Megalographa monoxyla (Dyar)

Lafontaine, J. Donald & Sullivan, J. Bolling, 2009, A review of the genus Megalographa Lafontaine and Poole (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) with the description of a new species from Costa Rica, Insecta Mundi 2009 (77), pp. 1-10 : 4

Megalographa monoxyla (Dyar)

( Figure 1 , 9 )

Plusia monoxyla Dyar 1913: 645 . Holotype: female, USNM, Washington [examined]; Type locality: Ollantaytambo, [ Peru].

Diagnosis. Megalographa monoxyla is recognizable by its pattern. The lack of silvery-white shading on the reniform spot, the silver stigma mark noticeably angled toward the costa basally, and the reddishbrown ground color with a bronzy hue are characteristic. The silver stigma is separated into two spots in one of three specimens examined. The hindwing is lighter than those of other Megalographa species except M. bonaerensis . In the male genitalia the clasper extends well beyond the costa of the valve; the clavus is reduced to a small process. The vesica is slightly upcurved, with a prominent dorsal bulge mesially and a slender apical cornutus. The sexes are similar. The female is known only from the holotype which has not been dissected.

Distribution and Habitat. Megalographa monoxyla is known only from Peru and Bolivia and has a narrow distribution in the Andes. Its simple pattern and central distribution may indicate it has a basal position in the phylogeny of the genus.

Figures

Figure 1–8. Megalographa spp. 1) M. monoxyla, m, Cochabamba, Incachaca, Bolivia. 2) M. agualaniata, m, Cochabamba, Incachaca, Bolivia. 3) M. culminicola, m, Ecuador. 4) M. culminicola, f, Junin to Huanuco Hwy., Pasco, Peru, 3600 m. 5) M. bonaerensis, m, Curitiba, 920 m, Paraná, Brazil. 6) M. biloba, m, San Gerardo de Dota, Cartago, Costa Rica. 7-8) M. talamanca, m, Reserva los Nimbulos, 3150 m, Cerro de la Muerte, San José, Costa Rica.

Figure 9–14. Male genitalia of Megalographa spp. and Lophoplusia sp. 9) M. monoxyla, Cochabamba, Incachaca, Bolivia. 10) M. agualaniata, Venezuela. 11) M. bonaerensis, Curitiba, 920 m, Paraná, Brazil. 12) M. biloba, Verdugo, California. 13) M. talamanca, Reserva los Nimbulos, 3150 m, Cerro de la Muerte, San José, Costa Rica. 14) Lophoplusia sp., Kauai, Hawaii.