Menevia lantona (Schaus, 1905)

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 : 38-41

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia lantona (Schaus, 1905) Figs 1, 6-10, 72, 92; Map 1

Cicinnus lantona Schaus, 1905: 327-328

Cicinnus lantona ; Dyar 1914

Cicinnus lantona ; Lucas 1915

Menevia lantona ; Schaus 1928: fig. ♂ 88f

Menevia lantona ; Forbes 1942: Plate 14, fig. 102

Menevia lantona ; Becker 1996

Menevia lantona ; Herbin and Mielke 2014: figs ♂ 57, 58

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: FRENCH GUIANA: St. Jean, Maroni, F. Guiana/ Collection Wm. Schaus/ Perophora lantona type Schaus/ Type No.: 8894 U.S.N.M./ USNM-Mimal: 1122/ St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:1/ (USNM) [examined]. No paratypes. Type locality: French Guiana: St. Jean du Maroni.

Additional specimens examined.

(65 ♂, 1 ♀ total) BRAZIL: Amazonas: 1 ♂, Reserva Ducke, km. 26 Manaus-Itacoatiara Highway: 19.V.1972, E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe, St. Laurent diss.: 3-9-15:1 (CNC). 1 ♂, Codajás: IV.1907, S.M. Klages, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). 2 ♂, Fonte Boa: V.1906, IX.1906, S.M. Klages, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). COLOMBIA: 2 ♂, Muzo, 400-800 m: Coll. Fassl, ex. Joicey Coll. Brit. Mus, 1925-157, BMNH(E) 1378744, St. Laurent diss.: 6-29-15:7 (NHMUK); Dognin Collection, USNM-Mimal: 2569, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:7 (USNM). 1 ♂, East Cordillera, Muzo: A. & E. Fassl, 1911 (MNHU). ECUADOR: 2 ♂, Napo, Rio Napo, Biol. Sta. Jatun Satcha, 380-400 m: 12-16.IV.1990, S.J. Weller, P. Batra, & M.J. Ryan, USNM-Mimal: 2727, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:8, 7-7-15:4 (USNM). 1 ♂, Napo, 33 km. N. Tena, 27 km. E. on Loreto Rd., 3600 ft: 2.XI.1998, black light, leg. J.S. Miller, St. Laurent diss.: 7-7-15:3 (AMNH). FRENCH GUIANA: 10 ♂, 1 ♀, St. Jean du Maroni: Collection Wm Schaus, one male with label: " Menevia lanthona Schaus topotype", female with label: USNM-Mimal: 2574 and St. Laurent diss.: 7-8-15:1 (USNM); 16.I.1978, Porion (MNHN); Received from E. LeMoult, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK); VII–VIII.1904, E. LeMoult, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK); “1905-14”, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, Pied Saut, Oyapok River: XII.1917, S.M. Klages, C.M. Acc. 6111, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:2 (CMNH). 2 ♂, St. Laurent du Maroni: IV, Dognin Collection, USNM-Mimal: 2571, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:4 (USNM); II.1906, E. LeMoult, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). 1 ♂, Regine Rte de l’Est. km 65, el. 100 m: 11.II.1991, at lights, Coll. C. Snyder (AMNH). 1 ♂, Piste Coralie, PK 2: 11.VI.1993, L. & A. Sénécaux (MNHN). 1 ♂, Route de Regina, PK 62, Piste de Coralie, PK 2.2: 24.VII.1998, H. de Toulgoët & J. Navatte (MNHN). 1 ♂, Route de Regina, PK 62, Auberge des Orpailleurs: 23.VII.1998, H. de Toulgoët & J. Navatte, Mus. nat. Hist. nat. don de H. de Toulgoët (MNHN). 1 ♂, Piste de Kaw, PK 7: 4.VIII.1996, H. de Toulgoët & J. Navatte réc. (MNHN). 1 ♂, Piste de Nancibo: 5.XI.1983, UV, J. Minet & D. Dauthuille (MNHN). 2 ♂, Roura, Route de Kaw, Near Fourgassie, N04°38.643', W52°17.988', 280 m: 26.X.2014, 28.X.2014, P. Sammut leg. (CUIC). 2 ♂, Cayenne, Patawa, N04°32.024', W52°07.684', 275 m: 27.X.2014, P. Sammut leg. (CUIC; RAS). GUYANA: 1 ♂, Tumatumari, Rio Potaro, Br. Guiana: Ac. 5615 (AMNH). 1 ♂, Tumatumari: XII.1907, S.M. Klages, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). PANAMA: 2 ♂, La Cabima: V.1911 [1931?], August Busck, USNM-Mimal: 2567, 2568, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:10 (USNM). 1 ♂, La Chorrera: "May 12", Aug. Busck, USNM-Mimal: 2566, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:11 (USNM). 21 ♂, Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone: 16.IV.1941, X.1941, 10.X.1941, 19.X.1941, [other data illegible], at light, J. Zetek collector, Nos. 4884, 4884A,B, USNM-Mimal: 2716-2721 (USNM); 28-30.IV.1964, 1-9.V.1964, 10-17.V.1964, W.D. & S.S. Duckworth, USNM-Mimal: 2709-2715, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:13 (USNM); 22.IV.1979, at light, Silberglied/Aiello, USNM-Mimal: 2724, 2725, 2726, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:14 (USNM); 8.V.1935, A. Friedman (CUIC); 25.X, 31.X, 3.XI, 7-XI, M. Bates coll., St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:12 (CUIC). 2 ♂, "Rep. de Panama": XII.1935-I.1936, L.M. Smith, J.G. Franclemont diss.: 1770 (CUIC). SURINAME: 1 ♂, Moengo, Boven Cottica River: 19.V.1927, Cornell Univ. Lot 760, Sub 67, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:3 (CUIC). 2 ♂, Aroewarwa Creek, Maroewym Valley: III.1905, IV.1905, S.M. Klages, Rothschild Bequest, BM 1939-1 (NHMUK). VENEZUELA: 1 ♂, Caripito: 14.V.1942, Gift of New York Zoo. Soc. Dept. Tropical Research, William Beebe, Dir., St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:6 (AMNH).

Diagnosis.

Sexual dimorphism is weak; the females are only slightly larger. Thus both sexes of Menevia lantona are recognizable by their small to moderate size, only slightly falcate forewing apices, and yellowish tan to gold ground color with gray highlights, especially near the discal region. The postmedial lunule is bright white and only barely curved outward toward the forewing margin, not sharply curving as in other species-groups. The phallus is broad, usually with a small protuberance dorsally but always without a dorsal ridge. The gnathos processes are unique in that they are very broad, flat, and subtriangular, not oblong or thick as in most other species-groups. Female genitalia are separable from those of the similar female of Menevia magna sp. n. by the tergite of VIII, which is thin and upturned mesally rather than being replaced by a lightly sclerotized sac as in Menevia magna sp. n.

Description.

Male.Head: Straw or tan colored, eyes bordered posteriorly by dark brown collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments weakly defined ventrally due to ventral tufts, dorsally with darker scales contrasting with overall straw coloration. Scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus but tan or gold, fading to straw. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs thin apically, terminal third not scaled, especially ventrally. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 15-18 mm, avg.: 16.2 mm, n = 28. Triangular, apical half of outer margins concave, convex near tornus, apex slightly falcate. Ground color yellowish tan to gold with varying degrees of gray, especially near discal region, overall lightly speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Straight or slightly undulating postmedial line black or brown. Antemedial area lighter, submarginal area gray with tan coloration near tornus, postmedial lunule originating from near where apical dash meets postmedial line, lunule follows postmedial line from apex to one third length of postmedial line where lunule smoothly curves outward toward wing margin, forming roughly 45 degree angle with postmedial line. Antemedial line very faint or absent, if present, brown, undulating. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line fainter, antemedial line absent; usually rounded discal spot present, small, black. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded with margin weakly pointed mesally, anal angle weakly accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, vague postmedial lunule originating near anterior margin undulating, not steeply swept to margin, antemedial line absent, postmedial line undulating, especially near anal angle. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter but discal mark not always present. Abdomen: As for genus. Coloration a continuation of tan or golden thoracic color. Midventral stripe absent. Genitalia: (Fig. 72) n = 16. Tegumen rectangular or somewhat ovoid, especially when prominently constricted at base of gnathos. Vinculum narrow, somewhat quadrate ventrally. Valves asymmetrical, relatively narrow, saccular edge of left valve with large triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, right valve with tooth much reduced in size, both valves with smaller mesal costal teeth immediately above saccular edge teeth, apex of mesal tooth pointed toward saccular edge. Valves rounded apically. Uncus handbell-shaped, truncated apically, apex rounded. Gnathos as two prominent, moderately flattened, subtriangular outward facing flaps, upturned where they converge over phallus. Juxtal processes shorter than phallus, flattened, slightly curved, covered in short setae. Base of phallus with paired, somewhat elongated, rounded, diverging, backwards facing fingerlike lobes. Phallus broad, widened mesally, usually with a small protuberance dorsally but extended dorsal ridge absent. Left edge of rolled phallus simple, without ridge-like process, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct, bent points. Vesica small, bag-like. Female.Head: As in male, antennae slightly smaller overall. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 21 mm, n = 1. As in male but barely more elongated, only slightly broader, less falcate, postmedial line bent mesally. Faint brown antemedial line present, undulated. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line fainter, antemedial absent, small black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but slightly broader. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter except lighter, frenulum reduced. Abdomen: As in male but stouter. Sternites of VIII as pair of elongated sclerotized bands widening toward anterior margin of VIII. Genitalia: (Fig. 92) n = 1. Tergite of VIII very thin, converging mesally to form anteriorly directed point. Apophyses anteriores slightly shorter than apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis ribbon-like, weakly concave mesally. Ductus bursae thin. Papillae anales rectangular when viewed ventrally, covered in setae.

Distribution

(Map 1). Menevia lantona is found throughout the Amazonian rainforest in the Guianas, Suriname, northern Venezuela, the Brazilian state of Amazonas, as well as in central Colombia and northcentral Ecuador. This species also ranges into central Panama.

Remarks.

As a wide-ranging species, Menevia lantona expresses some geographic variation. Most notably, specimens from Colombia are larger (Fig. 9) with somewhat broader forewings, but genitalia show no remarkable differences. Specimens from Panama (Fig. 8) are slightly grayer and a bit darker overall, but like the Colombian populations, show no genitalia differences specifically applicable to this geographic form. Additionally, in specimens from Ecuador, the dorsal point of the phallus is somewhat more pronounced than in other populations, and one specimen from a relatively high elevation (1097 m) in Ecuador has much darker postmedial lines than most other individuals of Menevia lantona , somewhat reminiscent of Menevia torvamessoria sp. n., to be described below. The genitalia of this unique higher elevation individual however, are completely in line with those of Menevia lantona , and cannot be mistaken for the highly remarkable and distinct genitalia of Menevia torvamessoria sp. n.