Schacontia medalba (Schaus, 1904)

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 : 42-44

Schacontia medalba (Schaus, 1904) Figs 12136-38

Acontia ? medalba Schaus, 1904: 163. Type Locality: Brazil.

Material examined.

(19♂, 10♀, 1 sex undet.).

Type material.

Holotype (♀, USNM): Castro, Parana; Collection Wm Schaus; [red type label] type 10575; Acontia? medalbi [sic] sp. Schs; Pyralie Schoenobiana gen. nov.; USNM Genitalia Slide by DA ♀ 107,899.

Other material examined.

Brazil: (19♂, 8♀, 1 sex undet.): Bnito Prov. Pernmbuco Brazl 83, unknown [illegible] 84 W.S. 165, genitalia slide by DA ♂ USNM 107,909 (1♂); Bnito Prov., Pernmbuco Brazl 83, [illeg.], Collection C.V. Riley, Genitalia slide by DA ♂ USNM 107,887 (1♂); Bnito Prov., Pernmbuco Brazl 83, [illeg.], Collection C.V. Riley, Genitalia slide by DA ♀ USNM 107,888 (1♀); Pernambuco, Brazil, coll. Pickel, 17 II 929 2065, Genitalia slide by DA ♀ 107,910 (1♀); Pernambuco Tapera, 1934.VIII.24, 2087♀ (1♀); Bnito Prov., Pernmbuco, Brazl. 6/1 83, Not known [illeg.], Collection of C.V. Riley ♂ (1♂); Pernambuco, Brazil, Coll. Pickel ♂ (1♂); 28, Bnito Prov., Pernmbuco, Brazl 8 3, 2, Fernald ♂ (1♂); 73, Not in BM 1925, W Schaus ♂ (1♂); 2♂ 1♀, as previous; Castro, Parana, Collection Wm Schaus, incl. 1: Genitalia slide by MAS ♀ USNM 107,011 (1♀); 1♂ as previous; Brazil: Nova Teutonia, F. Plaumann (1♂); Col. Becker No. 4601, Rio Brilbante, Mato Grosso, Brasil, 25.I.1971, V. O. Becker Col., Schacontia medalba det. M.A. Solis [on one only] (2♀); Col. Becker No. 9164, Rio Brilbante, Mato Grosso, Brasil, 24.X.1970, Becker leg. (1♀); Nova Teutonia, 27°11'S, 52°23'W, Brazil, 300-500 m, 4-IV-1954, Fritz Plaumann [CNC] (4♂); Nova Teutonia, 27°11'S, 52°23'W, Brazil, 300-500 m, 10-IV-1954 Fritz Plaumann [CNC] (4♂); as above, "Slide No. 3645M.S." (1 sex undet.); Nova Teutonia, 27°11'S, 52°23'W, Brazil, 300-500 m, 3-III-1954, Fritz Plaumann, Schacontia n. sp. 7, Det. E.G. Munroe 1998 [CNC], Genitalia slide by JAL ♂ (1♂). Peru (1♀): Boniti P, Peru, Jan 7. 83.

Diagnosis.

Specimens of Schacontia medalba are most readily diagnosed from those of Schacontia chanesalis by male genitalia, specifically the reduced, unlobed valvae and the naked intrasaccular process, features they share with Schacontia umbra .

Re-description

(Fig. 1). Forewing length 6.5-1.0 mm. Head- Frons conical; labial palpi straight, extending as far as clypeus. Thorax - Female with one pair of hind tibial spurs (medial pair absent); legs uniform gray brown. Forewing. Basal area primarily gray brown, undivided; antemedial (am) line meets anal margin. Subterminal line interrupted by wing veins; medial area partially suffused with white, especially basad; white postmedial line appears shaded basally, interrupts/traverses dark shading between apical area and distal region of medial area; this “double” line faintly common to HW; FW fringe gray-brown. Hindwing. Postmedial line present, conspicuous (see above); terminal area lightly shaded, fringe white. Abdomen- Apical bands of pale scales on abdominal segments; terminal dots grayish brown, faint if present. Tympanal organs (Fig. 21). As for the medalba group, vide supra. Male genitalia (Figs 36, 37). Teguminal sulcus short, such that anterior margin of tegumen appears deeply invaginate; juxta U-shaped; valvae simple, reduced, rounded, not bilobed or emarginate; intrasaccular process a simple flange; intrasaccular process naked; phallus simple, cornuti absent. Female genitalia (Fig. 38). Antrum wider than deep, chalice-like; ductus bursae inconspicuous, no colliculum apparent; corpus bursae indistinct, weakly sclerotized, elongate.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Variation. Variable in size; forewings vary with respect to obfuscation in medial area.

Biology.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Brazil, Peru.