Limyra, Duarte, 2017

Duarte, Marcelo, 2017, Description of Limyra, new genus with a new species and the redescription of Cibyra pluriargenteus (Viette), from southeastern Brazil (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 4299 (4), pp. 581-591 : 585-588

Limyra gen. nov.

( Figs 11–15 , 22–31 , 32 )

Type species: Limyra silvai sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Easily recognized by the distinctive male and female genitalia. In the male genitalia, saccus clearly in two fused parts, a dorsal and a ventral ones. Fultura superior present. In the female genitalia, the lamella antevaginalis is compound mainly by two tapered processes latero-anterior that extends and fuses posteriorly to a mesal process, forming a depression between both structures. Such structures are unique among all Neotropical genera. In addition, the new genus is diagnosed by the combination of the following characters in head micromorphology, wing venation, wing pattern, and abdomen:

• male labial palpus with first and second palpomeres partially fused,

• in the female the second palpomere twice the length of the first palpomere, • 'hepialine' venation (Rs2+Rs3 not stalked with Rs4) ( Dumbleton 1966), • absence of distinct banding or patches on the forewing, • sternum VIII of the male membranous.

The arched shape of the male genitalia resembles Phialuse Viette, 1961 with respect to an extended structure attached to the ventral surface of the saccus, although no particular relationship can be inferred to present time, since other characters such as antennae and wing characteristics are very different. The membranous tergum VIII of the female suggests a close relation with Cibyra and Aepytus Herrich-Schäffer , [1856], but the presence of the fultura superior (trulleum) in the male genitalia contradicts its phylogenetic position from these genera. The shape of sternum II and its anterior lateral bar are also similar to other cibyrine genera, to Hepialyxodes Viette, 1951 and Aepytus in particular ( Grehan 2012).

Description. Male ( Figs 11–13 , 22 ). Medium sized moths with wingspan ranging wingspan from 34 to 43 mm.

Head. Clypeus glabrous anteriorly and medially projected, and fairly well differentiated from the frons. Labial palpus stout, first and second palpomeres partially fused. Antenna bipectinate, sensilla trichodea and sensilla caetica present.

Thorax: Legs: distitarsus as in Cibyra . Venation of fore- and hindwings as in Cibyra , but in forewing Sc1 vestigial; in hindwing CuP vestigial, M2 complete and 2A present ( Fig. 31).

Abdomen: Sternum VIII membranous.

Male genitalia ( Figs 23–25 , 30). Tegumen mostly fused to the pseudotegumen, ventral portion articulated with saccus. Saccus convex and in two fused parts. Tergal lobes softly sclerotized, resting on against the pseudotegumen. Pseudotegumen dorsally and ventrally unfused. Fultura superior present. Valvae slightly setose. Phallus membranous and when everted the vesica as a bladder.

Female ( Figs 14, 15 ). Only differences from the male are mentioned.

Head: clypeus anteriorly and medially projected, glabrous and slightly differentiated from the frons. Labial palpus one-segmented. Antenna bipectinate with rami arising from a slight projection at the mid length of the antennomere, sensilla trichodea reduced in size and quantity, sensilla caetica present.

Thorax. Venation of fore- and hindwings as in male, but hindwing with 3A ( Fig. 31).

Abdomen: tergum VIII as a thick membrane; sternum VIII compound as two lateral, slightly sclerotized, and semi-circular plates linked by a narrow sclerotized ridge posteriorly.

Female genitalia ( Figs 28, 29 ). Anal papillae tapered, projected posteriorly. Lamella antevaginalis compound mainly by two processes separated meso-anteriorly that extends ventro-posteriorly fusing to a mesal process, thus forming a depression between both structures. Antrum situated anterior to the lamella. Subanal plate slightly sclerotized. Ductus bursae tube-like; corpus bursae cylindrical.

Etymology. While forming the generic name Limyra we follow the tradition of Walker (1856), who gave the generic name Cibyra for the genus of moths distributed in South America. We suppose that the name of the antic town Κιβυρα served as an inspiration. The name of the new genus Limyra also derives from the name of the small antic city (in Greek Λιµύρα) in Lycia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, on the Limyrus River. Nowadays this place are ruins in Turkey. The gender of the name is feminine.

Remarks. The presence of Limyra gen. nov. in southern Brazil is surprising since no other matching taxon is so far known. The presence of posterior lateral knob (not strongly developed), a broad intermediate connection between the tergosternal bar, the lateral ridge and a broken anterior margin at the tergosternal connection, along with a very close parallel position between the outer hindwing Sc and R veins support the inclusion of Limyra gen. nov. within the 'cibyrine' cluster of genera ( Grehan 2012). Further investigation will be necessary for a better understanding of such relationships.

Figures

FIGURE 32. Geographical distribution of Cibyra pluriargenteus (red circle) and Limyra silvai sp. nov. (blue star) in southeastern Brazil.

FIGURES 11 − 15. Limyra silvai sp. nov. 11, male holotype, dorsal view; 12, male holotype, ventral view; 13, male paratype, dorsal view (MZSP 14.403); 14, female paratype, dorsal view (MZSP 14.404); 15, female paratype, ventral view (MZSP 14.404). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 22 − 29. Limyra silvai sp. nov. 22. Male abdomen (holotype), upper dorsal, lower ventral view. 23 − 25. Male genitalia (holotype): 23, ventral view; 24, lateral view; 25, anterior view (internal), fultura superior (arrow). 26 − 27. Female abdomen (MZSP 14.404). 26, upper dorsal, lower ventral view; 27, tergum and sternum VII and VIII (tergum VIII membranous), sternum VIII (arrow). 28 − 29. Female genitalia (MZSP 14.404). 28, lateral view; 29, posterior view. Scale bar = 1 mm, except Figs 22 and 26 = 1 cm.