Scea auriflamma (Geyer)

Miller, James S, 2009, Generic Revision Of The Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 2: Josiini, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2009 (321), pp. 675-1022 : 844-845

Scea auriflamma (Geyer) Figures 346D–F, 346H , 348 ; plate 34 [EX]

Josia auriflamma Geyer (in Hübner, 1806 –1838) 2: pl. 399 [186], figs. 1–4.

TYPE LOCALITY: [ Brazil].

TYPE: Not seen.

Callimorpha nervosa Perty, 1833: 161 , pl. 32, fig. 7. TYPE LOCALITY: Brazil, ‘‘Provincia St.

Pauli’’ [5 São Paulo?]. TYPE: Not seen.

DISCUSSION: Scea auriflamma , or at least material identified as such, is common in major collections. However, establishing this moth’s identity required intense study. Since the type is apparently lost, my identifications are based on examination of the figures in Hübner (1806 –1838). Furthermore, no type locality is known since there is no accompanying text. Most authors (e.g., Walker, 1854; Bryk, 1930) list Brazil as the type’s country of origin. Scea auriflamma as depicted in Hübner’s plate (pl. 399 [186], figs. 1–4) shows a distinctive set of black-lined veins within the orange basal area of the FW. The specimen figured by Hering (1925: fig. 71g) as Scea auriflamma compares favorably with the one in Hübner. Having carefully selected specimens matching both illustrations, I am now relatively confident regarding the identity of S. auriflamma (pl. 34).

My studies suggest that S. auriflamma occurs in the southern half of South America, from Salta, Argentina, east at least as far as Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Minas Gerais). The male and female genitalia of taxa from these widely separated localities are indistinguishable. The northernmost specimen I have seen is an AMNH male from Quillabamba, Peru (Cuzco Province). Scea auriflamma most commonly occurs in mesic forests at elevations between 500 and 1600 meters. Its host plant is unknown.

The species most similar in wing pattern to S. auriflamma is S. steinbachi (pl. 34). The latter exhibits the same pattern of dark veins in the FW, but the moth is slightly larger, and the apical third of the FW is lighter gray, with a black highlight immediately beyond the orange area. The genitalia of the two species (figs. 348, 352) are extremely different. Scea steinbachi is known exclusively from Argentina.

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil (AMNH, BMNH, CAS, CMNH, CUIC, LACM, MCZ, MNHN, MPM, OUMNH, USNM, ZMH); Bolivia (ZMH); Paraguay (AMNH, BMNH, MNHN, USNM, ZMC, ZMH); Argentina (AMNH, BMNH, FML, MNHN, ZMC); Peru (AMNH, USNM).

DISSECTED: ³, Argentina, Salta, Dept. La Caldera, La Caldera – Jujuy Prov. border, Rt. 9, km 20, km post 1642, ‘‘ La Cargadera’ ’, 1450 m, 12 Feb 1991, mesic forest, leg. K. Johnson et al., AMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-1513 ), ³, Brazil, Santa Catharina , Nova Bremen , 11 May 1936, leg. Fritz Hoffmann, CUIC (genitalia slide no. JSM-152 , wing slide no. JSM-181 ) ; ³, Brazil, Santa Catharina, Rio Vermelho , Oct 1947, AMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-443 ) ; ♀, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Viçosa , 31 May 1931, leg. E.J. Hambleton, CUIC (genitalia slide no. JSM-153 ) ; ♀, Argentina, Jujuy, Ledesma, 5.5–7.5 km W of Rt. 34, near entrance Parque Nacional Callilegua , 1600 m, 14 Feb 1991, leg. K. Johnson et al., AMNH (genitalia slide no. JSM-444 ) .

Figures

Fig. 346. Morphology of Scea (³³). A, head of S. dimidiata, lateral view; B, head of S. dimidiata, frontal view; C, head of S. dimidiata, posterior view; D, head of S. auriflamma, lateral view; E, head of S. auriflamma, frontal view; F, head of S. auriflamma, posterior view; G, head of S. discinota, lateral view; H, S. auriflamma wings (illustration by J.S. Miller).

Fig. 348. Genitalia of Scea auriflamma (³ JSM-443, ♀ JSM-444). A, ³ genitalia; B, ³ St8; C, aedeagus; D, ³ Tg8; E, ♀ genitalia.