Leucania chejela ( Schaus, 1921 )

Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Casagrande, Mirna Martins, Specht, Alexandre, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik, Legrain, Albert, Zilli, Alberto & Goldstein, Paul, 2019, Taxonomy of the rivorum species-group of Leucania Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 4711 (3), pp. 545-560 : 553-557

Leucania chejela ( Schaus, 1921)

( Figs 13–16 , 20, 24 , 28 , 32 , 36, 40 , 42 )

Cirphis chejela Schaus, 1921: 360 .— Draudt 1924: 163.— Schaus 1940: 185.

Cirphis rivorum [misidentification] (in part); Draudt 1924: 165.

Leucania chejela (Schaus) ; Poole 1989: 577.— Adams 2001: 194, figs 2A (female, dorsal), 6A (male genitalia), 13F (female genitalia).— Schmidt et al. 2018: 244, 249.

Diagnosis. Leucania chejela has a color pattern similar to that of species in the rivorum group. It can be distinguished by its slightly longer and wider forewing, paler ground color, and the postdiscal row of minute black dots restricted to M 2 and CuA 2. Moreover, L. chejela is easily identified by the longer and more triangular cucullus, broadly fused with main section of valva; costal sensory plate P-shaped; digitus straight; reduced clasper; very short ampulla; and a very long and densely setose claval projection on the sacculus. The female genitalia are also distinctive with an appendix bursae that is shorter and membranous than congeners.

Redescription. Forewing: Length 15.8–17.2 mm in males (n = 6), 16.6–17.8 mm in females (n = 5).

Male genitalia: Tegumen and saccus as in L. rivorum . Valva roughly ovoid, twice as long as widest (medial) portion; editum thumb-like, very short; clasper reduced to a small plate; ampulla a small protuberance; digitus straight, as long as width of cucullus at its base, pointed apically; superior margin of sacculus with conspicuous claval projection, longer than cucullus and narrow, with dense, short setae; costal sensory plate P-shaped, with conspicuous, ventrally oriented costal process almost reaching ventral margin of valva; cucullus sub-triangular, roughly one third length and half width of valva, broadly fused to main section of valva, differentiated by a short ventral indentation, and edged distally and ventrally with dense, long and robust setae. Poma similar in shape and size to that of L. multistria . Uncus slender, bent sharply in basal fifth, curving gradually towards the apex, distal half setose, laterally expanded and rugose in distal third, narrowing apically to appear hook-like. Fultura inferior as in L. pampa . Aedeagus similar to that of L. rivorum , but distally without right lateral stripe; vesica simple tubular, twisted to right, with a sclerotized and corrugated mid-dorsal irregular plate near base, and about 40 narrow, scale-like and pointed cornuti, decreasing in size in a row along vesica towards the gonopore. Subscaphium joined to tegumen by narrow sclerotized arms.

Female genitalia: As in L. rivorum , but sternum VIII more membranous medially, ostium bursae leading into long sub-rectangular antrum. Ductus bursae completely membranous dorsally, moderately sclerotized ventral ridges not extending into appendix bursae; appendix bursae short dome-shaped, about one fifth length of corpus bursae, completely membranous; corpus bursae slender, as long as ductus bursae and antrum altogether.

Geographical distribution and phenology. This is a widespread species, occurring from the Florida Keys, Florida, USA to the Antilles and in Central America ( Schaus 1921, 1940; Draudt 1924; Adams 2001; Schmidt et al. 2018). The data compiled here extend the species distribution to South America, as far south as the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil ( Fig. 42 ). The record of L. rivorum from Cuba in Draudt (1924) probably refers to L. chejela . This species is recorded throughout the year.

Comments. Leucania chejela is another poorly known species of American Leucania , described from Guatemala and thought to be restricted to Central America and the Antilles ( Schaus 1921, 1940; Draudt 1924; Adams 2001). Recently, it was recorded from the Florida Keys ( Schmidt et al. 2018). In the present study, this species is confirmed from South America for the first time, occurring in all regions and in most of the Brazilian biomes. Leucania chejela occurs in sympatry with other species of the rivorum group although, as far we know, they may only coexist in a narrow zone of southern Brazil, in the Paraná state, as noted above.

Schaus (1921) mentioned in his original description of L. chejela its close relationship to L. multilinea Walker, 1856 . However, forewing pattern and male genitalia suggest that these two species belong to separate species groups. Regarding the forewing pattern, L. chejela is similar to members of the rivorum species-group with respect to ground color, white-lined wing veins, dark brown midline along intervenular spaces, beige diagonal line at the apex and below discal cell, and the reduced postdiscal black dots. Despite the many distinctive characters in the male genitalia of L. chejela , the broad fusion of the cucullus with the main section of valva is also found in L. rivorum , L. multistria , and L. pampa . The particular configuration of the cucullus present in these species is found in few other American Leucania , such as L. cinereicollis Walker, 1858 , L. seteci ( Dyar, 1914) , L. incognita ( Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) , L. eyre , and L. steniptera ( Hampson, 1905) . However, the female genitalia of L. chejela , with their short and unsclerotized appendix bursae, are not particularly similar to those in the rivorum group. The distinct male and female genitalia of L. chejela led Adams (2001) to suspect its affinities with Old World Leucania , and further studies are necessary to clarify the phylogenetic relationships within and outside the rivorum group.

Type material. The description of Cirphis chejela was based on the male holotype from Chejel, Guatemala, deposited at the USNM under number 23381. This specimen bears the following labels: / Chejel Guat[emala] / Aug.[ust] / Schaus and Barnes coll / Type No. 23381 U.S. N.M. / Cirphis chejela type Sch[au]s /.

Examined Material. 97♂, 61♀ and 16 additional specimens. MEXICO: Veracruz : Jalapa , 1♂ ( USNM). GUA- TEMALA: Alta Verapaz : Chejel , 1♀, VII, 1♂, holotype cited above, and 1♀ VIII, Schaus & Barnes leg. ( USNM). Izabal : Cayuga , 1♂, V, Schaus & Barnes leg. ( USNM). BRAZIL: Roraíma : Alto Alegre , 1♂ and 1♀, 19.VI.2015, E. G. Fidelis leg., preserved in alcohol ( CPAC). Acre : Rio Branco, 121m , 2♂, 23.VI.2015, M. Fazolin leg., 2726, 3962 ( CPAC); and the following specimens are preserved in alcohol, 1♀, 14.VI.2015, 1♂, 11.XII.2015, M. Fazolin leg. ( CPAC). Pará : 1♀, VI.1935, G. V. Vredenburg leg., 010915084 ( NHMUK). Santo Antônio do Tauá , 1♂, 17‒ 24.VII.2007, A. Moser leg. ( CLAM). Maranhão : Feira Nova do Maranhão (Fazenda Forquilha dos Brejos), 480m , 2♂, 1‒3.XII.2011, V. O. Becker leg., 148142 ( VOB). Rondônia : Cacaulândia, 350m , 1♀, 1‒20.XI.1999, H. Thöny leg. ( CHB). Mato Grosso : Chapada dos Guimarães, 800m , 1♀, 7‒8.IV.1996, V. O. Becker leg., 106413 ( VOB). Conquista D’Oeste , 1♂ and 1♀, 2.I.2017, J. P. Santos & L. Queiroz-Santos leg., DZ 40.067, DZ 40.516 ( DZUP). Sinop , 121m , 1♂ and 1♀, 10.VI.2015, 1♂, 12.VI.2015, 1♀, 4.IV.2016, L. Filipiake, S. M. M. Rodrigues & R. Pitta leg., 3966, 3983, 2728, 3955 ( CPAC); and the following specimens are preserved in alcohol, 2♀, 14.VI.2015, 1♂ and 1♀, 14.VII.2015, 1♀, 16.VII.2015, 1♀, 17.VII.2015, 1♀, 2.II.2016, 1♂, 3.II.2016, 1♂, 2.III.2016, 1♂ and 1♀, 4.IV.2016, 1♀, 13.VIII.2016, L. Filipiake, S. M. M. Rodrigues & R. Pitta leg. ( CPAC). Mato Grosso do Sul : Chapadão do Sul , 1♀, 10.VI.2015, 1♀, 14.VI.2015, 1♂, 12.VII.2015, 2♂, 2.V.2016, 1♀, 3.V.2016, 1♂ and 1♀, 6.V.2016, T. Taira leg., 3578, 4505, 4506, 4507, 3572, 4508, 4509, 4510 ( CPAC); and the following specimens are preserved in alcohol, 3♂, 6.IV.2016, 8♂ and 7♀, 2.V.2016, 7♂ and 2♀, 3.V.2016, 14♂, 4.V.2016, 10♂ and 2♀, 5.V.2016, 1♀, 6.V.2016, T. Taira leg. ( CPAC). Miranda , 122m , 1♂, 12.VI.2015, 3952, 6♂ and 2♀, 13.VI.2015, 3963, 3978, 3992, 3996, 4010, 4030, 3958, 6♂ and 4♀, 11.VII.2015, 3944, 3954, 3961, 3865, 3977, 3982, 3946, 3950, 3959, 3975, 2♂, 12.VII.2015, 3853, 3947, 1♂, 3.II.2016, 3951, 2♂, 1.VI.2016, 3956, 3964, 1♂ and 1♀, 2.VI.2016, 3957, 3960 A. Specht, W. R. Carmargo & H. V. B. Concone leg. ( CPAC); and the following specimens are preserved in alcohol, 1 specimen, 13.VI.2015, 9 specimens, 11.VII.2015, 1 specimen, 12.VII.2015, 1♂ and 3 specimens, 13.VII.2015, 1♀, 2.II.2016, 2 specimens, 3.II.2016, A. Specht, W. Carmargo & Concone leg. ( CPAC). Goiás : Formosa, 800m , 1♀, 19.III.1977, V. O. Becker leg., 20281( VOB). Distrito Federal : Planaltina, 1000m , 1♀, 28.VI.1976, 1♀, 15.XII.1976, V. O. Becker leg., 18823, 18953 ( VOB), ( CPAC), 1007m , 1♀, 4.V.2013, 1♀, 9.VIII.2013, 1♀, 29.XII.2013, 1♀, 31.XII.2013, 1♀, 28.I.2014, 1♀, 19.III.2015, 1♂, 20.IV.2015, A. Specht leg., 840, 484, 849, 838, 572, 549, 597 ( CPAC). Minas Gerais : Poté, 500m , 3♀, 15.XI.1995, 15.VIII.1996, 15.V.1997, H. Thöny leg. ( CHT). Uberaba , 819m, 19.VI.2015 , 1♂, B. Moreira leg., 3968 ( CPAC), and the following specimens are preserved in alcohol , 1♂, 16.VI.2015, 1♂ and 1♀, 12.III.2016, 1♂, 17.IV.2016, B. Moreira leg. ( CPAC). Bahia : Angical, 442m , 1♀, 17.VI.2015, M. R. O. Serpa leg., 2742 ( CPAC). Correntina , 943m , 1♂, 15.IX.2015, A. Specht leg., 3970 ( CPAC). Espírito Santo : Alegre, 120m , 1♀, 16.VI.2015, D. Pratissoli leg., preserved in alcohol ( CPAC). Domingos Martins , 950m , 1♀, 16.VI.2015, 1♂, 3.V.2016, 1♂, 5.V.2016, J. S. Zanuncio Jr. leg., 2724, 4503, 4504 ( CPAC). Santa Leopoldina (Tirol) , 650m , 1♂, 10.VI‒10.VII.1997, H. Thöny leg. ( CHT). Rio de Janeiro : Itaguai (Km 47) , 1♀, 29.VI.1959, D. Mendes leg. ( MNRJ). São Paulo : Cajati (Parque Estadual Rio Turvo, mirante do Aleixo), 1018m , 1♂, 1‒3.XII.2013, Quinteiro & Silva leg. ( MZUSP). Paraná : Londrina, 600m , 1♀, 14.VII.2015, D. R. Sosa-Gomez leg., 4511 ( CPAC). Ponta Grossa , 2♂, 25.IX.1975, V. O. Becker leg., 3292 ( VOB, USNM). Tibagi (Parque Estadual do Guartelá), 1000m , 2♂, 25-27.VII.2017, Dantas, Dias, Dolibaina & Queiroz-Santos leg., DD 361, DZ 40.326* ( DD, DZUP). Rio Grande do Sul : Iraí , 1♂, 15.IV.1998, M. F. Teston leg., 11196 ( MCTP).

Figures

FIGURE 42. Geographic distribution of Leucania chejela.

FIGURES 1–16. Male (left) and female (right) adults of Leucania species in dorsal and ventral views. Figs 1–4. L. rivorum, male from Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 40.461), female from São José do Barreiro, São Paulo, Brazil (DD 477). Figs 5–8. L. multistria stat. rev., comb. nov., male from Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 40.462), female from Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (DZ 40.449). Figs 9–12. L. pampa, stat. rev., male from Castro, Paraná, Brazil (USNM), female from São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (MCTP 9962). Figs 13–16. L. chejela, male from Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (CPAC 3951), female from Conquista D’Oeste, Mato Grosso, Brazil (DZ 40.516). Scale bar: 1cm.

FIGURES 17–24. Head and patagium of species of Leucania, in frontal (upper) and dorsal (bottom) views. Figs 17, 21. L. rivorum, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, Brazil (CPAC 446). Figs 18, 22. L. multistria, stat. rev., comb. nov., Cambará do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (DZ 40.389). Fig. 19, 23. L. pampa, stat. rev., São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (MCTP 9962). Figs 20, 24. L. chejela, Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (CPAC 3951).

FIGURES 25–28. Male genitalia of species of Leucania. Fig. 25. L. rivorum, Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil (DZ 40.471). Fig. 26. L. multistria, stat. rev., comb. nov., Tibagi, Paraná. Brazil (DZ 40.451). Fig. 27. L. pampa, stat. rev., Castro, Paraná, Brazil (USNM). Fig. 28. L. chejela, Conquista D’Oeste, Mato Grosso, Brazil (DZ 40.067). Left to right: posterior view of the genitalia; left lateral view of the right valva; lateral view of tegumen and uncus; dorso-posterior view of the uncus; posterior view of fultura inferior, poma and base of valvae. Lines and arrows indicate distinctive characters. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 29–32. Aedeagus and vesica of species of Leucania, in right lateral (upper) and dorsal (bottom) views. Fig. 29. L. rivorum. Fig. 30. L. multistria, stat. rev., comb. nov.. Fig. 31. L. pampa, stat. rev., upper is an amplified part of the vesica (out of scale), bottom is the dorsal view of the aedeagus without vesica (this structure broke up in the dissected male used in the plate). Fig. 32. L. chejela. Specimens are from the same localities of the figures 25–28. Scale bar: 1mm.

FIGURES 33–40. Female genitalia of species of Leucania, in lateral (Figs 33–36) and ventral (Figs 37–40) views. Figs 33, 37. L. rivorum, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, Brazil (CPAC 725). Figs 34, 38. L. multistria stat. rev., comb. nov., São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (MCTP 9956). Figs 35–39. L. pampa stat. rev., Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (USNM). Figs 36, 40. L. chejela, Chapadão do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (CPAC 4510). Scale bar: 1mm.