Pierella lena atlantica Paluch, Zacca & Siewert, 2015

Paluch, Márlon, Zacca, Thamara, Siewert, Ricardo Russo, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2015, A new subspecies of Pierella lena (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) in northeastern Brazil, Florida Entomologist 98 (3), pp. 916-916 : 916-

Pierella lena atlantica Paluch, Zacca & Siewert ssp. nov.

( Figs. 1A–D , 2A–I )

Pierella lena ; Zacca, 2009, p. 170, 173.

DIAGNOSIS

Among the recognized subspecies of Pierella lena , P. lena atlantica ssp. nov. ( Fig. 1A–D ) shares several characters with the nominal subspecies, such as a rounded androconial patch on the anal margin on DHW of males and a larger black spot in M 1 –M 2 on DFW of females, but can be distinguished by the smaller androconial patch and smaller purple bluish spots in M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 1 –CuA 2, whereas in P. lena lena ( Fig. 1E–H ), the androconial patch is larger and the spots are larger and white, with a few purple bluish scales.

DESCRIPTION

Sexes are similar in their general appearance.

Forewing length: In male 34–35 mm (n = 4), in female 37–38 mm (n = 3).

Head: Front and vertex brown; post-gena white; eye glabrous, brown; antenna light brown with sensilla along the flagellomeres; labial palpus with elongated white scales dorsally, creamy ventrally, totally white internally, with distal portions of 2nd and 3rd articles mixed with a few brown scales.

Thorax: Dorsally brown, ventrally white; prothoracic leg creamy; meso- and metathoracic legs with femur brown dorsally and white ventrally, the other segments light brown.

Forewing: Dorsal surface brown with a light brown greyish post-discal band (approx. 1 mm) included by straight parallel dark lines, a small black spot in M 1 –M 2; fringes mixed with brown and light brown. VFW brown, base to proximal line of the post-discal band lighter, with a sub-basal lighter curved line and 3 spotted lines from costal margin to the anal margin, area between the 2 lines with smooth ripple pattern; submarginal region, distal of the post-discal band, darker proximally, mixed with ochre centrally and bluish with ripple pattern marginally, and with 3 small creamy spots in R 5 –M 1, M 1 –M 2, and M 2 –M 3 in the central area.

Hind wing: Dorsal surface with basal half similar to FW base, marginal half dark brown with a purple iridescent color; the post-discal band near the base of the marginal half, continued from FW until CuA 2 –2A, but interrupted at M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 1 –CuA 2; with 2 small white spots below the post-discal band in CuA 2 –2A and upper half of 2A–3A; the purple bluish white spots in M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 1 –CuA 2 smaller than in P. lena lena ; androconial patch rounded and creamy, smaller than in P. lena lena ; fringes mixed brown with light brown. VHW brown with ripple pattern covering almost all surface; basal area as in FW; marginal area with the proximal half darker, central area mixed with ochre, and distal half bluish; 2 or 3 black small spots in basal region; convex dark and fine basal line between 3A and inner margin; sub-basal darker curved line from costal margin to the anal margin, as the same line of the FW; post-discal band similar to VFW with proximal line convex from CuA 1 to anal margin, where it is enlarged; 2 ocelli in Rs–M 1 and M 1 –M 2 with a small white pupil in each one; 3 creamy spots in M 2 –M 3, M 3 –CuA 1, and CuA 1 –CuA 2 and 2 smaller similar in CuA 2.

Abdomen: Dorsally brown and ventrally creamy.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 2A–G ): Similar to P. lena lena . Tegumen laterally triangular, with half length of uncus; subuncus absent; anterior projection of saccus elongated, straight, and cylindrical; valvae approx. 2 times the length of uncus with elongated bristles distally and ventrally, apex curved internally,dorso-distally serrated; fultura inferior trapezoidal; aedeagus straight, same length of valvae, distal opening dorsolaterally, serrated at right side. Constantino (1995) illustrated the male genitalia of P. lena brasiliensis in lateral view, and it differs from Pierella lena atlantica ssp. nov. mainly by the shape of valvae, narrowing in middle portion, and apex with a well-projected thorn.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 2H–I ): Tergum VIII trapezoidal; sternum VIII fused with tergum VIII; lamella antevaginalis present; papilla analis approx. 2 times higher than long, sclerotized at the basal half, and setae distally; ductus bursae sclerotized close to ostium, almost the same length of corpus bursae; paired signa dorsally in the corpus bursae.

REMARKS ON VARIATION

The size of the black spot in DFW can vary between the sexes and individuals, but it is always developed in females.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

So far, Pierella lena atlantica ssp. nov. seems to be restricted to the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil ( Fig. 3 ), and it is the only subspecies of the P. lena group that presents a non-Amazonian distribution. The type locality is in the RPPN “Fazenda Lontra/Saudade” ( FLS), Itanagra at the northern coast of Bahia (12°15.00’S, 38°0.00’W). FLS has 1,377.33 ha and represents the largest area of particularly protected Atlantic Forest, located between the ParaguaÇu (BA) and São Francisco ( SE) Rivers. Additionally, Zacca (2009) recorded the occurrence of P. lena atlantica (as P. lena ) in the “Recôncavo” and southern coast of Bahia, in Cachoeira and Una, respectively.

ETYMOLOGY

The subspecific epithet refers to the biome where this taxon is endemic, the Atlantic Forest of Bahia, Brazil.

Type material

HOLOTYPE. Male, BRAZIL: Bahia, Itanagra, RPPN Lontra / Saudade , 21-VIII-2012, L. M. Linhares & M. Paluch leg., DZ 31.479 ( DZUP).

ALLOTYPE. Female BRAZIL: Bahia, Itanagra, RPPN Lontra / Saudade , 1-IX-2012, M. Paluch & L. M. Linhares leg., DZ 31.489 ( DZUP).

PARATYPES. BRAZIL: Bahia, Itanagra, RPPN Lontra / Saudade , 1 male and 2 females 25-II-2012, 1 male 4-X-2012, L. M. Linhares & M. Paluch leg., DZ 31.519, DZ 31.529, DZ 31.539, DZ 31.509 ( DZUP) . BRAZIL: Bahia, Itanagra, RPPN Lontra / Saudade , 1 male 25-III-2012, 1 male 22-VII-2012, 1 male 16-XII-2012, M. Paluch & L. M. Linhares leg., DZ 31.549, DZ 31.499, DZ 31.409 ( DZUP) . BRAZIL: Bahia, Una, Reserva Biológica , 1 male 5-X-1987, 1 male and 1 female 8-X-1987, J. Becker leg., #39117, #42477, # 39118 ( MZFS) . BRAZIL: Bahia, Cachoeira, Fazenda Villa Rial , 1 male 14-VI-2007, 1 male 27-VI-2007, Equipe Lasis leg., #39116, #39119 ( MZFS) .

Figures

Fig. 1. Pierella lena atlantica ssp. nov.: A–B, Male holotype, dorsal and ventral; C–D, female allotype, dorsal and ventral. Pierella lena lena: E–F, male, dorsal and ventral; G–H, female, dorsal and ventral. Scale = 10 mm.

Fig.2. Pierella lena atlantica ssp.nov.: Male genitalia.A,Lateral;B,dorsal;C,ventral;D–F,aedeagus lateral lef, lateral right,and dorsal;G,valva inner view.Female genitalia. H–I, Lateral and ventral. Scales = 1 mm.

Fig. 3. Geographical distribution of the subspecies of Pierella lena based only on collection specimens