Menevia Schaus, 1928

St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016, Revision of the genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of 11 new species, ZooKeys 566, pp. 31-116 : 33-37

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia Schaus, 1928

Type species.

Cicinnus lantona Schaus, 1905; Schaus 1928: 665, by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Menevia can be recognized by the contrast between the usually gray submarginal area and the darker gray, brown, yellowish, or rarely pink medial area of the forewing and the presence of a white apical dash. This apical dash becomes the "postmedial lunule" (see Fig. 1), which in most species-groups consists of a variably distinct white line originating from the apical dash. The white mark follows the postmedial line from near the apex to one quarter or to one half the length of the postmedial line until sweeping outward toward the wing margin, either at an acute angle or nearly perpendicular to the postmedial line. In the plagiata species-group only does the postmedial lunule not sweep outward from the postmedial line, but follows it as a white outlining band that may be interrupted. In other genera where markings similar to the postmedial lunule exist, they are not white and contrasting against a gray submarginal area. Finally, the male genitalia are also unique among Mimallonidae . They are complex structures (see Fig. 2) with a pair of distinct, elongated tusks pointing outwards, originating from the modified transtilla that itself extends inward into the body from attachments on either side of the inner costal apopdemes of the valves. The elongated tusks pass outward between a pair of weakly sclerotized setose flaps. The juxta is fused to the phallus, encircling it, and is without clear form except for a pair of juxtal processes, which curve toward the distal end of the phallus and are superior to it. Phallic shape is diverse, but always recognizable by the presence of the attached juxtal processes dorsally. The phallus is longitudinally rolled, roughly forming a “U” in cross section, and is open lengthwise along the dorsum where the edges of the rolled phallic structure do not meet. The dorsal, left edge of the phallus is usually uneven, with extensive ridges or protuberances of varying size and shape.

Description.

Male.Head: Small, scales on frons swept ventrad, either the same color as vertex or darker ventrally, eyes large comprising about half to two-thirds of head area, eyes usually bordered posteriorly by darker collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments variably defined ventrally depending on thickness of vestiture, incrementally smaller in length distally, dorsally and laterally with darker scales contrasting with overall lighter coloration of head. Antenna bipectinate to tip, scape and pedicel tufted. Ocelli and chaetosemata absent. Thorax: Tan, gray, or straw colored. Densely covered in scales of varying widths with interspersed darker petiolate scales, scales of prothoracic collar finer, lighter, overlapping scales of mesothorax. Legs: Vestiture thick, scales long, especially on femur and tibia, coloration as for thorax, petiolate scales present. Tibial spurs often scaled, about one fourth length of tibia, apex may be somewhat hooked. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 14-28 mm. Triangular, outer margins concave on apical half, apex usually falcate. Ground color yellow, brown, gray, or gray-brown, lightly or moderately speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot absent or faintly marked by light gray, no hyaline patches present. Dark postmedial line always present, either straight or with slight undulations. Gray submarginal area usually contrasting with medial area, submarginal area with a variably distinct white line originating from apical dash, white mark follows postmedial line from apex to one quarter to one half the length of postmedial line until sweeping outward toward wing margin, either at an acute angle or nearly perpendicular to postmedial line. In some species, white line wider, forming a complete or interrupted band following postmedial line, not sweeping toward wing margin. Antemedial line, if present, faint and undulated. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line may be fainter, antemedial line absent, discal spots may be much darker. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded or subtriangular, anal angle often accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, vague postmedial lunules present but undulated or sharply zigzagged, never dramatically swept to wing margin, antemedial line absent. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, usually lighter, frenulum with single bristle. Wing venation: As for Cicinnus melsheimeri (Harris, 1841) in Franclemont (1973) but M2 originating closer to M3 near posterior, distal corner of cell. Abdomen: Short, subtriangular, reaching just barely beyond anal margin of hindwing, depth equal to that of thorax, truncated to slightly upturned posterior tip, coloration a continuation of thoracic color, which varies from yellowish to brown, generally matching the ground color of wings. Longitudinal midventral stripe present or absent. Genitalia: Complex; tegumen variable in shape, subtriangular or broader and more rectangular or ovoid, often constricted near base of gnathos. Vinculum usually quadrate ventrally, variable in thickness. Transtilla as rectangular frame extending backward from attachments on either side of the inner costal apopdemes of valves, elongated tusks extend outward originating from complex transtilla, passing between pair of setae covered flaps. Valves simple, narrow or broad, triangular or ovoid, with or without projections from saccular edge and with or without similar mesal costal projections, projections of left valve usually larger than those of right valve. Setae covered uncus teardrop or bottle-shaped, or acutely triangular, extended apically to sharp, rounded, or quadrate tip. Gnathos as two prominent outward facing or upturned extensions, variable in shape, thickness. Gnathos extensions thick and boxing glove shaped, flattened and triangular, subtriangular, cupped, or ovoid. Anal tube lightly sclerotized, with apex nearly reaching base of uncus. Juxta fused to phallus, enveloping proximal quarter of phallus, pair of juxtal processes curve toward the distal end of phallus and are superior to it. Juxtal processes variable in length, from roughly three quarters the length of the phallus to slightly longer. Juxtal processes vary in sclerotization; processes flattened, rounded or sharp distally. Processes always enveloped in membrane, usually covered in fine setae. Base of phallus with paired, elongated, short, or peg-like diverging lobes. Phallus usually complicated, formed by singular structure rolled into a cylindrical shape, dorsal edges of phallus do not meet, gap exists between edges, exposing hollow cavity within containing the vesica. Left edge of rolled phallus variously shaped, either flat and simple or with ridge or protuberance dorsally. Distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct points. Vesica very weak, bag-like or somewhat elongate and tapered apically, cornuti absent. Female. Generally similar to male, degree of sexual dimorphism variable. Head: As in male, antennae sometimes smaller overall. Thorax: As in male. Legs. As in in males except tibial spurs sometimes more heavily scaled. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 15-39 mm. Elongated or subtriangular, outer margins concave near apex, convex near tornus, apex usually falcate. Coloration and markings as in corresponding males of each species. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line may be fainter, antemedial line absent, discal spots may be much darker than in males. Hindwing dorsum: As in males but always more rounded, broader. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, frenulum present with multiple bristles or highly reduced. Abdomen: As in male but stouter, presence of midventral stripe corresponds to presence/absence in conspecific males, sternites of VIII as pair of elongated sclerotized bands of varying width and length. Genitalia: Very simple; VIII prominently sclerotized laterally, sometimes with appendicular apophyses dorsolaterally in addition to apophyses anteriores. Tergite of VIII upturned mesally, posteriorly pointed, smoothly curving, or replaced by bulbous sac-like sclerotized structure. Apophyses anteriores slightly shorter or same length as apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis of varying width and shape, usually forming a semicircle or “V”. Ostium bursae unsclerotized. Ductus bursae usually short. Corpus bursae bag-like, without any sclerotized structures, rarely preserved, appendix bursae elongated. Papillae anales quadrate or slightly elongated, subtriangular, covered in fine setae.

Remarks.

The genus Menevia consists of four clear species-groups, which are delineated here for the first time. The species-groups are readily differentiated by the adult morphology; namely the degree of sexual dimorphism, size, forewing maculation and shape, ground color, and male genitalia characteristics.

Key to species-groups of Menevia