Symmachia praxila Westwood, 1851

Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Dolibaina, Diego Rodrigo, Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik & Casagrande, Mirna Martins, 2020, Taxonomic review of the “ Probetoriformes ” species group of Symmachia Hübner [1819] (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), with the description of two new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Zootaxa 4780 (3), pp. 471-507 : 495-496

Symmachia praxila Westwood, 1851

( Figs 21–24 , 44 , 53 , 62 , 72 , 81 , 95–96 , 113–114 , 128 , 143 , 153 )

Symmachia praxila [nomen nudum]; Doubleday, 1847. List Lep. Brit. Mus. 2, p. 8.

Symmachia praxila Westwood, 1851 , in Doubleday. Gen. Diurn. Lep. 2, p. 445, pl. 73, fig. 1 (female dorsal)—Bates, 1868. J. Linn. Soc. 9(40), p. 438—Herrich-Schäffer, 1868. Corr. Bl. zool.-min. Ver. Regensburg 22(8/9), p. 122 [erroneously cited “Doubleday” as the author of the species]—Kirby, 1871. Cat. diurn. Lep., p. 314—Mengel, 1905. Cat. Erycin., p. 82— Stichel, 1910, in Wytsman. Gen. Ins. 112A, p. 233, 419—Stichel, 1924. Deutsch. Ent. Ztschr., p. 415; syn.: probetor — Stichel, 1930. Lep. Cat. 40, p. 507; syn.: probetor —Seitz, 1931. Ent. Rundsch. 48(24), p. 260— Callaghan & Lamas, 2004, in Lamas, Checklist: Part 4A, in Heppner. Atlas Neotrop. Lepid. 5A, p. 157; as synonym of S. probetor probetor —Lewis, 1973. Butt. World, p. 243, pl. 79, fig. 2 (female dorsal); syn: probator [sic]— Hall & Harvey, 2002. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 136, 188— Hall & Harvey, 2007. Trop. Lep. Res. 16(1-2), p. 7, fig. 1 (male dorsal and ventral)— Gallard, 2008, in Lacomme & Manil. Lep. Guyane. Tome 3 Rhopal. 2, p. 29— Seraphim et al., 2018. Syst. Ent. 43(2), figs 2-3.

Symnachia [sic] praxila ; J. Zikán & W. Zikán, 1968. Pesq. agropec. bras. 3, p. 55.

Symmachia probetor probetor [misidentification]; Palo Jr., 2017. Borb. Bras. 1, p. 593, fig. [1] (male in situ).

Diagnosis. Symmachia praxila is only sympatric with S. atlantica ( Figs 152–153 ); males are most similar to S. uirassu and S. divisora ( Figs 21–22 ) and females are quite similar to most species of the “Probetoriformes” species group ( Figs 23–24 ). Males with frons covered by compact dark brown and orange scales; patagia, spots of dorsal thorax and tegulae orange; FW (average size: 1.3 cm; 1.2–1.35 cm; n=15) strongly bulged; bulged area about 38% of the FW length; end of bulge aligned to the origin of M 3 ( Figs 21 , 62 ); FWD mostly dark brown, with reddish orange spots on the basal area and a faint dark green sheen on the discal and postdiscal areas, and some light bluish green scaling on 1A ( Figs 21 , 62 ); FWD with a submarginal band not extending beyond M 2 –M 3 ( Figs 21 , 62 ); FWD with a translucent white and creamy sickle-shaped spot between the discal cell and the costal margin, a small round whitish spot on the postdiscal area in R 2 –R 3 and M 1 –M 2 near the discal cell, and in R 3 –R 4 and R 3 to M 1 near the apex ( Figs 21 , 62 ); HWD homogeneously dark brown, with some reddish orange scales along the inner margin ( Fig. 22 ); abdomen with tergites 2/3–5 laterally and 6–8 completely reddish-orange, sternites with distal whitish cream stripe longer than in S. probetor ( Figs 95–96 ); CAS of the tergites 4 and 5 about as long as 1/9 of the tergites’ length and as wide as half the tergites’ width, not projected anteriorly, CAS scales pale yellow ( Figs 113–114 ); valva larger than in S. probetor ; aedeagus thick and long; vesica with a rounded patch of cornuti ( Fig. 128 ). Females thorax yellowspotted; FW (average size: 1.36 cm; 1.3–1.45 cm; n=4) strongly bulged ( Figs 23 , 72 ); FWD and FWV submarginal reddish orange band along the outer margin broken beyond M 2 –M 3, not reaching the inner margin at the tornus ( Figs 23–24 , 72 ); FWD dark brown, with a translucent white and creamy sickle-shaped spot between the discal cell and the costal margin and speckled with faint whitish and reddish orange spots; FWD spot in the discal cell welldeveloped ( Figs 23 , 72 ); HWD submarginal band reddish orange and straight ( Fig. 23 ); FWV and HWV spots well developed; HWV submarginal band well developed and straight; HWV marginal band faint, not outlining ocelli ( Figs 24 , 81 ); sterigma trapezoidal with a triangular median bulge at the ostium; ductus bursae with a sclerotized ring near the ostium; bursa copulatrix rather stretched; signum small and rounded ( Fig. 143 ).

Distribution. Probably widespread in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil (Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro) ( Fig. 153 ). Although not recorded yet, S. praxila certainly occurs in the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is not known if this species occurs further north along the Brazilian coast in sympatry with S. uirassu ( Fig. 153 ).

Comments. Symmachia praxila Doubleday, 1847 nom. nud. is a nomen nudum published inadvertently by Doubleday (1847) in a list of specimens of Lepidoptera deposited at the NHMUK. Symmachia praxila Westwood, 1851 description is an illustration ( Westwood 1851: pl.73, fig. 1) of that single female specimen previously listed by Doubleday (1847). Due to the poor understanding of the sexual dimorphism in “Probetoriformes”, Stichel (1930) treated S. praxila as a junior subjective synonym of S. probetor . The species was recognized as valid and correctly associated with the male by Hall & Harvey (2007). These authors cite the occurrence of the species from Santa Catarina to Espírito Santo, however, this last locality is a reference to a specimen illustrated by D’Abrera (1994: p. 1044, figs [1–2]) here recognized as a distinct species and described as S. uirassu . Records of S. praxila provided by Zikán (1928) probably refer to S. atlantica , as there are no specimens of S. praxila in his collection deposited at the IOC.

Many of the specimens from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil were caught on the hilltop at the Serrinha, suggesting this species probably engages in hilltoping behavior.

Type material. Female holotype of Symmachia praxila Westwood, 1851 with the following labels: /Type /2464 /Organ M[oun]t[ain]s [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] / Symmachia praxila /. ( NHMUK).

Examined material. BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro— Petrópolis (Independência), 900 m, 1♂ , 16.II.1938, P. Gagarin leg., DZ 33.273 ( DZUP). Santa Catarina— Corupá , 1♀ , 27.VII.1972, Weiss leg., DZ 43.905 ( DZUP). Joinville , 1♂ , IV.1940, 1♂, IX.1940, 1♂, III.1943, B. Pohl leg. ( MZUSP); 3♂ , 14. V .1988 , O.-C. Mielke & Miers leg., OM 18.259 , OM 18.260 , OM 61.821 ( OM); 1♂, 21.VIII.1988, Mielke leg., OM 18.445 ( OM); 1♂ , 15.X.1988, Mielke & Miers leg., OM 18.884 ( OM); 200 m, 2♂ , 2.X.1966, Miers leg., DZ 43.845, DZ 44.035 ( DZUP); 2♂ , 27.III.1970, Mielke leg., DZ 43.995, DZ 44.005 ( DZUP); 1♂ , 12.IX.1971, Mielke & Miers leg., DZ 44.085 ( DZUP); 1♂ , 30.XI.1973, Mielke leg., DZ 43.875 ( DZUP); 1♂ , 14.XII.1975, Mielke leg., DZ 43.885 ( DZUP); 1♂ , 19.XII.1975, Mielke leg., DZ 43.329 ( DZUP). São Bento do Sul ( Rio Natal ), 220 m, 1♂, V .1967, Rank leg., OM 61.800 ( OM); 250m 1♀, V .1987, Rank leg., OM 61.863 ( OM); 850 m, 1♀ , 4. VI .2005 , Rank leg., OM 67.576 ( OM); 1♀, 15. VI .2005 , Rank leg., OM 67.541 ( OM). São Paulo — no locality, 1♀, Garbe leg. ( MZUSP).

Figures

FIGURE 152. Geographical distribution of Symmachia estellina and S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Casagrande sp. nov. Asterisks indicate records from the literature.

FIGURE 153. Geographical distribution of Symmachia praxila, S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov., S. divisora, S. falcistriga and S. meyi stat. nov. Asterisks indicate records from the literature.

FIGURES 21–38. Species of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group. 21–24. S. praxila. 21–22. Male from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil (DZ 43.995 (DZUP)). 23–24. Female from Rio Natal, São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil (OM 67.541). 25–26. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov. male holotype (DZUP). 27–30. S. divisora. 27–28. Male from Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Mâncio Lima, Acre, Brazil (DZ 43.479 (DZUP)). 29–30. Female from Fazenda Rancho Grande, Cacaulândia, Rondônia, Brazil (MGCL). 31–34. S. falcistriga. 31–32. Male from Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Mâncio Lima, Acre, Brazil (DZ 43.509 (DZUP)). 33–34. Female, same locality as male (DZ 43.965 (DZUP)). 35–38. S. meyi stat. nov.. 35–36. Male from Chemin de la Sourçe, Cacao, French Guiana (SF). 37–38. Female from Route de l’Este, French Guiana (SF).

FIGURES 39–47. Heads of the Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in anterior view. 39. S. probetor. 40. S. belti stat. rev. 41. S. championi stat. rest. 42. S. estellina. 43. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 44. S. praxila. 45. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 46. S. divisora. 47. S. falcistriga. Scale bar = 5 mm.

FIGURES 48–56. Heads of the Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in lateral view. 48. S. probetor. 49. S. belti stat. rev.. 50. S. championi stat. rest. 51. S. estellina. 52. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 53. S. praxila. 54. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 55. S. divisora. 56. S. falcistriga. Scale bar = 5 mm.

FIGURES 57–66. Forewings of males of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in dorsal view. 57. S. probetor. 58. S. belti stat. rev. 59. S. championi stat. rest. 60. S. estellina. 61. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 62. S. praxila. 63. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 64. S. divisora. 65. S. falcistriga. 66. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 67–75. Forewings of females of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in dorsal view. 67. S. probetor. 68. S. belti stat. rev. 69. S. championi stat. rest. 70. S. estellina. 71. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 72. S. praxila. 73. S. divisora. 74. S. falcistriga. 75. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 76–84. Hindwings of females of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in ventral view. 76. S. probetor. 77. S. belti stat. rev. 78. S. championi stat. rest. 79. S. estellina. 80. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov.. 81. S. praxila. 82. S. divisora. 83. S. falcistriga. 84. S. meyi stat. nov.

FIGURES 95–102. Abdomens of males of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views. 95–96. S. praxila. 97–98. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 99–100. S. divisora. 101–102. S. falcistriga. Scale bar = 5 mm.

FIGURES 113–122. Fourth (left) and fifith (right) tergites of males of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group. 113–114. S. praxila. 115–116. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 117–118. S. divisora. 119–120. S. falcistriga. 121–122. S. meyi stat. nov.. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 128–132. Male genitalia of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in lateral view, uncus in dorsal view and anterior projection of saccus in ventral view. 128. S. praxila. 129. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 130. S. divisora. 131. S. falcistriga. 132. S. meyi stat. nov.. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 138–146. Female genitalia of Symmachia belonging to the “Probetoriformes” species group in ventral view and papilla analis in lateral view. 138. S. probetor. 139. S. belti stat. rev. 140. S. championi stat. rest. 141. S. estellina. 142. S. atlantica Dias, Dolibaina & Mielke sp. nov. 143. S. praxila. 144. S. uirassu Dolibaina, Dias & Casagrande sp. nov.. 145. S. divisora. 146. S. falcistriga. Scale bar = 1 mm.