Cibyra clara, Mielke & Grehan & Koike, 2025

Mielke, Carlos G. C., Grehan, John R. & Koike, Ricardo M., 2025, Review of the genus Cibyra Walker (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) with descriptions of twenty-four new species from Brazil and Argentina, Zootaxa 5709 (1), pp. 1-74 : 44

Cibyra clara sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Pl. 9: Figs 4–5 , Pl. 12: Fig. 7 , Pl. 18: Fig. 2 , Pl. 22: Fig. 2

Type material. Holotype ♂ (Pl. 9: Fig. 4 ): / BRAZIL — São Paulo (SP) , Campos do Jordão, Lavrinhas, 1898 m., 17.XI.1988 (30), R. Koike leg./ BC-CGCM/ 39.264 Col. C. Mielke/ DZ 52.679/ HOLOTYPUS, Cibyra clara C. Mielke, Grehan & Koike, 2024 / ( DZUP).

Paratypes (in total 5 ♂). Brazil. Minas Gerais. Delfim Moreira, Barreira , 1514 m: 2 ♂, 4.XI.1991, Koike leg. ( CGCM 43.407, 44.513). São Paulo. Same data as holotype: 3 ♂ ( CGCM 38.725 , 39.432 , 39.898 ; CGCM) .

Diagnosis. The tergal lobes are more robust in C. clara sp. nov. than in C. babi sp. nov. and the fultura inferior is clearly distinct, while in C. babi sp. nov. it is trapezoidal. In C. clara sp. nov. it assumes an inverted T-shape, enlarged at base, 1.2× longer than wide (as long as wide in C. babi sp. nov.). For FW ornamentation, see diagnosis under C. babi sp. nov.

Description. Male (Pl. 9: Figs 4–5 , Pl. 12: Fig. 7 ). Forewing length: 11–16 mm, wingspan: 25–31 mm. Epiphysis present.

Male genitalia (Pl. 18: Fig. 2 , Pl. 22: Fig. 2 ). Tergal lobes slightly sclerotised, with a triangular protrusion postero-mesally. Posterior edge of outer wall of saccus straight, inner wall excavated posteriorly to articulate with fultura inferior. Tegumen slightly sinuate. Fultura inferior an inverted T-shaped, base oval to half length, then compressed and projected dorsally, notched apically.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known from a few localities within the Serra da Mantiqueira in Minas Gerais and São Paulo at altitudes ranging about 1500 to 1900 m, in southeastern Brazil (Pl. 29: Fig. 1 ).

Etymology. Homonym in honour of Maria Clara do Nascimento, feminine. It is treated as a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Remarks. The new species is as variable as other species within the genus, especially with respect to the discal spot and the FW postmedial lines. All records are from November, and the species is on the wing earlier than most of its sympatric species ( C. claudia sp. nov., C. elyana sp. nov., C. endyra , C. mariana sp. nov., C. pluriargenteus , C. simone sp. nov.), although it is allopatric to all species within the species-group.

Figures

PLATE 1. FIGURES 1−12. Cibyra spp. of ferruginosa species-group. Adults (dorsal): 1 (CGCM 33.377), 2 (CGCM 35.939), 3 (type no. 18604), 4 (CGCM 10.168), 5 (CGCM 27.547), 6 (CGCM 26.691), 7 (CGCM 23.321), 8 (CGCM 30.335), 9 (CGCM 30.343), 10 (CGCM 23.937), 11 (CGCM 42.000), 12 (CGCM 29.967). Depositories of the specimens: 1–2, 4–12 in CGCM; 3 in USNM.