Librita librita ( Plötz, 1886 ), librita (Plotz, 1886

Austin, George T. & Warren, Andrew D., 2009, New looks at and for Onespa, Buzyges, and Librita (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae), with new combinations and descriptions of a new genus and six new species, Insecta Mundi 2009 (89), pp. 1-55 : 31-38

Librita librita ( Plötz, 1886)

( Fig. 37-44 , 61, 71, 83, 93)

Hesperia librita Plötz, 1886 . Type locality: PANAMA; location of type unknown.

Augiades hecale Godman, 1900 (synonymy established by Godman 1907). Type locality: MEXICO: Guerrero; Omilteme and Xucumanatlan; holotype male ( Fig. 37-38 ) in Godman and Salvin collection at BMNH.

Description. Male ( Fig. 37-40 , 61) - mean forewing length = 14.8 mm (13.3-15.4 mm, n=12; from various locations in Mexico); forewing weakly produced with pointed apex, termen slightly convex, conspicuous, broad, gray-brown stigma, triangular in CuA 1 -CuA 2 along posterior edge of discal cell from distad of origin of CuA 1 to base of cell, continuous across basal 1/3 of vein CuA 2, narrowing by about 1/2 its width at vein 2A, cephalic edge of anterior portion margined with long and thin black scales on vein of discal cell; hindwing convex, weakly lobate at tornus; dorsal forewing yellow-orange marked with black; black as moderately broad outer margin, broadest apically and especially at tornus where occupying distal 1/3 of anal cell; black also variably associated with stigma (mostly proximad), a more or less rectangular patch distad of discal cell (between veins M 1 and M 3), but not quite reaching marginal black, bases of cell CuA 2 -2A and discal and anal cells with sparse dusting of black scales; bases of R 3 -R 4, R 4 -R 5 and R 5 -M 1 black, which, along with marginal black, weakly defines subapical macules in same cells; veins R 3 to 2A prominently black distad and caudad of discal cell; fringe yellow-orange.

Dorsal hindwing also largely yellow-orange marked with black; outer margin more narrowly black than on forewing, this broadest towards tornus except partially interrupted by wedge of yellow-orange at vein 2A, not quite reaching termen; costal margin black cephalad of Rs and extending caudad into base of Rs-M 1; distal end of discal cell, veins M 1, M 3, CuA 1, and CuA 2 black; long yellow-orange setiform scales in base of discal cell, proximal 1/2 of CuA 1 -CuA 2 and CuA 2 -2A, and extending nearly to termen in 2A-3A; fringe pale brown cephalad, yellow-orange caudad of CuA

2

.

Ventral surface largely orange; forewing more yellow-orange as three subapical macules and submarginally between M 3 and 2A; discal cell with orange gradually shading to or mottled with yellow-orange distad; base of discal cell black, extending furthest distad along cephalic and caudal edges; cells CuA 1 - CuA 2 and CuA 2 -2A black proximad and distad of the broad yellow-orange macules, entire anal cell black; veins M 3, CuA 1, and CuA 2 and those at end of discal cell black; fringe mostly orange, yellow at tornus.

Ventral hindwing appears mottled with weakly contrasting narrow yellow-orange postmedial macules between Sc+R 1 and mid-cell CuA 2 -2A and at distal end of discal cell, those in Sc+R 1 -Rs and Rs-M 1 offset proximad from remaining macules, macule in M 1 -M 3 often doubled; terminal line vaguely black, slightly expanded at ends of veins; black overscaling in bases of cell 2A-3A and anal cell; yellow-orange setiform scales along vein 3A extending to termen; fringe mostly orange, yellow at tornus.

Dorsal head yellow-orange, pale yellow-orange above and becoming yellow behind and beneath eyes; dorsal palpi with orange setiform scales becoming paler and mixed with a few black scales on sides and venter, 3rd segment black with numerous cream-colored scales, extending slightly beyond scales of 2nd segment; antennal shaft black above, yellow-orange and checked narrowly with black (broadest distad) on venter, nudum pale red-brown, dark red-brown on distal segment, 12 (n=6) or 13 (n=4) segments; dorsal thorax orange; ventral thorax ochreous; legs brown proximad, orange distad with long yellow-orange setiform scales especially proximad, protibia not spined, pale yellow-orange epiphysis rather short, ex- tending distad to slightly overlap proximal portion of tarsus, mesotibia not spined, pair of spurs distad, outer about 2/3 length of inner, metatibia not spined, two pairs of spurs, outer about 1/2 length of inner; dorsal abdomen black, heavily overscaled with orange setiform scales, these long cephalad, caudal end yellow-orange; ventral abdomen ochreous. Figure 61-62. Stigmas of Librita and Neposa (see text).

Genitalia ( Fig. 71 , 83 ) - uncus short, hooked 61) L. librita , Chiapas, Mexico; 62) N. heras , Guerrero, caudad in lateral view, entire and narrowing to Mexico. weakly bilobed caudal end in dorsal view; gnathos robust, moderately separated from and of same length as uncus in lateral view, divided with arms very slender, widely apart cephalad and approaching caudad in ventral view, broader than uncus in middle; tegumen thin in lateral view, broad in dorsal view and flaring cephalad, ventral arm combining with dorsal arm of saccus, this combined structure curved just ventrad of its middle; anterior arm of saccus relatively short and thin, mostly straight to slightly upcurved cephalad, barely longer than length of uncus and dorsal portion of tegumen, moderately broad in ventral view and tapering gradually to bluntly rounded cephalic end; valva simple and somewhat elongate, no differentiation between costa and ampulla, latter produced dorsally to pointed triangular process near juncture with harpe, harpe curved rather abruptly with weakly serrate caudal end before another pointed triangular process oriented dorso-caudad, sacculus narrow, ventral edge of valva concave in middle; aedeagus slightly curved upward cephalad, expanded caudad where somewhat flattened dorsally, short, about 1.1 times length of valva, caudal end curved, slightly expanded, triangular titillator on right side just cephalad of caudal end and another of similar size yet more cephalad on venter; vesica with two heavily sclerotized, thin, and sharply pointed spike-like cornuti.

Female ( Fig. 41-44 ) - mean forewing length = 15.7 mm (15.1-16.3 mm, n=5; from various locations in Mexico); forewing apex less pointed than on male, termen convex (more so than on male); hindwing convex (more so than on male), weakly lobate at tornus; color and pattern similar to male; no stigma; yellow-orange on forewing paler; markings less crisply defined largely due to black overscaling encroaching into orange areas; position of male’s stigma, base of discal cell, and entire costa overscaled with black; dorsal hindwing with more black overscaling basad; fringe of forewing pale brown cephalad, dull yelloworange caudad of vein 2A, fringe of hindwing dull yellow-orange, mixed with brown cephalad.

Ventral surface very similar to male; setiform scales along 3A sparse and confined to basal 1/3; fringes as on dorsum.

Dorsal head yellow-orange, whitish above and becoming yellow behind and beneath eyes; dorsal palpi with orange setiform scales becoming paler and mixed with a few black scales on sides and venter, 3rd segment black with numerous cream-colored scales, extending slightly beyond scales of 2nd segment; antennal shaft black above, yellow-orange and checked broadly with black on venter, nudum pale redbrown, dark red-brown on distal segment, 13 (n=1) segments; dorsal thorax pale olive-orange; ventral thorax whitish; legs brown proximad, pale yellow-orange distad with long yellow-orange setiform scales especially proximad, protibia not spined, pale yellow-orange epiphysis rather short, extending distad to slightly overlap proximal portion of tarsus, mesotibia not spined, pair of spurs distad, outer about 1/2 length of inner, metatibia not spined, two pairs of spurs, outer about 2/3 length of inner; dorsal abdomen dark brown, overscaled with olive-orange (cephalad) and orange (caudad) setiform scales, these long cephalad, caudal end yellow mixed with black; ventral abdomen yellow.

Genitalia ( Fig. 93 ) - lamellae about as broad as long, caudal edge of lamella postvaginalis excavate centrally into relatively broad V-shape, lamella antevaginalis slightly narrower than lamella postvaginalis, caudal edge bilobate, lobes separated by shallow U-shaped excavation, ostium bursae about twice as broad as deep; ductus bursae short (1.6 mm including antrum), relatively straight (ventral and lateral views), and sclerotized; corpus bursae elongate, about 2 times as long as broad, indistinctly wrinkled longitudinally.

Specimens examined. GUATEMALA: Dept. Baja Verapaz ; Chilasco, leg. Champion, no date (1 male; BMNH) ; Quetzal Reserve , “Los Ranchitos”, 1680-1750m, 10-15 June 2007, leg. J. B. Heppner (1 male;

MGCL); MEXICO: no additional data (2 males; BMNH) ; MEXICO: Chiapas; Ochuc , 18-20 May 1972, leg. R. Wind (1 male; MGCL), same locality and collector, 21-24 May 1972 (2 males; MGCL), 15-18 October 1971 (2 males, LDM [slide] #2330, SRS #3426, 1 female; MGCL), 19-23 October 1971 (2 males, 2 females; MGCL) ; San Carlos , 25 May 1969, leg. R. Wind (1 male, SRS #3425; MGCL) ; San Cristobal las Casas , 15 September 1986 (1 male; MAZA) ; San Felipe , 3000’, 5 August 1974, leg. R. Wind (1 male; MGCL) ; MEXICO: Districto Federal ; Pedegral, 27 May 1955, leg. C. Hoffmann (1 male; UNAM), same location and collector, June (1 male; UNAM), December 1961 (1 male; UNAM) ; Pedegral San Angel, Jardín Botanico , 9 October 1983, leg. J. Llorente (1 male; MZFC) ; Pedregal de Sta. Teresa Contreras , 5 May 1974, leg. P. Guzman E. (1 male; UNAM) ; Delegación Magdalena Contreras , Cañada de la Magdalena Contreras, Dinamo 1, 2670m, 28 May 1982, leg. A. Luis-M. (1 male; MZFC), same locality and collector, 23 December 1982 (1 male; MZFC) ; Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, 3ra. Secc. del Bosque de Chapultepec , 14 January 1993, leg. N. Figueroa (1 male; MHNM), same locality, 23 January 1993, leg. R. Lomeli (1 male, 2 females; MHNM), same locality and collector, 4 February 1993 (1 female; MHNM), 4 March 1993 (1 female; MHNM) ; 7 July 1992, leg. N. Figueroa (1 male; MHNM), 9 July 1992 (2 males, 4 females; MHNM) ; Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, 2da. Secc. del Bosque de Chapultepec, Viveros , 5 August 1992, leg. R. Lomeli (2 males; MHNM) ; Delegación Tlalpan, Colonia Bosque del Tlalpan , 11 June 2008, leg. A. D. Warren (1 male; ADWC) ; same locality and collector, 17 June 2008 (1 male; ADWC) ; Vistas del Pedregal , 30 September 2008, leg. A. D. Warren (1 male; ADWC) ; same locality and collector, 9 October 2008 (1 female; ADWC), 20 October 2008 (1 male; ADWC) ; MEXICO: Durango: Mpio. El Salto, Hwy. 40 at Mesa Redonda , 2370m, 29 April 1998, leg. A. D. Warren (1 female; ADWC) ; MEXICO: Guerrero; July , no additional data, leg. R. Müller (2 males, 1 female; MHNM) ; Omilteme [Omiltemi], 8000’, July , leg. H. H. Smith (holotype male of Augiades hecale ; BMNH) ; Xucumanatlan, July , leg. H. H. Smith (1 male; BMNH) ; MEXICO: México; Mpio. Zacualpan, Los Jarillos , 27 February 1987, leg. A. Luis-M (1 male; MZFC) ; Tres Cruces , 27 February 1987, leg. A. Luis-M (1 male; MZFC) ; MEXICO: Michoacán; Mpio. Uruapan, Cerro de la Cruz, 1800- 2300m, 1 April 1997, leg. M. “Chimo” Martínez (1 male; ADWC), same locality, 9 July 1997, leg. M. “Chimo” Martínez (2 females; ADWC), 22 July 1996, leg. A. D. Warren (3 males; ADWC), 23 July 1997, leg. M. “Chimo” Martínez (2 males, 4 females; ADWC), 27 July 1996 leg. A. D. Warren (6 males, ADW #97-114, 4 females, ADW #97-113; ADWC) ; Rancho “La Alberca”, Toreo El Alto , 2000m, 3 April 1994, leg. L. González-Cota (1 female; ADWC) ; MEXICO: Morelos; Chichinautzin, 2600m (RR tracks Tres Marias- Coajomulco ), 22 April 1985, leg. I. Vargas-F. (1 male; MZFC) ; Tepoztlán , July 1975, leg. J. Llorente (2 males; MZFC) ; MEXICO: Oaxaca; 1 mi. S Jacatepec , 200’, 16 September 1989, leg. J. Kemner (1 female, GTA #14137 ; MGCL) ; Rt 190, 13 km NW of Oaxaca, 22 December 1974, leg. E. C. Olson (1 male; MGCL) ; Rt 175, 8 km N of jct. Rt 190, 23 December 1974, leg. E. C. Olson (1 male; MGCL) ; Sta. Maria de Yavestia , 1970m, 29 May 2001, leg. A. Ibarra (1 male, 2 females; UNAM) ; MEXICO: Sinaloa; Durango-Villa Union Hwy. 40, 6500’, 29 April 1966, leg. P. Hubbell (2 males, 1 female; AMNH) ; Loberas Summit , 5 mi. NE Potrerillos, 1820m, parkland forest, 23 August 1973, leg. L. D. & J. Y. Miller (1 female; MGCL) ; Loberas (on Hwy. 40), 1900-1940m, 30 November 1996, leg. A. D. Warren (1 male; ADWC) ; 1 mi. west of El Palmito , 6300’, October 1964, leg. P. Hubbell (1 male; AMNH) ; MEXICO: Sonora; Sierra del Gato , 5 May 1997, leg. J. P. Brock (1 male; JPBC) ; MEXICO: Veracruz; El Naranjal, Fortin, 27 March 1976 (1 male; MAZA) ; Jalapa, March, Schaus collection (4 males; BMNH), same location, November , leg. A. Hall (1 male; BMNH), same location, no date, J. T. Mason collection (1 male; DMNH) ; Presidio , July 1940, leg. T. Escalante (1 male; MGCL), same location and collector, July 1949 (1 male; MGCL) .

Distribution and phenology. In Mexico, Librita librita occurs between about 1800 and 2700 m, from the Sierra Madre Occidental in Sonora, Sinaloa and Durango, through the Eje Neovolcanico (Michoacán, México State, Distrito Federal, Morelos, Veracruz) and Sierre Madre del Sur (Guerrero and Oaxaca) into Chiapas. It is also known with certainty from Guatemala (see discussion below) and may occur southward to Panama. This species has been recorded in all months. Adults fly year-round at least in the Valley of Mexico, although they appear to be most abundant during the local rainy season from about June through October. While widely distributed, populations of L. librita tend to be localized. Most populations occur in pine-oak habitats with ample sunny openings, although some (Delegación Tlalpan, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, Distrito Federal) occur in relatively disturbed habitats adjacent to urban areas.

Biological notes. Males of L. librita guard perches from one to two meters above ground level, during sunny or mostly sunny periods, from about 11:00 h to at least 16:00 h. Both sexes feed at a variety of flowers. One female (in Durango State, April, 1998) was found at damp ground around a seep, at the peak of the local dry season. Grasses ( Poaceae ) are suspected larval foodplants of L. librita ( Chusquea has not

been observed in habitats where L. librita flies; A. Warren, pers. obs.), but oviposition has not yet been witnessed and specific foodplants remain unknown.

Discussion of Librita . Godman (1900, in Godman and Salvin 1879 -1901) described Augiades hecale based on specimens from Mexico and that phenotype is known from Mexico and Guatemala ( Evans 1955, this study) with no recent collections from elsewhere. This could potentially call into question the identity of those populations since the type of Hesperia librita was putatively from Panama ( Plötz 1886). Godman (1907) fortunately established their synonymy. This suggests that either the type of H. librita was mislabeled or that the species has or may have had a broader distribution than collections indicate. Along with A. hecale, Godman and Salvin (1879 -1901) placed another species, Augiades heras Godman, 1900 , in Augiades Hubner, [1819] . Both were transferred to Ochlodes Scudder, 1872 (Hayward 1941, Hoffmann 1941), where they remained until Evans (1955) erected Librita .

Evans’ (1955) characterization of the female of Librita librita , a specimen from Honduras, was of a largely brown phenotype allegedly similar to that of Paratrytone raspa and quite different from the male. More recent collections revealed that L. librita exhibits minor sexual dimorphism in its wing pattern and that Evans (1955) had not seen a female of L. librita and misidentified the Honduran female. That specimen is no longer associated with the series of L. librita at the BMNH (ADW, pers. obs.) and its identity remains unknown.

Several traits characterize Librita from both Onespa and Buzyges . Neither of those genera have a stigma. Although the general structure of both male and female genitalia show general similarities to both of those genera, they are also diagnostic. The aedeagus is short, stout and somewhat flattened on its dorsal surface. This differs from the more tube-like aedeagi of Onespa and Buzyges and the elongate aedeagus of Onespa . The cornuti of Librita are thin throughout, unlike the more robust cornuti of Onespa and Buzyges . Female genitalia differ from those of Onespa and Buzyges by the straight and relatively very short ductus bursae without the internal sclerotization of Onespa or the curvature dorsad of Buzyges . Although the lamella antevaginalis is broad as on both of those genera, its caudal edge is prominently bilobate. The lamella postvaginalis is much narrower on Librita , little broader than the lamella antevaginalis.

One remaining species placed in Librita by Evans (1955) is Augiades heras . Its superficial characters and genital morphology differ considerably from those of L. librita , and a new genus is erected for it and three other species below. This study thus continued the disassembly of Librita initiated by Mielke and Casagrande (2002), a genus that now appears as monotypic. Although Librita has been placed several genera removed from Buzyges (and Onespa ) ( Evans 1955, Warren et al. 2009), its genital characters indicate affinity with both Buzyges and Onespa .

Figures

Figure 37-60. Librita and Neposa (full data in text; ds = dorsal surface, vs = ventral surface; scale bar = 10mm). 37) L. librita, male (holotype of Augiades hecale), Guerrero, Mexico, ds; 38) same, vs; 39) L. librita, male, Michoacán, Mexico, 27 July 1996, ds; 40) same, vs; 41) L. librita, female, Chiapas, Mexico, 19-23 October 1971, ds; 42) same, vs; 43) L. librita, female, Michoacán, Mexico, 23 July 1997, ds; 44) same, vs; 45) N. heras, holotype male, Guerrero, Mexico, ds; 46) same, vs; 47) N. heras, male, Oaxaca, Mexico, 19 October 2008, ds; 48) same, vs; 49) N. heras, female, Guerrero, Mexico, ds; 50) same, vs; 51) N. hestia, holotype female, Veracruz, Mexico, 8 April 1990, ds; 52) same, vs; 53) N. isabelae, holotype male, Guatemala, 22 October 1965, ds; 54) same, vs; 55) N. isabelae, paratype male, Guatemala, 4 December 1965, ds; 56) same, vs; 57) N. armandoi, holotype male, Oaxaca, Mexico, 23 September 2007, ds; 58) same, vs; 59) N. armandoi, paratype male, Oaxaca, Mexico, 25 October 2008, ds; 60) same, vs.

Figure 71-74. Male genitalia of Librita and Neposa (full data in text; shown are lateral view of uncus, gnathos, tegumen, and saccus; dorsal view of uncus and tegumen; ventral view of gnathos uncus; internal view of right valva; ventral view of saccus; ventral, dorsal, right lateral and/or left lateral views of aedeagus; scale bar = 1 mm). 71) L. librita, Chiapas, Mexico (SRS #3425); 72) N. armandoi, Oaxaca, Mexico, holotype (GTA #14143); 73) N. heras, Guerrero, Mexico (ADW #97-112); 74) N. isabelae, Guatemala, paratype (ADW #98-15).

Figure 75-86. Rigid cornuti of Onespa, Buzyges, Librita, and Neposa (full data in text; shown are lateral and dorsal views). 75) O. nubis, El Salvador (SRS #4803); 76) O. gala, Michoacán, Mexico (GTA #14065); 77) O. brockorum, Sonora, Mexico, paratype (SRS #1852); 78) O. nakamura, Costa Rica, holotype (GTA #14033); 79) B. idothea, Costa Rica (ADW #97-102); 80) B. rolla, Costa Rica (GTA #14055); 81) B. benito, Oaxaca, Mexico (SRS #4468); 82) B. mellanaformis, Costa Rica, paratype (GTA #14031); 83) L. librita, Veracruz, Mexico (GTA #14135); 84) N. heras, Guerrero, Mexico (ADW #97-112); 85) N. armandoi, Oaxaca, Mexico, holotype (GTA #14143); 86) N. isabelae, Guatemala, paratype (ADW #98-15).

Figure 93-95. Female genitalia of Librita and Neposa (full data in text; shown are left lateral and ventral views; scale bar = 1 mm). 93) L. librita, Oaxaca, Mexico (GTA #14137); 94) N. heras, Guerrero, Mexico (ADW #97-111); 95) N. hestia, Veracruz, Mexico, holotype (SRS #3738).