Cibyra babi, 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 : 42-44

Cibyra babi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Pl. 9: Figs 1–3 , Pl. 12: Fig. 6 , Pl. 18: Fig. 1 , Pl. 22: Fig. 1

Type material. Holotype ♂ (Pl. 9: Fig. 1 ): / BRAZIL —SP [ São Paulo ], Guapiara, Paivinha , 800 m, 18-21.XII.2005, C. Mielke leg./ BC-CGCM/ 29.881 Col. C. Mielke/ DZ 52.608/ HOLOTYPUS, Cibyra babi C. Mielke, Grehan & Koike, 2024 / ( DZUP).

Paratypes (in total 1 ♂ 2 ♀): Brazil. São Paulo. Same data as holotype: 1 ♂ ( CGCM 28.593; CGCM). Same locality and collector as holotype: 1 ♀, 22–24.I.2005 ( CGCM 29.307; CGCM). Santa Catarina : São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal, 550 m: 29.X.1999, A. Rank leg. ( CGCM 6.088; CGCM).

Diagnosis. Despite the similarity of the male genitalia between this and the next species (differences discussed under the latter), the male FW ornamentation is sufficient to separate them. In C. babi sp. nov., the discal spot is reduced to tiny golden spots, and the oblique basal and postdiscal bands are weakly contrasting, while in C. clara sp. nov., the discal spot is conspicuous and the bands are strongly contrasting.

Description. Male (Pl. 9: Fig. 1 , Pl. 12: Fig. 6 ). Forewing length: 10–14 mm, wingspan: 20–28 mm. Epiphysis present.

Male genitalia (Pl. 18: Fig. 1 , Pl. 22: Fig. 1 ). Tergal lobes slightly sclerotised and slightly protruded postero-mesally. Posterior edge of outer wall of saccus straight, inner wall excavated posteriorly to articulate with fultura inferior. Tegumen slightly sinuate. Fultura inferior as wide as long, slightly constricted laterally, distally bilobed, trapezoidal.

Female (Pl. 9: Figs 2–3 ). Forewing length: 20 mm, wingspan: 39 mm. Epiphysis present.

PLATE 9. FIGURES 1−14 . Cibyra spp. of olinda species-group. Adults (dorsal): 1 (CGCM 29.881), 2 (CGCM 6.088), 3 (CGCM 29.307), 4 (CGCM 39.264), 5 (CGCM 39.898), 6 (CGCM 33.359), 7 (CGCM 43.989), 8 (CGCM 43.561), 9 (CGCM 43.271), 10 (DZ 52.709), 11 (CGCM 24.543), 12 (CGCM 24.397), 13 (CGCM 23.316), 14 (CGCM 17.799). Depositories of the specimens: 1, 4, 6–11, 13 in DZUP; 2–3, 5, 12, 14 in CGCM.

Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Distribution. Known only from two localities in São Paulo and Santa Catarina , in southeastern and southern Brazil, at altitudes of about 500 and 800 m (Pl. 29: Fig. 1 ).

Etymology. Homonym in honour of Bárbara S. Campis (Babi), feminine. It is treated as a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Remarks. Despite intensive collecting efforts within both areas where C. babi sp. nov. occurs, the new species was found to be very scarce at light traps. All records come from very late spring and early Summer. It is sympatric only to C. olinda sp. nov. 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.