Vehilius jabre Medeiros, Souza & Kerpel, 2023

Souza, Janiely Alves De, Medeiros, Adalberto Dantas De, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo & Kerpel, Solange Maria, 2023, A new species of Vehilius Godman, 1900 (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae) endemic to the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil: taxonomy, biology and behavior, Zootaxa 5360 (2), pp. 239-254 : 242-250

Vehilius jabre Medeiros, Souza & Kerpel sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F9824AC9-6563-4D6B-8917-ED0A4CA70FCF

( Figs 3–6 )

Diagnosis. Vehilius jabre sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: 1—forewing with the presence of semi-hyaline postdiscal spots and with two elliptical or rounded spots at distal end of discal cell ( Fig. 3b–d ); 2—forewing spots in M 1 –M 2 and M 2 –M 3 present or absent, if present displaced towards the outer margin ( Fig. 3b, d ); 3—dorsal surface of hind wing uniformly brown, without marks ( Fig. 3a, c ); 4—ventral hind wing with veins marked by yellow to grayish scales ( Fig. 3a–d ).

Adult description. MALE ( Fig. 3a–b ). Forewing length 12.5–15.5 mm (n=19). Head: dorsally brown, with white scales behind eyes and around chaetosema; gena white. Antenna a little longer than 1/2 of costa, brown dorsally, white ventrally at base of antennomeres and club; nudum of 11 to 12 segments. Labial palpus first segment white; second segment white speckled with brown and greyish scales; third segment greyish, short and conical.

Thorax: dorsally brown, ventrally whitish. Legs dorsally brown, ventrally whitish; foretibia with epiphysis; midtibia spined, with a pair of apical spurs; hind tibia spined, with pairs of median and apical spurs.

Dorsal forewing ( Fig. 3a ): ground color brown, with scattered yellow scales, denser along costal area and at proximal half of the wing; four groups of white to yellow spots: one apical, consisting of three rounded to rectangular small semi-hyaline spots in R 3 – R 4 , R 4 – R 5 and R 5 –M 1; one submarginal, consisting of two small, opaque, irregular spots on median portion of M 1 –M 2 and M 2 –M 3 (spots absent in the holotype and in two paratypes); one postdiscal, comprising the two largest semi-hyaline spots, square to rectangular, the smallest in the end of the proximal 1/3 of M 3 –CuA 1, the largest near the median portion of CuA 1 –CuA 2; and one discal, consisting of two elliptical or rounded spots at distal end of discal cell. Additionally, there may be an opaque, triangular spot on the lower half of CuA 2 –2A (absent in holotype and reduced in some paratypes). Marginal line slightly darker than the ground color. Fringe brown to greyish, darker at the end of veins.

Dorsal hind wing ( Fig. 3a ): ground color uniformly brown to grayish, with scattered yellow scales. Marginal line and fringe as on dorsal forewing.

Ventral forewing ( Fig. 3b ): ground color brown with grayish and yellow scales along the costal area and discal cell; veins marked by yellow to greyish scales; spots as on the dorsal surface, but larger, with an additional spot at the upper half of CuA 2 –2A. Marginal line dark brown, strongly evident. Fringe brown to greyish, darker at the end of veins.

Ventral hind wing ( Fig. 3b ): ground color brown with scattered grayish scales, paler between the lower half of CuA 2 –2A and anal margin; veins marked by yellow to greyish scales; basal 1/4 of Sc+R 1 –Rs with rectangular gray spot; apex of discal cell with grayish spots on its lower half; seven grayish postdiscal spots, elliptical to rectangular between Sc+R 1 and 2A, the spots in Sc+R 1 –Rs and CuA 2 –2A displaced toward the base, that on the upper portion of M 1 –M 3 slightly displaced toward the outer margin. Marginal line dark brown, strongly evident, with the proximal margin limited by grayish scales. Fringe as on ventral forewing.

Abdomen ( Fig. 3a–b ): dorsally brown, ventrally whitish, with a narrow brown median stripe.

Genitalia ( Fig. 4a–l ): tegumen square, with a convex proximal margin; ventral arm of tegumen fused with the dorsal arm of saccus ( Fig. 4a–c ). Anterior projection of the saccus elongated, longer than tegumen+uncus ( Fig. 4d ). Uncus bifid, 1.5 times as long as tegumen, in lateral view narrow and slightly arced; arms narrow, separated by a deep u-shaped concavity ( Fig. 4a–c ). Gnathos divided, 1.5 times as long as uncus; in ventral view with arms convergent on base and slightly divergent on apex; in lateral view with the proximal half rectangular and about three times wider than distal half; apex weakly curved upwards ( Fig. 4a–c ). Valva wide at the base, narrowed towards the distal end; costa narrow, elongated, with about half length of valva; dorsal margin sinuous. Sacculus triangular, twice as long as wide. Ampulla fused with harpe by a fold. Harpe approximately half length of valva, proximal half rectangular, distal half narrow and curved upwards; apex spined, medially curved ( Fig. 4e–g ). Fultura inferior sclerotized, dorsally disjointed ( Fig. 4h ). Aedeagus slightly sinuous, approximately as long as the combined length of saccus+valva; coecum short, rounded and narrower than rest of aedeagus; ejaculatory bulb opening ovoid, separated from the proximal end of aedeagus by a short distance; cornuti as a sclerotized plate ( Fig. 4i–l ).

FEMALE ( Fig. 3c–d ). Forewing length 12–15mm (n=19). Similar to the male, except for the slightly more yellow spots on the forewing.

Genitalia ( Figs 5a , 6a ): tergum VIII about twice as long as wide; proximal half narrow and slightly arched; distal half square; spiracular opening absent. Papilla analis rectangular, wider than long. Sterigma sclerotized, except in the region surrounding ostium. Lamella antevaginalis as two free, elongated lateral plates; lateral plates with a long, narrow, and cylindrical distal projection, extending beyond the distal margin of lamella postvaginalis. Lamella postvaginalis rectangular, wider than long; distal margin with two small v-shaped indentations. Ostium at the central portion of sterigma. Bursa copulatrix five times longer than sterigma; initial 1/3 sclerotized, connecting to the remainder of the bursa copulatrix through a strong sinuosity; ductus bursae without plate or sclerotized spines in the sinuous portion; distal 2/3 of the ductus bursae with numerous sclerotized spots, denser in lateral regions.

Immature description. Egg: unknown.

First instar ( Fig. 7a–b ): head shining black, smooth, globular, with small primary setae. Body smooth and narrow, greenish, paler in segments of the thorax and the last abdominal segments. Prothorax with black rectangular dorsal plate; spiracles slightly darkened. Head capsule width: 0.6 mm (n= 1). Body size: 4.69 mm (n=1). Development time: not observed, considering it has not been reared since hatching. Although no first instar larva was obtained from egg hatching, such a first-instar larva was identified based on the presence of primary setae on the head, head size compared to similar species, and the combination of head capsule width, in relation to other instars, with the expectation of the occurrence of five instars.

Second instar ( Fig. 7c–d ): head black, rough, trapezoidal, densely covered by small and whitish secondary setae. Body smooth, greenish, darker than in the first instar, with three longitudinal stripes on the dorsal portion, the central one dark green and more evident, the lateral ones whitish and not inconspicuous. Prothorax similar to that of the first instar, differing by darkened spiracles. Head capsule width: 0.82–0.85 mm (mean= 0.83 mm; n= 2). Body size: 7.9–9 mm (n= 2). Development time: not observed, as it has not been reared since moulting from the first to the second instar.

Third instar ( Fig. 7e–f ): head cream, rough, trapezoidal, with numerous whitish setae and showing the following pattern of black spots: two lateral bands from the sternal region to near the epicranial suture; a band along the ecdysial line and the epicranial suture; a vertical band on the front and two parallel frontal bands that arise at the lateral ends of the clypeus and extend dorsally to near the lateral bands ( Fig. 7k ). Body greenish, with dark green punctuations at the base of the white and slightly evident bristles, longitudinal bands as in the second instar, sixth abdominal segment with a faint yellow and rounded dorsal spot, interrupted by a dark green central band. Prothorax as in the second instar. Head capsule width: 1.1–1.35 mm (mean= 1.08 mm; n=4). Body size: 11.5–16 mm (n= 2). Development time: 7–10 days (mean=8.5 days; n=2).

Fourth instar ( Fig. 7g –h ): head similar to that of the third instar, differing by brown spots instead of black ( Fig. 7l ). Body as in the third instar, but with the dorsal spot in the sixth abdominal segment more evident. Head capsule width: 1.40–1.45 mm (mean= 1.41 mm; n= 4). Body size: 15–18 mm (n=3). Development time: 6–11 days (mean=8.5 days; n=2).

Fifth instar ( Fig. 7i–j ): head similar to that of the fourth instar, differing by the spots that are a little lighter ( Fig. 7m ). Body as in the fourth instar. Head capsule not measured due to rupture of the ecdysial line before pupal formation. Body size: 23–24 mm (n= 2). Development time: 13–15 days (mean= 14 days; n= 2).

Pupa ( Fig. 8a–f ): green, lighter at the proximal and distal ends, with faint white longitudinal stripes on the dorsum; proboscis elongated, reaching the distal portion of cremaster, distal half gradually brownish and not fused with the body. Body elongated, distally tapering; cremaster narrow and slightly arched in lateral view. Head with a short, pointed anterior projection, ventrally arched in lateral view. When close to adult emergence, the pupa becomes yellowish with red eyes ( Fig. 8f ). Size: 19 mm (n=1). Development time: 9–11 days (mean= 10 days; n= 4).

Geographical distribution. The species is endemic to the Caatinga biome, with records in the following states of the northeastern region of Brazil: Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Bahia.

Temporal distribution. Based on the studied material, adults can be found throughout the year, except in November and December. They are more easily recorded, including their immature stages, between April and June, corresponding to the second half of the rainy season in the region of occurrence.

Etymology. The specific epithet alludes to the Pico do Jabre, the highest point in Paraíba state and the collection site of the first specimen of the new species.

Type material. Holotype male deposited at the CLEIIC with the following labels : / HOLOTYPUS / Brasil, PB [Paraíba], Patos, Serrote da Cruz , 11-VI-2020 Medeiros, AD leg. / CLEIIC 05076 / Holotypus Vehilius jabre sp. nov. Medeiros, Souza & Kerpel det. 2022 /.

Allotype female deposited at the CLEIIC with the following labels : / ALLOTYPUS / Brasil, PB [Paraíba], Patos, Serrote da Cruz , 11-VI-2020 Medeiros, AD leg. / CLEIIC 05075 / Allotypus Vehilius jabre sp. nov. Medeiros, Souza & Kerpel det. 2022. /.

Paratypes. BRAZIL — Paraíba: Campina Grande ( Parque Estadual do Poeta ), 1 male, 21-VIII-2021, Medeiros, Gualberto, Rodrigues & Vieira leg., CLEIIC 05067 ( CLEIIC) ; Maturéia ( Pico do Jabre ), 1 male, 02.IV.2011, 1 female, 25. V.2012, S.M. Kerpel & A.F. Junior, CLEIIC 332 , CLEIIC 335 ( CLEIIC) , 1 male, 07.X.2011, Kerpel & Almeida leg., CLEIIC 05068 ( CLEIIC) , 1 male, 22.IX.2015, Kerpel & Gualberto leg., CLEIIC 1400 ( CLEIIC) , 2 males, 22. V.2015, C. Mielke leg., DZ 55.290, DZ 20.882 ( DZUP) , 1 female, 27.VIII.2012, S.M. Kerpel & A.F. Junior leg., DZ 55.280 ( DZUP) ; Patos ( Serrote da Cruz ), 2 males, 1 female, 11. VI.2020, 2 males, 2 females, 14.IV.2022, Medeiros, AD leg., CLEIIC 05073 , CLEIIC 05071 , CLEIIC 05069 , CLEIIC 05092 , CLEIIC 05089 , CLEIIC 05090 , CLEIIC 05091 , ( CLEIIC) , 2 males, 1 female, 14. VI.2020, Medeiros & Lins leg., CLEIIC 05072 , CLEIIC 05074 , CLEIIC 05070 ( CLEIIC) , 1 female, 11.II.2022, 1 male, 1 female, 12.III.2022, 1 male, 1 female, 25.IV.2022, 1 female, 26. V.2022, 2 females, 27.IV.2022, 1 male, 29.IV.2022, 2 females, 07. V.2022, 1 male *, 24. V.2022, 1 male, 18. VI.2022, 1 male *, 09. VI.2022, 1 male *, 20. VI.2022, 1 male *, 29. VI.2022, 1 female *, 02.VII.2022, 1 male *, 15.VII.2022, 2 males *, 25.VII.2022, Souza, leg., CLEIIC 05079 , CLEIIC 05078 , CLEIIC 05077 , CLEIIC 05081 , CLEIIC 05080 , CLEIIC 05083 , CLEIIC 05084 , CLEIIC 05085 , CLEIIC 05086 , CLEIIC 05087 , CLEIIC 05097 , CLEIIC 05088 , CLEIIC 05094 , CLEIIC 05096 , CLEIIC 05098 , CLEIIC 05101 , CLEIIC 05099 , CLEIIC 05095 , CLEIIC 05100 , CLEIIC 05082 ( CLEIIC); (Serrote Pedro Agostinho) , 1 female, 27.IX.2020, Nascimento, Araújo, Pereira, Medeiros, A.D. & Kerpel leg., CLEIIC 03717 ( CLEIIC) , 1 female, 22.VIII.2020, Nascimento, Souza, Medeiros, A.D., Ferreira, Araújo & Kerpel., CLEIIC 03534 ( CLEIIC) . Pernambuco: Buíque ( Parque Nacional do Catimbau ), 1 male, 29.I.2020, Ferreira, Araújo & Kerpel, leg., CLEIIC 05093 ( CLEIIC) ; Bahia: Itaetê ( Gruta Lapa do Bode ), 1 male, 27.VII.2015, Kerpel & Ferreira Jr. leg., CLEIIC 03201 ( CLEIIC) .

Ecology and behavior of adults. Vehilius jabre sp. nov. is associated with environments characterized by the presence of inclined or clusters of randomly arranged rocks that create microenvironments similar to small caves ( Fig. 9a–b ). All specimens from Serrote da Cruz and Pedro Agostinho inselbergs were captured while perched on the surface of rocks within these environments ( Fig. 9c ) and this same behavior was also observed in Lerodea erythrostictus (Prittwitz, 1868) , another species of Moncina with a similar color pattern ( Fig. 9d ).

Adults of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. usually remain perched on rocks for long periods and are observed between 08:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with a higher frequency around noon. No specimens were observed in these spots before 08:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. When at rest, males and females keep their wings closed dorsally, exposing the ventral side, which blends with the surface of the rocks, making them difficult to detect ( Fig. 9c ).

Vehilius jabre sp. nov. exhibits a behavior of intense flight activity between 5:00–6:00 p.m. when two mating pairs were captured. Adults of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. were frequently observed and photographed feeding for extended periods on flowers of the genus Melocactus Link & Otto ( Cactaceae ) in the Pico do Jabre, around 4:00 p.m ( Fig. 9e ). Additionally, a photographic record of an adult feeding on a flower of the same genus, taken in Nova Palmeira, Paraíba, Brazil, was obtained from the iNaturalist website ( Fig. 9f ) (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/77749676, accessed 21/09/2023).

Ecology and behavior of immatures. The third to fifth instar larvae of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. construct shelters by folding and attaching the lateral margins of the leaf with one or more silk threads, forming a tubular structure with open ends ( Fig. 8g –h ). When not feeding, the larva remains motionless inside the shelter. Feeding occurs during the day, and the larva consumes nearly the entire leaf used for constructing the shelter, often leaving only a portion for anchoring and feeding. Occasionally, the larva leaves the shelter in search of food, exploring all parts of the plant. Larvae of all instars eject their excrement out of the shelters. Fourth and fifth instar larvae were observed making lateral movements with their heads, depositing silk threads where they would later remain motionless and anchored on the adaxial region of the leaf, at different times of the day.

The reared immatures that reached adulthood formed their pupae on the adaxial portion of the leaf, where they attached themselves using the cremaster and a silk belt wrapped around the thorax, with the ends connected to the leaf substrate on both sides of the pupa. The presence of a small amount of whitish wax, mainly near the head region of the pupa, was also observed.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Adults of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. and V. warreni in dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views. a–b: Vehilius jabre sp. nov., holotype male. c–d: Vehilius jabre sp. nov., allotype female. e–f: Vehilius warreni, male, Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 55.302). g–h: Vehilius warreni, female, Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 55.312). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 4. Male genitalia of Vehilius jabre sp. nov., paratype, Serrote da Cruz, Patos, Paraíba Brazil (CLEIIC 05071) (a–l) and V. warreni, Ribeirão Cascalheira, Mato Grosso, Brazil (DZ 8.849) (m–n). a: dorsal view of tegumen, uncus, and gnathos. b: ventral view of tegumen, uncus, and gnathos. c: lateral view of tegumen, uncus, gnathos, ventral arm of tegumen, dorsal arm of saccus, and saccus. d: ventral view of saccus. e: lateral view of the left valva. f: lateral view of the right valva. g: dorsal view of left valva. h: lateral view of fultura inferior. i: dorsal view of aedeagus. j: ventral view of aedeagus. k: left lateral view of aedeagus. l: right lateral view of aedeagus. m: male genitalia of Vehilius warreni in lateral view. n: dorsal view of the left valva of Vehilius warreni. The red arrows indicate the main differences between the two species. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Tergum VIII, sterigma and papilla analis of Vehilius jabre sp. nov., paratype, Serrote da Cruz, Patos, Paraíba Brazil (CLEIIC 05070) (a) and Vehilius warreni, Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 55.252) (b) in lateral view. The red arrows indicate the main differences between the two species. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Female genitalia of Vehilius jabre sp. nov., paratype, Serrote da Cruz, Patos, Paraíba Brazil (CLEIIC 05070) (a) and Vehilius warreni, Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 55.252) (b) in ventral view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Immature stages of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views. a–b: first instar larva. c–d: second instar larva. e–f: third instar larva. g–h: fourth instar larva. i–j: fifth instar larva. k: head of third instar larva in anterior view. l: head of fourth instar larva in anterior view. m: head of fifth instar larva in anterior view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Immature stages of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. a: pre-pupa in dorsal view. b: pre-pupa in lateral view. c: pupa in dorsal view. d: pupa in lateral view. e: pupa in ventral view. f: pupa in ventral view near adult emergence. g: shelter built by third instar larva of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. h: shelter built by the fifth instar larva of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. before pupal formation. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Environment and behavior of Vehilius jabre sp. nov. and Lerodea erythrostictus. a–b: microhabitats where Vehilius jabre sp. nov. is frequently found. c: Vehilius jabre sp. nov. resting in the rock. d: Lerodea erythrostictus resting in the rock. e–f: Vehilius jabre sp. nov. feeding on Cactaceae flowers (e: photographed by the authors in Matureia, Paraíba, Brazil and f: photographed by Ermerson Sharbel in Nova Palmeira, Paraíba, Brazil (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77749676, accessed 21/09/2023).