Episcepsis atlantica Pinheiro & Araujo Jr., 2017

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 : 237-238

Episcepsis atlantica Pinheiro & Araujo Jr. , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1B ; 5A–I)

Holotype ♂, BRAZIL, Santa Catarina, Timbó , xi.1929, Dirings coll. ( MZSP). Two paratypes, females : BRAZIL, Santa Catarina, [São Bento do Sul], Rio Vermelho , i.1958, Dirings coll. ( MZSP) ; Bahia, Camacan, Serra Bonita , 5- 20.xi.2011, Simeão Moraes, Lívia Pinheiro & Gláucia Marconato leg., MZ 25.789, MOL 479 ( MZSP).

Diagnosis. Externally indistinguishable from E. venata and E. aelia . Differences in genitalia that allow recognition of E. atlantica sp. nov. when compared to E. aelia are: cornuti decreasing dramatically in size distally in E. aelia , and only slightly in E. atlantica . Saccus more developed and markedly more produced in E. atlantica sp. nov. Valvae with three lobes in E. aelia , but only two in E. atlantica sp. nov. Episcepsis aelia has the cucullus shorter than valvula, while the opposite happens in E. atlantica sp. nov. In female genitalia, both species differ in the following characters: corpus bursae not as twisted or corrugated in E. atlantica sp. nov. as in E. aelia . The latter species lacks signa, while there are few ventral signa in E. atlantica sp. nov.

When compared to E. venata , the species differ in the following aspects: caecum slightly curved upwards in E. venata , and straight in E. atlantica sp. nov. Saccus developed and with apex almost sharp in E. atlantica sp. nov., and only weakly developed, with round apex and dorsally curved in E. venata . Tegumen densely covered with scales only in E. atlantica sp. nov. Episcepsis venata also has the cucullus shorter than valvula, while the opposite happens in E. atlantica sp. nov. In female genitalia, we found the following differences: Dorsal surface of papillae anales with few setae in E. venata and lacking setae in E. atlantica sp. nov. Antevaginal lamella with posterior margin sinuous only in E. venata . Ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae on the left side in E. atlantica sp. nov. and from accessory bursa in E. venata .

Description ♂ and ♀. Abdomen. T8 of males almost rectangular, as sclerotized as previous tergites, with anterior margin heavily sclerotized, with two membranous projections shorter than the length of T8. S8 of males less sclerotized than previous sternites, except for laterals of anterior margin, heavily sclerotized. Intersegmental membrane 7-8 lacking coremata. T7 of females rectangular, twice longer than previous tergites, and as sclerotized as them. S7 also rectangular and as sclerotized as previous sternites, but only slightly longer than S6. Male genitalia. Aedeagus much longer than wide, straight. Ejaculatory duct inserted dorsally. Caecum round. Vesica as long as aedeagus, dorsal surface with a longitudinal line of cornuti, proximal cornuti long, and distal cornuti shorter. Ventral surface with a longitudinal sclerotized plate. Saccus developed, slightly asymmetrical, apex almost sharp. Vinculum straight, very narrow. Tegumen longer than wide, densely covered with scales. Anterior margin of tegumen with a somewhat deep, V-shaped invagination. Dorsal surface of tegumen with a triangular sclerotization. Lateral posterior surfaces of tegumen densely scaled. Posterior margin of tegumen straight. 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. Juxta sclerotized, glabrous, wider than long. Valvae symmetrical, with two lobes, a cucullus weakily sclerotized and densely covered with scales, with round apex, and longer than valvula, and a valvula heavily sclerotized with a 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, with short setae. Anterior apophyses almost the same length of posterior apophyses. Pheromone glands undeveloped. Postvaginal lamella predominantly sclerotized. Ventral portion of posterior margin membranous, with a highly sclerotized tubercle below. Antevaginal lamella slightly sclerotized, lacking setae or spines. Ostium and antrum centralized. Ductus bursae heavily sclerotized and flattened, very short. Corpus bursae approximately spherical, somewhat twisted, most of its surface lacking signa. Dorsal distal portion of corpus bursae corrugated. Left ventral side with a pair of signa. Ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae on the left side.

Distribution. Episcepsis atlantica is known only from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

Etymology. The specific epithet atlantica refers to the biome where this moth occurs.

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.