectively.