Tarema bruna, St Laurent, Ryan A., Herbin, Daniel & Mielke, Carlos G. C., 2017

St Laurent, Ryan A., Herbin, Daniel & Mielke, Carlos G. C., 2017, Revision of the genus Tarema Schaus, 1896 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of a new species from southeastern Brazil, ZooKeys 646, pp. 119-137 : 132-134

Tarema bruna sp. n. Figs 7, 13, 16

Type material.

Holotype, ♂. BRAZIL: São Paulo: Alto de [recte da] Serra, [Paranapiacaba, Santo André], São Paulo, November, 1922. (R. Spitz [leg.])./ Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1/ [genitalia] VIAL NHMUK010402168 / NHMUK010318286/ HOLOTYPE male Tarema bruna St Laurent, Herbin, & C. Mielke, 2017 [handwritten red label]/ (NHMUK). Type locality: Brazil: São Paulo: Paranapiacaba.

Diagnosis.

Externally this species is most similar to Tarema rivara , but can be easily distinguished by the earthen brown and clay brown coloration rather than orange or red-orange in Tarema rivara . Additionally, in Tarema bruna sp. n. the postmedial lunule reaches the wing margin without becoming highly diffuse, and is parallel to the wing margin for its entire length until bending outward. The male genitalia is unique in the extreme reduction of the heavily sclerotized vincular/valve arms, present as a small extension at the base of the valves. The phallus is also unique in the thinness of the dorsal projection, which is smooth as in Tarema rivara , not spined as in Tarema fuscosa .

Description.

Male.Head: As for genus, coloration earthen brown. Thorax: Coloration similar to that of head, appearing hoary due to banded gray and cream colored scales interspersed amongst brown ones, prothorax covered almost entirely in these lighter scales. Legs: As for genus. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 13 mm, wingspan: 26 mm, n=1. Ground color a mixture of earthen brown tones and clay-brown, overall generously shaded by cream colored scales giving the wing a hoary, layered appearance, especially medially. Antemedial line faint, brown, wavy. Postmedial line as for genus but wavier, coloration light cream, not bordered by darker scales except for a small external portion above the tornus. Antemedial area with salmon orange hue, medial area lighter brown compared to darker submarginal area. Apical half of submarginal area with postmedial lunule, the latter parallel with margin, then smoothly curved toward margin reaching wing margin without becoming diffuse, basal half of submarginal area darkest brown, apical portion external to lunule lighter brown. Discal spot as for genus. Fringe light cream with lighter and darker patches. Forewing ventrum: Similar to dorsum but lighter due to more extensive covering of gray and cream colored scales; antemedial line absent, postmedial line faint, bulging outward toward wing margin mesally. Postmedial lunule present as on dorsum, more distinct than postmedial line. Hindwing dorsum: Coloration as for forewing dorsum, following similar patterning but antemedial line absent, postmedial line straight and faintly outlined by black scales, postmedial lunule very faint. Hindwing ventrum: Following same pattern as forewing ventrum, though discal mark very dark, well defined as black oval. Abdomen: As for genus, concolorous with thorax. Genitalia: (Fig. 13) n=1. Vinculum somewhat ovoid, ventrally with reduced saccus. Uncus robust but reduced to slightly triangular stump. Gnathos a tapered, elongated, hexagonal plate. Valves short, rounded. Base of valves with pair of long, fingerlike projections. Slightly more strongly sclerotized, small projections emanate from base of valves. Diaphragm with pair of horsetail-like setal patches consisting of very long setae that extend outward over phallus below gnathos plate, setae curled backward at end. Phallus broad, large, widened distally, with two elongated accessory projections, one projection superior to phallus, smooth, narrow, pointed, other projection longer, narrower, running laterally along phallus originating from within phallus, tip of second projection sharp, angled forward. Vesica balloon-like. Female. Unknown.

Distribution

(Fig. 16). This new species is so far known only from the type locality at Paranapiacaba (previously known as Alto da Serra, a train station), São Paulo, Brazil. According to GoogleEarth, the elevation at this locality is approximately 700 m.

Etymology.

This species is named for its brown ( bruna Latin) coloration, which largely distinguishes it from the red or orange Tarema rivara and the black, gray, and cream-colored Tarema fuscosa .

Remarks.

The discovery of a unique new species of Tarema from eastern São Paulo is surprising because this is a relatively well-surveyed region of Brazil (R. A. St. Laurent pers. obs.). Both Tarema rivara and Tarema fuscosa have been collected from the type locality of Tarema bruna (NHMUK), though at different times of the year. As previously mentioned in the remarks of Tarema rivara , that species is primarily a summer species, with records from Paranapiacaba in January, while Tarema fuscosa has only been collected there in the winter (June and July). More material of Tarema bruna will be needed to verify its voltinism.

An issue is presented by the fact that the type localities of Tarema rivara , Tarema macarina , and Tarema bruna are all from São Paulo, Brazil with specific type locality information from within the state only available for Tarema bruna . Therefore, the possibility arose that the name Tarema macarina could be wrongfully synonymized with Tarema rivara if indeed it is conspecific with the new species described herein. However, we consider the apparent rarity of Tarema bruna combined with the genitalia similarities between the lectotype of Tarema macarina and other Tarema rivara females dissected from São Paulo and elsewhere, including Cerrado regions, more suggestive that the name Tarema macarina does in fact represent the female of Tarema rivara , a much more commonly collected and widespread species. If future evidence were found to contradict our hypothesis, Tarema bruna would then be a junior and subjective synonym of Tarema macarina . It is therefore necessary that more material of Tarema bruna be found or collected, particularly in aim to locate the female of this species.