Bungalotis midas (Cramer, 1775)

Austin, George T., 2008, Hesperiidae of Rondônia, Brazil: Taxonomic comments on “ night ” skippers, with descriptions of new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Eudaminae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (29), pp. 1-36 : 5

Bungalotis midas (Cramer, 1775)

( Fig. 3-6 , 13 , 87 , 93 , 125 )

Bungalotis midas from Rondônia seem to be typical (male mean FW length = 29.9 mm [28.7-31.8, n = 10]; female FW length = 33.6 mm [n = 1], see figures in Cock and Alston-Smith 1990) and male genitalia ( Fig. 87 ) match those illustrated by Godman and Salvin (1879 -1901) that are taken to be representative of the species, except for the lack of a style on the ampulla (this omission also noted by Evans 1952). Evans’ (1952) illustration, however, does not match this and shows, among other differences, a shortened valva with an extended lower edge. Perhaps this represents another species, although Evans (1952) recognized Godman and Salvin’s (1879 -1901) concept to be the same as his; the extreme in the variation seen in the valva among B. midas from Rondônia ( Fig. 87 ) approaches Evans’ (1952) figure.

Males in Rondônia vary in their dorsal wing color from pale to medium tawny, in the prominence of the forewing dark markings, and in the amount and extent of dark brown overscaling. Female genitalia ( Fig. 93 ) have broad, but relatively short, lamellae. The lamella postvaginalis is very broadly V-shaped caudad from its lateral margin with the edges folded over dorsad. The lamella antevaginalis has the caudal margin broadly excavate, again nearly from its lateral margin with a narrow U-shaped indentation centrally. The antrum is prominent, sclerotized, and ribbon-like curving to a broad and oblong ductus bursae. The corpus bursae is small and globular.

Bungalotis midas is common near Cacaulândia and has been recorded throughout the year, but 22 of 47 records are in July and August towards the end of the dry season ( Fig. 125 ). The species is reported to occur from southern Mexico to Paraguay and southern Brazil ( Hoffmann 1941, Evans 1952, de la Maza and de la Maza 1985, Cock and Alston-Smith 1990, Warren 2000, Luis et al. 2004, Nuñez Bustos 2006), but some of these records may pertain to other species (see below).

While examining comparative material of B. midas , a male was discovered from Ecuador with different genitalia. This is described below.

Figures

Figure 13. Bungalotis midas male at paper lure, BRAZIL: Rondônia, Fazenda Rancho Grande (photograph by Andrei Sourakov).

Figure 1-12. Bungalotis (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise; dorsum and venter of same specimens). 1-2) B. erythus male, 5 km S of Cacaulândia, 19 Dec 1993. 3-4) B. midas male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 19 Jul 1994. 5-6) B. midas female, 5 km S of Cacaulândia, 9 Jan 1994. 7-8) B. aureus holotype male, data in text. 9, 12) B. milleri female, MEXICO: Veracruz; Catemaco, 21 Jul 1981. 10-11) Bungalotis sp. (“midas” group) female, GUATEMALA: Petén; El Remate, Cerro Cahul, 29 Sep 1994.

Figure 86-88. Male genitalia of Bungalotis (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise). Structures shown are lateral, dorsal, and ventral views of tegumen, uncus, gnathos, and associated structures; lateral internal view of right valva; lateral view of aedeagus and associated structures; and ventral view of transtilla and juxta. 86) B. erythus (GTA #4155). 87) B. midas (GTA #3168); variation of valvae, a. (GTA #7215), b. (GTA #7216), c. (GTA #7217), d. (GTA #7218). 88) B. aureus holotype, ECUADOR (GTA #3387), including lateral view juxta.

Figure 93-97. Female genitalia (ventral view) of Bungalotis (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise). 93) B. midas (GTA #7189). 94) B. astylos (GTA #7191). 95) B. milleri, MEXICO (GTA #7219). 96) Bungalotis sp. (“midas” group), GUATEMALA (GTA #7190). 97) B. quadratum, TRINIDAD (GTA #7195).

Figure 125-130. Phenology of some night skippers from central Rondônia, Brazil. 125-126) Bungalotis species. 127) Dyscophellus species. 128) Salatis salatisand Sarmientoia similis. 129) Nicephellus nicephorus and Euriphellus euribates. 130) Pseudonascus paulliniae and Nascus species.