Episcepsis aelia Schaus, 1889

Pinheiro, Lívia R. & Araujo Junior, Elias C., 2017, Taxonomic notes and a new species of Episcepsis Butler, 1877 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini, Ctenuchina), Zootaxa 4365 (2), pp. 231-240 : 233-235

Episcepsis aelia Schaus, 1889 , revis. stat.

( Figs. 1A ; 4A–I)

Heliura aelia Schaus, 1889: 90 . Holotype male, by monotypy. [MEXICO, Veracruz], Paso de San Juan (USNM) [examined]. Kirby, 1892: 164 [ Heliura ]; Hampson, 1898: 388 [synonym of E. venata ]; Zerny, 1912: 113 [synonym of E. venata ]; Draudt, 1915: 130 [synonym of E. venata ]; Turrent, 2013 [as E. venata ].

Diagnosis. Externally indistinguishable from E. venata and E. atlantica sp. nov. Differences in male genitalia that allow recognition of E. aelia when compared to E. venata are: caecum straight, in contrast to slightly curved upwards in E. venata . Saccus developed and with pointed apex in E. aelia , and only weakly developed, with round apex and dorsally curved in E. venata . Manica shorter than valvae in E. venata , while the opposite happens in E. aelia . Sacculus developed in E. aelia , and only slightly developed and densely covered with long scales in E. venata . Cucullus considerably shorter than valvula in E. venata , and only slightly shorter than valvula in E. aelia . In female genitalia, the species differ in the following characters: Dorsal surface of papillae anales with few setae in E. venata and lacking setae in E. aelia . Posterior apophyses slightly longer than anterior apophyses in E. venata , and almost the same length in E. aelia . Corpus bursae twisted only in E. aelia . The latter species lacks signa, while there are signa restricted to a small area in E. venata .

When compared to E. atlantica sp. nov, E. aelia differs in the following aspects: Caecum slightly curved upwards in E. aelia , and straight in E. atlantica sp. nov. Saccus with short pointed apex (V-shaped) in E. aelia and and strongly produced (Y-shaped) in E. atlantica sp nov. Valvae with three lobes in E. aelia , but only two in E. atlantica sp. nov. Cucullus slightly shorter than valvula in E. aelia , and longer than valvula in E. atlantica sp. nov. In female genitalia, we find the following differences between the species: signa absent in E. aelia , while there are signa in the left ventral side in E. atlantica sp. nov. Ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae on the right side in E. aelia , and on the left side in E. atlantica sp. nov.

Redescription ♂ and ♀. Abdomen. T8 of males almost square, as sclerotized as previous tergites, with anterior margin heavily sclerotized, with two membranous projections shorter than the length of T8. S8 of males as sclerotized as previous sternites, anterior margin also heavily sclerotized, in a rather irregular shape. Intersegmental membrane 7-8 lacking coremata. T7 of females rectangular, twice longer, and as sclerotized as previous tergites. S7 of females singularly shaped, as long and as sclerotized as previous sternites, with two heavily sclerotized lateral pouches with modified scales. Male genitalia. Aedeagus much longer than wide, straight. Ejaculatory duct inserted dorsally. Caecum round. Vesica longer than aedeagus, dorsal surface with a longitudinal line of cornuti, proximal cornuti very long, and distal cornuti very short. Ventral surface with a longitudinal sclerotized plate. Saccus developed, slightly asymmetrical, left arm somewhat longer than right arm, and slightly curved dorsally, with pointed apex. Vinculum straight, very narrow. Tegumen densely covered with scales, longer than wide. Anterior margin of tegumen with a deep, V-shaped invagination. Dorsal surface of tegumen with a X-shaped sclerotization. Lateral posterior surfaces of tegumen densely scaled. A small, slightly sclerotized, and sparsely setose projection posterior to X-shaped sclerotization. Intersegmental membrane 9-10 visible only dorsally. Uncus with an inverted Y-shape. Base of uncus glabrous, and much wider than its lobe. Lobe of uncus somewhat cylindrical, finger-like, with a few tiny setae on dorsal surface, and a sharp apex. Transtilla membranous. Manica membranous, longer than valvae. Juxta sclerotized, glabrous, longer than wide. Valvae symmetrical, with three lobes: a proximal-ventral lobe perhaps correspondent to sacculus, developed, flat, round and heavily sclerotized; and two distal lobes, correspondent to cucullus and valvula. Cucullus weakily sclerotized and densely covered with scales, with round apex, and slightly shorter than valvula. Valvula heavily sclerotized, with few setae and a sharp apex. Female genitalia. T9 uniformly sclerotized. Papillae anales with short setae on most of their surface. Dorsal surface lacking setae. Pseudopapillae anales conspicuous, finger-like. Anterior apophyses with almost the same length of posterior apophyses. Pheromone glands undeveloped. Postvaginal lamella predominantly sclerotized. Ventral portion of posterior margin membranous, medial portion with a highly sclerotized tubercle. Antevaginal lamella slightly sclerotized, lacking setae or spines. Ostium and antrum centralized. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotized and flattened, very short. Corpus bursae approximately round, twisted, most of its surface corrugated. Signa absent. Ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae on the right side.

Additional material examined (1 ♂ and 3 ♀). GUATEMALA, Suchitepequez, Pte. Ixtacapa, 28.vi.1966, Flint & Ortiz leg., 1 female ( USNM), S. Antonio Such., 6.vii.1965, Paul J. Spangler leg., LRP721, 1 female ( USNM); HONDURAS, San Pedro Sula, mountain, 15.viii.1972, black light, Robert Lehman leg., 1 female; Yuscarán, 6.viii.1972, black light, Robert Lehman leg., LRP720, 1 male ( USNM).

Distribution. Episcepsis aelia is known to occur in Mexico (Veracruz), Honduras and Guatemala.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of the species treated herein. A) E. aelia revis. stat., holotype; B) E. atlantica sp. nov., holotype; C) E. fumata, paralectotype;D) E.venata, holotype; E) E.coeruleocephala, lectotype. Scale bars: 1 cm.