Revision of the genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of 11 new species
Author
St. Laurent, Ryan A.
Author
Dombroskie, Jason J.
text
ZooKeys
2016
566
31
116
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.566.6982
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.566.6982
1313-2970-566-31
C8B00FFDDAB3487BADC6F383D6A1E581
C8B00FFDDAB3487BADC6F383D6A1E581
Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae
Menevia rosea
sp. n.
Figs 12, 73; Map 1
Type
material.
Holotype, ♂: ECUADOR: Ecuador: Napo, Simon Bolivar [
Simon
Bolivar
], 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:
Simon
Bolivar
.
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,
Simon
Bolivar
, 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
.