Menevia mielkei, St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016

St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016, Revision of the genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of 11 new species, ZooKeys 566, pp. 31-116 : 56

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia mielkei sp. n. Figs 2, 27-29, 78; Map 2

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: 29-I--3-II-2003, Estação Biológica de Caratinga, Caratinga, MG, 400 m, Mielke & Casagrande leg./ OM 61.563/ CGCM diss.: OM 61.563/ HOLOTYPE male Menevia mielkei St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016 [handwritten red label] (donated to DZUP by OM). Type locality: Brazil: Minas Gerais: Caratinga.

Paratypes, 13 ♂, 1 ♀: BRAZIL: Espírito Santo: 1 ♂, Linhares, 40 m: 05-09.IV.1992, V.O. Becker col., USNM-Mimal: 2345, St. Laurent diss.: 2-5-15:12 (USNM). Rio de Janeiro: 4 ♂, Angra-Jussaral: 25.XI.1935, coll. D’Almeida, No. 19.179 (DZUP); 20.II.1936, 24.II.1936, D’Almeida, Oiticica & A. Costa, ex. coll. D’Almeida, No. 19.176, 19.177, 19.178, DZ 32.702-32.705 (DZUP). 1 ♂, Petrópolis, 650 m: 10-20.X.1985, V.O. Becker col., col. Becker 64840, USNM-Mimal: 2344, St. Laurent diss.: 2-5-15:10 (USNM). 2 ♂, Petrópolis: 7.IX.1928, 12.XI.1928, Gagarin leg., ex. col. Gagarin, DZ 32.706-32.707 (DZUP). 3 ♂, Teresópolis, Barreira: 11.X.1955, 15.X.1955, 18.X.1955, ex. col. Gagarin, DZ 32.708-32.710 (DZUP). 1 ♂, Cachoeiras de Macacu, 700 m: 23.I.1998, V.O. Becker col., col. Becker 113168, USNM-Mimal: 2036, St. Laurent diss.: 2-5-15:11 (USNM). 1 ♂, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Boca do Mato: 18.I.1998, N. Tangerini col., ex. coleção Nirton Tangerini, DZ 32.711 (DZUP). 1 ♀, Sahy-Ramal de Mangaratiba [ Saí]: 25.X.1932, coll. Ferr. d’Almeida, ex. coll. D’Almeida, No. 19.180, DZ 32.712 (DZUP). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE male/female Menevia mielkei St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016.

Diagnosis.

Externally Menevia mielkei is nearly identical to both Menevia lucara and Menevia menapia . The forewings of Menevia mielkei are slightly narrower than in the other two species, most notably by the somewhat more acute apices. Genitalia are very useful however, in the diagnosis of Menevia mielkei . In Menevia mielkei , the uncus is more slender, the processes of the gnathos are extremely atrophied and thin, the phallus has a distinct dorsal ridge, the processes of the juxta are nearly vertically extended above the base of the phallus, not curved over its length, and the valves lack the saccular edge tooth. Furthermore, the lobes at the base of the phallus are much shorter and stouter than in Menevia lucara , and in that way are more similar to Menevia menapia .

Description.

Male.Head: Light gray, eyes large comprising about two-thirds of head area, eyes bordered posteriorly by somewhat reduced dark brown collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments weakly defined ventrally. Scape and pedicel tufted. Thorax: As for genus. Grayish. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs thin apically, terminal third not scaled, especially ventrally, weakly hooked. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 16-17 mm, avg.: 16.6 mm, n = 4. Triangular, apical half of outer margin deeply concave, slightly convex near tornus, apex acutely falcate. Ground color gray with pinkish-red to salmon hue especially near apical point of postmedial line and near discal region, overall lightly speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Postmedial line straight, black-brown. Antemedial area lighter than medial area, submarginal area gray without pink hue, postmedial lunule originating from apical dash, lunule follows postmedial line from apex to roughly one third length of postmedial line where lunule sharply sweeps outwards toward wing margin, forming acute angle with postmedial line. Antemedial line very faint, brown, undulating. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line fainter, pinkish-red hue concentrated near costa and discal region, antemedial line absent, small black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded with margin weakly pointed mesally, anal angle accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, small black discal mark usually present, very vague postmedial lunules originating near anterior margin sweeping outward to marginal point, antemedial line absent, postmedial line straight or slightly concave. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, pinkish-red hue concentrated in anal region. Abdomen: As for genus. Coloration a continuation of grayish thoracic color. Midventral stripe absent. Genitalia: (Fig. 78) n = 4. Tegumen subtriangular, quadrate at base. Vinculum broad, quadrate ventrally. Valves simple, relatively narrow, saccular edge smooth. Valves rounded apically. Uncus elongated, apex quadrate. Gnathos as two thin, atrophied, lightly sclerotized, outward facing extensions. Juxtal processes angled nearly perpendicular to dorsal surface of phallus. Juxtal processes sharply tipped, lightly covered in setae. Base of phallus with paired, backwards facing, rounded, diverging lobes. Phallus thick, expanded mesally. Left edge of rolled phallus forms distinct ridge of varying shape, always covered in setae, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct points of varying length. Vesica elongate, sac-like. Female.Head: As in male. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: about 21 mm, n = 1. As in male but broader, less falcate, pinkish hue more prominent, postmedial line bowed out slightly mesally. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line fainter, antemedial line absent, small black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but slightly more rounded, broader. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter except lighter. Abdomen: As in male but stouter. Genitalia: Not examined.

Distribution.

Menevia mielkei is found in a small region of southeastern Brazil in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and adjacent eastern Minas Gerais. Whether or not this species is more widely distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is yet to be determined.

Etymology.

Menevia mielkei is named after Carlos G. C. Mielke who provided extensive support and data throughout the process of writing this revision.

Remarks.

Like Menevia menapia , Menevia mielkei is very similar to the wide-ranging Menevia lucara . Both Menevia menapia and Menevia mielkei are apparently restricted in distribution, both species being widely allopatric with Menevia lucara . Of the three species in the lucara species-group, Menevia mielkei has the most distinct genitalia characters as outlined in the diagnosis. The dorsal ridge of the phallus is a common character in many other species of Menevia , but within the lucara species-group, this ridge is only present in Menevia mielkei .