Menevia delphinus, 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 : 96-100

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia delphinus sp. n. Figs 65, 66, 71, 91, 103; Map 5.

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: BRAZIL: Distrito Federal: Coleção EMBRAPA- CPAC No. 9401/ Planaltina, DF, 1000 m, 15°35'S, 47°42'W, 12.XI.1982/ V.O. Becker Col./ St. Laurent diss.: 9-3-15:1/ HOLOTYPE male Menevia delphinus St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016 [handwritten red label]/ (CPAC). Type locality: Brazil: Distrito Federal: Planaltina.

Paratypes, 6 ♂, 2 ♀: BRAZIL: Distrito Federal: 3 ♂, 2 ♀, Planaltina, 15°35'S, 47°42'W, 1000 m: 11.XI.1977, 15.XI.1977, V.O. Becker col., Col. Becker No. 22269, 22304, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:16, USNM-Mimal: 2341, 2343 (USNM); 10.XI.1975, 3.XI.1982, 4.XI.1982, V.O. Becker col., Coleção EMBRAPA- CPAC No. 79, 9401, St. Laurent diss.: 4-2-15:4 (CPAC). 1 ♂, Planaltina, 15°36'S, 47°44'W, 960 m: 30.X1992, No. 2135, Coleção EMBRAPA- CPAC No. 12816, St. Laurent diss.: 9-2-15:3 (CPAC). Goiás: 1 ♂, Leop. Bulhoes [Leopoldo de Bulhões]: XI.1935, Coll. R. Spitz, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, St. Laurent diss.: 6-29-15:10, BMNH(E) 1378753 (NHMUK). Minas Gerais: 1 ♂, Sabara-Bello Horizonte, Rio das Velhao [ Sabará-Belo Horizonte, Rio das Velhas]: A.G.N. Chalmers, B.M. 1932-11, St. Laurent diss.: 6-29-15:11, BMNH(E) 1378756 (NHMUK). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE male/female Menevia delphinus St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016.

Additional specimen examined from photo.

[not included in type series] BRAZIL: Maranhão: 1 ♂, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, 46°26'41"W, - 07°00'31"S, 480 m: C. Mielke leg., Paratype, Menevia alurca Herbin & Mielke, 2014 (Collection of Daniel Herbin, France).

Diagnosis.

Menevia delphinus , like the previous two species, is quite small in comparison with the widespread Menevia vulgaris and the southeast Brazilian Menevia franclemonti , but males and females can easily be differentiated from all others belonging to the plagiata species-group by the relatively stout forewings and by the genitalia. The phallus of Menevia delphinus is most similar to that of Menevia cordillera , but with the dorsal bulge being situated more mesally along the length of the phallus and usually much more pronounced as a singular, blunt, protuberance, not a pointed or triangular bulge as in other species. Additionally, the lobes at the base of the phallus in Menevia delphinus are very elongated and tubular, almost fingerlike, not rounded or peg-like as in the previous similar species. In females, the VIII tergite is very robust, forming a distinct triangle, and is not rounded and arc-like as in some similar species. Menevia delphinus may also be confused with Menevia alurca due to the similar size and sympatry; however, Menevia delphinus can be straightforwardly recognized by the lack of a midventral abdominal stripe and a continuous white band along the outer edge of the postmedial line, which is discontinuous midway along the postmedial line in Menevia alurca . Additionally, the genitalia easily differentiate Menevia delphinus from Menevia alurca . The dorsal protuberance of the phallus of Menevia delphinus is much smaller and blunter in comparison with the extremely elongate, curved, and sharply pointed dorsal phallic protuberance of Menevia alurca . The only other sympatric species besides Menevia alurca is the much larger Menevia vulgaris .

Description.

Male.Head: Light brown or gray, eyes large comprising about two-thirds of head area, eyes bordered posteriorly by brownish collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi very small, short, covered in dark scales. Scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus. Light gray. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs moderate length, thin, scaled except for distal tip. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17-23 mm, avg.: 20.5 mm, n = 6. Triangular, not overly elongated, apical half of outer margin concave, apex falcate. Ground color gray with reddish brown suffusion, especially near interior edge of postmedial line, reddish coloration near apex along apical interior of postmedial line, overall moderately speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot very faintly marked by light gray oblong shape. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Black postmedial line mostly straight except when very near apex, strongly contrasting. Submarginal area light gray with whitish suffusion mesally, postmedial lunule as white band originating from apical dash, white band follows postmedial line from apex to posterior wing margin. Antemedial line brown, almost nonexistent. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but antemedial area lighter gray, blood red suffusion present, especially along interior edge of postmedial line and near apex, antemedial line absent, small black discal mark occasionally present. Hindwing dorsum: Triangular, anal angle weakly accentuated with reddish coloration, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, antemedial line absent, postmedial line weakly bent toward anterior wing margin, weakly concave or straight mesally. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, but red coloration near anal angle much darker, discal mark absent or very faint. Abdomen: As for genus but somewhat elongated, nearly sphingiform. Coloration a continuation of gray thoracic color. Midventral stripe absent. Genitalia: (Fig. 91) n = 5. Tegumen ovoid, constricted near base of gnathos. Vinculum rectangular, somewhat quadrate ventrally. Valves somewhat triangular, narrow, saccular edge of left and right valves with triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, both valves with smaller mesal costal projection originating from central ridge of valve, mesal costal projection immediately above saccular edge teeth, apex of projection toward saccular edge. Valves rounded or nearly pointed apically. Uncus truncated apically, apex rounded. Gnathos as two prominent flattened, moderately sclerotized, flap-like, somewhat triangular, upward facing extensions with highly truncated apices. Apices form elongated fingerlike projections. Juxtal processes roughly phallus length, weakly sclerotized, curving toward apex of phallus. Juxtal processes thin, covered in fine setae. Base of phallus with paired, backwards facing, elongated, fingerlike, diverging lobes. Phallus broad, irregularly edged dorsum usually with accentuated, rounded mesal protuberance but sometimes much reduced and flattened, always covered in setae. Left edge of rolled phallus forming mesally situated protuberance, base of sclerotized terminus of phallus with weak ventral bump, angled ventrally or away from end of phallus, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct points. Vesica somewhat elongated, bag-like, covered in setae laterally, originating from progressively weakened scleroti zation of diagonal edge of phallus. Female.Head: As in male. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 26 mm, n = 1. Maculation as in male, wing slightly broader, barely more elongate, less triangular, less falcate. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but lighter gray, antemedial line absent, thin black discal mark present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but more rounded, less triangular. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter. Abdomen: As in male but more robust. Sternite of VIII as pair of thin sclerotized bands converging near anterior margin of VIII forming well-defined rectangular sternite. Genitalia: (Fig. 103) n = 1. Tergite of VIII robust, forming posteriorly directed triangle, membranous gap mesally. Apophyses anteriores about same length as apophyses posteriores, apophyses posteriores slightly thicker. Lamella antevaginalis thin, curved, slightly indented mesally near ostium bursae. Ductus bursae short. Papillae anales elongated, covered in relatively long setae.

Distribution

. This new species is a resident of the Brazilian Cerrado in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais, as well as in Distrito Federal. An additional record from Maranhão will be discussed below in the remarks.

Etymology.

This new species is named for the phallus, which, due to the dorsal protuberance, bears the likeness of a dolphin (= delphinus Latin) when viewed laterally.

Natural history.

Dr. A. Camargo (CPAC) kindly provided additional information pertaining to one of the paratypes (specimen number 12816), and is thus the only available natural history information for this new species. The pupa of this specimen was collected on Miconia albicans ( Melastomataceae ) on 8.VI.1992 and the subsequent adult eclosed on 30.X.1992. This is the only record of Menevia found on Melastomataceae , but cannot be definitively considered a host record without determining if this species was feeding on the plant prior to pupation.

Remarks.

Menevia delphinus represents another species similar to the large, widespread Menevia vulgaris and its Brazilian Atlantic Forest counterpart, Menevia franclemonti . Menevia delphinus , like three other similar species described as new in the present work, is much smaller and with much more complicated phallic structures than Menevia vulgaris and Menevia franclemonti .

Due to the lack of data regarding the distribution of this species, other than it clearly being found in the Brazilian Cerrado, we consider it is necessary to report another state record for this species, despite our inability to gain access to the specimen in question. The recently described, and very distinct, Menevia alurca , was described from eight males ( Herbin and Mielke 2014). The two authors of Menevia alurca were kind enough to supply us with specimens or photos of specimens such that the holotype and all seven paratypes could be examined. Upon close examination, it was discovered that a single undissected paratype, from the type locality of Menevia alurca , fits our concept of Menevia delphinus based on the continuous white band along the external edge of the postmedial line, and the lack of a ventral abdominal line. Menevia alurca has a discontinuous white band and a very prominent dark, ventral, abdominal line. We therefore consider Menevia delphinus to be present in Maranhão, which is highly likely given the Cerrado habitat there ( Herbin and Mielke 2014).

The single reared specimen of Menevia delphinus was much smaller than other Menevia delphinus specimens and its genitalia differed in the shape of the dorsal protuberance of the phallus, which was flattened rather than distinctly raised. However, other genital characteristics, such as the highly elongated lobes at the base of the phallus, were consistent with Menevia delphinus . Given the consistency in other characters and the close proximity of this specimen’s locale to the type locality of Menevia delphinus , we include this specimen in the type series and attribute the different phallic structure to the overall small size.