Ulmara Schaus, 1928: 666

St. Laurent, Ryan A., 2016, Revisions of the genera Lurama Schaus, 1928 and Ulmara Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the descriptions of three new Ulmara species and a new genus, ZooKeys 611, pp. 57-92 : 67-70

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Ulmara Schaus, 1928: 666

Type species.

Cicinnus rotunda Dognin, 1916; Schaus 1928: 666, by original designation.

Diagnosis.

The unique genus Ulmara shows no apparent external resemblance to any known Mimallonidae . The stout, broad wings, dark, nearly black coloration, serrated postmedial lines, combined with impressively long pectinations of the antennae in males, are all characters that should immediately allow the recognition of Ulmara . Although the long pectinations of the antennae are seen in the other two genera treated in the present work, neither genus is so darkly colored. Cunicumara gen. n., described below, is similar in having both broad antennae and stout wings, but is easily distinguished by the straight, rather than serrate postmedial line present in Ulmara . The male genitalia of Ulmara are actually rather similar to those of Lurama (see diagnosis of Lurama ) but wholly unlike those of Cunicumara gen. n. The genitalia of Ulmara are recognized by the short, broad phallus with a scoop-like ventral projection, apically-toothed valves, and the unique, paired, setae-covered sclerotizations on the ventrum of VIII, which are variously connected to an extension of the saccus.

Description.

Male.Head: Very dark brown to nearly black, eyes very large, occupying more than two-thirds area of head; antennal coloration pale tan to dark brown, if lighter in color, contrasting against dark head, scape with contrasting pale off-white tuft of scales, antenna bipectinate to tip, pectinations very long, the longest nearly one-fourth length of antenna overall; labial palpus relatively long, extending beyond head, three segmented, tufted ventrally, heavily clothed in long scales. Thorax: Coloration as for head but often with pale-gray to brown scales beneath darker-black to steel-blue scales, vestiture very long, shaggy, scales thin, scales of prothorax lighter brown. Legs: Coloration as for thorax, but lighter ventrally, vestiture fine, elongated. Femur and tibia clothed in particularly long scales. Tibial spurs somewhat elongated, tubular, clothed in light khaki-colored scales except for naked tip. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17.5-21 mm, wingspan: 34-43 mm, n=16. Short subtriangular, margin convex, apex barely accentuated. Ground color usually very dark grayish black, often with nearly steel-blue sheen, older and worn specimens expose lighter pale-brown scales beneath thicker, darker-scales; wider petiolate scales absent. Antemedial line brown, zigzagged, usually obscured by darker surrounding scales so line nearly absent. Brown postmedial line serrated at each wing vein, postmedial line may be very distinct, especially when lighter scales present along inner side, and near tornus, or postmedial line may be overshadowed by darker surrounding scales; line angled toward costa at Rs4. Between Rs4 and costa, line slightly undulated, but otherwise less serrate, may be notched near costa. Location of postmedial line variable, from one-fourth wing length distant from wing margin to nearly two-thirds distant. Antemedial, medial, and postmedial areas concolorous, although postmedial area may be lighter gray blue than medial area, particularly along postmedial line. Discal spot a small white mark, either somewhat circular in shape or oblong. Fringe consisting of elongated scales, coloration as for medial area except some lighter off-white scales present in semi-regular pattern along margin. Forewing ventrum: Similar to dorsum but much lighter, grayer, maculation reduced; antemedial line absent, postmedial line less distinct to nearly absent, brown outline lacking if present on dorsum. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, antemedial line absent, discal mark absent, outer margin of wing may be serrate or mostly smooth. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum. Base of wing sometimes covered by dark-brown scales emanating outward from thorax. Frenulum present as single bristle. Venation: Similar to Lurama but CuA1 arises nearer to lower angle of cell; M2 and M3 do not originate from same point at lower angle of cell, and are more separated. Abdomen: Concolorous with thorax, but usually slightly lighter brown, distal tip with paired tuft of elongate scales. Genitalia: Simple; vinculum somewhat box-like or ovoid, ventrally with reduced saccus, projection of saccus attached to VIII, forming paired, setae-covered sclerotizations. Uncus simple, highly truncated apically with triangular base or broad basally, with reduced apical extension, laterally uncus beak-like. Gnathos variable, from nearly absent, to mesally gapped, to a single fused plate. Valves short, generally triangular, somewhat truncated apically, with single tooth projecting from saccular edge near apex of valve, tooth variable in length. Transtilla with weakly sclerotized, inward-facing setae-covered extensions, setae variable in thickness from very fine to thick. Setae pointed outward directly over phallus. Diaphragm forms small, balloon-like sac expanded inward into abdomen, sac covered in fine, inward-facing setae surrounding phallus. Juxta partially fused to phallus, encircling it, lightly sclerotized, especially dorsal to phallus. Phallus short, stout, anterior half tubular or bent, apex more heavily sclerotized, forming scoop-like extension below vesica; vesica small, sac-like, weakly scobinate, poorly differentiated diverticula may be present; base of phallus much narrower than apical half, but variable in thickness, angled backward from apex of phallus. Female.Head: As for male, but antennae much smaller overall, pectinations particularly shorter, labial palpus slightly reduced. Thorax: As for male. Legs: As for male, but vestiture seemingly sparser. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 21.5 mm, wingspan: 41 mm, n=2. As for male but more elongated, slightly narrower, discal mark reduced. Forewing ventrum: Similar to dorsum but much lighter, grayer, maculation reduced; antemedial line absent, postmedial line less distinct. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, antemedial line absent. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum. Frenulum as multiple bristles, length shorter than in male. Abdomen: Concolorous with thorax, similar to male but not truncated to a point. Genitalia: (Fig. 28) n=1. [based on Ulmara conjuncta sp. n. only] Stout; tergite of VIII forms smooth, thick posteriorly directed arch, laterally VIII heavily sclerotized, forming pair of posteriorly directed lobes on each side, anterior lobe covered in minute, fine setae, posterior lobe with about 10 sparse, long setae. Apophyses anteriores slightly more than half length of apophyses posteriores, apophyses posteriores very long, as long as length of genitalia structure. Lamella antevaginalis wide, concave, only posterior edge well sclerotized, covered in minute setae, ventral margin of lamella smoothly curved. Ductus bursae short, almost as wide as corpus bursae. Corpus bursae reduced, baglike. Papillae anales somewhat convex laterally, papillae anales covered with fine setae, setae at base of papillae anales more compactly distributed, forming lateral tuft.

Remarks.

The genus Ulmara contains some of the darkest colored and highest elevation inhabiting Mimallonidae , and is immediately recognizable by characters given in the diagnosis. Most species in the genus are quite similar to one another, but can be primarily differentiated by male genitalia. Distribution and overall size should also be adequate for simple diagnosis.

Key to species of Ulmara *

*Note: the females of Ulmara azurula sp. n. and Ulmara dombroskiei sp. n. are unknown.