Schacontia speciosa Solis & Goldstein

Goldstein, Paul Z., Metz, Mark A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2013, Phylogenetic systematics of Schacontia Dyar with descriptions of eight new species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), ZooKeys 291, pp. 27-81 : 49-50

Schacontia speciosa Solis & Goldstein sp. n. Figs 42444, 45

Material examined.

Type material. Brazil: Holotypemale, USNM (Fig. 4): Col. Becker 65271; Brasil: RJ Marica 5m,11. x.1985, V.O.Becker Col. Paratypes 10♂, 1♀, 2 sex undet., USNM. Brazil: Same data as holotype (9♂, with additional label "Genitalia 1290"); BRAZIL: BA Jequié, 600-750 m; Col. Becker 105714 (1♀); BRAZIL: Rio Jan. 10 km SW Maricá “restinga” sand dune, 11-12-X-85 Scott E. Miller (1♂, 2 sex undet, ex abd.).

Diagnosis.

Habitus, male genitalia(Figs 4, 44). The forewing pattern of this species makes it unmistakable; readily diagnosed by a combination of the frosted medial area common to other Schacontia and the interruption of the brown basal area to render a medio-basal patch encircled in white. Male genitalia diagnosed from those of other Schacontia species by the combination of expanded (not truncate) but inornate valvae, and reduced features associated with them, such as the inconspicuous intrasaccular flange; and a blunt, squarish, barely-tapering uncus.

Description.

Male (Fig. 4). Forewing length: 7.5-8.0 mm, (n=14). Head - Ocelli absent; proboscis normal; frons expressed as a small hump, but not conspicuously conical; labial palpi porrect, extending beyond clypeus. Thorax - Vertical scales mocha; female with one pair of hind tibial spurs (medial pair absent). Forewing. Medial area gray, partially suffused with white basad; postmedial line shaded white outwardly, brown inwardly; basal and submarginal areas primarily mocha brown; basal area interrupted by oblong basal patch surrounded by white. Subterminal line dark, unbroken; fringe scale gray, darkest at termini. Hindwing. Brownish white, no contrasting markings, postmedial line inconspicuous if present; subterminal line dark, unbroken; fringe scales brown, pale gray at margin. Abdomen- Scales arranged in two terminal black dorsal spots in males. Tympanal organs (Fig. 24). Tergo-sternal sclerite robust, conspicuous; bullae tympani longer than wide, saccus or rim of bullae sclerotized at base; processi tympani present, lamellate, thumblike, towards anterolateral end of fornix; processus spiniformis present; fornix tympani sclerotized; angle of fornical ulna obtuse; pons of intermediate length, roughly half the depth of saccus, component rods broad, separate along entire length, diverging at anterior termini; posteromedial margin of saccus extends and remains parallel to pons for most of its length, pons extending towards bottom of saccus; saccus pronounced; venulae secundae prominent, tapering slightly at base of tympanal case such that "partie libre" (sensu Minet) of second sternite forms a neck; puteoli absent. Male genitalia (Fig. 44) - Teguminal sulcus short, not apparent; juxta U-shaped, lateral arms modesty recurved; valvae simple, broad, not truncate; intra-saccular process rudimentary, if present; costa with recurved, elongate tufts of setae but no conspicuous fleshy lobe; phallus simple, cornuti absent. Female genitalia (Fig. 45) - Papillae anales separate, round, swollen; colliculum present as faintly sclerotized collar embedded in ductus bursae, which is short, inconspicuously delimited and unsclerotized anterior to colliculum; corpus bursae elongate, membranus, without signa or appendix bursae; ductus seminalis inserted between antrum and ductus bursae.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is from the Latin for showy or handsome.

Biology.

Unknown. Adults active in October.

Distribution.

Southeastern Brazil (Bahia, Rio de Janeiro).