Stichelia catarinensis Dias, Dolibaina, Mielke & Casagrande

Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2013, Revision of the genus Stichelia Zikán (Riodinidae: Riodininae: Symmachiini), with the description of a new species from southern Brazil, Zootaxa 3693 (4), pp. 579-593 : 581-583

Stichelia catarinensis Dias, Dolibaina, Mielke & Casagrande , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–2 , 23 , 29–30 )

Stichelia ? sp. [sic]; D’Abrera 1994. p. 1049, [fig. 10].

Diagnosis. Forewing length: 10.5–12mm (n=7) ( Figs 1–2 , 23 ). Stichelia catarinensis can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the absence of orange scales in the prothorax and the strongly developed oblique orange band in the forewing; the band reaches the outer margin, and is wider and closer to the apex than any other species of Stichelia . Females of S. cuneifascia can be confused with males of S. catarinensis , but the former present a wedge-shaped orange band in the forewing, not reaching the outer margin. Morphologically, the closest ally of S. catarinensis is S. cuneifascia : besides sharing the absence of orange scales on the prothorax and the pattern of dark and light brown scales on both wings, the structure of the male genitalia ( Figs 29–30 ) are similar between these two species. However, in S. catarinensis , the dorsal and ventral projections of the valva are more strongly developed, and the aedeagus is conical and shorter. Differently from other species of Stichelia , which are superficially alike some species of Panaropsis Hall, 2002, Phaenochitonia , Pterographium , Pirascca and Symmachia Hübner , [1819] with similar-looking black and orange pattern, no species from the above cited genera can be confused with S. catarinensis .

Description. Male. Head: mostly dark brown; antenna two thirds the length of the costal margin, segments proximally creamy white, club tip orange; labial palpus dark brown, short and thin, first and third segments short, about four times shorter than the second.

Thorax: ( Figs 1–2 ) mostly dark brown; ventrally with some light brown scaling; legs dark brown with light brown scaling.

Forewing, shape: ( Figs 1–2 ) elongated; costal margin almost straight, convex medially and curved towards the apex; apex angled; outer margin slightly convex, tornus angled; inner margin straight. Forewing length of the holotype: 12mm.

Forewing, upperside: ( Fig. 1 ) ground color light brown with dark brown spots bordered distally by lighter brown scales; basal, discal, medial and postmedial bands irregular, spots indistinguishable, from the costal to the inner margin; marginal band with three rounded spots, one in CuA1–CuA2, and two in CuA2–2A; wide orange oblique preapical band; apex dark brown; fringe light brown ( Fig. 23 ).

Forewing, underside: ( Fig. 2 ) similar to the upperside but colors paler and whitish along the inner margin; nevertheless, the pattern of dark brown spots is conspicuously easier to distinguish and the marginal spots are entirely encircled by light brown scales.

Hindwing, shape: ( Figs 1–2 ) quadrate; costal margin slightly convex; apex somewhat rounded; outer margin slightly convex; tornus angled; inner margin slightly convex.

Hindwing, upperside: ( Fig. 1 ) ground color light brown, with dark brown spots bordered distally by lighter brown scales; basal, discal, medial and postmedial bands irregular, spots indistinguishable, from the costal to the inner margin; marginal band with one rounded spot along the outer margin in R4+5–M1, M1–M2, M2–M3, M3–CuA1, CuA1–CuA2, and two spots in CuA2–2A, fringe light brown ( Fig. 23 ).

Hindwing, underside: ( Fig. 2 ) similar to the upperside but paler and the pattern is easier to distinguish, marginal band with spots encircled by light brown scales.

Abdomen: ( Figs 1–2 ) dorsally dark brown, with light brown scales along the margin of the segments; two patches of concealed androconial scales in the anterior portion of segments four and five; long lateral patch of brown scales in the last segment.

Male genitalia: ( Figs 29–30 ) uncus squared, lobed ventrally, posterior edge slightly bilobated; tegumen squared, two times longer than the uncus; between the tegumen and the uncus there is a triangular membranous area; ventral projection of the tegumen thin, originating in the medial area of the anterior edge of the tegumen, sinuous and connected to the dorsal projection of the saccus; gnathos slightly connected to the tegumen and "C" shaped, ventral part pointed and longer than the dorsal part; saccus oblong, short and wide, projecting posteriorly a long and thin spine; dorsal projection of the pedicel originating in the posterior projection of the saccus, connected ventrally to the aedeagus near its anterior opening; valva bifid; dorsal part oblong, length two times greater than the width in lateral view, ventrally pointed; ventral part as a long and curved spine; aedeagus thick, short and conical, anteriorly wider; cornuti as a single row of spines, in the middle of the aedeagus when the vesica is retracted.

Female. Unknown.

Taxonomic comments. Specimens of S. catarinensis are usually misidentified as the female of S. cuneifascia in collections. D’Abrera (1994) illustrated a male specimen of this new species, supposedly from São Paulo, Brazil, indicating that the specimen was probably put aside in the Rogers Collection (BMNH) by Hans Ebert for future description. Although the female of S. catarinensis is unknown, based on the sexual dimorphism observed in other species of the genus, the appearance of the female of this species is probably similar to the male, with slightly lighter and broader diagonal orange bands in the forewing and the outer margin of the forewing more convex.

Distribution. This species is only known from the type location, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, in Atlantic forests at 0–200m of elevation and the municipality of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil ( Fig. 51 ) occurring in January, February, April, May, August and September.

Etymology. The name of the species is a reference to the state of Santa Catarina, location of the type and most of the known specimens.

Type material. Holotype: / Holotypus / Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil, 10–200m, 9–III –[19]74 Mielke & Miers leg. / ♂/ Holótipo Stichelia catarinensis Dias, Dolibaina, Casagrande & Mielke det. 2013/ DZ 24.035/ (deposited at DZUP).

Examined material (holotype and paratypes). BRAZIL, Santa Catarina, Joinville, 2 ♂, 17.IX.1967, Mielke leg., DZ 23.905*; 10.IV.1977, Mielke leg., DZ 23.735* (DZUP); 1♂, 9.III.1974, Mielke & Miers leg., holotype, DZ 24.035* (DZUP); 2♂, 1.V.1991, Miers & Mielke leg., OM 25.878, OM 25.854 (OM); 1♂, 14.IV.1981, H. Miers leg., OM 67.644* (OM); 1 ♂, no date, H. Miers leg., OM 67.184 (OM); 1♂, 17.IX.1967, 1♂, 22.V.1982, no collector (USNM); Joinville, Vila Nova, 1♂, III.1941, 1 ♂, VIII.1941, Pohl leg. (MZUSP); São Paulo, São Paulo, Brooklin Paulista, 1♂, 13.I.1965 Travassos leg. (MZUSP).

Figures

FIGURE 51. Distribution map for species of Stichelia Zikán, 1949, showing the collection localities.

FIGURES 1 – 22. Habitus of species of the genus Stichelia Zikán, 1949, dorsal (left) and ventral (right). 1 – 2. S. catarinensis sp. nov., Male; 3 – 6. S. cuneifascia. 3 – 4. Male. 5 – 6. Female. 7 – 10. S. dukinfieldia. 7 – 8. Male. 9 – 10. Female. 11 – 14. S. pelotensis. 11 – 12. Male. 13 – 14. Female. 15 – 22. S. bocchoris. 15 – 16. Male from Guarapuava, Paraná. 17 – 18. Female from Mafra, Santa Catarina. 19 – 20. Male from Campos do Jordão, São Paulo. 21 – 22. Female from Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 23 – 28. Dorsal right forewing and hindwing of males of species of Stichelia Zikán, 1949, highlighting the fringe. 23. S. catarinensis sp. nov. 24. S. cuneifascia. 25. S. dukinfieldia. 26. S. pelotensis. 27 – 28. S. bocchoris. 27. Specimen from Guarapuava, Paraná. 28. Specimen from Campos do Jordão, São Paulo. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURES 29 – 38. Male genitalia of species of Stichelia Zikán, 1949, lateral and ventral. 29 – 30. S. catarinensis sp. nov. 31 – 32. S. cuneifascia. 33 – 34. S. dukinfieldia. 35 – 36. S. pelotensis. 37 – 38. S. bocchoris. Scale bar = 1 mm.