Symmachia meyi Brévignon, 1998,

Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2020, Taxonomic review of the “ Probetoriformes ” species group of Symmachia Hübner [1819] (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), with the description of two new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Zootaxa 4780 (3), pp. 471-507 : 503-504

Symmachia meyi Brévignon, 1998 stat. nov.

( Figs 35–38 , 66 , 75 , 84 , 121–122 , 132 , 153 )

Symmachia falcistriga meyi Brévignon, 1998 , in Brévignon & Gallard. Lambill. 98(3), p. 308, 316, figs 23-24— Seitz, 1917. Gross-Schmett. Erde 5, p. 682 [in part]—Seitz, 1918. Gross-Schmett. Erde 5, pl. 128g [6] (male dorsal)— Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, in Lamas, in Heppner. Atlas Neotrop. Lepid. 5A, p. 157— Gallard, 2008, in Lacomme & Manil. Lep. Guyane. Tome 3 Rhopal. 2, p. 28, 30, 31, fig. [2] (female ventral, schematic illustration); p. 39, pl. 1, fig. 1 (male dorsal in situ), p. 40, pl. 2, fig. 1 (male dorsal, female dorsal and ventral)— Dolibaina et al., 2012. Insecta Mundi 249, p. 4-5— Gallard, 2017. Les Riod. Guyane, p. 76, 165; fig. 10C (female ventral, schematic illustration), fig. 11 (male in situ); pl. 15 fig. 3 (male dorsal, female dorsal and ventral).

Diagnosis. Symmachia meyi is sympatric with S. probetor and S. estellina ( Figs 151–153 ); males cannot be confused with other species of the “Probetoriformes” species group except S. falcistriga ( Figs 35–36 ), but females are somewhat similar to most species of the group ( Figs 37–38 ). Males frons, patagia, thorax and tegulae as is S. falcistriga ( Figs 35–36 ); FW (1.05 cm; n=1) moderately bulged; bulged area as 45% of the FW length; end of bulge aligned to the origin of M 1 ( Figs 35 , 66 ); FWD black, mostly covered by a dark green sheen and with a light bluish white scaling on 1A ( Figs 35 , 66 ); HWD black, mostly covered by a dark green sheen ( Fig. 35 ); FWV and HWV spots weakly developed ( Fig. 36 ); abdomen as in S. falcistriga ( Figs 35–36 ); CAS of the tergites 4 and 5 as long as 1/5 of the tergites’ length and wider than half the tergites’ width, distinctly projected anteriorly; CAS scales pale yellow ( Figs 121–122 ). Females thorax yellow-spotted dorsally; FW (1.15 cm; n=1) moderately bulged; FWD dark brown, with solid yellow sickle-shaped spot between the discal cell and the costal margin and speckled with yel- lowish spots; FWD submarginal reddish orange band paler to yellowish after its half and without a broken aspect at M 3, CuA 1 and CuA 2; HWD almost uniformly dark brown; HWD and HWV submarginal bands as in S. falcistriga ( Figs 37–38 , 75 , 84 ).

Males of S. meyi are similar to S. falcistriga except by the absence of the translucent whitish costal spots on the FWD ( Figs 35 , 66 ), by the fainter spots on the HWV ( Fig. 36 ) and the pale yellow scales of CAS ( Figs 141–142 ). Females are similar to S. falcistriga except by the FWD yellow sickle-shaped spot between the discal cell and the costal margin instead of white and creamy translucent; submarginal band uniformly narrower.

Distribution. This species is known based on few specimens from the whereabouts of the type locality in Kaw, Cayenne arrondissement (SF; Brévignon & Gallard 1998; Gallard 2008, Gallard 2017) and Maroni River ( Seitz 1917), French Guiana ( Fig. 153 ).

Comments. Symmachia meyi was described as a subspecies of S. falcistriga based on a single male holotype from Kaw , Cayenne , French Guiana. The absence of the translucent whitish costal spots on the FWD of males, the presence of pale yellow scales on single band of CAS on tergites 4 and 5, and the male genitalia with uncus not divided, medially more projected in lateral view, and valva markedly smaller, support this taxon at the species rank. This species seems to be scarce, and the record of a male specimen from Maroni River, deposited at the MNHN ( Seitz 1917), is the single known specimen collected away from the whereabouts of the type locality .

Gallard (2017) point out that S. meyi is rather uncommon and can be encountered visiting flowers in January. A male specimen is illustrated by Gallard (2008, 2017) visiting flowers of Varronia schomburgkii (Boraginaceae) .

Type material. The labels of the holotype of Symmachia falcistriga meyi Brévignon, 1998 were not examined, but the original description provides the following data: “Un [male symbol], PK19, piste de Kaw [Route D6], Roura, Guyane française, 30–VIII–1986, collection L. & C. Brévignon, n. 205” ( Brévignón & Gallard 1998) ( LCB).

Examined material. BRAZIL: FRENCH GUIANA: Cayenne — Cacao (Chemin de la Sourçe), 1♂, 10.X.2013, S. Fernandez leg. ( SF), ( Route de l’Este ) , 1♀, 23.XII.2014, S. Fernandez leg. ( SF) , Roura (Road to Kaw, km 20) 1♂, 30.VIII.1986, C. Brévignon leg. ( LCB); ( Road to Kaw, km 43) , 1♀, 4. VI.1990, C. Brévignon leg. ( LCB); ( Road to Kaw, km 20) , 1♂, 24.XII.2009, C. Brévignon leg. ( LCB); ( Road to Kaw, km 20) , 1♂, 11.I.2018, 10:00 h, C. Brévignon leg. ( LCB) .

Figures

FIGURE 151. Geographical distribution of Symmachia probetor, S. belti stat. rev. and S. championi stat. rest. Asterisks indicate records from the literature.

FIGURE 152. Geographical distribution of Symmachia estellina and S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Casagrande sp. nov. Asterisks indicate records from the literature.

FIGURE 153. Geographical distribution of Symmachia praxila, S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov., S. divisora, S. falcistriga and S. meyi stat. nov. Asterisks indicate records from the literature.

FIGURES 21–38. Species of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group. 21–24. S. praxila. 21–22. Male from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil (DZ 43.995 (DZUP)). 23–24. Female from Rio Natal, São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil (OM 67.541). 25–26. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov. male holotype (DZUP). 27–30. S. divisora. 27–28. Male from Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Mâncio Lima, Acre, Brazil (DZ 43.479 (DZUP)). 29–30. Female from Fazenda Rancho Grande, Cacaulândia, Rondônia, Brazil (MGCL). 31–34. S. falcistriga. 31–32. Male from Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Mâncio Lima, Acre, Brazil (DZ 43.509 (DZUP)). 33–34. Female, same locality as male (DZ 43.965 (DZUP)). 35–38. S. meyi stat. nov.. 35–36. Male from Chemin de la Sourçe, Cacao, French Guiana (SF). 37–38. Female from Route de l’Este, French Guiana (SF).

FIGURES 57–66. Forewings of males of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in dorsal view. 57. S. probetor. 58. S. belti stat. rev. 59. S. championi stat. rest. 60. S. estellina. 61. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 62. S. praxila. 63. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 64. S. divisora. 65. S. falcistriga. 66. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 67–75. Forewings of females of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in dorsal view. 67. S. probetor. 68. S. belti stat. rev. 69. S. championi stat. rest. 70. S. estellina. 71. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 72. S. praxila. 73. S. divisora. 74. S. falcistriga. 75. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 76–84. Hindwings of females of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in ventral view. 76. S. probetor. 77. S. belti stat. rev. 78. S. championi stat. rest. 79. S. estellina. 80. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 81. S. praxila. 82. S. divisora. 83. S. falcistriga. 84. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 113–122. Fourth (left) and fifith (right) tergites of males of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group. 113–114. S. praxila. 115–116. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 117–118. S. divisora. 119–120. S. falcistriga. 121–122. S. meyi stat. nov.. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 128–132. Male genitalia of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in lateral view, uncus in dorsal view and anterior projection of saccus in ventral view. 128. S. praxila. 129. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 130. S. divisora. 131. S. falcistriga. 132. S. meyi stat. nov.. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 138–146. Female genitalia of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in ventral view and papilla analis in lateral view. 138. S. probetor. 139. S. belti stat. rev. 140. S. championi stat. rest. 141. S. estellina. 142. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov. 143. S. praxila. 144. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 145. S. divisora. 146. S. falcistriga. Scale bar = 1 mm.