Scea subcyanea Prout, 1918

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

Scea subcyanea Prout , revised status Plate 34

Scea subcyanea Prout, 1918: 425 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Peru, Carabaya, Oconeque to Aqualani, 6000–9000 ft.

TYPE: Holotype ♀, leg. G. Ockenden, Mar 1905 ( BMNH).

DISCUSSION: Prout (1918) described subcyanea as a subspecies of S. gigantea (pl. 34), differing from the nominate form in showing the ‘‘apical part of [the] forewing and whole of [the] hind wing strongly glossed with blue’’ ( Prout, 1918: 425). My studies indicate that S. subcyanea is distinct from S. gigantea and from all other Scea , and as such warrants full species status. The two taxa are easily separable based on wing pattern: The HW of S. gigantea ( Bolivia and SE Peru) is broadly light gray along its anal margin, with the veins dark charcoal gray as they pass through; there is no sign of iridescence. The HW of subcyanea is a uniform, iridescent dark blue-gray, without darker veins.

I have seen only two specimens of S. subcyanea —the BMNH holotype and a female at the MUSM (JSM-1620). Scea subcyanea , with a FW length of 28.0 mm, is the largest species in the genus, significantly larger than S. gigantea (FW length 5 25.0– 26.0 mm). It appears to be sympatric with S. erasa . Both co-occur at Machu Picchu, along with a third, large undescribed species (pl. 34).

DISTRIBUTION: Peru (BMNH, MUSM).

DISSECTED: ♀, Peru, Cuzco, S.H. Machu Picchu, Entre Intipunco y Wiñaywayna, 2700 m, 1310-11/7232, 22 Oct 2001, leg. O. Mielke, diurnal collection, MUSM (genitalia slide no. JSM-1620).