Menevia magna, St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016

St. Laurent, Ryan A. & Dombroskie, Jason J., 2016, Revision of the genus Menevia Schaus, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea, Mimallonidae) with the description of 11 new species, ZooKeys 566, pp. 31-116 : 46-49

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Mimallonidae

Menevia magna sp. n. Figs 13-16, 75, 93; Map 1

Type material.

Holotype, ♂: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: BRAZIL - SC, São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal, 450 m. I. Rank leg, 27.VI.2014, S 26°20'2", W 49°18'30" / St. Laurent diss.: 6-16-15:1/ DZ 32.694/ HOLOTYPE male Menevia magna St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016 [handwritten red label]/ (DZUP). Type locality: Brazil: Santa Catarina: São Bento do Sul.

Paratypes, 22 ♂, 3 ♀: BRAZIL: Santa Catarina: 1 ♂, Blumenau: X, Pohl, “696”, USNM-Mimal: 2582, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:16 (USNM). 1 ♂, Corupá: VIII.1958, Maller col., No. HRP 889, " Menevia lanthona ? Schaus Pearson det.", USNM-Mimal: 2416, St. Laurent diss.: 3-7-15:17 (USNM). 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Nova Bremen [ Dalbérgia]: 4.X.1935, 8.VII.1936, Fritz Hoffmann, St. Laurent diss.: 9-7-14:3, 3-7-15:15 (CUIC). 1 ♂, Rio Vermelho [ São Bento do Sul], 830 m: VI.1936, A. Maller (NHMUK). 3 ♂, São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal, 550 m: XI.2013, A. Rank leg., Col. C. Mielke 28.001, 28.020, 28.040 (CGCM). 2 ♂, São Bento do Sul, Rio Natal, S 26°20'2", W 49°18'30", 450 m: 27.VI.2014, I. Rank leg, Col. C. Mielke 29.334, 29.422 (CGCM). São Paulo: 1 ♂, Alto da Serra: VI.1926, R. Spitz, Rothschild Bequest BM 1939-1, St. Laurent diss.: 6-29-15:6, BMNH(E) 1378759 (NHMUK). 3 ♂, Guapiara, Paivinha, 800 m: 18.VII.2007, C. Mielke leg, Col. C. Mielke 25.826, 26.555, St. Laurent diss.: 6-16-15:2 (CGCM). 3 ♂, Apiaí, 750 m: 18-21.VI.2007, C. Mielke leg, Col. C. Mielke 20.950, 21.350, 21.382 (CGCM). Rio de Janeiro: 3 ♂, 1 ♀, Petrópolis: 10.X.1961, 19.II.1963, 25.II.1963, 19.XII.1965, Gagarin leg., ex. col. Gagarin, CGCM diss.: DZ 32.695, DZ 32.695-32.697, 32.722 (DZUP). 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Petrópolis, Independência, 900 m: 19.VI.1934, 16.V.1935, 23.XI.1939, Gagarin leg., ex. col. Gagarin, DZ 32.698-32.700 (DZUP). 1 ♂, Petrópolis, Parque São Vicente: 5.XI.1958, DZ 32.701 (DZUP). - All paratypes with the following yellow label: PARATYPE male/female Menevia magna St Laurent and Dombroskie, 2016.

Diagnosis.

Menevia magna is similar to other species in the lantona species-group, except Menevia rosea , due to the tan ground color, but can be easily recognized by the larger size on average, the darker gray and brown scaling overall (especially in fresh specimens), and the usually mesally kinked forewing postmedial line. Additionally, the male genitalia are unique in that the valves are very broad and ovoid, the paired processes of the gnathos very thin and fingerlike or acutely triangular, and the smoothly curved phallus with a prominent, sharp, triangular dorsal ridge. Female genitalia are unique in the genus in having a bulbous, sac-like, sclerotized structure dorsally, replacing the usual sclerotization of tergite VIII, which also distinguishes females of Menevia magna from the very similar female of Menevia lantona .

Description.

Male.Head: Tan to gray, eyes bordered posteriorly by dark brown collar of scales reaching labial palpi, labial palpi small, segments weakly defined ventrally due to ventral tufts, dorsally with very dark scales contrasting with overall tan-gray coloration. Scape and pedicel weakly tufted. Thorax: As for genus, but tan, fading to straw. Legs: As for genus. Tibial spurs short, mostly scaled. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 17-19.5 mm, avg.: 17.8 mm, n = 6. Triangular, apical half of outer margin concave, apex falcate. Ground color dark tan-brown fading to lighter yellowish, grayer medially, overall lightly speckled with dark petiolate scales. Discal spot faintly marked by light gray. Apex marked by black scales above apical dash. Dark brown postmedial line straight with slight inward kink mesally. Antemedial area lighter, submarginal area gray with very little tan coloration near tornus, postmedial lunule originating from near where apical dash meets postmedial line, lunule follows postmedial line from apex to one third length of postmedial line where lunule angled outward toward wing margin, forming roughly 45 degree angle with postmedial line. Antemedial line usually present, brown, undulated. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial nearly absent, may be more heavily speckled with petiolate scales, antemedial line absent, small black, rounded or oblong discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded with margin weakly pointed mesally, anal angle accentuated, similar coloration and patterning as forewings, vague postmedial lunules originating near anterior margin undulating or nearly straight, antemedial line absent, postmedial line undulating, especially near anal angle. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter but lighter, discal spot absent. Abdomen: As for genus. Coloration a continuation of tan thoracic color. Midventral stripe weak, either extending from posterior tip to about one quarter length of abdomen or until thorax. Genitalia: (Fig. 75) n = 7. Tegumen gumdrop shaped, not constricted at base of gnathos. Vinculum narrow, somewhat quadrate ventrally. Valves very broad, ovoid, asymmetrical, saccular edge of left valve with triangular tooth proximal to transtilla, right valve with tooth much reduced in size. Valves rounded apically. Uncus somewhat triangular, truncated apically, apex slightly hooked. Gnathos as two, fingerlike or acutely triangular outward facing extensions. Juxtal processes shorter than phallus, flattened, slightly curved, setae absent. Base of phallus with paired, short, rounded or pointed, diverging, backwards facing lobes. Phallus broad, widened mesally, with prominent, sharp or subtriangular dorsal ridge. Left edge of rolled phallus with triangular, ridge-like process, distal tip of phallus separated into two distinct, bent points. Vesica somewhat elongated, bag-like. Female.Head: As in male. Thorax: As in male. Legs: As in male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 20.5 mm, n = 1. As in male but longer, only slightly broader, postmedial line barely kinked mesally. Faint antemedial line present, brown, bowed. Forewing venter: As in forewing dorsum but postmedial line mostly absent, antemedial absent, small black discal spot present. Hindwing dorsum: As in male. Hindwing venter: Following similar pattern as forewing venter except somewhat lighter, postmedial line faint. Abdomen: As in male but stouter. Sternite VIII as pair of elongated sclerotized bands widening toward anterior margin of VIII where they converge. Genitalia: (Fig. 93) n = 1. Tergite of VIII very broad, thin, weakly sclerotized, transparent, sac-like (see Fig. 93b). Robust apophyses anteriores shorter and wider than apophyses posteriores. Lamella antevaginalis relatively thin, weakly concave mesally. Ductus bursae elongate, tubular. Papillae anales somewhat rectangular, covered in setae.

Distribution

(Map 1). This new species is apparently endemic to southeastern Brazil in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina. The habitat at each of the collecting localities falls within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome ( IBGE 2004).

Etymology.

Menevia magna is named for the very broad valves of the male genitalia and also for the overall size, which is quite large on average for the lantona species-group.

Remarks.

Menevia magna appears to be closely related to the much more widespread Menevia lantona of northern and central South America. Based on our present understanding of the distribution of this species in São Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Rio de Janeiro, it can be reasonably inferred that Menevia magna is probably found in eastern Paraná as well.