Eremonidiopsis aggregata, Aguila, Rayner Nunez, 2013

Aguila, Rayner Nunez, 2013, Eremonidiopsis aggregata, gen. n., sp. n. from Cuba, the third West Indian Dioptinae (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), ZooKeys 333, pp. 77-91 : 80-84

Eremonidiopsis aggregata sp. n. Figs 1-7

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Cuba, Holguí, Moa, vicinity of Morones mountain stream (20°26'22"N, 74°49'14"W), 300 m, 22/V/2007, R. Núñez. Paratypes: 5 ♂. Same data as holotype (4 ♂); Holguín, Mayarí, vicinity of La Zoilita (20°37'42"N, 75°29'08"W), 400 m, 6/IV/2012, R. Núñez (1 ♂).

Diagnosis.

The uniform dark brown wing pattern of Eremonidiopsis aggregata is present only in Scotura nigricaput Dogninand Scotura flavicapilla ( Hübner) among all Dioptinae . Eremonidiopsis aggregata can be easily separated from the first by its yellowish-orange collar and from the second by lacking yellowish color at other areas of the head such as the front and the vertex. In addition, many other features allow separation of Eremonidiopsis from Scotura including the possession of bipectinate antennae, a longer discal cell, absence of the FW stridulatory organ, and absence of the Barth’s Organ in the male genitalia among other features.

Description.

Male (Figs 1-5). Head. First segment of labial palpus covered with short, yellowish-orange scales; third and second segments of labial palpi brownish gray, second segment with scattered yellowish-orange scales on inner side; remaining parts of head covered with appressed, glossy brownish-gray scales. Eyes moderately large, measurements (N=6), mean ± S.D. (range); width of head across eyes: 1.41 ± 0.02 mm (1.38-1.43 mm); height of eye: 0.57 ± 0.02 mm (0.53-0.58 mm); ocular index (height of eye / width of head): 0.40 ± 0.01 mm (0.38-0.41 mm). Thorax. Propleuron and prosternal region yellowish orange between base of proboscis and base of brownish-gray procoxae (Figs 1, 2); dorsum brownish gray; venter, including legs, pale brownish gray except inner side of femora grayish white; tympanum contrastingly dirty white (Fig. 3). Forewing (Figs 1, 4) with dorsal surface glossy, uniformly brown; ventral surface uniformly brownish gray; measurements (N=6), mean ± S.D. (range); length: 12.2 ± 0.24 mm (12.0-12.7 mm); width: 5.5 ± 0.22 mm (5.2-5.8 mm); length / width ratio: 2.2 ± 0.05 (2.2-2.3). Hindwing (Figs 1, 4) with dorsal surface uniformly dark brownish gray; ventral surface uniformly brownish gray (Fig. 1); measurements (N=6), mean ± S.D. (range); length: 9.5 ± 0.35 mm (9.1-10.1 mm); width: 5.5 ± 0.11 mm (5.2-5.5 mm); length / width ratio: 1.8 ± 0.04 (1.75-1.84). Abdomen. Scales of dorsum glossy, brownish gray; venter white brownish gray but paler (Figs 1, 2). Mesal process on anterior margin of seventh sternum short and blunt, flanked by indentations (Fig. 5B). Eighth tergum elongate, slightly longer than corresponding sternum excluding apodeme; anterior margin one third broader than posterior one, slightly excavated at middle; lateral margins simple; posterior margin slightly convex with a short hood-shaped fold. Eighth sternum with lateral margins simple; posterior margin sclerotized except at shallow mesal excavation; anterior margin one third broader than posterior one (Fig. 5A); anterior apodeme saclike, about two thirds as long as sternum, gradually tapering toward rounded anterior end, lateral margins simple. Genitalia. Uncus short, wide, curved gradually downward, dorsum convex, apex acute, with a pair of triangular dorsolateral keels; socii short, wide at bases, curved strongly upward, apices cup shaped (Fig. 5C); dorsal portion of tegumen gently tapered, ventral portion slightly widened at junction with vinculum; saccus broad, quadrate, ventral margin transverse, dorsal margin wide, slightly convex, barely covering valve bases; inner surface of valve mostly membranous; dorsal margin of costa slightly convex with a low sclerotized flange on inner surface extending to apex, with a blunt expansion in apical third (Fig. 5C); ventral margin of valve mostly straight, folded toward inner surface to form a low sclerotized flange in distal third, flange with a blunt expansion at middle and a more acute one near apical third; apical portion of valve broadly expanded and rounded (Fig. 5C); anal tube short and broad, extending below apex of valvae; apex of aedeagus dentate along right lateral margin, teeth heavily sclerotized (Fig. 5D); caltrop cornuti bearing three or four straight upwardly oriented spines, longest spines up to 5 × length of shortest ones.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species–group name is derived from the Latin gregis (flock, group) and the suffix atus (having the nature of), in reference to the aggregation of individuals observed during both collecting events.

Distribution

(Fig. 6). Known from only two localities of the NSB mountain range, both in Holguín province, northeastern Cuba. The locality at the center of the NSB is in the vicinity of Morones mountain stream (20°26'22"N, 74°49'14"W; 300 m) near the Jaguaní river east of La Melba village on the southeastern slope of the El Toldo plateau. The westernmost locality is the vicinity of La Zoilita (20°37'42"N, 75°29'08"W; 400 m), on the northern slope of Sierra de Cristal.

Habitat

(Fig. 7). The two localities where Eremonidiopsis aggregata has been collected are very different regarding both vegetation and climate. Vegetation around La Melba is represented by lowland rainforest, Cuba’s most exuberant rainforest type (Figs 7A, B) ( Reyes and Acosta 2005). The vegetation has a distinctly mesophyllic aspect due to the predominance of Carapa guianensis Aubl. ( Meliaceae ). Generally, there are two arboreal layers; the upper layer frequently reaches 30 to 35 m; when it only reaches 20 to 25 m, it has emergent individuals reaching 35 m ( Reyes and Acosta 2005). Arboreal canopy coverage is 100%. A more detailed description of this rainforest is given by Reyes and Acosta (2005). Rainfall is 3400 mm per year; this is the rainiest region of Cuba with up to 240 rainy days per year ( Montenegro 1991; Zabala and Villaverde 2005). October to January and May are the wettest periods, averaging 300-500 mm of rainfall per month; February and March are the least rainy months with about 200 mm ( Montenegro 1991). Cuba’s highest relative humidity rates occur there; yearly values vary between 90 and 95%. The most humid month is October and the least humid month is July. Temperatures are high, between 22 and 26°C, which along with frequent and long calm periods produce a sensation of suffocating heat ( Montenegro 1991).

The substratum rocks are metamorphic. Soils are poor, acidic, and humid ( “Ferralítico Rojo Lixiviado" and “Ferralítico Amarillento Lixiviado"), over a ferralitic, meteorized (weathered) crust ( Zabala and Villaverde 2005).

The vicinity of La Zoilita is covered by sclerophyll rainforest [name modified from Borhidi (1991) following Reyes and Cantillo (2005)] (Figs 7C, D). Leaves are very sclerophyllous, mostly microphyll and notophyll. The arboreal layer is open and irregular in height and generally fluctuates between 15 and 20 m. Constant and abundant species include Calophyllum utile Bisse ( Clusiaceae ), Guapira rufescens (Heimerl) Lundell ( Nyctaginaceae ), and Tabebuia dubia (C. Wright ex Sauvalle) Britton ex Seibert ( Bignoniaceae ). The lower stratum is 5-12 m high and more closed. Details concerning the structure and species composition of this habitat can be found in Borhidi (1991) and Reyes and Cantillo (2005).

Rainfall is 1600 mm per year. Average annual relative humidity is 91% at 7:00 am, and 67% at 1:00 pm. The average yearly temperature is 21.6°C, with the highest average value being 23.8°C during July, and the minimum being 19.0°C in February.

The substratum rocks are ophiolithic. The soils are “Ferríticos Rojos Oscuros," very poor and acidic, and shallow to very deep; sometimes with bare rock exposed.

Behavioral observations.

All individuals of Eremonidiopsis aggregata were observed in flight during the early afternoon. At both localities the species was found in small, agitated swarms of 10 to 15 individuals. Flight was moderately strong and erratic, and on both occasions the moths were seen flying 3 to 4 meters above the ground around the top of an unidentified tree. Specimens were captured when they occasionally descended near the ground. No females where captured.

Roughly 60 hours of light trapping were spent at La Zoilita using a 250 watt mercury vapor bulb in February of 2010, but no Eremonidiopsis aggregata specimens were attracted. However, individuals were collected there during the day in April and May in the vicinity of Morones mountain stream.