Dicepolia rufitinctalis (Hampson)

Hayden, James E., 2009, Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Dicepolia Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Zootaxa 2237, pp. 1-33 : 12-15

Dicepolia rufitinctalis (Hampson)

Figures 4, 5, 20, 21, 34, 36, 37, 49, 52

Endolophia rufitinctalis Hampson, 1899b: 233 , fig. 141.― Fletcher and Nye, 1984: 51. Dicepolia rufitinctalis, Munroe, 1995: 52 (no. 1309).― Heppner, 2003 (no. 4796.1).

Material examined: Lectotype 3 (NHM): [red label] Type // Jalapa, / Mex. // Endolophia / rufitinctalis / type 3 Hmpsn. [Hampson's hand] // [Round, next to specimen] Type [red label]. Deposited in Drawer 217 ( Endolophia ), NHM.

Paralectotypes: 13: Mexico. / W. Schaus. / 1905-244 (NHM). 13, 1Ƥ, 1?: Jalapa, / Mexico. / M. Trujillo. // Godman-Salvin / Coll. 1904-1. / B.C.A. Lep. Het. / Endolophia / rufitinctalis , / Hamps, one with labels “[blue label] SLIDE / EGM / No 1681” and “ Pyralidae / Brit. Mus. / Slide No. / 2620 3,” another with labels “[blue label] SLIDE / EGM / No 1682” and “ Pyralidae / Brit. Mus. / Slide No. / 2619 Ƥ” (NHM). 23, 2ƤƤ: Jalapa, Mex // Collection / WmSchaus, one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 232 3,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 233 Ƥ,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 358 3” ( USNM).

Other material: Bolivia: 23: Buenavista, East / Bolivia, 750 m, / Aug. 06 –April 0 7 / (Steinbach). // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1 (NHM). 1Ƥ: Buenavista, / E. Bol., 750 m, / Jan.–April 0 7 / (J. Steinbach). // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1 (NHM). 103, 4ƤƤ, 23 (?): Siberia, 1650 m. / Carrasco, Cochabamba / Bolivia, Oct. 1963 / Through F.H. Walz, one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 238 3,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 167 Ƥ” ( CNC). 23, 1Ƥ, 3 (?): Todos Santos, Chapare / Cochabamba, Bolivia / 300m. Nov. 1955 / F. Steinbach, one with blue label “ SLIDE 3030 DK” ( CNC). 13: R. Cristal Mayu / Chapare, BOLIV. / Aug. 24 1949 / 1000–2000 M. / Luis E. Pena-G. // Endolophia rufitinctalis Hampson / Det. E. G. Munroe 1986 // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 10 3 ( CUIC). Brazil: 13: BRASIL: Rondonia / 62km S Ariquemes. 165m / Faz. Rancho Grande / 10°32'S; 62°48'W / 27 Aug.–8 Sept. 1994 / Ron Leuschner. coll. // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 246 3 ( LACM). 2ƤƤ: Col. BECKER / 114789 // BRASIL: DF / Planaltina, 1100m / 22.viii. 1996 / V. O.Becker Col., one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 239 Ƥ. ” 2Ƥ: Col. BECKER / 46966 // BRASIL:Pará, / Belém, 20 m / i. 1984 / V. O. Becker col. 1Ƥ: Col. BECKER / 48400 // BRASIL, PA / Igarape Acu / 2.i. 1984 / V. O. Becker. 1Ƥ: Col. BECKER / 90675 // BRASIL: AL / Ibateguara, 400m / 10–20.iii. 1994 / V. O. Becker Col. (all USNM). Costa Rica: 1Ƥ: COSTA RICA: Las / Cruces, Nr. San / Vito 19–20.III.65 / SS&WDDuckworth ( USNM). French Guiana: 13: St. Jean de Maroni, / French Guiana. / Received from / E. Le Moult. // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1 (NHM). 1Ƥ: Guyane française, Route de Kaw / @ pk 37, GPS: elev. 2713 / N 04°32.965',W 052°08.865' / 06.iv.2008, MLV, B. Landry / C. Reuteler, D. Néron / J.-M. Bérenger, M. Pagès ( MHNG). Guatemala: 13, 1Ƥ: Cayuga / Guat // Apr. // Schaus and / Barnes / coll, one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 245 3.” 1Ƥ: GUATEMALA / Tikal 200m. / 10 May 1969 / S. Steinhauser ( USNM). Guyana: 13: Br. Guiana / H.S. Parish / Bartica // 7/2/13 // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 79 3 ( CUIC). Honduras: 13: San Pedro Sula / Honduras / mountain / Black light / 8-IV-1972 / Robert D. Lehman // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 356 3 ( USNM). Mexico: 33, 2ƤƤ: Jalapa, / June 96 / (Schaus). // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1 (NHM). 13: Songolica, / Mexico, / June 99. / (Schaus). // [illeg.] rufitinctalis / H. // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1 (NHM). 13: Apr. / 1.08 // Cordoba / Mex // FredkKnab / Collector // 3 Genitalia / Slide, 1- Apr. 1938 / C.H. [Heinrich] // [green label] Genitalia Slide/ By CH / USNM 111,914 ( USNM). Panama: 2Ƥ: PANAMA: CANAL ZONE; / Barro Colorado Isl. / 17 MAR 1979. / Silberglied/Aiello. / at light. 1Ƥ: same data except “ 1 APR 1979.” 13: same data except “ 4 MAR 1979 ” and label “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 247 3.” 13: same data except “ 31 MAR 1979 ” and label “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 236 3.” 1Ƥ: same data except “ 31 MAR 1979 ” and label “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 237 Ƥ” ( USNM). 1Ƥ: PANAMA: Cerro / Campana, Nr. / chica 2–5.IV.65 / SS&WDDuckworth ( USNM). Peru: 43: PERU: 1000m. / Cuzco / Pilcopata / 11– 13.viii.1987 (NHM). 33, 1Ƥ: Avispas, 400m., PERU / Madre de Dios Dept. / Sept. 20–30, 1962 / L.E. Pena, one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 234 3,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 235 Ƥ,” one with blue label “ SLIDE 3033 DK” ( CNC). Surinam: 13, 1Ƥ: Black light trap / 79/1 handclearing / 28/ 29 IX 1981 // Kabo Saramaca / 5°16'N, 55°44'W / Suriname, S. Am. / leg. K.E. Neering // Brit. Mus. / 1982-454 (NHM). 1Ƥ: Moengo, Boven / CotticaR. SURINAM / May 19, 1927 / Cornell Univ. / Lot 760 Sub 67 // Endolophia rufitinctalis Hmsp. [EGM det.] // Cornell U. / Lot 627 / Sub 2207 / Det. Forbes ( CUIC). Trinidad: 13: TRINIDAD: Simla / Arima Valley / 20–26.II.66 / SS&WDDuckworth // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 362 3 ( USNM). Venezuela: 13: At / Light // Portachuela Pass, / Aragua Nat. Pk., / Venezuela 3600 ft. / June 1 1949 / M.M. Carey & J.W. Cadbury // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 365 3 ( ANSP). 13: Venezuela T.F. / Amazonas. / Parque Nacional / Duida-Marahuaka [spelling?] // Culebra 250m. / 3°33,N– 65°55'W / 9–13-III-1985 // Exp. Marawaca / Fund. Terramar // Propiedad del MIZA / Fac. Agronomia UCV / Maracay, Venezuela ( MIZA). 73: Venezuela Ter. / Fed. Amazonas // Culebra 250m. / 3°33,N– 65°65'O / 22-III-1983 // Exp. Marawaca / Fund. Terramar // Propiedad del MIZA / Fac. Agronomia UCV / Maracay, Venezuela, one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 275 wings,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 81 3,” one with “J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 364 3 ( MIZA). 13: Caracas, / Venezuela // Pyralidae (mèlange) 107 // J.E. Hayden SLIDE No. 357 3 ( MNHN).

The 3 males and 2 females in the NHM labeled “Jalapa, / June 96 / (Schaus). // Rothschild / Bequest / 1939-1” would not be paratypes if the dates of the Rothschild accession labels are correct.

Diagnosis: Smallest known species, with forewing length 5.1–7.2 ± 0.1 mm. Male androconium present on foreleg femur and tibia dilated with dark scales. Hindwing M2 and M3 stalked from cell. Color golden yellow or yellowish brown (melanic), with sharply defined lines and scale-tooth on forewing. S8 anterior emargination small and triangular; lamelliform structures on square-shouldered bases or raised very slightly. Costa of valve with a flat, angular, flange-like extension. Gnathos lateral arms joining medially in obtuse angle. Cornutus short, occupying at most half the length of phallus. Female genitalia without appendices or colliculum extension; many specimens with large field of granules on entire anterior wall of corpus bursae; smooth, lozenge-shaped signum present.

Redescription: General color golden yellow to brownish yellow in melanic specimens. Frontoclypeus moderately prominent, projecting 0.18 ± 0.02 mm (n = 27), frontoclypeus an acute arch (fig. 49). Frons flat. Frons, vertex and dorsal scales brownish orange to carrot-red, laterally white. Eye 0.63± 0.02 mm long (n = 27). Labial palpi 0.95 to 1.58 mm, mean 1.27 ± 0.02 mm (n = 27). Mean palpi:eye ratio 2.0. Palpi laterally brownish orange, medially and ventrally white. Antennae pale brown with white-edged scape. Haustellar scales white. Cervical scales yellow. Dorsal thorax brownish orange. Ventral thorax and legs white, except male foreleg femur and foreleg tibia of both sexes pale to dark gray. Male foreleg with femoral androconium and expanded cape of hairs around epiphysis. Outer: inner spur ratios: midleg, 0.5; hindleg, 0.5. Abdomen dorsally brownish yellow with wash of dark brown scales, ventrally pale yellow. Male genitalic scales and T8 fringe pale yellow, with saccular scales pale brown in some specimens. S7 tuft small, yellow.

Forewing length 5.1–7.2 mm (mean 6.3 ± 0.1 mm), width 1.9–3.4 mm (mean 2.8 ± 0.1 mm), mean length:width ratio 2.24 (n = 27) (figs 4, 5, 34). Color golden yellow to brownish yellow, without aspersion of darker scales, but generally darker in melanic specimens. Costa and lines dark brown, lines distinct. Antemedial line smoothly excurved, reaching most distally along top of cell. Antemedial line extended in dark scale-tooth, slightly basad of where AM meets posterior edge. Postmedial line smooth, generally excurved, smoothly bent basad on 1A and meeting posterior edge perpendicularly. Marginal fringe with a basal row of dark gray scales and a distal row of distinctly white scales, contrasting with the gray extensions of the costal and posterior fringes. Underside brassy, anal area slightly paler, without visible lines. Hindwings pearly with yellowish tinge. Terminal area barely suffused (more so in melanics), without trace of PM line. Hindwing M2 and M3 stalked from cell.

Abdomen dorsally yellow, sometimes washed with light brown scales; ventrally fading to pale yellowish cream. Darker in greasy specimens. Genitalic tufts pale yellow.

Male genitalia: Assuming two general forms: 1 (figs 20, 36) and 2 (figs 21, 37). S8 anterior emargination small and triangular, far from junction of S8 with A7–8 membrane. S8 posterior edge emarginate between lamelliform chaetae, either slightly indented and laterally flat with slight flexure (form 1) or deeply emarginate with pronounced flexure (form 2); medial spine either short (form 1) or large (form 2, rarely form 1). A8 pleural androconium absent. Lamelliform structures on square-shouldered bases or raised very slightly (less than in D. amazonalis ), either laterally parallel-sided (form 1) or slightly convergent (form 2). Vinculum barely concave medially. Gnathos arms converging in obtuse angle, more or less 135 degrees; gnathos lateral arms varying from narrow to slightly robust; median element as long as arms. Costal flutes absent; costa expanded in flat hump. Valva not longer than deep: nearly circular in outline. Phallus with either 3 spirals and a small, short cornutus (form 1) or 2.5 spirals and a more robust (but still short) cornutus, plus a smaller sclerotization closer to apex (form 2).

Female genitalia (fig. 52): S9 length:depth ratio 1 to 1.3. Ductus short between ostium bursae and colliculum. Colliculum length 1.5 times width. Spur of colliculum absent. Cervix bursae relatively long. Appendices of ductus bursae and corpus bursae absent. Granules of corpus bursae present over whole anterior wall (opposite ductus/cervix). Signum of corpus bursae short, smooth, lozenge-shaped. Corpus typically smooth, but Brazilian DF specimen (JEH slide 239) with deep pleats over whole bursa, plus very elongate signum with two rows of lateral spines, resembling a chilopod.

Distribution: Veracruz, Mexico through Central America and across tropical South America to southcentral Brazil (Federal District), coastal to Andean, across a range of elevation. One record from Florida, USA.

Flight period: Jan. (mouth Amazon R.), Feb. ( Trinidad), Mar. ( Costa Rica; Venezuelan Amazon), Apr. (Fr. Guiana; Guatemala; Honduras), May ( Surinam; Guatemala), June (Aragua NP, Venez.), Aug. ( Peru; Distr. Fed., Br.), Aug.–Sept. (Rondonia, Br.), end Sept. ( Surinam). Bolivia: Aug.–Nov.; 2 records vaguely Aug.– Apr. Panama: Mar.–early Apr. In general, Central America: Mar.–May; Northern South America: Feb., Apr.– June, end Sept.; Andes: Aug.–Nov.; sporadic elsewhere.

Similar species: Besides lacking the diagnostic autapomorphies, D. aerealis and D. venezolalis are slightly larger and have more dark scales irregularly distributed on the forewing. Those species also have a similar forewing length:width ratio (mean = 2.2), but the present species shows greater variation from narrowwinged to broad-winged specimens. D. aerealis and D. venezolalis have an apically attenuate valve costa that this species lacks. D. venezolalis lacks the forewing tuft and has an oblong, not nearly circular valva. D. aerealis has a cervix bursae expanded to nearly the size of the corpus bursae and a narrow connection between the two. D. roseobrunnea shares the foreleg androconium but differs in size, color, and genitalia.

Remarks: The differences in the size of the cornutus, shape of the S8 posterior margin, and geographic distribution are partly congruent, but no consistent external differences can be found among specimens. The specimens with a large cornutus (form 2) are distributed in Central and northern South America and are more common in Central America than those with a small cornutus (form 1). Form 2 specimens tend to be larger and more melanic, but specimens from Panama, Guyana, and Trinidad are smaller and lighter in color, whereas form 2 specimens from the Andes may be melanic; elevation may explain the size and color differences. There are no consistent differences in the labial palpi (either sex), antennal ciliation, or foreleg androconia. The Schaus material from Jalapa in the NHM and USNM includes both small, yellow form 1 specimens (JEH slide 232) and large, melanic form 2 specimens (JEH slide 358). Some of these were accessioned after Hampson’s description, and the holotype specimen in the NHM (not dissected) is small and yellow. Any decision to divide the species would require more specimens or ecological or molecular evidence.

If valid, the records from Florida are disjunct from the geographically closest populations in Guatemala and Mexico. I have seen no material from the Greater Antilles, but the single Jamaican D. vaga and the weak attraction to lights in D. roseobrunnea suggest that collecting effort is insufficient. Listed flight times are Jan.–Apr., Jul.–Aug., and Nov.–Dec. ( Heppner 2003).