Pierella nice Zacca, Siewert & Paluch

Zacca, Thamara, Siewert, Ricardo R., Casagrande, Mirna M., Mielke, Olaf H. H. & Paluch, Márlon, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the “ Pierella lamia species group ” (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) with descriptions of four new species from Brazil, Zootaxa 4078 (1), pp. 366-386 : 377-379

Pierella nice Zacca, Siewert & Paluch sp. nov.

( Figures 21–24 , 34 , 58–59 )

Pierella lamia ssp.; Zacca, Bravo & Araújo, 2011, p. 141

Diagnosis. Pierella nice sp. nov. resembles to P. chalybaea stat. rest, but can be distinguished from the latter by the yellow stain covering beyond the discal cell, and the completely absence of steely blue reflection on the hind wings. Androconial patch is characterized by the well-marked dark rounded central area ( Fig. 34 ). Female genitalia present papillae anales with a well-developed straight posterior aphophysis similar to P. keithbrowni sp. nov., but the ductus bursae is sclerotized, about the same length as the corpus bursae, and paired signa located ventrally ( Figs 58–59 ).

Description. Head. Front brown. Antennae dark brown. Labial palpi with elongated scales, white on the underside and mixed with brown and light brown scales on the underside. Thorax. Prothoracic legs creamy on the upper side and white on the underside; meso and metathoracic legs brown on the upper side and lighter on the underside. Forewing length: male: 35–37 mm (n = 7); female: 38–39 mm (n = 3). Forewing upper side ( Figs 21, 23 ). Mostly brown, with a yellow stain covering about 2/3 of the wing. Forewing under side ( Figs 22, 24 ). Similar to DFW. Mostly light brown, outer margin dark and ripple pattern brown. Two reduced white incomplete ocelli in R5-M1 and M1-M2. Hind wing upper side ( Figs 21, 23 ). Mostly dark brown, lighter towards to the base. Five incomplete ocelli in Rs-M1, M1-M2, M2-M3, M3-CuA1 and CuA1-CuA2, the second larger than the others, the third reduced, and the last ocellus faded. Three black spots on the basal region. Four convex dark brown lines, the most distal line thicker and well-marked. Androconial patch with a well-marked dark rounded central area ( Fig. 34 ). Hind wing under side ( Figs 22, 24 ). Similar to DHW. Outer margin brown and with five white pupils in Rs-M1, M1- M2, M2-M3, M3-CuA1 and CuA1-CuA2.

Male genitalia. Similar to P. lamia (see Figs 36–41 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 58–59 ). Tergum VIII trapezoid. Papillae anales with setae at the distal area, approximately three times taller than longer, sclerotized at the basal half. Sternum VIII not fused with the lamella antevaginalis. Corpus bursae completely membranous, with paired signa located ventrally; ductus bursae about same length as the corpus bursae, anterior portion sclerotized and dilated.

Distribution ( Fig. 62 ). This species is currently known only from the Atlantic province (Parana dominion), Bahia state, Brazil, between 200–1,000m altitude.

Host plant. Unknown.

Etymology. The species name honors both mothers of the senior and second authors, Adenice B. Santos and Janice R. Siewert.

Remarks. During fieldworks at Serra da Jibóia, Bahia, Brazil, Zacca et al. (2011) noticed some phenotypical differences on the wings of Pierella lamia specimens collected in this area, and suggested it might be considered a new subspecies. Detailed morphological studies on eighteen specimens from distinct localities in Bahia revealed the constant morphology of the female genitalia and the androconial patches, being evidences that support P. nice sp. nov. as a good species. Furthermore, based on geographic distributional data and phytophysiognomies similarities between Una and Itabuna (approximately distance of 50 km each other) is possible that P. nice sp. nov. and P. keithbrowni sp. nov. are sympatric, but no specimens were seen in the examined collections.

Type material. Holotype male with the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols): HOLOTYPUS / Pierella nice Zacca, Siewert & Paluch det. 2014/ 6–8–IV–2002 AMARGOSA, BA[HIA] 750m O.-C. MIELKE LEG./ OM 56.227/ (OM). Allotype female with the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols): / ALLOTYPUS/ Pierella nice Zacca, Siewert & Paluch det. 2014/ Ibirapitanga—BA, 10/XI/2013, Paluch, M. & D. Carvalho Silva leg., DZ 30.880 ( DZUP).

Paratypes. BRAZIL— Bahia: Água Comprida [= Simões Filho], 50 m, 14. IX.1957, 1 male, H. Ebert leg. DZ 29.636 ( DZUP); Ibirapitanga, 6. X.2013, 4 females, M. Paluch & D. C. Silva leg., DZ 30.873, DZ 30.874*, DZ 30.875, DZ 30.876 ( DZUP); 2 males, 10.XI.2013, M. Paluch & D. C. Silva leg., DZ 30.877, DZ 30.879* ( DZUP); Itabuna, I.1967, 1 female, V. Becker leg., DZ 29.632 ( DZUP); CEPLAC [Comissão Executiva de Plano de Lavoura Cacaueira], 10 m, 21. X.1998, 1 male, Mielke & Casagrande leg. OM 49.586 (OM), 19–20. X.1998, 1 male, Mielke & Casagrande leg. OM 49.360 (OM); Jitaúna, 150 m, 26. III.1961, 3 males and 1 female, H. Ebert leg. DZ 29.630, DZ 29.668, DZ 30.668*, DZ 29.631* ( DZUP); Ubatã, 20. XII.1966, 1 male and 1 female, Brown leg. DZ 29.634, DZ 29.635 ( DZUP).

Figures

FIGURE 62. Geographical distribution of “ Pierella lamia ” species group.

FIGURES 13 – 28. Habitus of “ Pierella lamia ” species group. 13 – 16. Pierella angeloi sp. nov.: 13. male holotype, dorsal view; 14. male holotype, ventral view; 15. female allotype, dorsal view; 16. female, ventral view; 17 – 20. Pierella kesselringi sp. nov.: 17. male holotype, dorsal view; 18. Male, ventral view; 19. Female allotype, dorsal; 20. Female ventral view. 21 – 24. Pierella nice sp. nov.: 21. Male holotype, dorsal view; 22. Male, ventral; 23. Female allotype, dorsal; 24. Female, ventral view; 25 – 28. Pierella keithbrowni sp. nov.: 25. Male holotype, dorsal view; 26. Male, ventral view; 27. Female allotype, dorsal view; 28. Female, ventral view. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURES 29 – 35. Hind wings androconial patches in dorsal view. 29. Pierella lamia; 30. Pierella chalybaea stat. rest.; 31. Pierella boliviana stat. nov.; 32. Pierella angeloi sp. nov.; 33. Pierella kesselringi sp. nov.; 34. Pierella nice sp. nov.; 35. Pierella keithbrowni sp. nov.

FIGURES 48 – 61. Female genitalia of “ Pierella lamia species group ”. 48 – 49. Pierella lamia: 48. lateral; 49. ventral. 50 – 51. Pierella chalybaea stat. rest.: 50. lateral; 51. ventral. 52 – 53. Pierella boliviana stat. nov.: 52. lateral; 53. ventral. 54 – 55. Pierella angeloi sp. nov.: 54. lateral; 55. ventral; 56 – 57. Pierella kesselringi sp. nov.: 56. lateral; 57. ventral. 58 – 59. Pierella nice sp. nov.: 58. lateral; 59. ventral. 60 – 61. Pierella keithbrowni sp. nov.: 60. lateral; 61. ventral. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 36 – 47. Male genitalia of “ Pierella lamia species group ”. 36 – 41. Pierella lamia: 36. lateral; 37. dorsal; 38. ventral; 39. valva, inner view; 40. aedeagus, lateral; 41. aedeagus, dorsal. 42 – 47. Pierella boliviana stat. nov.: 42. lateral; 43. dorsal; 44. ventral; 45. valva, inner view; 46. aedeagus, lateral; 47. aedeagus, dorsal. Scales bar = 1 mm.