Menevia alurca Herbin & Mielke, 2014

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 : 75-79

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia alurca Herbin & Mielke, 2014 Figs 47-50, 54, 55, 85, 99; Map 4

Menevia alurca Herbin & Mielke, 2014: 146-147; figs ♂ 48, 49, ♂ genitalia 50

Menevia ulcara ; Herbin and Mielke 2014: 147 misspelling

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: BRAZIL: Maranhão: genitalia prep. D. Herbin, ref H. 1008 [blue label]/ BRESIL Maranhao [ Maranhão], Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, 480 m. 4-12.XI.2011, - 07°00'31"S, - 46°26'41"W, C. Mielke leg. Coll. D. Herbin / Holotype ♂, Menevia alurca Herbin & Mielke det., Antenor 2014 [red label]/ DZ 15.727/ (DZUP) [examined]. Type locality: Brazil: Maranhão: Feira Nova do Maranhão.

Paratypes, 7 ♂ (6 specimens fit our concept of Menevia alurca , 1 specimen fits our concept of Menevia delphinus sp. n., see remarks under Menevia delphinus sp. n.), BRAZIL: Maranhão: 1 ♂, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, 46°26'41"W, - 07°00'31"S, 480 m: 16-17.II.2013, C. Mielke leg., Paratypus Menevia alurca Herbin & C. Mielke det., 2014 [green label], Col. C. Mielke 26.882, St. Laurent diss.: 6-16-15:4 (CGCM) [examined]. Photos of all additional paratypes, each from the same locality and collector as the holotype and single physically examined paratype, were provided by Herbin and Mielke.

Additional specimens examined.

(4 ♂, 1 ♀ total) BRAZIL: Distrito Federal: 4 ♂, Estacão Florestal, Cabeça do Veado, 1100 m: 17.X.1971, 19.X.1971, 21.X.1971, 24.X.1971, E.G., I. & E.A. Munroe, St. Laurent diss.: 5-13-15:2 (CNC). Maranhão: 1 ♀, Feira Nova do Maranhão, Retiro, W46°26'41", S -07°00'31", 480 m: 23-24.XI.2013, C. Mielke leg., St. Laurent diss.: 7-28-15:2 (CGCM).

Additional transitional and questionable specimens examined.

(3 ♂, 1 ♀ total) ARGENTINA: 1 ♀, Formosa: data illegible except for locality, USNM-Mimal: 1203, St. Laurent diss.: 5-13-15:1 (USNM). BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: 2 ♂, Paraopeba: 27.II.1966 (OM). 1 ♂, Sete Lagoas, 720 m: 16.III.1974, V.O. Becker col., Col. Becker No. 413, USNM-Mimal: 2342, St. Laurent diss.: 5-13-15:3 (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Menevia alurca is distinguishable from all previous species in both sexes by the slate gray coloration suffused with deep blood-red, and the postmedial line, which is usually bent outward toward the wing margin at about three-quarters of its length. Additionally, the white band along the exterior of the postmedial line does not curve sharply toward the wing apex as it does in Menevia plagiata , but instead ends where it meets the apical dash. In this respect, Menevia alurca is similar to Menevia australis sp. n.; however, the white band usually juts out sharply just before approaching the apical dash in Menevia alurca , which is not seen in most other Menevia . The male genitalia however, should immediately distinguish this species from Menevia australis sp. n.; the phallus bears a prominent, elongated, pointed protuberance from the dorsal surface, not a rounded hump as in Menevia australis sp.n. The female genitalia differ from those of both Menevia plagiata and Menevia australis sp. n. by the small size, the very thin abdominal sclerotizations, and the mesally creased lamella antevaginalis.

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, labi al palpi very small, dorsally with darker scales contrasting with overall gray coloration. Antenna yellowish, scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus. Gray. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs moderate in length, scaled except for distal quarter. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 18-21.5 mm, avg.: 19.7 mm, n = 5. Triangular, apical half of outer margin concave, apex falcate. Ground color dark gray with predominance of deep red-brown or blood-red throughout medial area, overall lightly speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray, oblong shape; thin gray mark connects discal spot to costa. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Postmedial line usually bent outwards along three-fourths of its length, rarely nearly straight [especially in transitional population]. Submarginal area light gray, contrasting with much darker medial area, with whitish suffusion mesally forming a faint zigzag, postmedial lunule as distinct white band originating from apical dash, white band follows postmedial line from apex to roughly midway along postmedial line, resuming near anal margin. Antemedial line faint, brown, curved outwards. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but generally much grayer, sometimes with pinkish hue, antemedial line absent, small black discal mark occasionally present. Hindwing dorsum: Subtriangular, anal angle accentuated, reddish coloration usually present near anal angle, bleeding into medial area, similar coloration and patterning overall as forewings, except postmedial lunule present as zigzagged mark, originating from white outer band outlining anterior bend of postmedial line, postmedial line weakly curved toward anterior wing margin, sometimes weakly concave mesally. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, but red coloration near anal angle much darker. Abdomen: As for genus, but somewhat stouter. Coloration a continuation of gray thoracic color. Dark, contrasting midventral stripe present. Genitalia: (Fig. 85) n = 4. Somewhat variable; tegumen ovoid or somewhat rectangular, sometimes weakly constricted near base of gnathos. Vinculum broad, somewhat quadrate ventrally. Valves broad at base, triangular, saccular edge of left valve with large triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, right valve with tooth slightly reduced in size, both valves with smaller mesal costal projection originating from central ridge of valve, mesal costal projection immediately above saccular edge teeth, apex of projection pointed toward saccular edge. Valves may be truncated distally, rounded apically. Uncus truncated apically, apex rounded. Gnathos as two prominent flattened, moderately sclerotized, flap-like, barely triangular, upward facing extensions with truncated apices. Apices usually form fingerlike projections of varying length. Juxtal processes roughly phallus length, moderately sclerotized, curving toward apex of phallus. Juxtal processes very thin, widening distally, covered in fine setae, especially apically. Base of phallus with paired, backwards facing, elongated, rounded, diverging fingerlike lobes. Phallus irregularly shaped, unevenly edged dorsum lacking an extensive dorsal ridge but with prominent, elongated, pointed setae covered projection, tip bent backwards. Left edge of rolled phallus uneven, forming extended projection, right edge usually with setae covered bulge laterally, base of sclerotized terminus of phallus with prominent ventral bump, angled away from distal end of phallus, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct points of varying length. Vesica somewhat bag-like. Female.Head: As in male, dark gray scales surrounding eyes reduced. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male, tibial spurs longer. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 19.5-26 mm, n = 2. Maculation as in male but grayer with less red-brown, wing broader but still subtriangular. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but lighter gray, dark discal mark present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but more rounded, less triangular, postmedial line bent more sharply toward anterior wing margin. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, reddish-brown suffusion near anal angle much darker, contrasting. Abdomen: As in male but more robust. Sternite of VIII as pair of thin, nearly parallel, elongated, sclerotized bands. Genitalia: (Fig. 99) n = 2. Tergite of VIII robust, forming triangular, posteriorly directed arc. Apophyses anteriores shorter, thicker than apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis moderate in thickness, with mesal crease at ostium bursae. Ductus bursae short. Papillae anales elongated, subtriangular, covered in relatively long setae.

Distribution

(Map 4). Menevia alurca is primarily found in the Brazilian Cerrado, with records from Maranhão, Distrito Federal, and central Minas Gerais. The Minas Gerais population may represent an introgression zone with the similar Menevia plagiata of the Atlantic Forest. This species may also be present in Argentina, as suggested by the single questionable specimen discussed below.

Remarks.

Herbin and Mielke (2014) considered this species to be of the same size as Menevia lucara , although we found Menevia alurca larger on average. Menevia plagiata , which we show to be the closest species to Menevia alurca based on external characters and genitalia, was indeed mentioned in their diagnosis of Menevia alurca , but the authors did not provide differentiating characters other than that Menevia plagiata is larger. Menevia alurca is easily distinguished from Menevia lucara by all characters presented by Herbin and Mielke (2014). However, the male genitalia of Menevia alurca are nearly indistinguishable from those of Menevia plagiata and individuals of Menevia alurca that have straighter postmedial lines are externally very similar to Menevia plagiata .

Upon reviewing each of the seven paratypes of Menevia alurca , it became apparent that one paratype in the collection of Herbin (Bc-Her4848) does not belong to this species and was incorrectly included in the paratype series. The specimen in question has a continuous white band along the forewing postmedial line and lacks a midventral stripe on the abdomen, characters that allow us to identify this specimen as Menevia delphinus sp. n., another Cerrado species, described below.

External characteristics and male genitalia, namely, the phallus, of Menevia alurca is extremely similar to that of Menevia plagiata , thus these species are not readily differentiable based on male genitalia alone, as are most Menevia species. Furthermore, three specimens from two nearby localities in central Minas Gerais that we questionably determined as Menevia alurca , are somewhat intermediate in habitus between Menevia alurca from farther north and west (central Cerrado), and Menevia plagiata from farther east and southeast (Brazilian Atlantic Forest). These specimens display the predominance of darker coloration and the arrangement of markings near the forewing apices that we attribute to Menevia alurca . However, the forewing postmedial line is only weakly curved outwards, not bent so dramatically as in the types of Menevia alurca . These specimens are also quite large, much more in line with those of Menevia plagiata . The population from Minas Gerais is transitional in appearance between Menevia alurca and Menevia plagiata , and it is worth noting that the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes converge there ( IBGE 2004).

A female that we questionably assign to this species, from Formosa, Argentina, is extremely small and has a nearly straight forewing postmedial line. Although the size and postmedial line are not comparable to the other female Menevia alurca , the markings at the forewing apex, the predominance of red coloration, and genitalia (namely the mesally creased lamella antevaginalis), are all highly suggestive of Menevia alurca . Without more material from this locality, particularly males, it is impossible to reach conclusive determination about its identity. We decided to include this specimen in our material examined due to its collecting locality, which represents the only Menevia record from Argentina.