Episcepsis fumata ( Rothschild, 1912 ) Pinheiro & Araujo Junior, 2017

Pinheiro, Lívia R. & Araujo Junior, Elias C., 2017, Taxonomic notes and a new species of Episcepsis Butler, 1877 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Ctenuchina), Zootaxa 4365 (2), pp. 231-240 : 238-239

Episcepsis fumata ( Rothschild, 1912) , comb. nov.

( Fig. 1C ; 6A–G)

Heliura fumata Rothschild, 1912: 169 . Lectotype male, by subsequent designation ( Hampson, 1914), with five labels: [Peru] “La Union R. Huacamayo, Carabaya 2000 ft. wet s., Dec. 1904 (G. Ockenden)”; “ Heliura fumata tipo Rothsch.”; “Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1”; and “Kb-Dia-Nr. 1099 B. Kreusel dok.” (BMNH) [examined]. Paralectotype: one male with two labels: “Pambilar, Ecuador (Flemm. & Mik.)”; and “Rothschild Bequest B. M. 1939-1” (BMNH); Hampson, 1914: 307; Hampson, 1915: pl. 17, fig. 20; Draudt, 1915: 168, 212, pl. 30, row a.

Additional material examined (1 ♂ and 2 ♀). ECUADOR, Pichincha, Sto Domingo-Tinalandia , 700m, 14.x.1982, N. Venedictoff, don. de H. de Toulgoët, 1 female ( MNHN) ; PERU, Chaquimayo , 2500-3000ft, 6.7.10, H. & O. Watkins, 1914-180, 1 male ( BMNH), Pozuzo, x.1907, 1913-216, 1 female ( BMNH) .

Remarks. Episcepsis fumata comb. nov. was described from two males. Rothschild (1912) mentioned that both already had the wings considerably worn by the time they were described. Hampson (1914) thought the specimen from La Unión was a female, and designated the other, from Pambilar, Ecuador, as the lectotype, even though the Peruvian specimen held a handwritten type label with Rothschild's handwrinting. Nevertheless, Hampson's (1914) lectotype designation is valid.

This species is close to E. moloneyi (Druce, 1897) (described from Belize and figured in the original description, pl. 72, fig. 16; by Hampson, 1898, fig. 197; and by Draudt, 1915, pl. 20, row d) and E. sixola Schaus, 1910 (described from Costa Rica, figured in Hampson, 1914, pl. 13, fig. 5 and Draudt, 1915: pl. 28, row k), both of which seem to belong to a monophyletic concept of Episcepsis , given the similarities observed in male genitalia (pers. obs.).These species share with E. fumata comb. nov. the red spots on tegulae, and the sparse white scales on proximal and medial areas of hindwings.

Episcepsis fumata comb. nov. is easily distinguished from E. sixola and E. moloneyi by the absence of iridescent scales (present in both of the latter), and by the many white spots on various parts of the body. Moreover, E. fumata comb. nov. is known only from high and moderate altitudes from Ecuatorian and Peruvian Andes, while the above mentioned species are from Central America. The apparently restricted distribution may explain the rarity of Episcepsis fumata comb. nov. in collections.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of the species treated herein. A) E. aelia revis. stat., holotype; B) E. atlantica sp. nov., holotype; C) E. fumata, paralectotype;D) E.venata, holotype; E) E.coeruleocephala, lectotype. Scale bars: 1 cm.