Schacontia atropos Solis & Goldstein

Goldstein, Paul Z., Metz, Mark A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2013, Phylogenetic systematics of Schacontia Dyar with descriptions of eight new species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), ZooKeys 291, pp. 27-81 : 67-69

Schacontia atropos Solis & Goldstein sp. n. Figs 123264, 65

Material examined.

Type material. Holotype (♂, USNM) (Fig. 12): Venezuela: San Estaban Carabobo, Venez., Dec. 1-20 1939, Pablo J. Anduse. Paratypes (2♂), USNM. Venezuela: Same data as holotype (1♂); Lara, 4 km NW of La Pastora, 2-3 III 1978 riparian forest blacklight, J.B. Heppner (1♂).

Diagnosis.

Habitus (Fig. 12). Overlaps in appearance with Schacontia lachesis , but males lack all secondary sexual features; hindwing uniformly pale throughout. Genitalia (Figs 64, 65). Male genitalic features place it squarely in the nyx complex, from whose other member species it may be distinguished by the combination of the angled ventral edge of the saccus (ulna) and unmodified edges of the uncus.

Description.

(Fig. 12). Male. Forewing length: 5.4-5.5 mm (n= 2). Head - Ocelli present; proboscis normal; frons of normal contour; labial palpi porrect, extending beyond clypeus. Thorax - Prothoracic scaling light straw yellow. Female with two pair of hind tibial spurs (medial pair present). Forewing. Ground color staw yellow; medial area brown gray, heavily suffused with white scales, orbicular spot present. Hindwing. Pale overall, nearly translucent, not more darkly tinged subterminally as in other members of Schacontia nyx complex; postmedial line faint if present. Abdomen - Scales arranged in two terminal black dorsal spots in males. Tympanal organs (Fig. 32). As for ysticalis-themis group, vide supra. Male genitalia (Figs 64, 65) - Teguminal sulcus short, such that anterior margin of tegumen appears deeply invaginate, the two oblong teguminal lobes joined obliquely; uncus trefoil-shaped tip reduced to a small, more or less rhomboid nipple; juxta U-shaped, tapered ventrally; valvae complex, intrasaccular flange transposed towards latero-ventral edge and sclerotized to form a trigger-shaped process; robust, spine-like setae at base of valva; saccular margin sharply angled at saccular mid-point; ventro-marginal setae distributed along length of outer margin of sacculus; valva with pronounced, elongate secondary outer lobe or process below costa; fleshy setose lobe and recurved/decumbent setal plume associated with terminus of costa; sharply hooked setal cluster prominent. Phallus moderately sclerotized; vesica with two large cornuti. Female genitalia - Unknown.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the third of the three fates. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Biology.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Northern Venezuela.

Remarks.

Given the phenomenon described by Ohno (2000) it is well within the realm of possibility that this species represents a synonym of Schacontia lachesis .