Ulmara dombroskiei St Laurent

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 : 78-81

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Ulmara dombroskiei St Laurent sp. n. Figs 21, 22, 27; Map 2

Type material.

Holotype, ♂. PERU: Puno: Agualani, Carabaya [Puno], 9000 ft., Dec. 05. wet season, (G.R. Ockenden)./ Ulmara rotunda Dognin, Pearson det./ Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1/ NHMUK010355067/ St Laurent diss.: 4-8-16:3/ HOLOTYPE ♂ Ulmara dombroskiei St Laurent, 2016 [handwritten red label]/ (NHMUK).

Paratypes, 4 ♂. PERU: Puno: 2 ♂, Santo Domingo, Carabaya [Puno], 6000 ft: III.1902, IV.1902, Ockenden, wet season and end of wet season, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, St Laurent diss.: 4-15-16:4, NHMUK010355073, 010354877 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, Santo Domingo, S. E. Peru, 6000 ft: G. Ockenden, "not in B. M.," Joicey Coll. Brit. Mus. 1925-157, NHMUK010354878 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, Santo Domingo, Carabaya [Puno], 6500 ft: XII.1902, G. Ockenden, wet season, 623, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, NHMUK010355066, St Laurent diss.: 4-26-16:1 (NHMUK). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE ♂ Ulmara dombroskiei St Laurent, 2016.

Diagnosis.

This species is most similar to Ulmara azurula , see the diagnosis of that species for characters necessary for differentiation. However, it is worth repeating the characters entirely unique to this species in the entire genus: postmedial line somewhat variable in distance from wing margin but may be as far as one-third wing length away from the margin, the gnathos is reduced but nearly converges mesally (or does so very weakly), and is overall not heavily sclerotized, distinguishing it Ulmara rotunda , the uncus is highly truncated, the saccular extensions are highly reduced, and the phallus is very wide distally.

Description.

Male.Head: As for genus. Thorax: As for genus. Legs: As for genus. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17.5-19.5 mm, avg.: 18.7 mm, wingspan: 34-37 mm, n= 3. As for genus but ground color nearly blue-gray, overall blue metallic sheen present due to angled, reflective scales. Postmedial line located about one-fourth to one third wing length distant from wing margin, postmedial line obvious due to pale blue-gray suffusion surrounding line, postmedial line sharply notched between Rs4 and costa. Forewing ventrum: As for genus. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, antemedial line absent, discal mark absent, outer margin of wing weakly to moderately serrate. Hindwing ventrum: As for genus. Abdomen: As for genus. Genitalia: (Fig. 27) n=3. Vinculum somewhat box-like, ventrally with reduced saccus, bilobed projections of saccus attached to VIII, forming small, paired, setae-covered sclerotizations, splayed sclerotizations barely extending beyond width of vinculum. Uncus simple, highly truncated apically with very wide base. Gnathos incomplete, reduced, but nearly converging mesally, weakly sclerotized. Valves small, subtriangular, 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 very fine. 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. Phallus short, anterior half greatly widened, ventral apex more heavily sclerotized forming point, vesica small, sac-like, weakly scobinate; base of phallus much narrower than apical half, basal part much narrower than terminal part, angled slightly downward. Female: Unknown.

Distribution

(Map 2). This species is known only from two nearby localities, separated by about 30 km, in Puno, southeastern Peru at elevations ranging from 1828-2743 m, and is the most southerly distributed species of Ulmara .

Etymology.

This species is named for Jason Dombroskie (CUIC), a colleague, mentor, and friend to the author. Additionally, Jason is one of the few individuals who has been involved in the taxonomy of the poorly known Mimallonidae , and thus has been integral in deepening our understanding of this fascinating family of moths.

Remarks.

As previously mentioned in the remarks for Ulmara azurula , the two Peruvian species, although distinct, are related, given the reduction of the gnathos, the small valves, and the blue iridescence of the wing scales. As mentioned previously, this blue iridescence is not well represented in the figures.

Although five specimens and three dissections of Ulmara dombroskiei were examined when writing the description, only one specimen (the holotype) is from Agualani at the higher elevation. This specimen displayed the most accentuated characters that define this species, namely the very broad phallus and the postmedial lines of the fore and hindwings, which are relatively distant from the wing margin. Therefore, this specimen is designated as the holotype. The differences between the holotype and paratypes, namely slightly less broadened phallus and postmedial line located nearer to the wing margin, may be due to elevation differences considering the proximity of the localities and the otherwise same general structures of the genitalia.