Menevia rosea, 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 : 41-44

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia rosea sp. n. Figs 12, 73; Map 1

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: ECUADOR: Ecuador: Napo, Simon Bolivar [ Simón Bolívar], Coca River canyon, 1200 m, 16 Aug 1996, Jan Hillman, undisturbed wet forest/ St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:9/ HOLOTYPE male Menevia rosea St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016 [handwritten red label]/ (CMNH). No paratypes. Type locality: Ecuador: Napo: Simón Bolívar.

Diagnosis.

Menevia rosea is distinguishable from all other species in the lantona species-group by the pink coloration of the forewings, especially medially and proximal to the apical region. The postmedial lunule is also more weakly curved than in the most similar species, Menevia lantona . Genitalia characters should also readily distinguish Menevia rosea from other species in the lantona species-group. The particularly short phallus has a small, but obvious dorsal ridge, which is lacking in Menevia lantona . The phallic ridge of Menevia rosea should not be confused with the dorsal protuberance on the phallus of some Menevia lantona , as this protuberance is closer to mid-length of the phallus while the phallic ridge of Menevia rosea is more distal. The juxtal processes are more curved toward the distal end of the phallus. The valves are more triangular and are particularly broad proximal to the vinculum, the saccular edges of the valves are also particularly straight.

Description.

Male.Head: Brownish gray with pinkish hue, eyes bordered posteriorly by dark brown collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments weakly defined ventrally due to ventral tufts, dorsally with darker scales contrasting with overall pinkish gray coloration. Scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus but light tan, scales of prothoracic collar pinker, tipped with white. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs very thin, relatively long, terminal third not scaled, especially ventrally. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 16 mm, n = 1. Triangular, apical half of outer margins concave, apex slightly falcate. Ground color light tan with excessive pink scal ing, especially medially and nearing apex before postmedial line, very sparsely speckled by dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray. Apex marked by black scales above small apical dash. Dark brown postmedial line mostly straight, somewhat undulating. Antemedial area lighter, less pink, submarginal area faint gray to more tan near tornus, postmedial lunule originating perpendicular to where apical dash meets postmedial line, lunule follows postmedial line from apex to nearly half length of postmedial line where lunule barely curves outward toward wing margin, forming very acute angle with postmedial line. Antemedial line absent. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum, pink coloration widespread but postmedial line fainter, more curved, antemedial line absent, small black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded with margin weakly pointed mesally, anal angle very weakly accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings but with more petiolate scales, vague postmedial lunule originating near anterior margin undulating, not steeply swept to margin, antemedial line absent, postmedial line mostly straight, brown, surrounded by pink. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter, but lighter. Abdomen: As for genus. Coloration a continuation of tan coloration of thorax with pink hue. Genitalia: (Fig. 73) n = 1. Tegumen rectangular, not constricted at base of gnathos. Vinculum moderately broad, somewhat quadrate ventrally. Valves asymmetrical, triangular, very broad at base, with very straight saccular edge except for large triangular tooth proximal to transtilla on left saccular edge, right valve with tooth much reduced in size, both valves with smaller mesal costal projection immediately above saccular edge teeth, apex of mesal projection pointed outwards. Valves rounded apically. Uncus handbell-shaped, truncated apically, apex rounded. Gnathos as two prominent, flattened, vaguely subtriangular outward facing flaps, upturned where flaps converge over phallus. Juxtal processes shorter than phallus, curved, creased along length, covered in moderately long setae. Base of phallus with paired, somewhat elongated, rounded, diverging, backwards facing fingerlike lobes. Phallus broad, short, widened mesally, with small dorsal ridge anteriorly. Left edge of rolled phallus simple, with small ridge-like process, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct, straight points. Vesica small, sac-like. Female. Unknown.

Distribution

(Map 1). Menevia rosea is so far known only from the type locality in Ecuador, Napo, Simón Bolívar, at a rather high elevation for the genus, 1200 m.

Etymology.

Menevia rosea is named for the unique pink coloration of this species, unlike other species of the lantona species-group, which are usually tan.

Remarks.

This new species is unique externally and is the only species in the lantona species-group with pink scales on the wings. Pink scaling is seen in many other Menevia species, particularly those in the lucara species-group. However, all other characteristics of patterning and the genitalia of Menevia rosea perfectly match those characters typical of the lantona species-group.

Apart from the interesting external coloration and genitalia characters, the type locality of this species is noteworthy mostly due to the relatively high elevation, 1200 m. The most similar species, Menevia lantona , has been collected in the Napo province just 80 km south of the type locality of Menevia rosea . Furthermore, the specimen collected 80 km south of the Menevia rosea type locality was collected at 1097 m elevation, also high for the genus. We have attributed this particular specimen to Menevia lantona due to the complete lack of pink and the genitalia characters. It is worth noting however, that this specimen has much darker postmedial lines on the fore and hindwings than typical Menevia lantona . Although the external characters and elevation of the collecting site are somewhat unique, the genitalia characters (St. Laurent diss.: 7-7-15:3) are completely typical of Menevia lantona , and are unlike either Menevia rosea or the other suspected possibility, Menevia torvamessoria sp. n. described below. Other Ecuadorian Menevia lantona are from much lower altitudes, 380-400 m. The differences in genitalia and the fact that Menevia lantona has been recorded from rather high elevations suggest that Menevia rosea is not a mere high elevation form of Menevia lantona .