Lyces constricta (Warren) Warren, 1901

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 : 767

Lyces constricta (Warren) , new combination Plate 29

Ephialtias constricta Warren, 1901: 440 .

TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, Bahia.

TYPE: Syntype ³ ( BMNH).

DISCUSSION: Warren (1901), in his original description of constricta , distinguished it from L. angulosa by being slightly smaller and by having a narrower, more curved stripe in the HW. The BMNH specimens of constricta I dissected match the type precisely and are from the state of Bahia in Central Brazil, where the type was collected. Their genitalia indicate an extremely close relationship with L. angulosa ; the two appear to be sister species. They can be separated by wing size, as well as by several features of their male and female genitalia. Distinguishing characters of the genitalia include: thinner socii in L constricta males, lacking a dorsal flange as in L. angulosa (fig. 322A); a blunt ( constricta ) rather than acute ( angulosa ) valva apex; external process of signum rounded in L. constricta , but broadly truncate in L. angulosa (fig. 322E). The two species are apparently sympatric throughout their ranges.

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (AMNH, BMNH, NMW, VOB).

DISSECTED: ³, Brazil, Bahia, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-206 ) ; ³, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Leopoldo, 4 Oct 1958, MPM (genitalia slide no. JSM-554 ) ; ♀, Brazil, Bahia, leg. Fruhstorfer, BMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-207 ) ; ♀, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Leopoldo, 4 Oct 1958, MPM (genitalia slide no. JSM-555 ) .