Nascus solon solon (Plötz, 1882), solon (Plotz, 1882

Austin, George T., 2008, Hesperiidae of Rondônia, Brazil: Taxonomic comments on “ night ” skippers, with descriptions of new genera and species (Lepidoptera: Eudaminae), Insecta Mundi 2008 (29), pp. 1-36 : 28-29

Nascus solon solon (Plötz, 1882)

( Fig. 64, 67 , 74-75 , 120-121 , 130 )

Rondonian males of N. solon (mean FW length = 29.0 mm [28.1-30.6, n = 10)] vary on the dorsum from olive to yellow-olive and in the width of the dark band on the ventral hindwing that may be partially separate from the dark brown margin or fully incorporated within it. Medial markings on that wing are absent or, usually, as vague dark macules in Sc+R 1 -Rs and occasionally in the discal cell. The pale macules in cells M 1 -M 2 and M 2 -M 3 on the forewing are variably present; the latter or both may be absent. The small macule in the upper part of cell CuA 2 -2A is also often absent. The single female seen from Rondônia (FW length = 36.1 mm) has five subapical macules on the forewing as is apparently typical of this subspecies ( Evans 1952). The dorsum of this female is virtually identical to that of the female of N. broteas from Rondônia except for the number of subapical macules ( N. broteas has four). The forewing of N. solon is more pointed (less rounded). The venter is also similar to that of N. broteas , but the discal band is not completely separated from the dark margin as it is on N. broteas .

The genitalia of Rondonian males of N. solon ( Fig. 120 ) are as illustrated for this species by Williams and Bell (1934, as N. broteas ) and Evans (1952). The genitalia of the single female from Rondônia ( Fig. 121 ) have a quadrate lamella postvaginalis with a narrow and shallow V-shaped central indentation. The central portion of the lamella antevaginalis is short with a pair of broad and pointed lateral lobes. Both male and female genitalia are identical to those of Nascus solon corilla Evans, 1952 , from Costa Rica (pers. obs.).

Nascus solon is common in central Rondônia, with records for May through August and October through December; most records are in the early wet season ( Fig. 130 ). The species has been reported from southern Mexico south into the immediate Amazonian drainage of Brazil and Peru ( Hoffmann 1941, Evans 1952, de la Maza and de la Maza 1985, Lamas 1994, Warren 2000, Luis et al. 2004).

Figures

Figure 62-73. Pseudonascus, Dyscophellus, and Nascus (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise; dorsum and venter of same specimens). 62, 65) P. paulliniae male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 16 Nov 1994. 63, 66) D. ramon male, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas Prov.; Playa Herradura, 20 Sep 1987. 64, 67) N. salon salon male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 5 Dec 1991. 68, 71) P. paulliniae female, 5 km S of Cacaulândia, 12 Apr 1995. 69, 72) D. porsena male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 16 Nov 1994. 70, 73) D. ramon female, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas Prov.; 1.1 km N Tarcoles, 20 Sep 1987.

Figure 74-85. Nascus (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless noted otherwise; dorsum and venter of same specimens). 74-75) N. salon salon female, 5 km S of Cacaulândia, 10 Jul 1993. 76, 79) N. phocus male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 14 Aug 1993. 77-78) N. broteas male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 16 Aug 1993. 80-81) N. broteas female, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 16 Jun 1991. 82, 85) N. phocus male, Fazenda Rancho Grande, 16 Nov 1992. 83, 84) N. phocus female, COSTA RICA: Heredia Prov.; Chilamate, 30 Mar 1989.

Figure 117-120. Male genitalia of Pseudonascus and Nascus (from BRAZIL: Rondônia). Structures shown are lateral, dorsal, and ventral views of tegumen, uncus, gnathos, and associated structures; lateral internal view of right valva; lateral view of aedeagus and associated structures; and ventral view of transtilla and juxta. 117) P. paulliniae (GTA #2460). 118) N. phocus (GTA #3534). 119) N. broteas (GTA #7211). 120) N. salon salon (GTA #1725).

Figure 121-124. Female genitalia (ventral view) of Pseudonascus and Nascus (from BRAZIL: Rondônia, unless otherwise noted). 121) N. salon salon (GTA #7229). 122) N. broteas (GTA #7228). 123) N. phocus, COSTA RICA (GTA #7230). 124) P. paulliniae (GTA #7233).

Figure 125-130. Phenology of some night skippers from central Rondônia, Brazil. 125-126) Bungalotis species. 127) Dyscophellus species. 128) Salatis salatisand Sarmientoia similis. 129) Nicephellus nicephorus and Euriphellus euribates. 130) Pseudonascus paulliniae and Nascus species.