Menevia ostia (Druce, 1898) Druce, 1898

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 : 57-63

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia ostia (Druce, 1898) comb. n. Figs 4, 5, 30-33, 36, 37, 79-81, 95; Map 3

Perophora ostia Druce, 1898: 447; Tab. LXXXVIII, fig. 18 ♀

Pamea ostia ; Schaus 1928: fig. ♀ 88g

Pamea ostia ; Becker 1996

Type material.

Holotype, ♀: PANAMA: Chiriqui [ Chiriquí]/ 855/ Coll. Staudinger/ Type/ Perophora ostia ♀ type Druce/ Coll. Staudinger II.1178./ St. Laurent diss.: 7-14-15:1/ (MNHU) [examined]. Type locality: Panama: Chiriquí.

Additional specimens examined.

(31 ♂, 15 ♀ total) BRAZIL: Espírito Santo: 9 ♂, Linhares, 40 m: 20-29.II.1992, 06.III.1993, 25-30.I.1998, V.O. Becker Col., Col. Becker 80930, 82945, 113493, USNM-Mimal: 2053, 2054, 2310-2316, St. Laurent diss.: 3-24-15:9, 3-24-15:10, 3-24-15:11, 7-14-14:5, 7-14-15:6 (USNM). Minas Gerais: 1 ♂, Estação Biológica de Caratinga, Caratinga, 400 m: 29.I.2003-3.II.2003, Mielke & Casagrande leg. (OM). Pará: 2 ♀, Likely Belém: A.M. Moss, Rothschild Bequest 1939-1, BMNH(E) 1377143 (NHMUK). Rio de Janeiro: 3 ♂, Petrópolis: 7.IV.1928, 6.IX.1959, 15.X.1963, Gagarin leg., ex. coll. Gagarin (DZUP). COSTA RICA (all Costa Rican specimens ex. D. H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs, Área de Conservación Guanacaste): Alajuela: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Rio Blanco Abajo, 10.90037, -85.37254, 500 m: Voucher ♂: 05-SRNP-7880 [barcoded], collected: 18.XII.2005, emerged: 15.III.2006, food plant: Terminalia oblonga (USNM); Voucher ♀: 12-SRNP-4882 [barcoded], collected: 15.XI.2012, emerged: 12.V.2013, food plant: Terminalia oblonga (USNM). 1 ♂, Casa Leiva, 10.94314, -85.31808, 454 m: 17.IX.2009, light trap, Voucher: 09-SRNP-108159, St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:13 (USNM). 1 ♂, "Jabalina, Manta Pizote," 10.97325, -85.31542, 288 m: 30.VIII.2008, light trap, Voucher: 08-SRNP-105449 (USNM). 1 ♂, Gallinazo, 11.01825, -85.37199, 360 m: Voucher: 11-SRNP-65684 [barcoded], collected: 21.VII.2011, emerged: 22.VIII.2011, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM). 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Puente Palma, 10.9163, -85.37869, 460 m: Voucher ♂: 03-SRNP-34660 [barcoded], collected: 1.XII.2003, emerged: 16.I.2004, food plant: Terminalia oblonga (USNM); Voucher ♂: 03-SRNP-34659, collected: 1.XII.2003, emerged: 13.I.2004, food plant: Terminalia oblonga (USNM); Voucher ♀: 03-SRNP-34661, collected: 1.XII.2003, emerged: 20.I.2004, food plant: Terminalia oblonga (USNM). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Tomatera: Voucher ♂: 12-SRNP-65485 [barcoded], collected: 16.VII.2012, emerged: 15.IX.2012, food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:12 (USNM); Voucher ♀: 12-SRNP-65488 [barcoded], collected: 16.VII.2012, emerged: 8.IX.2012, food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:11 (USNM). Guanacaste: 1 ♂, Sendero Puertas, 11.01087, -85.48817, 400 m: Voucher: 03-SRNP-18623, collected: 5.VIII.2003, emerged: 28.IX.2003, food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent diss.: 7-14:15:3 (USNM). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Pasmompa, 11.01926, -85.40997, 440 m: Voucher ♂: 07-SRNP-31642 [barcoded], collected: 8.III.2007, emerged: 1.VI.2007, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM); Voucher ♀: 07-SRNP-31860 [barcoded], food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:8 (USNM). 1 ♂, Monte Cristo, 11.01373, -85.42531, 525 m: Voucher: 10-SRNP-21610 [barcoded], collected: 17.VII.2010, emerged: 14.IX.2010, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM). 1 ♂, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540 m: Voucher: 10-SRNP-4309 [barcoded], collected: 8.VIII.2010, emerged: 9.IX.2010, food plant: Terminalia oblonga , St. Laurent diss.: 7-14-15:2 (USNM). 1 ♂, Metereologico, 11.00199, -85.46166, 590 m: Voucher: 10-SRNP-21714 [barcoded], collected: 26.VII.2010, emerged: 29.VIII.2010, food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:14 (USNM). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Casa Roberto, 11.01095, -85.42094, 520 m: Voucher ♂: 03-SRNP-20585 [barcoded], collected: 11.VIII.2003, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM); Voucher ♀: 03-SRNP-20690, collected: 11.VIII.2003, emerged: 17.V.2004, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM). 1 ♀, Mena Central, 11.02991, -85.45364, 345 m: Voucher: 01-SRNP-24319 [barcoded], collected: 29.XI.2001, St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:9 (USNM). 1 ♀, Sendero Rotulo, 11.01355, -85.42406, 510 m: Voucher: 04-SRNP-34126 [barcoded], collected: 27.VII.2004, emerged: 5.IX.2004, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM). 1 ♀, Camino Mangos, 11.00766, -85.47926, 480 m: Voucher: 03-SRNP-19176, collected: 12.VIII.2003, emerged: 13.IX.2003, food plant: Terminalia amazonia (USNM). 1 ♀, Maderos, 11.00494, -85.47491, 510 m: Voucher: 11-SRNP-20049 [barcoded], collected: 4.I.2011, emerged: 15.V.2004, food plant: Terminalia amazonia , St. Laurent 4-20-15:10 (USNM). FRENCH GUIANA: 1 ♂, Sinnamary, Piste a St. Elie, km. 24, 50 m: 20.II.1991, at lights, coll. C. Snyder, St. Laurent diss.: 3-24-15:6 (AMNH). 1 ♂, Nouveau Chantier: Collection Le Moult, Dognin Collection, USNM-Mimal: 2572, St. Laurent diss.: 3-24-15:7 (USNM). 1 ♂, Piste Coralie PK 2: IV.1993, J. Navatte H. de Toulgoët (MNHN). 1 ♀, Godebert Maroni: VII, Collection Le Moult, Ex. Coll. Ed. Brabant 1920, ex. Joicey Coll., Brit. Mus. 1925-157, BMNH(E) 1377145 (NHMUK). 1 ♀, no additional locality data: Collection C. Bar, Ex. Oberthür Coll., Brit. Mus. 1927-3, BMNH(E) 1377140 (NHMUK). PERU: 1 ♀, Junín, Chanchamayo: I-VIII.1901, Hoffmann, Rothschild Bequest 1939-1, BMNH(E) 1377144 (NHMUK). SURINAME: 1 ♀, Paramaribo: 7.I.1955, Rf. [reared] Terminalia catappa L., J.B.M van Dinther, USNM-Mimal: 2612, St. Laurent diss.: 4-20-15:5 (USNM). VENEZUELA: 1 ♂, Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100 m: 22-31.VII.1967, R.W. Poole, USNM-Mimal: 2739, St. Laurent diss.: 3-24-15:8 (USNM). UNKNOWN: 1 ♂ specimen without locality label, but bears label with red “1” written in colored pencil, there was a similar label on an examined female from Suriname, USNM-Mimal: 2613, St. Laurent diss.: 7-14-15:4 (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Menevia ostia can be differentiated from all other species-groups by the gold-yellow to pale yellow ground color with the contrasting silvery gray submarginal area with a small white accessory mark near the tornus. These traits combined with overall very weakly falcate forewings, distinguish Menevia ostia from the similar Menevia lantona but not necessarily from the similar Menevia pallida and Menevia parostia comb. n. to be diagnosed below. The width of the submarginal area of the hindwings of female Menevia ostia is wider than in both Menevia pallida and Menevia parostia females. The postmedial line is situated at about midway along the length of the hindwing in Menevia ostia , but is slightly closer to the wing margin in the other two species. Male genitalia are distinct, except when in comparison with Menevia pallida , in that the apical end of the phallus is sharply downturned and the dorsal ridge of the phallus is highly variable, though always present. In females, the lateral portion of the prominently sclerotized VIII has appendicular apophyses dorsolaterally in addition to the apophyeses anteriores, distinguishing the females from a questionable female of Menevia pallida , where the appendicular apophyses are absent.

Description.

Male.Head: Straw or tan-gold colored, eyes bordered posteriorly by dark brown collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments somewhat well defined ventrally, dorsally with darker scales contrasting with overall lighter coloration. Scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus. Gold to pale, fading to straw. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs thin apically lightly to almost completely scaled. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 12.5-18.5 mm, avg.: 16.8 mm, n = 23. Triangular, apical half of outer margin weakly concave, apex slightly falcate. Ground color gold-yellow to pale yellow, overall very lightly speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by silvery white. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Black postmedial line slightly concave, sometimes weakly undulating. Submarginal area silvery gray, postmedial lunule originating from near where apical dash meets postmedial line, white mark follows postmedial line from apex to one quarter length of postmedial line where mark smoothly curves outwards toward wing margin becoming diffuse, forming acute angle with postmedial line. White accessory mark present near tornus. Antemedial line very faint or absent, if present, brown, undulating. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line fainter, convex near tornus, antemedial line absent, small black, somewhat rounded or elongated discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded, anal angle weakly accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, postmedial lunule vague or well defined, zigzagged, originating near anterior margin, following curvature of wing margin, not steeply swept to margin, antemedial area lighter, postmedial line straight, sometimes undulating near anal angle. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter but lighter, discal mark absent, marginal area usually browner than surrounding area. Abdomen: As for genus. Coloration a continuation of thoracic color. Midventral stripe absent. Genitalia: (Figs 79-81) n = 14. Tegumen subtriangular. Vinculum narrow, somewhat quadrate. Valves asymmetrical, moderate in width, saccular edge of left valve with large triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, right valve with tooth much reduced in size to nearly absent, both valves with smaller mesal costal tooth immediately above saccular edge teeth. Valves somewhat indented mesally, rounded apically. Uncus teardrop-shaped, truncated apically, base variable in width, apex somewhat hooked. Gnathos as two, flattened, spade-shaped outward facing flaps, bent toward each other, tips nearly converging. Juxtal processes shorter than phallus, thin, flattened, slightly curved, smooth. Base of phallus with paired, rounded, diverging, backwards facing fingerlike lobes. Phallus variable, broad, dorsal ridge of varying shape. Left edge of phallus forms distinct ridge, either a rounded or rectangular hump mesally or extended along phallus length but always quadrate anteriorly forming distinct edge, distal tip of phallus downturned, separated into two distinct, bent points. Vesica elongated. Female.Head: As in male but scales more grayish, labial palpi longer, thinner, dorsally covered in fewer dark scales. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male but tibial spurs broader, more triangular. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17.5-26 mm, avg.: 22.8 mm, n = 11. Coloration and patterning as in male but maculation stronger, silvery discal mark wider, wing shape broader, more elongate, ovoid. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but usually darker, markings subdued, postmedial line much fainter, bent near tornus; antemedial line not present; elongate black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male but broader, postmedial lunule proportionally larger, zigzagged pattern more obvious. Postmedial line situated midway along length of wing. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter but lighter. Abdomen: As in male but stouter. Sternite of VIII as pair of elongated sclerotized bands sometimes widening toward posterior margin of VIII converging near anterior margin. Sclerotized bands may be parallel or bowed out midway along length. Genitalia: (Fig. 95) n = 6. VIII prominently sclerotized laterally, with appendicular apophyses dorsolaterally in addition to apophyeses anteriores. Tergite of VIII arch-like, converging mesally to form posteriorly directed point. Apophyses anteriores slightly shorter than apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis as wide, semicircular, sclerotized band. Ductus bursae short. Papillae anales rectangular or subtriangular when viewed ventrally, covered in short setae.

Distribution

(Map 3). Menevia ostia is a widespread species, found in wet forests from Costa Rica and Panama, Peru, Suriname, French Guiana and the Brazilian Amazon in the state of Pará (the latter Brazilian state is not marked on Map 3 due to uncertainty of a specific locale, but which was probably Belém (I. Kitching pers. comm.)). There is also one record from northern Venezuela. This species is apparently found in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, but see remarks below. Menevia ostia may range as far north as Belize as per a single report from Pook’s Hill, Belize. This interesting record is treated in more detail in the remarks.

Natural history.

Menevia ostia is one of the few species of Menevia with known host plant associations. Rearing records from D. Janzen & W. Hallwachs show that Menevia ostia feeds on both Terminalia amazonia and Terminalia oblonga ( Combretaceae ). Additionally, a female specimen from Suriname at the USNM bears a label referencing Terminalia catappa , a known host plant of Menevia plagiata ( Raymundo 1919).

Furthermore, D. Janzen provided us access to photos of reared Menevia ostia , published here for the first time (see Figs 4, 5). Larval coloration is quite striking, but shows the usual morphology and one of a number of case structures typical of Mimallonidae .

Remarks.

Druce described Menevia ostia at a time when most new Mimallonidae that were being described were being placed in the now invalid, preoccupied genus Perophora Harris, 1841. Later, Schaus (1928) moved Perophora ostia to the genus Pamea Walker, 1855, apparently based on wing venation, which along with other wing characteristics used by Schaus, are unreliable in assigning species to genera ( St Laurent and Dombroskie 2015). Schaus made no mention of the striking similarity in appearance of Pamea ostia to species placed in the genus Menevia .

Schaus’s assignment of Menevia ostia (and Menevia parostia comb. n.) to the genus Pamea is strange considering the resemblance of these two species to Menevia lantona , a species that he described and designated as type species of Menevia , a genus that he also described. In comparing the genitalia of Menevia ostia with the type species of Pamea , Pamea albistriga Walker, 1855, the first author found the male genitalia of Menevia ostia completely unlike those of Pamea albistriga . The male genitalia of Pamea albistriga are very simple in comparison with those of Menevia ostia and Menevia as a whole. The phallus of Pamea albistriga is simple and truncated apically, and lacking a fused juxta with extended superior processes as in Menevia ostia and all other Menevia . In Pamea albistriga the vinculum is much more elongated, valves extremely simple, and the gnathos are atrophied. Genitalia alone offer enough support for the reassignment of Pamea ostia to Menevia based on the presence of all generic autapomorphies. The external characters of Menevia ostia are also sufficient for assigning this species to Menevia , namely the postmedial lunule and apical dash, both of which are readily apparent in Menevia ostia .

Of the four Menevia species-groups, the ostia species-group is the most difficult group to tease apart into different morphologically separable species. Phallic structure is an important character for species identification in Menevia , but each specimen of Menevia ostia examined (n = 14) had a uniquely shaped dorsal phallic ridge, varying in structure from a singular rounded or rectangular hump, to a crest that follows the length of the phallus (compare Figs 79c, 80, and 81). There is some degree of geographic association with the phallus structure. For example, specimens from Costa Rica generally have a more hump-like phallic ridge whereas those from northern South America have more elongated crests along the length of the phallus. There is also a great deal of variation within a single given locality. Specimens from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, for example, seem to have dorsal phallic ridges almost intermediate between those found in Costa Rica and northern South America. Furthermore, specimens from the Atlantic Forest biome are paler than those from the rest of the distribution. However, a small number of specimens from Rio de Janeiro contradicted this apparent trend as they were darker and much more similar to Costa Rican populations.

This issue of blurred species boundaries is non-existent in the lantona and lucara species-groups. Both of these species-groups each have one species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forests, and these endemic species each have unique genitalia and display minor but consistent external differences. The high degree of genitalia and external variation in Menevia ostia , even from a single location, impedes our ability to locate species-specific traits. Molecular evidence may be able to offer more conclusive insights, but even then, material is greatly lacking for the ostia species-group. Until more data is made available, it is more parsimonious to consider Menevia ostia to be a wide-ranging, phenotypically homogeneous species with variable male genitalia.

Menevia ostia , the very similar Menevia parostia comb. n., and Menevia pallida , are apparently distinct on the basis of female morphology and environment, with the latter species being restricted to drier regions of central South America. Only one record of Menevia ostia exists from a dry region, a specimen from northern Venezuela. The genitalia of this specimen are surprisingly very similar to those of Menevia pallida . A similar issue exists for the specimens from Espírito Santo. Although these specimens are consistently larger and paler than Costa Rican specimens, some specimens from Costa Rica are in fact, larger and paler than most others from similar localities.

Further complicating our understanding of the distributional boundaries of true Menevia ostia is a male specimen resembling Menevia ostia reported from Pook’s Hill, Belize (M. J. C. Barnes pers. comm.; color photo examined). This record is much farther north in Central America than any other records of the ostia group. Only one other species of Menevia is known from Belize: Menevia menapia . Unfortunately, this specimen is inaccessible to us and it cannot be dissected to determine if it is conspecific with Menevia ostia , or if it perhaps represents an undescribed species. Regardless of the specific identity of this specimen, the ostia species-group ranges at least as far north as Belize, perhaps making the extreme allopatry of Menevia menapia less of a biogeographic oddity relative to the genus Menevia as a whole.