Bittacus flavescens Klug, 1838

(Figs. 1c, 8j, 12c)

Bittacus flavescens: Klug, 1838:99; Esben-Petersen, 1921:151; Souza-Lopes & Mangabeira, 1942:335; Penny & Byers, 1979b:368; Machado et al., 2009:36; Machado, 2018.

Klugius flavescens: Navás, 1926:13 .

Thyridates flavescens: Willmann, 1983:51; Collucci & Amorim, 2000:7.

Bittacus affinis: Westwood, 1846:194; Esben-Petersen, 1921:151 synonymized.

Holotype: Bittacus flavescens: male: ZMHB (high resolution images examined); Bittacus affinis sex unknown: NHM (not examined). Species also known from Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina (new record), São Paulo (Fig. 12c).

Bittacus flavescens seems to be restricted to the region of the Atlantic rain forest in Brazil, but with a wide distribution within this area (Souza Lopes & Mangabeira 1942; Byers 2004; Machado et al. 2009). The species was the only one in Brazil to have a synonym, B. affinis, described based on one specimen with a label only stating Brazil. Walker (1853) mentioned another specimen of B. affinis in the NHM from Pará state; however, it might have been the result of a misidentification based on the current distribution of B. flavescens . Unfortunately, neither specimen was examined during the current study. Another dubious record for B. flavescens was given by Esben- Petersen (1921), one specimen with the abdomen broken, from Puerto Cabello (Venezuela). Navás (1926) erected the genus Klugius and defined B. flavescens as the type species. However, the genus was based on a weak character (pterostigma broad basally and thin apically) and therefore, Klugius was always considered as a synonym of Bittacus by subsequent authors (Souza Lopes & Mangabeira 1942; Penny & Byers 1979a, b; Willmann 1983).

Examined specimens. Brazil: Rio de Janeiro: Mury, Nova Friburgo, 12.xi.1970, Gred & Guimarães det. (1? MZSP) ; Santa Catarina: Nova Teutonia [Seara today], 27°11’B–52°23’L, x.1969, Fritz Plaumann (1♀ INPA) ; idem—xi.1969 (1♀ INPA); idem—xii.1969 (2♀ INPA); Seara, 16.xii.1977, ND Penny (1♂ INPA) .