Ernassa markpacei, Grados, 2024

Grados, Juan, 2024, Beyond appearances: the genus Ernassa Walker, 1856 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Phaegopterina) and the description of eight new species, Zootaxa 5493 (4), pp. 301-327 : 320-321

Ernassa markpacei sp. nov.

( Figs. 57–62 )

Diagnosis: Similar to E. harveyi sp. nov., mainly differing by the shape of the valva. Ventral view, bases are elongate and oblique towards the dorsal process, while in E. harveyi sp. nov., they are shorter and truncated towards the dorsal process; In lateral view, the dorsal process is wide and strongly curved, while in E. harveyi sp. nov., it is long, very thin, and curved.

Type-material: HOLOTYPE male ( Figs. 57–58 ). PERU. JUNÍN. 1 male, Pampa Hermosa , 10º59’16”S, 75º25’26”W, 1230 m, 29.ix.2008, J. Grados (GENITALIA # JGA-1325 , MUSM). 3 PARATYPES. CUSCO. 1 male, Vitobamba (Camanti) 13°18’38”S, 70°48’59”W, 818 m—Culebrayoc, 13°29’58”S, 70°53’58”W, 1700 m, 08-vi–01.xi.2010, C. Sublett ; 1 male, Huancacalle, 13°06’30”S, 72°56’00”W, 2800 m, vii.2005, J. Böttger. PUNO. 1 male, Lanlacuni , 13°28’18.7”S, 70°25’07.24”W, 676 m, 27–28.xii.2009, E. Huamaní. All deposited in the MUSM .

Male. Forewing span (28–30 mm) (n=4). Head. Reddish. Scape reddish, flagellum brown with a white spot on the last segments. Thorax. Reddish-orange. Legs reddish. Forewing. Long and somewhat pointed towards the apex.

Dorsal. Reddish-orange. Half of the anterior margin brown. Posterior margin with leaden scales, except the base. Termen brown. Veins with leaden scales. Brown spot near the base. Subproximal rhomboid orange spot, delimited by a medial and an antemedial band of reddish and blackish-white scales; the medial one projects throughout M 2. Poorly defined orange spots at the discal cell. A subproximal elongate white spot at M 2 -M 3. With scattered patches of orange, reddish, and leaden scales on several parts of the wing. Ventral. Orange red, somewhat lighter towards the apex. Most of the anterior margin brown. Termen brown. Hindwing. Reddish, elongate and rhomboid with rounded angles. Dorsal. Reddish, slightly lighter towards the central part. Ventral. Reddish, with the same traits as the dorsal side. Abdomen. Reddish. Male genitalia ( Figs. 59–62 ) (Genitalia # JGA-1237, 1238, MUSM). Tegumen narrow sided, with the anterior margin in the form of an inverted “V”. Uncus with its base the same width as the distal part of the tegumen; near its base, two lateral processes, sclerotized, shaped as an arched “˩”, with abundant long and thick bristles; distal part short, pointed and hook-shaped at the end, concave notch on its ventral part. Saccus very short, central part concave. Valva. Lateral view: wide at the base, rectangular, elongate, ventral process membranous, somewhat wide, truncated distally and with setae; dorsal process sclerotized, wider at its base, pronouncedly curved, its end more sclerotized, pointed, with setae. Ventral view: wide at the base; basal third nearly close together, distal two thirds somewhat apart, obliquely towards the dorsal process; invaginated towards the internal part, with abundant setae at the margin. Juxta sclerotized, trapezoidal, membranous at the anterior and central part. Transtilla sclerotized, digitiform, somewhat wider at the base. Aedeagus elongate and somewhat sinusoid; coecum penis elongate; vesica membranous, short, with minute spicules in almost all its area.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. markpacei is a genitive singular noun. The species is dedicated to Mark Stephen Pace, for his support to the systematic research and conservation of nature.

Distribution. In Peru, in the departments of Junín, Cusco and Puno.

Figures

FIGURES 57–58. Ernassa markpacei sp. nov. Holotype. 57. Dorsal view. 58. Ventral view. Scales=5 mm.

FIGURES 59–62. Genitalia of Ernassa markpacei sp. nov. Male (Genitalia # JGA-1237, MUSM). 59. Dorsal view. 60. Ventral view. 61. Lateral view. 62. Aedeagus. Scales= 1 mm.