Scea superba (Druce), 1890

Miller, James S, 2009, Generic Revision Of The Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 2: Josiini, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2009 (321), pp. 675-1022 : 851-852

Scea superba (Druce) , new combination Plate 34

Thirmida superba Druce, 1890: 498 , pl. 42, fig. 10. TYPE LOCALITY: Ecuador, Baños.

TYPE: Syntype ³ ( BMNH).

DISCUSSION: This species becomes newly combined in Scea , with synonymy of Thirmida . Scea superba , a beautiful moth, stands apart from other members of the genus in showing a particularly strong, violet purple iridescence in the wings (pl. 34). The abdomen is also striking in its iridescence. Within the orange FW triangle, only the radius and cubitus are lined with black, unlike most other Scea species where additional veins, including the DC midline and anal fold, are lined. Scea superba is known from a relatively restricted area of eastern Ecuador, extending from Baños along the Río Pastaza north as far as Baeza in the Quijos River valley. The species occurs at approximately 2000 meters in elevation.

The morphology of S. superba adults and larvae was discussed in Miller (1996). Caterpillars of Scea superba are common on the foliage of Passiflora manicata (pl. 41E; table 6) in the vicinity of Cosanga.

DISTRIBUTION: Ecuador (AMNH, BMNH, CMNH, NMW, USNM, ZMH).

DISSECTED: ³, Ecuador, Env. de Ambato , leg. R. P. Irenée Blanc, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-163 ; wing slide no. JSM-185 ) ; ³, Ecuador, Baños, Junquilla , May 1922, leg. E.W. Rorer, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-222 ) ; ♀, Ecuador, Baños , 7000 ft, April 1912, leg. M.G. Palmer, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-223 ) ; ♀, Ecuador, Napo, Río Aliso , leg. J.S. Miller, May 1993, AMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-663 ) .