Paectes longiformis Pogue, 2012

Pogue, Michael G., 2013, A review of the Paectes arcigera species complex (Guenee) (Lepidoptera, Euteliidae), ZooKeys 264, pp. 125-163 : 130-131

Paectes longiformis Pogue, 2012 Figs 5-6303849

Paectes longiformis Pogue in Manrique et al. 2012: 167.

Type material.

Holotype male - BRAZIL: Bahia, nr. Salvador airport (12.91007°S, 38.3380°W), March 2010, R. Diaz, V. Manrique, M. Vitorino; USNM ENT 00148675; HOLOTYPE / Paectes longiformis Pogue" [red label]. UFPC. Paratypes - (29 males, 30 females) Same data as holotype; genitalia slide male USNM 134921; genitalia slides female USNM 135919, 135976, 135920, 135015, 135016. UFPC, USNM, CNC, BMNH.

Diagnosis.

Paectes longiformis is most likely to be confused with Paectes similis Pogue, but can be differentiated by the color of the medial area of the forewing. In Paectes longiformis (Figs 5-6), the medial area is cream colored interspersed with some dark-ferruginous scales and in Paectes similis (Fig. 7) this area is shiny white with some gray scales. The tarsi in Paectes longiformis are dark gray, whereas in Paectes similis they are mostly white with some gray scales. There are several differences in the male genitalia to differentiate Paectes longiformis from Paectes similis . The uncus is 0.62-0.70 × the length of the subscaphium in Paectes longiformis (Fig. 30) and 0.80 × in Paectes similis (Fig. 31). The distal, free saccular extension is longer than the valve in Paectes longiformis (Fig. 30) and shorter than the valve in Paectes similis (Fig. 31). The female genitalia are easily separated from the other species in this group by the form of the lateral margins of the eighth sternite. In Paectes longiformis ,the lateral margins of the eighth sternite are slightly produced and form a right angle (Fig. 38). In Paectes arcigera and Paectes nana , the lateral margins are not evident (Figs 37, 39) and in Paectes asper , Paectes medialba Pogue, and Paectes sinuosa Pogue, the lateral margins are produced (Figs 40-42).

Distribution and biology.

Known only from the type locality in northeastern Brazil in the state of Bahia (Fig. 49). Larvae have been reared from the Brazilian peppertree. It is possible that this species has a much broader range, considering the wide range of its host plant, but so far no other specimens have been collected.

Remarks.

As a potential biological control agent against the Brazilian peppertree in Florida, baseline data was developed about the biology and temperature requirements of Paectes longiformis ( Manrique et al. 2012).