Menevia vulgaris, St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016

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 : 81-86

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia vulgaris sp. n. Figs 58, 59, 67, 87, 101; Map 5

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: FRENCH GUIANA: GUYANE, St. Laurent-du-Maroni, Piste de Paul Isnard, N05°22.562', W53°57.678', 8.iii.2011, 52 m., P. Sammut/ MENEVIA plagiata plagiata (Walker, 1855)/ St. Laurent diss.: 9-2-15:2/ HOLOTYPE male Menevia vulgaris St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016 [handwritten red label]/ (CUIC). Type locality: French Guiana: St. Laurent du Maroni.

Paratypes, 30 ♂, 10 ♀: BRAZIL: Amazonas: 8 ♂, Reserva Ducke, km. 26 Manaus-Itacoatiara Highway: 15.IV.1972, 16.IV.1972, 19.IV.1972, 15.V.1972, 16.V.1972, E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:8, 8-3-15:1 (CNC). 1 ♂, Itacoatiara Airport: 6.V.1972, E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe (CNC). 1 ♂, Mirapinima, Rio Negro: 8.IV.1972, E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe (CNC). 7 ♂, Hyutanahan [ Huitanaã], Rio Purus: II.1922, III.1922, S.M. Klages, Carn. Mus. Acc. 6963, 7088, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:10, 7-20-15:1, 7-20-15:2, 7-23-15:1 (CMNH). Goiás: 1 ♂, Campinas [ Goiânia]: I.1934, Coll. R. Spitz, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, BMNH(E) 1378754 St. Laurent diss.: 6-29-15:9 (NHMUK). Pará: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Likely Belém: Collector Moss, USNM-Mimal: 2592, 2597, St. Laurent diss.: 9-7-14:4, 4-25-15:12 (USNM). COLOMBIA: 3 ♂, Antioquia, Nari [Nare?] River: Collection Frank Johnson, USNM-Mimal: 2586, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:11 (USNM); USNM-Mimal: 2587, St. Laurent diss.: 6-19-15:3 (USNM); USNM-Mimal: 2588 (USNM). 1 ♀, "Colombia, S.A.": Felipe Ovalle, Q., Ac. 33501 (AMNH). ECUADOR: 1 ♂, Napo [Orellana], near Pompeya (Yasuni Nat. Pk.), 00°38-40'S, 76°22-27'W, 280 m: 17-30.X.1998, D. Robacker, M.H. Evans Collection, St. Laurent diss.: 9-7-14:5 (CUIC). 1 ♂, Napo [Orellana], Parque Nacional Yasuni, 1 km. SE PUCE station, edge of virgin forest: 13.V.1996, Jan Hillman (CMNH). 1 ♂, Napo [Orellana], Parque Nacional Yasui, Rio Natali, 20 km. S PUCE station, near edge of virgin forest: 16.V.1996, Jan Hillman, St. Laurent diss.: 7-20-15:3 (CMNH). 1 ♀, Napo, Rio Arajuno, Camp Dayuma, 1°05'35"S, 77°35'07"W, 390-420 m: 19-22.IV.1990, S.J. Weller, P. Batra, & M.J. Ryan, St. Laurent diss.: 7-21-15:3 (USNM). FRENCH GUIANA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mana River: V.1917, Acc. 6008, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:9 (CMNH). 1 ♀, St. Laurent du Maroni: Collection Wm Schaus, USNM-Mimal: 2591, St. Laurent diss.: 4-25-15:13 (USNM). 1 ♀, Pied Saut, Oyapok River: III.1918, S.M. Klages, C.M. Acc. 6173, St. Laurent diss.: 7-21-15:1 (CMNH). 1 ♀, St. Jean du Maroni: II, Collection Le Moult, Dognin Collection, USNM-Mimal: 2590 (USNM). 1 ♀, Camp Patawa, Kaw Mountains, 36 km. E. of Roura: 21.XII.1997, leg. I.L. Finkelstein (MGCL). GUYANA: 1 ♀, Omai, Br. Guiana: Collection Wm Schaus, USNM-Mimal: 2589 (USNM). PERU: 1 ♀, Iquitus [Iquitos]: Dr. Luka Kassarov donation to FSCA collection (FSCA). SURINAME: 3 ♂, Moengo, Boven Cottica River: 25.V.1927, Cornell Univ. Lot 760, Sub 79, St. Laurent diss.: 12-10-13:2 (CUIC); 26.V.1927, Cornell Univ. Lot 760, Sub 80 (CUIC). BRAZIL-PERU BORDER: 1 ♂, "Amazons, Peru-Brazil": 1930, H.S. Parish (CUIC). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE male/female Menevia vulgaris St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016.

Diagnosis.

Menevia vulgaris is recognizable from all previous species by the replacement of the wing margin swept postmedial lunule with a continuous white band along the entire length of the postmedial line. This species is quite large for the genus, with highly elongated acutely triangular forewings and triangular hind wings. Sexual dimorphism is well developed, with females having broader, less triangular, but still highly elongated forewings. Male genitalia are easily recognized by the somewhat cylindrical shape of the phallus with an irregularly edged dorsum lacking an extensive dorsal ridge, but usually with a weak anteriorly situated bulge. The juxtal processes are wide and flattened, but only weakly sclerotized; the proximal lobes of the phallus are also very broad, not elongated or fingerlike as in most other species. The combination of these genitalia characters also distinguish Menevia vulgaris from the following four new species described below. Size should also be sufficient in separating Menevia vulgaris from all sympatric species, as Menevia vulgaris is always the largest species within its range. Menevia vulgaris is most similar in appearance and size to Menevia franclemonti sp. n. described below, but is easily differentiated from this species by the more sharply angled hindwing postmedial line and by the more uneven dorsum of the phallus. Geography should also be sufficient for separating Menevia vulgaris from Menevia franclemonti sp. n., as the latter species is restricted to southeastern Brazil, outside the largely Amazonian distribution of Menevia vulgaris .

Description.

Male.Head: Gray, eyes large comprising about two-thirds of head area, eyes bordered posteriorly by darker gray collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi very small, segments weakly defined ventrally, dorsally with darker scales contrasting with overall gray coloration. Scape and pedicel tufted. Thorax: As for genus. Light gray. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs very small, short, almost entirely scaled. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 22-28 mm, avg.: 25.3 mm, n = 24. Elongated, acutely triangular, apical half of outer margin concave, apex falcate. Ground color gray with darker gray, brown, or reddish brown suffusion throughout medial area, especially near interior edge of postmedial line, pinkish red to blood red coloration near apex along apical interior of postmedial line, overall lightly speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray oblong shape, thin gray mark connecting discal spot to costa. Apex marked by black scales above extended apical dash. Postmedial line weakly curved to follow outline of wing margin, line black, strongly contrasting. Submarginal area light gray with whitish suffusion mesally, postmedial lunule as dis tinct white band originating from apical dash, white band follows postmedial line from apex to posterior wing margin. Antemedial line faint, brown, curved outwards. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but antemedial area lighter gray, more contrasting, sometimes with blood-red suffusion, antemedial line absent, small black discal spot occasionally present. Hindwing dorsum: Triangular, anal angle weakly accentuated, reddish coloration near anal angle, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, antemedial line absent, postmedial line sharply bent toward anterior wing margin, concave mesally. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, but red coloration near anal angle much darker, discal mark sometimes present. Abdomen: As for genus, but somewhat elongated, nearly sphingiform. Coloration a continuation of gray thoracic color. Midventral stripe absent. Genitalia: (Fig. 87) n = 15. Tegumen elongated, ovoid or rounded rectangular, constricted near base of gnathos. Vinculum broad, rounded ventrally. Valves relatively narrow, saccular edge of left valve with large triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, right valve with tooth slightly reduced in size, both valves with smaller central tooth originating from central ridge of valve, tooth immediately above saccular edge teeth, apex of central tooth pointed toward saccular edge. Valves rounded or somewhat pointed apically. Uncus truncated apically, apex rounded. Gnathos as two prominent flattened, lightly sclerotized, flap-like, somewhat triangular, outward facing extensions with highly truncated apices. Apices usually form fingerlike projections of varying length. Juxtal processes roughly phallus length, lightly sclerotized, curving toward apex of phallus. Juxtal processes very thin, sclerotization weakening to become more membranous, covered in fine setae. Base of phallus with paired, backwards facing, short, rounded, diverging lobes. Phallus cylindrical, irregularly edged dorsum lacking an extensive dorsal ridge, covered in setae. Left edge of rolled phallus uneven but without ridge-like process, usually with weak, anteriorly situated setae covered bulge, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct points of varying length. Vesica elongate, sac-like, originating from progressively weakened sclerotization of nearly vertical edge of phallus. Female.Head: As in male but collar of scales bordering eyes and palpi much lighter, less contrasting. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male, tibial spurs very small, only distal tip without scales. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 27.5-39 mm, avg. 34.6 mm, n = 9. Maculation as in male, wing broader and more elongate, less triangular, less falcate, pinkish hue may be replaced by deeper red brown, postmedial line usually straighter, antemedial line fainter. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but sometimes with blood-red suffusion, antemedial line absent, thin black discal mark occasionally present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but more rounded, less triangular, postmedial line straight, not concave mesally, but still sharply bent toward anterior wing margin. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter except lighter, reddish suffusion near anal angle much darker, contrasting. Abdomen: As in male but more robust. Sternite of VIII as pair of elongated sclerotized bands converging into thicker, irregularly shaped sclerotization near anterior margin of VIII, forming a “V” or “U.” Genitalia: (Fig. 101) n = 4. Tergite of VIII smoothly curved or weakly triangular, with or without membranous gap mesally, which may be accentuated as posteriorly directed arc. Apophyses anteriores shorter or about same length as apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis quadrate, notched mesally near ostium bursae, anterior edge somewhat irregular. Ductus bursae moderately long. Papillae anales elongated, covered in relatively long setae.

Distribution

(Map 5). Menevia vulgaris is found throughout northern South America, in the Guyanas, Suriname, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Pará, and Goiás. This species is predominantly Amazonian in distribution, but the record from the Cerrado in Goiás suggests it is more widespread in various habitats.

Etymology.

Menevia vulgaris (= vulgaris Latin, meaning commonplace) is named for its wide distribution and apparent commonness.

Remarks.

This species is usually the most frequently represented Menevia in collections and apparently quite common throughout its broad distribution. This new species is usually misidentified as Menevia plagiata and has long been considered conspecific with the southeastern Brazilian species redescribed above. The taxonomic issues surrounding the name plagiata have been explained in the remarks of that species, and the designation of the neotype of Menevia plagiata resolves any previous identification problems and allows recognition of these two very distinct taxa.

Walker’s (1855) vague original description of Menevia plagiata could arguably have been associated with the external characters of our concept of Menevia plagiata , Menevia vulgaris , Menevia australis , or what we describe below as Menevia franclemonti sp. n. However, we have resolved any ambiguity regarding the application of the name by designating the neotype of Menevia plagiata above. The wide-ranging Amazonian species, Menevia vulgaris , which is apparently absent in the biome inhabited by the other three species, therefore remained undescribed until now.

Currently, the name Menevia vulgaris can now only be associated with the large species present in the Amazonian and Cerrado regions. Diagnostic characters given before, particularly size and male genitalia, are adequate for identifying this species. Other names, including plagiata and the various new species described below, are associated with either allopatric or much smaller species.

As with other wide-ranging Menevia species, such as Menevia lantona and Menevia lucara , there is a degree of geographic variation, although this variation is less obvious than in these two species. As in other species-groups, Menevia vulgaris from Colombia have more robust male genitalia, except that the juxtal processes are thinner, the valve teeth smaller, and the gnathos elongations shorter. Externally, however, the examined males do not differ from other populations except for their overall slightly larger size. Similar shortened gnathos elongations were found in the males from Ecuador. These males and a single examined female from Ecuador were all smaller than males and females from other populations. However, the lack of differences of the phallus in Ecuadorian males compared to those from other locations suggests that the smaller size and some noted differences found in the single female dissection, namely the shape of the highly variable ventral sclerotized bands on VIII, are not grounds to consider the Ecuadorian population a distinct taxon. Another variation worth noting is in the single Peruvian female specimen, which has the reddish maculation on all wings replaced by deeper brownish-red.