Gugnelve, Ramos-González & Venegas-González & Zamora-Manzur & Parra, 2024

Ramos-González, Mario I., Venegas-González, María Francisca, Zamora-Manzur, Carlos & Parra, Luis E., 2024, Revision of the genus Digonis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae): new species and new genera, ZooKeys 1216, pp. 173-200 : 173-200

Gugnelve gen. nov.

Type species.

Gugnelve butleri Ramos-González & Parra , sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Externally, Gugnelve resembles Euangerona Butler and Dectochilus Warren. All three genera have an oblique curved band in the central area of the forewings. However, Euangerona and Dectochilus have a wavy termen, unlike Gugnelve , which has a smooth termen and a slightly falcate apex. The wing shape and antennae are similar to those of Laninia Orfila & Schajovskoy and Macrolyrcea Butler , but they differ significantly in various genital structures, such as the gnathos with a posteriorly directed apex and distally lobulated costa in Laninia and the spatulate uncus and wide oval valvae in Macrolyrcea . The V-shaped gnathos with a longitudinal row of spicules is reminiscent of Euangerona and Dectochilus , but in both of those genera, the anellus process is directed anteriorly, while in Gugnelve , it is oriented lateroposteriorly. The uncus and juxta resemble those of Malleco Rindge, but in Gugnelve , the uncus is glabrous, and the anellus process is trifid, while the gnathos of Malleco has multiple spicules on the lateral arms and apex. Finally, the new genus differs considerably in external characteristics and genitalia from other Andean Nacophorini like Catophoenissa Warren, 1894 , Catocalopsis Rindge, 1971 , Talca Rindge, 1971, and Wichanraran Parra, 2018 . Gugnelve is distinguished by the following combination of genital characters: V-shaped gnathos with a row of 11 spicules at the apex, forked transtilla, halberd-shaped juxta laterally extended into a pair of tri-spined anellus processes, strongly sclerotized and glabrous, vesica armed with a series of cornuti, signum with a long blade-like ridge on a sclerotized patch.

Description.

Antennae thickened and slightly serrated in males, filiform in females. Robust thorax with yellowish brown piliform scales. Abdomen with belt of white scales on A 1 and A 2. Forewings yellowish brown, subtriangular, slightly falcate, with sinuous and inclined antemedial and postmedial bands. Wing venation (Fig. 10 ). Two accessory cells, second twice as long as first; Sc in contact with first accessory cell, R 1 originates from middle of second accessory cell, R 2 and R 3 + 4 connate, R 3 and R 4 pedunculate, R 5 terminates at termen; M 2 equidistant from M 1 and M 3, M 3 slightly arched; CuA 1 originates 1 / 8 before end of cell, CuA 2 originates near middle of cell. Hindwings paler than forewings, with yellowish brown piliform scales on the termen. Sc + R 1 in contact with radial trunk up to middle of cell, Rs originates 1 / 12 before end of cell, M 2 absent. Male genitalia with V-shaped gnathos, expanded apex with 11 small variably-sized denticles towards the center; valvae sub-rhomboidal; juxta sub-halberd-shaped, laterally extended into a pair of tri-spined, strongly sclerotized processes. Female genitalia with signum with long blade-like ridge on sclerotized patch.

Etymology.

The generic name is derived from the Mapudungun language (spoken by the Mapuche, the largest indigenous group in Chile), wü ṉyelfe, meaning bright star or Venus, in reference to its yellowish coloration; its gender is neuter.

Distribution.

As for its only species, G. butleri Ramos-González & Parra , sp. nov.

Figures

Figure 10. Wing venation of Gugnelve Ramos-González & Parra, gen. nov. Scale bar: 10 mm.