Cogia buena Warren, Dolibaina & Hernández-Mejía, 2015

Warren, Andrew D., Dolibaina, Diego R. & Hernández-Mejía, Claudia, 2015, A new species of Cogia from Oaxaca, Mexico (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Eudaminae), Zootaxa 3941 (2), pp. 239-246 : 240-245

Cogia buena Warren, Dolibaina & Hernández-Mejía n. sp.

( Figs. 1–2 , 9 , 12 )

Diagnosis. Considering the wing morphology (pattern, color, size) and the morphology of the male genitalia of all species currently placed in the genus Cogia , C. buena appears most closely related to C. mala Evans, 1953 . Cogia buena can be immediately distinguished from C. mala by the following characters: 1) dorsal hindwing anterior portion whitish ( Fig. 1 ), while brownish on C. mala ( Figs. 3, 5 ); 2) forewing subapical hyaline spot in R5-M1 is usually shorter than the hyaline spot in R4-R5 ( Figs. 1–2 ), while it is the same size or longer on C. mala ( Figs. 3–6 ); 3) all non-hyaline spots on both wings are relatively boldly-marked ( Figs. 1–2 ), while these spots are poorlydeveloped on C. mala ( Figs. 3–6 ); 4) dorsal hindwing postdiscal band formed by distinct spots, often with a whitish spot at the center ( Fig. 1 ), while these spots are vague, entirely dark and mainly fused on C. mala ( Figs. 3, 5 ); 5) ventral hindwing postdiscal spots from M3-CuA1 to CuA1-CuA2 frequently with a whitish spot at the center ( Fig. 2 ), while these spots are entirely dark on C. mala ( Figs. 4, 6 ); 6) tegumen thin and straight in lateral view ( Fig. 9 a), while thick and downturned cephalad on C. mala ( Fig. 10 a); 7) ventral tegumen arm and dorsal saccus arm Sshaped ( Fig. 9 a), while both are straight on C. mala (10a); 8) uncus narrow dorsally ( Fig. 9 c, d), but broader on C. mala ( Fig. 10 c, d); 9) lateral margin of gnathos angled at the middle ( Fig. 9 d), while angled at the base on C. mala ( Fig. 10 d); 10) no costa on the valva ( Fig. 9 e), while the costa is present and short on C. mala ( Fig. 10 e); 11) sacculus well-developed, 1/2 the width of valva ( Fig. 9 e), while shorter, about 1/3 the width of the valva on C. mala ( Fig. 10 e); 12) ampulla almost totally separated from harpe ( Fig. 9 e), while fused with the harpe on C. mala ( Fig. 10 e); 13) inferior margin of harpe not projected ( Fig. 9 e–f), while slightly projected on C. mala ( Fig. 10 e–f); 14) internal row of spines on harpe larger and better-developed than external row of spines ( Fig. 9 e–f), while both rows are approximately equally-developed on C. mala ( Fig. 10 e–f); 15) aedeagus with the anterior portion short, moreor-less rounded, with the ejaculatory bulb opening ellipsoid ( Fig. 9 g), while this area is longer, right-turned and with the ejaculatory bulb opening ovoid on C. mala ( Fig. 10 g); 16) distal opening of the aedeagus long dorsally ( Fig. 9 g), while short dorsally on C. mala ( Fig. 10 g); 17) distal margin of aedeagus angled laterad ( Fig. 9 g), while not angled on C. mala ( Fig. 10 g); 18) two groups of numerous needle-shaped cornuti, a group with short cornuti and another group with long cornuti ( Fig. 9 g), while all cornuti are uniform in size on C. mala ( Fig. 10 g).

Description. Male. Forewing, shape and length ( Figs. 1–2 ). Subtriangular, about one and a half times longer than wide; mean forewing length 16.9 mm (15.1–18.4 mm, n=8; holotype 17.3 mm); costal margin slightly convex at the middle, no costal fold; apex weakly obtuse and rounded; external margin slightly projected from apex to M3; tornus weakly obtuse and rounded; anal margin slightly concave at the middle, otherwise straight.

Forewing, dorsal surface ( Fig. 1 ) - Ground color beige; basal, postbasal and costal areas dark-grey mixed with beige scales; discal area with one rectangular dark grey spot in CuA2-2A after the origin of CuA2; end of discal cell with a thin dark grey spot; three dark grey postdiscal spots in M2-M3, and CuA2-2A, the first small, semicircular and aligned with the hyaline spot in M1-M2, the others more or less rectangular, the superior aligned with spot in M3-CuA1 and the second, larger and aligned with the spot in CuA1-CuA2; seven dark grey submarginal spots from R4 to CuA2-2A; three groups of hyaline spots, one from the middle of the costal margin to the posterior margin of the discal cell, formed by three thin, compact spots in C-Sc, Sc-R1 and R1-Rs, fusing with the thin hyaline spot in the discal cell, distal margin of discal cell spot strongly concave at the middle, spanning from Rs near the origin of R1 towards the origin of CuA1, barely touching the CuA; the second group postdiscal, formed by three hyaline spots in M1-M2, M3-CuA1 and CuA1-CuA2, the first spot small, partially aligned diagonally with the subapical hyaline spots, the second rectangular, thin, aligned with the spot in R5-M1, and the third spot longer, thin, strongly narrowed at the middle, approaching an hourglass shape, more or less aligned with the origin of M1; the last group comprised of four subapical hyaline spots in R2-R3, R3-R4, R4-R5 and R5-M1, the first three longer than wide, compact, partially aligned with each other, the spot in R5-M1 smaller, anterior margin aligned with the distal margin of the three previous spots, all inclined toward the middle of the external margin; fringe grey mixed with beige scales, darker at vein ends.

Forewing, ventral surface ( Fig. 2 ). Ground color mainly beige-ochre, paler than dorsal surface, whitish from CuA2 to anal margin and in the first third of the discal cell; basal and postbasal areas dark grey mixed with beigeochre scales from C to Sc; discal and postdiscal spots in CuA2-2A inconspicuous, submarginal spot in the inferior half of CuA2-2A absent (below the anal fold); hyaline spots as on dorsal surface, distally surrounded by dark grey scales in postdiscal and subapical spots groups; marginal line dark grey; fringe as on dorsal surface.

Hindwing, shape ( Figs. 1–2 ). Rounded, longer than wide; costal margin slightly convex; apex rounded and obtuse; inner margin convex, indented at CuA2-2A; tornus slightly lobate, fairly straight in 2A–3A; anal margin slightly convex to straight.

Hindwing, dorsal surface ( Fig. 1 ). Ground color whitish with a subtle beige hue; white from costal margin to Rs (greyer in marginal and submarginal areas) and from 3A to anal margin; beige and grey from CuA to 3A and along 3A; posterior third of wing covered with thin, elongate, grey scales; dark grey discal band from near anterior margin of discal cell (though not touching it) to 2A, the discal cell spot rectangular, near the end of cell but not touching it, spot in CuA1-CuA2 triangular, spots above origin of CuA2 and CuA2-2A rectangular; end of discal cell with thin, dark grey spot; dark grey postdiscal arched band, from Rs-M1 to CuA2-2A, with five irregular spots, poorly fused, with a whitish ellipsoidal spot at center in spots M3-CuA1 and CuA1-CuA2; marginal and submarginal areas with a continuous grey-beige band from inferior half of Sc+R1-RS to 3A; fringe beige, dark grey at vein ends.

Hindwing, ventral surface ( Fig. 2 ). Ground color beige-ochre; dark grey at base, whitish along vein 3A; spot pattern as on dorsal surface with two additional circular grey spots from Sc+R1-Rs, one discal, aligned with the middle of the discal cell, and one postdiscal, aligned with the end of discal cell, both with a beige ellipsoid spot at the center; grey-ochre submarginal band poorly defined, somewhat disjoined, fainter than on dorsal surface and apparently never touching the external margin; marginal line dark grey; fringe as on dorsal surface.

Body. Head ( Figs. 1–2 ). Frontal and dorsal areas dark grey, scattered with cream scales, metallic scales on dorsum; frons white beneath base of antenna, above and beneath eye; labial palpus white on frontal and lateral parts of first segment and inferior portion of second segment, dark grey on dorsum and lateral superior parts of the second and third segments, forward projected, not exceeding the dorsal margin of the eye, first segment short, second segment subconical, four times longer than first segment, third segment stout, two and a half times shorter than second segment; antennae about 55% length of forewing costa, dorsally dark grey, scattered with cream scales, ventrally cream; club short, dorsally dark grey, ventrally cream, nudum blackish basad, reddish distad, 18–19 segments (n=8), 18 on holotype, occupying part of the club and all of the apiculus.

Thorax ( Figs. 1–2 ). Dark grey dorsad, mixed with ochre and cream scales; legs ochre dorsad, cream ventrad; protibia with red-brown epiphysis extending distad to slightly overlap proximal portion of tarsus; mesotibia not spined, one pair of spurs distad, outer spur about 1/2 length of inner; metatibia not spined, two pairs of spurs, outer spur about 1/2 length of inner.

Abdomen ( Figs. 1–2 ). Dark grey with sparse ochre and grey scales dorsad; creamy with a disjunct central grey line ventrad.

Genitalia ( Fig. 9 a–j). Tegumen thin and straight in lateral view, longer than wide and indistinct from the uncus in dorsal view, anterior margin rounded, two short and rounded lateral projections on the distal margin, no fenestra; combination of ventral tegumen arm, bent in dorsal portion, and the dorsal saccus arm S-shaped; dorsal saccus arm narrow near ventral tegumen arm, broad ventrad with a projection at the middle of its distal margin; anterior projection of saccus thin, anterior margin rounded and upturned, with an undeveloped distal projection; uncus roughly rectangular, as wide as tegumen, bifid distad at the third end, with tips pointed and downturned; gnathos simple, subtriangular and smooth, as long as uncus, broad proximad, thin distad, tip upturned, lateral margins angled; fultura inferior well-developed, with two broad and slightly bifid folds, one proximal and another at the distal margin, base thinned; valva ovoid, anterior margin strongly inclined; no costa; sacculus anvil-shaped, welldeveloped, distal margin half the width of the valva; ampulla short and rounded, almost totally distinct from harpe, with two strong spines; harpe well-developed, not projected ventrad, distal margin of both surfaces densely covered with spines, better-developed internally than externally; aedeagus longer than valva, broad and thin, slightly right-turned, coecum short and rounded, slightly constricted at the ellipsoid ejaculatory bulb opening; distal margin of aedeagus angled laterad, with a median rounded projection; distal opening of the aedeagus dorsolaterad to left, wide, about 3/4 length of aedeagus; with two groups of numerous needle-shaped cornuti, a group with short cornuti and another with long cornuti.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male with the following labels: white, printed: / MEXICO: OAXACA: / Mpio. Candelaria Loxicha: / La Soledad–Buenavista, / 15º58’32’’N 96º31’54’’W, / 1470–1630m, 24-VI-2008 / Andrew D. Warren DNA /; red, printed: / HOLOTYPE / Cogia buena / A. Warren, Dolibaina & Hernández-Mejía /. Two legs were removed from the holotype at the time of collection and placed in EtOH for future DNA studies. The holotype will be deposited at the Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico ( MZFC). Paratypes. 43 males: all from Oaxaca, Mexico; same data as holotype (1, ADW); same locality as holotype, 16-IV-1990, J. Kemner (1, MGCL); 5-V-1990, J. Kemner (1, USNM); 5-6-V- 1990, J. Kemner (2, database numbers 137898–137899, MZFC); 6-V-1990, J. Kemner (1, MGCL); 1-V-2008, MZFC collectors (12, database numbers 215406–215417, MZFC); 23-V-2008, M. Trujano, O. Avalos & J. Kemner (4, database numbers 215405, 215419–215421, MZFC); 25-VIII-2008, MZFC collectors (4, database numbers 217215–217217, 217219, MZFC); 28-VIII-2008, MZFC collectors (1, database number 217218, MZFC); Mpio. La Compañía: El Vado–San Sebastián (16º36’45’’N 96º54’02’’W), 1676–1981m, 22-VI-1992, J. Kemner (1, ADW); 2000m, 20-VII-1992, J. Kemner (2, USNM); 30-VII-1992, J. Kemner (3, ADW; 10, database numbers 129108–129113, 129645–129646, 138074–138075, MZFC).

Distribution and phenology ( Fig. 12 ). Cogia buena is known only from the Sierra Madre del Sur in Oaxaca, Mexico, from just two sites, between 1470 and 2000 m elevation. The type locality, on the road to Buenavista (Buenavista Loxicha) above La Soledad, southwest of Hwy. 175 (15º58’32’’N 96º31’54’’W), was studied intensively by researchers from the MZFC between 2007 and 2009. This locality is comprised of mostly intact cloud forest, just above the transition at lower elevations to tropical deciduous forest. Here, males of C. buena have been found perching on roadside vegetation from mid April to late August. Strangely, no females have yet been encountered. To our knowledge, only John Kemner has collected C. buena at the second known locality, on the road from El Vado to San Sebastián de las Grutas, in the Municipality of La Compañía (16º36’45’’N 96º54’02’’W), northwest of Hwy. 131. Given that the two known sites are widely separated, and that much of the Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca is poorly accessible, we suspect that C. buena is more widely distributed in the region than available records suggest. We feel it is possible, however, that C. buena might be endemic to Oaxaca and/or Mexico.

Etymology. Cogia buena translates in Spanish to the “good Cogia ”. This species is named in consideration of its apparent sister-species Cogia mala , which translates in Spanish to the “bad Cogia ”, although its name is derived from Guatemala.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Distribution map of Cogia buena n. sp. (solid triangle) and C. mala (solid circle).

FIGURES 1 – 8. Cogia adults. 1 – 2) C. buena n. sp., holotype male, dorsal (1) and ventral (2), from MEXICO: OAXACA: Mpio. Candelaria Loxicha: La Soledad – Buenavista, 15 º 58 ’ 32 ’’ N 96 º 31 ’ 54 ’’ W, 1470 – 1630 m, 24 - VI- 2008, Andrew D. Warren; 3 – 4) C. mala, holotype male, dorsal (3) and ventral (4), from GUATEMALA, [Dept. Guatemala], Amatitlán, July – Aug. 1904, A. Hall (BMNH); 5 – 8) C. mala, (5 – 6) male, dorsal (5) and ventral (6), from GUATEMALA: Dept. Sacatepéquez: Antigua, 9 - IX- 1993, D. Lindsley (MGCL); (7 – 8) female, dorsal (7) and ventral (8), from GUATEMALA: Dept. Sacatepéquez: Antigua, 30 - VIII- 1993, D. Lindsley (MGCL). Scale bar = 1 cm. Photographs 3 – 4 by Nick Grishin and are copyright (©) of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (used with permission).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Cogia, male genitalia, 9) C. buena n. sp., paratype, from MEXICO, OAXACA, La Soledad – Buenavista, 16 - IV- 1990, J. Kemner (MGCL); 10) C. mala, from GUATEMALA: Dept. Petén: Tikal, 11 - IX- 1993, D. Lindsley (MGCL). Structures as follows: (a) lateral view of tegumen, saccus, uncus and gnathos; (b) ventral view of fultura inferior; (c) dorsal view of tegumen, uncus, and gnathos; (d) ventral view of tegumen, uncus and gnathos; (e) lateral internal view of valva; (f) lateral external view of valva; (g – j) dorsal, right lateral, ventral and left lateral views of aedeagus; (k) lateral view of fultura inferior. Scale bar = 1 mm.