Dyscophellus Godman and Salvin, 1893

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 : 17-19

GENUS Dyscophellus Godman and Salvin, 1893

Evans (1952) and Mielke (2004, 2005) recognized nine species of these large skippers, distributed from Mexico to Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil ( Godman and Salvin 1879 -1901; Draudt 1921 -1924; Hoffmann 1941; Evans 1952; Mielke 1973; Freeman 1976; de Jong 1983; de la Maza and de la Maza 1985; Cock and Alston-Smith 1990; Lamas et al. 1991, 1996; de la Maza et al. 1991; Brown 1992; de la Maza and Gutiérrez 1992; Lamas 1994, 2003; Murray 1996; Robbins et al. 1996; Mielke and Casagrande 1997; Warren 2000; Luis et al. 2004, Nuñez Bustos 2006). Two subspecies of Dyscophellus ramusis (Stoll, 1781) , Dyscophellus ramusis ramon Evans, 1952 , and Dyscophellus ramusis damias (Plötz, 1882) , have been treated as separate species by some authors (e.g., Bridges 1988; see below). With the two species removed above ( N. nicephorus , E. euribates ), a new species described below, and two raised from synonymy or subspecific status below, the genus currently has ten described species; additional species, but yet undescribed, are known (Miller et al. 2006).

Males of Dyscophellus have relatively short wings with the forewing produced and usually pointed apically and the hindwing elongate to the tornus. The hindwing is often prominently angled at vein CuA 2. The antennae are pale at the beginning of nudum, the legs have conspicuous hair-like scales, and males have a costal fold. The dorsal color of males ranges from brown to red-brown and there are few, small, or no pale macules. Females are very different with more broadly rounded wings, are usually differently colored than males, and often have several and large translucent or nearly transparent macules.

Dyscophellus (sensu Evans 1952) was not as well-defined by its genital characters as is Bungalotis , but, with the removal of N. nicephorus and E. euribates (see above), the genus now probably becomes monophyletic. The species examined (those in Rondônia plus D. ramon ) have a triangular (lateral view) or oval (dorsal view) tegumen, an erect vinculum, a thin and slightly recurved saccus, an uncus that is abruptly thinner throughout than the broad tegumen, a poorly-developed gnathos, an elongate valva with fine serrations on the dorsal edge of the harpe, a generally curved aedeagus, and cornuti represented as two groups of spikes. Specific differences largely include the configuration of the valva, especially of the harpe. The female genitalia of D. porcius and D. erythras from Rondônia plus Dyscophellus phraxanor (Hewitson, 1876) , D. ramon , and two unidentified species from elsewhere exhibit very similar overall morphologies. The broad lamella postvaginalis has a narrow central notch on the caudal edge. The caudal end is well-sclerotized and becomes membranous with prominent cross striations cephalad. The lamella antevaginalis consists of two broad lateral plates with their caudal edges often serrate (armed with spines on one species) and a narrow central portion that is often notched on its caudal edge. The antrum is prominent and sclerotized and leads to a membranous tube entering the side of the ductus bursae anterior of its caudal end. At or near this junction is a single or a pair of weakly sclerotized plates. The ductus bursae is broad and usually prominently bulbous caudad and narrows before joining with an oblong or globular corpus bursae. Specific differences include the shape of the lamellae, especially the length and form of the central portion of the lamella antevaginalis.

Although included in Dyscophellus by Evans (1952), the placement of Eudamus phraxanor ( Fig. 58, 61 ) and Dyscophellus marian Evans, 1952 is not clear. These were not examined as part of this study, except for a female of the former species. Both have prominent discal and subapical pale macules on the forewing (like Euriphellus euribates ) and the male genitalia appear divergent from the usual Dyscophellus pattern (figures in Godman and Salvin 1879 -1901, Evans 1952). Female genitalia of D. phraxanor , however, are more typical of the genus ( Fig. 104 ), although the lamella antevaginalis is armed with prominent teeth on its caudal edge.

Five species of Dyscophellus , including one undescribed, are known from central Rondônia. Females are rare in collections and those of some species are very similar to each other and not easily matched with their males. Local sympatries may help to some extent and their wings and genitalia are illustrated here as material was available.

Figures

Figure 50-61. Dyscophellus (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise; dorsum and venter of same specimens). 50, 53) D. erythras male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 17 Aug 1993. 51, 54) D. erythras female, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 19 Nov 1992. 52, 55) D. erythras female, 5 km S of Cacaulândia, 23 Oct 1994. 56, 59) D. porcius porcius male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 12 Nov 1994. 57, 60) D. porcius porcius female, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas Prov.; Manual Antonio, 20 Sep 1987. 58, 61) D. phraxanor female, ECUADOR: Pichincha Prov.; Hotel Tinalandia, 8 May 1988.

Figure 104-110. Female genitalia (ventral view) of Dyscophellus and Sarmientoia (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise). 104) D. phraxanor, ECUADOR (GTA #7210). 105) D. porcius porcius, COSTA RICA (GTA #7201). 106) Dyscophellus sp. (D. sebaldus?), COSTA RICA (GTA #7205). 107) S. similis (GTA #7224). 108) D. erythras (GTA #7206). 109) D. ramon, COSTA RICA (GTA #7208). 110) Dyscophellus sp. (D. diaphorus?), COSTA RICA (GTA #7209).