Pyrochlora majorcula Dyar, 1925

Viidalepp, Jaan, 2009, Revision of the genus Pyrochlora Warren, 1895 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Geometrinae), Zootaxa 1989, pp. 55-65 : 57-58

Pyrochlora majorcula Dyar, 1925

Figs. 1 , 4, 5, 11 , 15 , 25–30

Pyrochlora majorcula Dyar, 1925: 7 . Type locality: French Guiana: Cayenne.

Measurements: Wing span 25.0–28.0 mm in males (n=21), 33.0 mm in females (n=2). Length of antennal pectinations in males 0.51–0.52 mm (n=10) (Form A), or 0.52–0.56 mm (n=5) (Form B), 0.45 mm in female.

Description: The species is characterized by the sack-shaped aedeagus similar to but longer than that of P. rhanis , with a short apical spine; sternite A8 sclerotized and distally straight-edged, not emarginated posteriorly. There are differences between the populations from Kaw Mts. and NE Brazil (male antennae shorter pectinated; the dorsobasal appendix from valve costa pollex-like, straight, and valve ventral margin less angulate at its basal third; Fig. 25 ), and from Ecuador (antennal pectinations longer; the costobasal appendix of valve rounded and valve ventral margin angulate at sacculus: Fig. 28 ). The entire male armature is relatively more massive in moths from Ecuador and thinner in the Fr. Guyana population ( Figs. 25–30 ). Moths from SE Brazil differ in wings shape, relatively shorter and broader, sharing genital characters of the Form A (except a slightly more slender saccus).

Material studied: Form A: 11ɗ, FRENCH GUIANA, Kaw Mts., 6.11.2002 (V. Soon), (gen. 7039, 7752, 7902) ( IZBE); 2ɗ, Kaw Road, 04°32’N, 52°12’18”W, 0 7.01.2005, A. Selin & T. Armolik leg. ( CAS). 2ɗ1Ψ, “ BRASILIA sept. / Amazonas / Uypiranga / V. 31 / leg. W. Hopp” ( ZSM, gen. 7981). Form B: 1ɗ, ECUADOR, Sucumbios, Panayacu riv., Jarrin Expeditiones Lodge, 0°23’S, 76°11’W, 14– 19.10.1999 (gen. 6975) ( CAL); 2ɗ1Ψ, Napo, Rio Shiripuno, 26.10.02; 1ɗ, Napo, Sahuangal, 15.10.2002 ( CAS); 1ɗ, Morona Santiago, Santiago 370m, 03°01’16”S, 77°56’52”W, 27.04.2007 ( CAL); 1ɗ, Pichincha, Cotundo, 1080 m, 00°41’28”S, 77°43’56”W, 19.05. 2007 (gen. 7953) ( NHMT).

Biology: Confined to tropical rain forests on lowland and low mountains.

Distribution: Fr. Guiana, N. Brazil, Ecuador (IZBE, ZSM, CAL, CAS).

Remarks: The specimens in the British Museum collection were identified by Prout (1932) and recently rechecked by Pitkin (1996). The type specimen no. 27500 was selected and designated as lectotype for Pyrochlora majorcula Dyar by L. Pitkin in the collection of Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA. ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Type series of Pyrochlora majorcula; specimen No. 27500, lower row, right. Courtesy Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States.

FIGURES 2 – 11. Adult Pyrochlora, uppersides of wings. 2. P. rh a n i s, male (Fr. Guiana); 3. P. rhanis, male (SE Brazil); 4. P. m a j o rc u l a, male (Fr. Guiana); 5. P. m a j o rc u l a, female (N. Brazil); 6. P. motilonia sp. nov., male (Costa Rica); 7. P. kuklase sp. nov., male (Ecuador); 8. P. vogli sp. nov., male (Venezuela); 9. P. vogli sp. nov., female (Venezuela); 10. P. kuklase sp. nov., male (Ecuador); 11. P. m a j o rc u l a, male (N. Brazil).

FIGURES 12 – 21. Adult Pyrochlora, undersides of wings. 12. P. rhanis, male (Ecuador); 13. P. rhanis, male (SE Venezuela); 14. P. rhanis, male (Fr. Guiana); 15. P. m a j o rc u l a, male (Fr. Guiana); 16. P. motilonia sp. nov., male (Costa Rica); 17. P. motilonia sp. nov., male (Ecuador); 18. P. kuklase sp. nov., male (Ecuador); 19. P. rh an is, male (Fr. Guiana); 20. P. v o g l i sp. nov., female (N. Venezuela); 21. P. kuklase sp. nov., male (Ecuador).

FIGURES 22 – 30. Male genitalia, Pyrochlora spp. 22. P. rhanis, male armature; 23. P. rhanis, sternite A 8; 24. P. rhanis, aedeagus; 25. P. m a j o rc u l a, Form A, male armature; 26. P. m a jo rcu l a, Form A, sternite A 8; 27. P. m a j o rc u l a, Form A, aedeagus; 28. P. ma j o rcu l a, Form B, male armature; 29. P. ma jo rc u la, Form B, sternite A 8; 30. P. m a j o rc u l a, Form B, aedeagus. Scale = 1.0 mm.