Roelofa elyanae Herbin & Mielke, 2014

St Laurent, Ryan A., Herbin, Daniel & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2020, Revision of Roelofa Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonidae, Roelofinae) with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 4877 (3), pp. 505-538 : 509-514

Roelofa elyanae Herbin & Mielke, 2014

( Figs 2, 3, 5 , 13 , 19 )

Roelofa elyanae Herbin & Mielke, 2014: 142

Roelofa elyanae ; St Laurent & Kawahara 2019

Roelofa elyanae ; St Laurent et al. 2020

Type material: HOLOTYPE ♂. BRAZIL: holotype, Roelofa elyanae HERBIN & MIELKE det./ Brésil, Maranhão, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro , 480 m, 10-XII-2011, 07°00’31’’S, 46°26’41’’W, C. MIELKE leg./ DZ 15.699/ Genitalia prep. D. Herbin ref. H 930/ (DZUP, examined) . Paratypes: 7 ♂, same locality and collector as holotype: 21–25.II.2012 ( 3 ♂), 16–17.II.2013 ( 4 ♂) ( CGCM/CDH) .

Additional material examined: (31 ♂, 13 ♀ total) BRAZIL: Ceará: 1 ♂, Mun. Pacoti, Bairro Santana, 4°18’S, 38°52’W, 300 m: 1–5.II.2012, H. Thöny leg. (MWM). Bahia: 1 ♀, Form[osa do] R[io] Preto, 11°03’S, 45°12’W, 720 m: 24.I.1995, Coleção EMBRAPA-CPAC No. 15118 (CPAC). Maranhão: 3 ♂, 1 ♀, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, 07°00’31’’S, 46°26’41’’W, 480 m: 28.II.2017, C. Mielke leg., 32.332 Col. C. Mielke (1 ♀, CGCM); 20–27.I.2012, H. Thöny leg. (3 ♂, MWM). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Balsas, 8°38’S, 46°43’W, 525 m: II.2000, Coleção Embrapa-CPAC, Nos. 20911, 20913 (CPAC). Distrito Federal: 7 ♂, 2 ♀, Estação Florestal, Cabeça do Veado, 1100 m: 18.X.1971 [1 ♂], 22.X.1971 [2 ♂], 23.X.1971 [1 ♂], 26.X.1971 [1 ♂], E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe (5 ♂, CUIC); 22.X.1971, St Laurent dissection: 5-7-18:5 (1 ♂), 31.X.1971 (1 ♂), 24.X.1971, St Laurent dissection and MGCL DNA extraction LEP-61991 (2 ♀) (CNC). 1 ♂, Brasilia: 25.II.1966, ex. col. Gagarin (DZUP). 1 ♀, Brasilia: 18.X.1968, Tangerini leg. (DZUP). 5 ♂, 2 ♀, Planaltina, 15°35’S, 47°42’W, 1000 m: 8.III.1976, V.O. Becker leg., Col. Becker 18288, 18361, USNM-Mimal: 2338, 2340 (1 ♂, 1 ♀, USNM); 10.XI.1975, Becker genitalia prep. 2081 (1 ♂, VOB); 24.II.1976, Col. Becker 18346 (1 ♂, VOB); 28.II.1976, Col. Becker 18346 (1 ♀, VOB); 10.X.1976 (1 ♂, ISEZ); 8.X.1984, Col. Becker 10177, Becker genitalia prep. 2005 (1 ♂, VOB). Goiás: 1 ♂, Alto Paraíso [de Goiás], 1350 m: 20.II.2000, V.O. Becker Col., Col. Becker 120463 (VOB). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Leopoldo [de] Bulhões: X.1938 (1 ♀), XI.1935 (1 ♂), Coll. R. Spitz, Brit. Mus. 1962-112, NHMUK010890562, 010890565 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, Vianópolis: XII.1931, R. Spitz, Brit. Mus. 1962-112, NHMUK010890564 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Between Vianópolis and Susiania [Silvânia]: 10.X.1969 (DZUP). 1 ♂, Ponte Funda, Vianópolis: 24.X.1968 (DZUP). Mato Grosso: 1 ♂, Chapada dos Guimarães, 800 m: 20.XI.1994, V.O. Becker Col., Col Becker 93642 (VOB). 2 ♂, Burity [Buriti], 30 miles NE of Cuyabá [Cuiabá], 2250 ft: 22–30.IX.1927, CL Collenette, at light, NHMUK010890560, 010890561 (NHMUK). 1 ♀, Mato Grosso, no additional data: XII.1929, Col. R. Spitz, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, NHMUK010890559 (NHMUK). Mato Grosso do Sul: 1 ♂, Rio Brilhante: 23–27.X.1970, V.O. Becker leg. (ISEZ). Minas Gerais: 1 ♂, Paraopeba: 27.II.1966, ex. col. Gagarin (DZUP). 1 ♀, Pirapora, 500 m: 29.X.1988, V. Becker leg., Col. Becker 59946, USNM-Mimal: 2339 (USNM). São Paulo: 1 ♂, Pirassununga, EMAS: 23– 27.XI.1949, Schubart col. (CEIOC). BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz: 2 ♂, 1 ♀: Ñuflo de Chávez, Esperanza: 1926–1929, B.M. 1934-167, NHMUK010890557, 010890558, 010890563 (NHMUK).

Diagnosis. Roelofa elyanae is an unmistakable, small Roelofa species, easily recognized by its size and coloration wherever it occurs. The dark khaki brown coloration, coupled with a purple hue ante- and medially, and brightly contrasting pale golden khaki postmedial and submarginal areas are unique to this species. This species is sympatric with one other small Roelofa species, R. narga and perhaps R. maera in parts of its range, but these two species have narrower wings and paler submarginal areas with distinct black spotting and more elongate apical streaks than in R. elyanae . Genitalia of both species, in both sexes, are unique among the genus in having elongate crisscrossing bunches of setae. The male genitalia have very fine gnathos projections that are not thick, robustly sclerotized, and distally flattened as in other Roelofa . The phallus is also unique in its stoutness and dense covering of spines. The dorsal juxtal processes are the thickest and stoutest of the genus and flank a balloon-like sclerotization between them that is not known in other Roelofa species. Female genitalia are oddly downwardly distended with a unique sack below the ostium bursae that apparently receives setae from the male.

Description. Male. Head: Coloration light khaki brown, as for genus except: basal two thirds of antenna bipectinate, pectinations becoming longer then gradually shortening distally such that distal third of antenna serrate; labial palpus not as reduced as for remainder of genus, with terminal segment reaching outer vestiture of frons. Thorax: Coloration light brown with pink undertone, vestiture very compact. Legs: Coloration as for thorax albeit slightly darker, more uniform brown with less pink, vestiture thick, long. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 10.5–15.0 mm, avg.:13.3 mm, n = 10, wingspan: 23–30 mm. Triangular, short, stout, outer margin smooth and concave below apex, becoming more convex mesally; apex blunt but slightly falcate due to concavity below apex. Antemedial and medial ground color a layering of light brown and darker brown speckling, pinkish-brown scales faintly cover much of wing giving light hue; postmedially very light golden khaki with dark brown speckling from medial area also present submarginally and speckling may be so dense as to nearly completely cover this lighter area. Costa dark pinkish brown. Antemedial line present as faint brown outwardly kinked line, dark brown postmedial line mostly straight, preapical, angled toward costa at Rs 3, postmedial line barely connects to faint black streak of shading spanning from costa to Rs 3, reaching apex though this black streak may be vanishingly faint. Discal mark an irregular faint, light brown oval outwardly lined with dark brown. Forewing ventrum: Similar to forewing dorsum, but maculation darker or fainter overall, antemedial line absent, postmedial line may be more toothed due to interruptions with veins. Hindwing dorsum: Following similar patterning to forewing dorsum, but antemedial line and discal spot absent. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum, but postmedial line more diffuse than on hindwing dorsum. Abdomen: Stout, barely extending beyond anal hindwing margin, coloration as for thorax, though compact vestiture appearing golden, distal tip of abdomen with pair of elongated, dark-brown tipped scale tufts. Genitalia: ( Fig. 13 ) n = 4. Vinculum ovoid, wider dorsally. Diaphragm with four sets of organized setae, one pair of setal bunches denser, longer, originate from farther back in body cavity, left and right pairs crisscross each other mesally, longer set of setae originate from just below more heavily sclerotized region of valvae, below phallus exists a disorganized dense clump of deciduous setae. Uncus simple, triangular. Gnathos well-defined but weakly sclerotized, not robust, proximally rectangular converging ventrally, with elongate, dual mesal extensions that are weakly fused together basally, mesal extensions fine, uniform in width along entirety, not distally flattened or thickened, length of distal arms longer than that of proximal portion of gnathos, extending midway along length of uncus. Valvae narrow, rounded apically, mostly simple except for inner mesal base, which is greatly extended and modified as upturned, flattened, spined lobe-like protrusion which curves back over valvae, protrusions more heavily sclerotized than valvae; saccular margin of valvae notched, cone-like intrusion of valvae between baseo-mesal valvae protrusion and saccular notch. Juxta partially fused to ventrum of phallus, dorsally juxta with pair of small (about one quarter length of phallus) membranous processes attached to diaphragm above phallus, processes covered in short thick setae, slightly sclerotized balloon-like membranous lobe present between paired processes attaching together with dorsal processes to the juxtal/diaphragmal complex. Phallus pistol-shaped, distally broadened with curving coecum angled perpendicularly below phallus, middle region of both lateral sides of phallus covered in short thick deciduous spines. Vesica bag-like. Female. Head: As for male. Thorax: As for male. Legs: As for male, but proximal segments darker brown. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 12–17 mm, avg. 15 mm, n = 8, wingspan: 22.5–32.0 mm. As for male, but broader overall with wider and darker khaki submarginal area, only very weakly concave below apex. Overall wings with purplish pink hue due to widespread covering of pale pink scales. Antemedial line more pronounced than in male, more distinctly outwardly convex. Postmedial line outwardly lined with pale purplish pink scales. Discal spot only barely defined. Forewing ventrum: Similar to forewing dorsum, but coloration more uniform overall, markings less well-defined, postmedial and submarginal areas concolorous with antemedial and medial area. Hindwing dorsum: Following similar patterning to forewing dorsum, but antemedial line and discal spot absent. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum. Abdomen: As for male but more robust overall, distal tip of abdomen lacking paired elongated scale tufts, but distal tip of abdomen with singular darker scaled tuft. Genitalia: ( Fig. 19 ) n = 1. Segment VIII distended such that smoothly sclerotized, posteriorly curving dorsal tergite situated immediately above papillae anales with laterally extending region that flanks either side of papillae anales, lateral components lined with fewer than 10 elongate setae on either side, ventrally segment VIII extends anteriorly perpendicular to papillae anales (appearing to extend “downward” when viewing genitalia from ventral aspect) by narrow sclerotization which becomes thicker and more heavily sclerotized (lamella postvaginalis), lamella antevaginalis a simple band of sclerotization spanning lamella postvaginalis immediately parallel to it. Ostium bursae a flattened sack containing tangled mess of dense setae apparently derived from male (see male genitalia description which refers to dense clump of deciduous setae below phallus). Posteriorly to tangled setae (more proximal to lamella ante- and postvaginalis) two pairs of organized, crisscrossing elongate setae bunches which bifurcate on each side with longer portion of bifurcations reaching VIII tergite and shorter portion crossing each other and curving inward mesally below papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores vestigial or seemingly absent, apophyses posteriores weakly sclerotized, not extending to lower portion of VIII. Ductus bursae thin tube originating from left (when viewed ventrally) margin of ostium sack, ductus leads to simple balloon-like corpus bursae, corpus bursae smaller than ostium sack. Papillae anales somewhat irregularly shaped, projected outward.

Distribution. ( Fig. 22 ) Roelofa elyanae is very widespread in central South America, primarily in dryer regions such as the Cerrado and similar habitats in eastern Bolivia. Based on a single record from Ceará, it seems this species is also present in forested enclaves within the Caatinga (xeric shrubland).

Biology. This species feeds on various species of Vochysiaceae A.St.-Hil. , including Qualea parviflora Mart. , Q. grandifolia Mart. , Q. multiflora Mart. , Vochysia sessilifolia Warm. , V. rufa Mart. , and Callisthene major Mart. ( Diniz and Morais 1997, Diniz et al. 2001; St Laurent pers. obs. specimens reared by V. Becker in CPAC). Diniz and Morais (1997) stated that the larvae of this species “build their shelters with silk and large amounts of frass,” which is typical of Mimallonidae although we are uncertain of the appearance of the shelters or the larvae. In the works of Diniz and Morais (1997) and Diniz et al. (2001), Roelofa elyanae is identified as Lurama penia ( Dognin, 1919) , because at the time of these publications R. elyanae was not yet described and L. penia was evidently considered similar to the taxon that these authors were collecting and rearing. Furthermore, in the now destroyed Pearson collection formerly housed in the Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pearson’s specimens of R. elyanae were identified as L. penia , and thus this was the source of the misidentifications (V. Becker pers. comm.).

Remarks. This species was originally described from eight males, with the type series restricted to the type locality in Maranhão, Brazil. Other material from Goiás and Distrito Federal was mentioned, though excluded from the type series. We examined all paratypes and these additional specimens, as well as material from several other Brazilian states and the first specimens reported from Bolivia, greatly expanding the known distribution of this species. The female and its genitalia are described and figured here for the first time.

Male and female genitalia of R. elyanae are among the most distinct in the genus, and the presence of bipectinate antennae in females (all other Roelofa females have finely serrate antennae) suggests a unique phylogenetic position within the Roelofa . This supposition was formally supported by St Laurent et al. (2020) who recovered R. elyanae as sister to all other sequenced Roelofa species. The genitalia of the female seem to be uniquely modified to receive setae from males, and both males and females share what are apparently homologous crisscrossing specialized bunches of setae. Similar crisscrossing setae are found in male R. narga and R. maera .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Map of collecting localities for Roelofa elyanae, R. narga, and R. maera examined in this work.

FIGURES 2–12. Roelofa specimens, a = dorsal, b = ventral. 2. R. elyanae holotype male, Brazil, Maranhão, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, 480 m (DZUP). 3. R. elyanae paratype male, locality as for Fig. 2 (CGCM). 4. R. narga male, Bolivia, Ñuflo de Chávez, Esperanza, photo courtesy A. Giusti (NHMUK). 5. R. elyanae female, locality as for Fig. 2. (CGCM). 6. R. narga male, French Guiana, Piste Belizon, PK 7, 67 m [image edited in Photoshop] (CDH). 7. R. narga female, French Guiana [photo R. Lahousse] (MNHN). 8. R. narga holotype female, Suriname, Maroni River (USNM). 9. R. maera lectotype male, Brazil, Santa Catarina, Joinville (USNM). 10. R. maera male, Brazil, Santa Catarina (MNHU). 11. R. maera male, Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Leopoldina, Boqueirão, ca. 600 m, photo courtesy N. Ignatev (MWM). 12. R. maera female, Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Leopoldina, Biriricas, ca. 700 m, photo courtesy N. Ignatev (MWM). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 13–18. Roelofa male genitalia, a = ventral, b = lateral, c = phallus [note dorsal juxtal projections only attached to phallus in Fig. 13]. 13. R. elyanae, Brazil, Distrito Federal, Estação Florestal, Cabeça do Veado, 1100 m, St Laurent dissection: 5-7-18:5 (CNC). 14. R. narga, French Guiana, Cayenne, Roura, 40 km E. R. de Patawa, St Laurent dissection: 11-30-18:1 (MGCL). 15. R. narga, Bolivia, La Paz, Río Zongo, 750 m, genitalia prep. NHRS-TOBI 000001955 (NHRS). 16. R. maera, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Barreira, Teresópolis, 400 m, St Laurent dissection: 11-30-18:2 (USNM). 17. R. maera, Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Leopoldina, Boqueirão, ca. 600 m, MWM genitalia prep. 35.542, photo courtesy N. Ignatev (MWM). 18. R. maera, Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Leopoldina, Biriricas, 700 m, MWM genitalia prep. 35.543, photo courtesy N. Ignatev (MWM). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 19–21. Roelofa female genitalia, ventral view. 19. R. elyanae, Brazil, Distrito Federal, Estação Florestal, Cabeça do Veado, 1100 m, St Laurent dissection: LEP61991 (CNC). 20. R. narga, Brazil, Amazonas, Reserva Ducke, km 26, Manaus-Itacoatiara Highway, St Laurent dissection: 12-4-18:1 (CNC). 21. R. maera, Brazil, Espírito Santo, Santa Leopoldina, Biriricas, ca. 700 m, MWM genitalia prep. 35.541 [note slide mounted, flattened, photo courtesy N. Ignatev] (MWM). Scale bar = 1 mm.