Aziba Walker, 1865

Queiroz-Santos, Luziany, Casagrande, Mirna Martins & Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Siculodes Guenée and revalidation of Aziba Walker (Lepidoptera, Thyrididae, Siculodinae, Siculodini), Zootaxa 5543 (4), pp. 501-538 : 519-522

Aziba Walker, 1865 gen. rev.

( Figs 7–11 , 15–17 , 24–27 , 34–36 , 38 , 45–46 )

Type species: Aziba transversa Walker, 1865 , by subsequent designation by Whalley (1964).

Aziba Walker, 1865 . Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British, 32: 520; species included: A. transversa , A. reticula .— Guenée, 1877. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, (5) 7: 296.—H. Druce, 1895, in Godman & Salvin. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Insecta . Lepidoptera —Heterocera, 2: 187; syn.: Vadata , Siculodes .— Whalley, 1964. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, (13) 7 (74): 126.

Taxonomic history. The genus was described based on two species: Aziba transversa Walker, 1865 and Aziba reticula ( Guenée, 1858) . Guenée (1877) synonymized Aziba with Siculodes .

Taxonomic comments. We concluded that Aziba transversa is distinct concerning the characters of Siculodes after examining the wing morphology and genitalia of both sexes of the type species of Siculodes ( S. aurorula ) and Aziba gen. rev. ( A. transversa ) and therefore is herein revalidated.

Diagnosis. See diagnosis for Siculodes .

Redescription. Thorax: labial palps larger than width of thorax; spots or defined lines on ventral surface on both wings; forewing with branch R parallel and close to Sc, separating into R 1 and Rs when reaching 2/5 of Sc and disc cell. Rs divided into following branches: R 2, R 3 +R 4 and R 5; branch R 3 +R 4 bifurcates at different distances, R 2 and R 3 reaching costal margin, R 4 reaching apex and R 5 ending at external margin, apex pointed similar to a half moon, and outer margin sinuous, less pronounced in females; frenulum and retinaculum only in A. falcata and A. mediula , absent in other species; metathoracic tibia with four long spurs.

Male genitalia: tegumen wider than long; uncus triangular and with pointed apex directed ventrally, base as wide as tegumen, lateral margins covered by short, fine bristles; gnathos narrow and sclerotized, projected postero-ventrally; valva longer than wide and with bristles on inner surface, narrowing obliquely from distal half, costa straight (except in A. vehemensaria ), apex rounded, sacculus rectangular; fultura inferior with short, fine bristles; aedeagus cylindrical with dorsal opening for ductus ejaculatorius.

Female genitalia: tergite VIII square or rectangular in lateral view; lamella antevaginalis and ostium membranous; antrum sclerotized and remaining of ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae globose and well distinct from ductus bursae; and papilla analis wider than long, covered in long, fine bristles.

Figures

FIGURE 45. Geographic distribution of Aziba gen. rev. in Central and South America.

FIGURE 46. Geographic distribution of Aziba gen. rev. in Central and South America.

FIGURES 7–8. Adults of Aziba gen. rev. in dorsal (A and C) and ventral (B and D) views. Depositories of the specimens: 7A–B in NHMUK (NHMUK 010921225); 7C–D in CEIOC. 8A–B: in NHMUK (NHMUK 010921219). HT = Holotype. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 9. Adults of Aziba gen. rev. in dorsal (A and C) and ventral (B and D) views. Depositories of the specimens: 9A–B in NHMUM (NHMUK 010921556); 9C–D in NHMUK (NHMUK 010921595). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 10–11. Adults of Aziba gen. rev. in dorsal (A and C) and ventral (B and D) views. Depositories of the specimens: 10A–B in CEIOC. 11A–B in NHMUK (NHMUK 010921212); 11C–D in NHMUK (NHMUK 010921228). Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 15–17. Male genitalia of Aziba gen. rev. 15. A. falcata comb. rev. from Brazil, São Paulo (NHMUK 010921236). 16. A. substrigata comb. rev. from Colombia, Norte de Santander, Cúcuta (NHMUK 010921556). 17. A. vehemensaria stat. rev., comb. nov. from Mexico, Veracruz, Jalapa (NHMUK 010921213). A) posterior view. B) lateral view. C) inner view of valva. D) dorsal view of tegumen and uncus. E) dorsal view of aedeagus. F) lateral view of aedeagus. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 24–25. Female genitalia of Aziba gen. rev. in lateral view. 24. A. falcata comb. rev. from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Passa Quatro (Fazenda dos Campos) (MSFR). 25. A. substrigata comb. rev. from Peru, Puno, Carabaya (Santo Domingo) (NHMUK 010921592). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 26–27. Female genitalia of Aziba gen. rev. lateral view. 26. A. transversa comb. rev. from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis (Independência) (DZ 39.388). 27. A. vehemensaria stat. rev., comb. nov. from Honduras,Atlántida (Parque Nacional Pico Bonito) (MGCL). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 34–36. Signa of Aziba gen. rev. 34. A. falcata comb. rev. from Brazil, Minas Gerais, Passa Quatro (Fazenda dos Campos) (MSFR). 35. A. substrigata comb. rev. from Peru, Puno, Carabaya (Santo Domingo) (NHMUK 010921592). Scale bar = 0,5 mm. 36. A. transversa comb. rev. from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis (Independência) (DZ 39.388). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 37–41. Habitat and live specimens of Siculodes aurorula from Brazil, São Paulo, Morro Agudo. 37–38. Habitat of Siculodes aurorula. 39, 41. Siculodes aurorula in dorsal view. 40. Siculodes aurorula in ventral view.