Mutipialus, Mielke & Grehan & Koike, 2021

Mielke, Carlos G. C., Grehan, John R. & Koike, Ricardo M., 2021, Descriptions of two new genera and six new species of ghost-moths (Lepidoptera Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) from south-eastern and southern Brazil, Zootaxa 5020 (3), pp. 561-580 : 567

Mutipialus gen. n.

( Figs 8–15 , 16–17, 24 , 27–28, 30 , 34–35 , 38–39, 41–42, 45–46 , 49–50 , 54–57 )

Type species: Mutipialus dilatus sp. nov. by present designation.

Included species: M. dilatus sp. n. and M. monticolus sp. n.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other Hepialidae by the broad dorso-posterior plates of the tergal lobe and pseudotegumen ( Figs 49–50 ) and from all other New World Hepialidae by a pocket-like caecum formed by separation of the dorsal and ventral walls of the saccus ( Figs 49a–50a ). Also distinct among other South American Hepialidae by the following combination of characters: i) prominent transverse scale tuft over the eyes emerging between the base of the antenna and the eye margin ( Figs 16–17 ), ii) labial palpus trisegmented ( Fig. 17 ), iii) antenna lamellate, iv) ‘hepialine’ venation, v) forewing CuP distally connected to A vein distally ( Figs 27–28 ), vi) ♂ hindwing 1A and 2A complete ( Fig. 27 ), vii) ♀ hindwing 1A, 2A ( Fig. 28 ), viii) ♀ hindwing 1A and 2A proximate in basal half ( Fig. 28 ), ix) arolium present, x) sternite VIII membranous in females ( Figs 34–35 )and, xi) pseudotegumen unfused dorsally and fused across median ventrally ( Figs 49b–c, 50b–c ) .

Description. Male ( Figs 11–12 , 14 , 16, 24 , 27, 30 , 41–42, 45–46 , 49–50 ).

Head. Clypeus glabrous, projected anteriorly, differentiated from frons. Frons with piliform and porrect scales, transverse scale tuft over eyes. Vertex scales as for frons. Eyes large, occupying 3/5 of head in anterior view. Labial palps trisegmented. Antenna lamellate, sensilla caetica sparse, sensilla trichodea present; scape and pedicel with scales as for frons.

Thorax. Legs ( Fig. 24 ): epiphysis and arolium present. Venation ( Fig. 27 ): forewing without Sc1, CuP connected to A distally; hindwing without Sc1, CuP absent, 1A and 2A complete; Sc and Rs separated.

Abdomen ( Figs 41–42, 45–46 ). Tergosternal sclerite with tergosternal bar curving disto-anteriorly, intermediate zone weakly sclerotized with robust posterior edge angled ventrally to, but not fused with posterior margin of tergosternal bar; lateral ridge anterior of tergosternal bar very short, dorsal ridge not fused with anterior ridge of tergum I. Tergite and sternite VII and VIII sclerotized.

Genitalia ( Figs 49–50 ). Tegumen and tergal lobes fused to pseudotegumen. Saccus with dorsal and ventral walls forming an inflated space. Pseudotegumen unfused dorsally, fused ventrally; anogenital margin with lateral ridge. Fultura inferior and superior sclerotised.

Female ( Figs 8–10 , 13, 15 , 17 , 28 , 34–35 , 38–39 , 54–57 ).

Head. As for male.

Thorax. Legs: as for male. Venation ( Fig. 28 ): 1A, 2A and 3A complete.

Abdomen ( Figs 34–35 , 38–39 ). As for male. Sternite VIII membranous.

Genitalia ( Figs 54–57 ). Tergite IX slightly projecting posteriorly. Lamella antevaginalis forming continuous plate without dorsal margin forming distinct medial or lateral lobes. Ductus bursae tubular, and corpus bursae similar to ductus, but of variable width, narrower or wider near junction with ductus bursae.

Etymology. Mutipialus gen. n. comes from the Latin prefix Muti - (shortened) added to - pialus extracted from the first described Hepialidae genus Hepialus Fabricius. The name refers to the shortened body appearance of the two new species. The gender is masculine.

Geographical distribution. Known from southeastern Minas Gerais to northeastern Santa Catarina ( Fig. 58 ).

Remarks. All Mutipialus gen. n. species are monovoltine with spring and summer emergence.

Figures

FIGURE 58. Distribution of Agripialus gen. n. spp. and Mutipialus gen. n. spp. within southern southeastern and southern Brazil and records of Agripialus gen. n. in Argentina (see remarks at the description of the genus).

FIGURES 8−12. Mutipialus dilatus sp. n. Adults. 8, HT ♀: dorsal view (8a), ventral view (8b) (DZUP). 9, PT ♀ (CGCM 7.584): dorsal view (CGCM). 10, PT ♀ (CGCM 18.103): dorsal view (CGCM). 11, PT ♂ (CGCM 41.733): dorsal view (11a), ventral view (11b) (CGCM). 12, PT ♂ (CGCM 23.689): dorsal view (12a), ventral view (12b) (CGCM).

FIGURES 13−15. Mutipialus monticolus sp. n. Adults. 13, HT ♀: dorsal view (13a), ventral view (13b) (DZUP). 14, PT ♂ (CGCM 29.697): dorsal view (14a), ventral view (14b) (CGCM). 15, PT ♀ (CGCM 35.737): dorsal view (15a), ventral view (15b) (CGCM).

FIGURES 16−24. Transverse scales and legs. Figs 16–19. Transverse scales (arrowed). 16, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n. PT ♂ (CGCM 23.689). 17, M. monticolus sp. n., HT ♀. 18, Parapielus luteicornis ♂ (CGCM 28.544, Argentina, Rio Grande; CGCM). 19, Hepialiscus htayaungi ♂ (CGCM 33.586, Myanmar; CGCM). Figs 20–24. Legs. 20, Agripialus campos sp. n., PT ♀ (CGCM 31.875). 21, A. variabilis sp. n., HT ♀. 22, A. itatiaia sp. n., HT ♂. 23, A. caparao sp. n., HT ♂. 24, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., PT ♂ (CGCM 27.435).

FIGURES 25−30. Wing venation and tergosternal sclerite. Figs 25–28. Wing venation. 25, Agripialus caparao sp. n., ♂. 26, A. itatiaia sp. n., ♀. 27–28, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., ♂ (27), ♀ (28); arrow pointing to the connection between CuP and A veins in forewing. Figs 29–30. Tergosternal sclerite. 29, Agripialus variabilis sp. n., ♀; arrows pointing to the notch and the posterior portion. 30, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., ♂.

FIGURES 31−35. Female abdomen (upper side, tergites; lower side, sternites). 31, Agripialus campos sp. n., PT (CGCM 31.875). 32, A. variabilis sp. n., HT. 33, A. itatiaia sp. n., PT (CGCM 25.532). 34, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., HT (CGCM 5.801). 35, M. monticolus sp. n., HT.

FIGURES 36−46. Abdomen. Figs 36–39. Female segments VI (lower)–VIII (upper). 36, Agripialus campos sp. n., PT (CGCM 31.875); arrows pointing to the sclerotised sternites VII and VIII. 37, A. variabilis sp. n., HT. 38, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., HT (CGCM 5.801). 39, M. monticolus sp. n., HT; arrow pointing to the membranous sternite VIII. Figs 40–42. Male abdomen (upper side, tergites; lower side, sternites). 40, Agripialus caparao sp. n., HT. 41, M. dilatus sp. n., PT (CGCM 27.435). 42, M. monticolus sp. n., PT (CGCM 29.697). Figs 43–46. Male segments VII (lower)–VIII (upper). 43, Agripialus itatiaia sp. n., HT; arrows pointing to the two plates of the sternite VII. 44, A. caparao sp. n., HT; arrows pointing to the two plates of the sternite VII. 45, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., PT (CGCM 27.435); arrow pointing to the sternite VIII. 46, M. monticolus sp. n., PT (CGCM 29.697); arrow pointing to the sternite VIII.

FIGURES 47−50. Male genitalia. 47, Agripialus itatiaia sp. n., HT: ventral (47a), dorsal (internal; 47b); arrows pointing to the posterior sclerotisation of the tergal lobe and pseudotegumen and the notch in the posterior margin of the saccus. 48, A. caparao sp. n., HT: ventral (48a), dorsal (internal; 48b); arrow pointing to the notch in the posterior margin of the saccus. 49, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., PT (CGCM 27.435): lateral (49a), ventral (49b), dorsal (internal; 49c); arrow pointing to the entrance of the pocket-like saccus. 50, M. monticolus sp. n., PT (CGCM 29.697): lateral (50a), ventral (50b), dorsal (internal; 50c); arrow pointing to the entrance of the pocket-like caecum.

FIGURES 51−57. Female genitalia. 51, Agripialus campos sp. n., PT: posterior view and ductus and corpus bursae; arrow pointing to W-shaped lamella antevaginalis. 52, A. variabilis sp. n., HT: posterior view and ductus and corpus bursae. 53, A. itatiaia sp. n., PT (CGCM 25.532): posterior view and ductus and corpus bursae. 54, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., HT (CGCM 5.801): posterior (54a), lateral (54b); arrow pointing to slight mesal projection of the lamella antevaginalis. 55, M. monticolus sp. n., HT: posterior (55a), lateral (55b); arrow pointing to slight mesal projection of the lamella antevaginalis. 56, Mutipialus dilatus sp. n., HT (CGCM 5.801): ductus and corpus bursae. 57, M. monticolus sp. n., HT: ductus and corpus bursae.