Dicepolia Snellen

Hayden, James E., 2009, Taxonomic revision of Neotropical Dicepolia Snellen (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Zootaxa 2237, pp. 1-33 : 4-8

Dicepolia Snellen

Dicepolia Snellen, 1892: 158 (type species: Anemosa roseobrunnea Warren, 1889 , by monotypy).―Hampson, 1899: 227 (= Calamochrous Lederer 1863 ).― Fletcher and Nye, 1984: 45.― Munroe, 1995: 6, 52.― Heppner, 2003: 269. Endolophia Hampson 1899 a [April 1898]: 592 (phylogenetic diagram); 599 (key) (type species: Endolophia rufitinctalis Hampson, 1899 b, by subsequent designation by Hampson, 1899b).― Hampson, 1899b: 233 (description).― Munroe, 1961: 5.― Fletcher and Nye, 1984: 51.

Generic diagnosis. The following characters diagnose worldwide Dicepolia from other Eurrhypini : spirally twisted phallus, often with single cornutus; posterior margin of male S8 with median spinule (lost if lamelliform structures also absent); female genitalia with one or two closely spaced appendices, one from cervix bursae and the other from corpus bursae (figs 51, 54–57: ab, ac). Characters shared with closely related genera: frontoclypeus upwardly arched in an obtuse to acute angle, like the letter lambda (figs 49, 50); forewing median and terminal areas same or similar color; androconium of long, straight hairs from small patch on base of costa of valve, dorsal edge (basicostal androconium).

The following characters diagnose all Neotropical Dicepolia : color brownish yellow, orange yellow, brownish rosy, or maroon, with forewing PM line smoothly paralleling outer margin but smoothly curving basad about 1A to greater or lesser degree; labial palpi 2–3 times length of eye (fig. 48); posterior edge of male abdominal sternum 7 with smooth tuft of posteriad-directed hairs (fig. 18); loss of small deciduous hairs from S8 posterior spinule; female colliculum with triangular extension onto ductus/cervix bursae (figs 51, 55: cs). Distinctive characters of some species: foreleg with androconium along ventral femur opposite epiphysis (fig. 17, in D. roseobrunnea and D. rufitinctalis ); forewing posterior margin with black scale-tooth (in D. rufitinctalis and D. aerealis ). See Similar Species for species accounts.

The following species from Madagascar share the generic characters listed above and are hereby transferred to Dicepolia . D. marginescriptalis ( Kenrick 1917: 100, Pyrausta ) comb. nov. (figs 14, 29, 45), D. marionalis ( Viette 1958: 150, Noorda ) comb. nov., and D. munroealis ( Viette 1960: 172, fig. 17, Noorda ) comb. nov. (figs 15, 30, 46, 57) are transferred from Autocharis Swinhoe 1894 , where Viette placed them in recognition of their odontiine status (1990). D. marginescriptalis and D. munroealis are associated with genitalic evidence ( D. marginescriptalis : JEH prep. 287 3, figs 29, 45; D. munroealis : holotype, MNHN, figs 30, 46, and JEH prep. 288 Ƥ, MHNG, fig. 57; also Viette 1960: fig. 17). D. marionalis is associated by wing maculation. Minet (1980) contrasted D. marionalis and D. marginescriptalis from Viettessa Minet 1980 based on their short ovipositor lobes, but he did not propose a transfer. The fourth species, D. rufeolalis ( Mabille 1900: 747, Pionea) comb. nov. (figs 16, 31, 47, 58; listed under Calamochrous in Viette 1990), also shares the diagnostic characters, although it has lost the lamelliform structures and the squamiform structures are rudimentary (JEH preps. 266 3, 267 Ƥ: MNHN). Revision of these non-Neotropical species will require more material.

In comparison to the Neotropical species, the Malagasy species are larger-bodied, have more pink or yellowish forewings, and have the forewing PM line closer to the terminal margin than in Neotropical species. The Malagasy species also have the sacci tympani are wide and shallow, not invaginated underneath S2, S8 is weakly subducted under S7, and the lamelliform structures, if present, are sessile on S8, not elevated on shoulders.

In comparison to other Eurrhypini , some Autocharis spp. have a foreleg femoral androconium. Many species of Cliniodes Guenée 1854 have a pair of tufts of scales medially on S 7 in the same position, but these are usually wiry and erect. The phallus also spiral and cornute in Viettessa spp. and Usgentia vespertalis Herrich-Schäffer 1851 .

Generic description for Neotropical taxa. The following description is based on the Neotropical members of Dicepolia , as Malagasy material is currently insufficient. Forewing length (base to apex) 5.1 mm ( D. rufitinctalis ) to 10.8 mm ( D. vaga ). Forewing width (tornus to apex, perpendicular to posterior margin) 1.9 mm ( D. rufitinctalis ) to 5.6 mm ( D. cuiabalis ). Forewings and dorsal aspect of body dorsally variously brown, reddish brown, or brownish yellow. Ventrally white to yellowish cream. Frontoclypeus distinctly arched upward, obtuse to acute, angulate or rather rounded, and slightly to strongly protruding in front of eyes and above palpi. Frons flat or very slightly rounded, smooth-scaled, medially concolorous with dorsum, but white immediately above eyes. Vertex rough-scaled between antennae. Eyes occupying most of lateral head. Gena very narrow, white-scaled. Ocelli present. Chaetosemata absent. Antennae filiform, with 1 scale row per meron. Distance between scapes less than width of either scape. Male antennae with cilia as long as antennal thickness. Labial palpi long, porrect, from 0.9 mm ( D. rufitinctalis ) to 2.8 mm ( D. artoides ) (i.e. 1.6–3.5 times longitudinal length of eye); dorsally and laterally concolorous with dorsal head and body, ventrally and medially white. Apical meron 1/3 length of second meron, partly to distinctly emergent from scales of second meron, slightly downturned. Maxillary palpi porrect, spindle-shaped, same color as dorsal body. Haustellum long, coiled, basal scales white. Thorax: pectus white-scaled. Prothorax with long, broad scales. Tegulae with long hairs and long, broad scales extending to first abdominal segment. Dorsal thorax concolorous with wings. Body and wings sometimes slightly greasy.

Prothoracic leg with epiphysis. Males of the two described species with androconium on inner side of foreleg femur (fig. 17), new species without androconium. Outer (anterior) spur of mesothoracic leg no more than 1/2 length of inner spur, usually much shorter. Outer spurs of metathoracic leg 1/2 to 3/4 length of inner spurs. Forewings triangular, with apex square or slightly acute. Ratio of forewing length: width ranging from 1.6 ( D. cuiabalis ) to 2.75 ( D. rufitinctalis from Trinidad). Female frenulum with two bristles; male with single. Male and female with retinaculum arising from between bases of Cu and 1A; male also with retinacular scales from base of Sc.

Venation normal for Crambidae (figs 33, 34). Forewings: veins straight, unstalked, except Rs2+3 stalked near apex. Discal cell 55% to 66% length of forewing. Rs4 straight (not bowed toward Rs2+3). M2 closer to M3, arising near corner of discal cell. Anal loop absent, 2A curving to posterior wing margin. Hindwings: Sc+R stalked with Rs beyond costa. Discal cell to about one third length of wing. M2 and M3 stalked in D. rufitinctalis , not stalked in other species. 1A to margin.

Forewing color uniformly brown, reddish or bronzy, more or less lustrous. Transverse lines dark brown to blackish, smoothly undulating. Antemedial line present from costa to posterior edge, often faint, or only on posterior half of wing; slightly curved. Postmedial line always from costa to posterior edge, mostly parallel to termen but slightly to moderately curved basad on costa and on anal fold, resembling sickle with handle or question mark. Reniform spot at end of discal cell a faint line like other lines. Marginal fringe with brown or black basal scales and longer, distal white scales. Posterior edge of forewing with fringe of scales, generally concolorous but modified as tooth of dark scales (extension of AM line) in some species.

Hindwings pale, lustrous or nacreous off-white or somewhat bronze. Postmedial / terminal area colored faintly red to brown, smoothly intergrading into pale central area; color strongest around anal fold, but color not extending onto the washed-out anal area. A few long, setiform scales present on base of cubital and anal veins of hindiwing. Hindwing underside brownish brassy; distinctly white-scaled on anal area in all species, except where obscured by grease.

Praecinctorium unilobate or very slightly bilobate, invariably white-scaled. Tympanal organs (fig. 32) of crambiform type ( Minet 1983), varying little within genus or from other Odontiinae . Processus tympani broad, round-edged. Fornix tympani bluntly V-shaped, edges converging at ca. 40 degrees. Bulla tympani (tympanal case) round, moderately oblong. Sacci tympani (fig. 32: st) broad, round, slightly extending underneath S 2 in Neotropical members (but in Malagasy species shallowly exposed, not extending under S8). Puteoli tympani not pronounced; venulae secundae absent or indicated only by medial flexure of S2. Abdomen extending slightly beyond hindwings. Abdomen dorsum light brown to cream; venter cream to white. Sternum 7 with dense tuft of narrow scales in posterio-medial position (fig. 18). Androconia often more yellow than abdomen. Male genitalia terminally rounded, partly exposed; terminal abdomen visibly round or blunt. Ovipositor of female abdomen more pointed.

Male genitalia: Tergum 8 reduced, squarish, with anterior and lateral edges as thick, distinct, narrow lines surrounded by thinner sclerotizaton; T8 medially membranous. T8 posterior edge membranous, bearing fringe of scales; lateral corners of fringe separated as lobes (fig. 19: ll). Pleural membrane of A8 with or without vertical androconium running from corner of exposed portion of sternum 8 to anterior corner of tergum 8; when present, linear and bearing short, hairlike setae (fig. 19: a). Sternum 8 evidently modified for retraction in A8 and articulation with vincular structures: anterior edge strongly bilobate with muscle attachments, introgressed beneath S7. S8 posterior edge straight except medial, posteriad-directed spinule and emarginations on either side of spinule. Lamelliform structures (fig. 20: la) consisting of several robust chaetae, partly fused and extending to or slightly beyond S8 posterior edge, situated on shelves or bumps protruding from squared central area of S8. Patch of nondeciduous setae (“piluli,” fig. 20: p) present halfway between each lamelliform structure and posterior corner of S8 (cf. Nuss & Kallies 2001, fig. 2). Pair of androconia on membrane near corners of vinculum, with straight hairs almost as long as valvae. Vinculum basally (anteriorly) squarish, not developed into a saccus, medially more or less concave. Membrane overlying vinculum bearing pair of square squamiform structures (fig. 35a: s), with smooth scales also present in a central plume between squamiform structures. Squamiform structures supported laterally by thick, clavate PLATE 1. Habitus figures. Scale = 5mm. 1. D. roseobrunnea 3, Venezuela, T.F. Amazonas, Cerro de la Neblina, 155m, Mar. 1984 (USNM). 2. D. roseobrunnea 3, Peru, Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Nov. 1946 (AMNH). 3. D. roseobrunnea 3, Brazil, Paraíba, 1941, ex Licania sclerophylla , leg. da Costa Lima (USNM). 4. D. rufitinctalis Ƥ, French Guiana, Rte de Kaw @ pk 37, 271m, Apr. 2008 (MHNG). 5. D. rufitinctalis melanic 3, Mexico, Cordoba, Apr. 1908, USNM slide 111,914 (USNM). 6. D. aerealis 3, Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, Mar. 1980 (USNM). 7. D. amazonalis 3, Brazil, Rios Solimões / Jutahy, Sep. 1920 (CUIC). 8. D. artoides 3, Venezuela, T.F. Amazonas, Ocamo, Nov. 1982 (MIZA). 9. D. artoides 3, Peru, Huallaga, Jurac, 400m, Feb. 1961 (CNC). 10. D. bicolor Ƥ, French Guiana, St. Jean de Maroni (NHM). 11. D. cuiabalis 3 holotype, Brazil, Mato Grosso, Buriti near Cuyabá, 686m, Sep. 1927 (NHM). 12. D. vaga 3 holotype, Panama, Barro Colorado I., December (MCZ). 13. D. venezolalis 3, “Escot. B.” (JEH prep. 284; MNHN). 14. D. marginescriptalis 3, Madagascar Centre, Massif de l’Itremo, 1615m, Jan. 1973 (MNHN). 15. D. munroealis Ƥ, Madagascar, Anosibe, Oct. 1978 (MHNG). 16. D. rufeolalis Ƥ, Madagacar, Res. Nat. Ambatovostira, Andranomalaza, Nov. 1956 (MNHN). 17. Tibial androconium of right foreleg, D. roseobrunnea (same as fig. 1). 18. S7 medial tuft, D. roseobrunnea (same as fig. 1). t, S7 medial tuft.

structures, resembling fused scales. Squamiform structures with fine striations. Juxta pyriform (basally wide and round, distally a narrow triangle). Gnathos a complete arch with central spine as long as lateral arms. Arms fused to tegumen. Apex of gnathos often with minute granular bumps. Tegumen simple, slightly projecting; central embayment triangular; without supporting rods or ridges. Uncus soft, flexible, and densely setose; basally broadened in flaps and distally narrow or broad, wrapping around gnathos spine like hot-dog bun. Scaphium and subscaphium absent. Valvae ovate (less often circular) in outline, with more than half the area membranous. Sacculus simple, with only a slightly sclerotized ridge from base of valve with a few prominent setae in a row. Sacculus with dense, pigmented scales. Costa strongly sclerotized. Basal half of costa broadly expanded in smooth area occupying half of valval width. Distal 2/3 more or less curved over (ventrally, like breaking wave), with or without rough fluting. Apex of costa incurved toward axis of valva. Plicae of membranous part of valva arising from end of lower ridge and from flat area at base of costa; plicae extend to distal edge of valva. Distal area of plicae finely setulose, or bare. Membrane over the distal 2/3 of costa bearing broad, smooth scales, like potato chips, curving over costal edge. Dorsal aspect of valvae mostly covered by normal, squat, spatulate scales, plus androconium of long, straight hairs from small patch at base of costa. Phallus strongly twisted, almost corkscrew-shaped. Single long, twisted cornutus present or absent.

Female genitalia: Ovipositor (segments 8–9) approximately twice as long as deep. Papillae anales simple, membranous, not large. A7 at least twice as long as other abdominal segments. Apophyses long, straight rods. Anterior apophyses extending into A7, with dorsal flange 2/5 from connection with A8. Posterior apophyses simple, without flanges, extending through A8. Ostium bursae small, without sclerotization, between A7–8. Ductus bursae slightly expanded as membranous cervix bursae. Colliculum short and simple or with extension running onto corpus bursae (figs 51, 55: cs). Ductus seminalis (figs 53, 54: ds) arising from cervix just posterior to colliculum. Corpus bursae pyriform, with or without smooth, elongate or lozenge-shaped signum (fig. 52: s) or a diffuse field of granules. Two appendices arising from bursa: (1) a long, straight diverticulum, sclerotized as strongly as rest of the bursa, arising from cervix bursae (figs 51, 54: ac), and (2) a lightly sclerotized, globular sac attached to corpus bursae somewhat more anteriorly, at junction of cervix and corpus bursae proper (figs 51, 54: ab).

Immature stages: Unknown except for D. roseobrunnea .

Distribution: Veracruz, Mexico south to Bolivia, east to northeastern and southern Brazil. Jamaica, Trinidad, and possibly Florida, USA. Lowland and upland tropical forest.

Flight period: Imagines flying at any month, depending on region; 1–3 generations. Not strongly positively phototropic (de Oliveira 1941: 27).

Remarks: Snellen (1892: 158) synonymized Anemosa Butler with Botys Latreille and proposed Dicepolia to accommodate A. roseobrunnea , which did not fit Lederer’s diagnosis of Botys or similar genera. He differentiated it from Botys by the presence of a scale tuft on the forewing posterior margin, the stalking of M2+3, and long labial palpi. Snellen’s two specimens in the RMNH, from von Nolcken’s expedition to Colombia, are clearly conspecific with Warren’s D. roseobrunnea . He mistook the close approximation of M2 and M3 for a stalk, but his observations are otherwise accurate. Shortly thereafter, Hampson (1899b: 233) described the much smaller-bodied Endolophia rufitinctalis from Jalapa, Mexico without comment. He also synonymized Dicepolia with Calamochrous Lederer 1863 (1899b: 227) . Zerny (in Rebel & Zerny 1917) described two African species in Endolophia based on Hampson’s diagnosis. Munroe (1961) included Endolophia but not Dicepolia among the 56 non-Nearctic genera that he transferred to the Odontiinae , but he later synonymized the two and transferred them to the Eurrhypini (1995: 52) .