Actinote eberti Francini, Freitas & Penz

Francini, Ronaldo Bastos, Freitas, André Victor Lucci & Penz, Carla, 2004, Two new species of Actinote (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 719, pp. 1-10 : 2-5

Actinote eberti Francini, Freitas & Penz , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: Adult male ( Fig. 1 B, C), Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, 1400 m, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, Heinz Ebert, 5 November 1962. Deposited in the collection of the Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (collection reference number: DZ 3807). Holotype labels (three labels, separated by transverse bars): Coleção H. Ebert / 421 paratype (hand written in red by H. Ebert) / Serra do Itatiaia, (R. J.), Süd – Seite, 1000–1200 m (crossed out), 1400m, 5­XI­1962, H. Ebert.

Paratypes: Seven adult males (collection reference numbers: DZ 2969 (genitalia prepared by R. B. Francini in 1989), 3805, 3806, 3809, 3810, 3811, 3812) and one adult female (DZ 3813), same data as holotype. One male, 1700 m, Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, Gagarin leg. 2 December 1927 (DZ 3808). All paratypes are in the collection of the Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil ( UFPC).

Diagnosis. The wing color and pattern are intermediate between the darker A. morio Oberthür and zikani D’Almeida (iridescent­black mimicry group; Francini 1989) and the more colorful A. melanisans (Oberthür) and rhodope D’Almeida (among other species in the black­yellow mimicry group). The wings have a greasy aspect, and the forewing is translucent, with colored areas faint but noticeable. The hindwing black margin is broad. Males can be easily distinguished from other species by the dorsoventrally bowed valva, broad tegumen, and small, anteriorly pointed juxta. Based on available specimens, female wings seem slightly darker than those of males. The sphragis is vertically attached to abdomen.

Description. Male ( Fig. 1 , A, B, dorsal; C, ventral; E–H, genitalia). Antenna black, extending to mid­costa. Forewing narrow and elongated, length 27–31 mm (mean = 28.8 mm, SD = 1.79, n=5); hindwing rounded, about two­thirds the length of forewing. Body dark brown, abdomen ventrally covered by cream scales. Forewing background color black, basal region translucent as a result of lower scale density. Discal cell with two dirty white markings, basal stripe thin and reaching about half the length of discal cell, distal spot broad and reaching end of discal cell. Cell Cu2 with a whitish sheen for nearly its entire extension. A distal transverse yellow stripe (about 3–4 mm wide) crosses distal third of wing, from R1 to Cu1. Hindwing not translucent. Background black, central area covered by cream yellowish scales. Dark margin broad, extended from coastal to anal areas, not evident on ventral surface. A “v” shaped mark crossing the medial area between the margin and discal cell in some individuals. Scales in humeral area yellowish cream. Ventral surface of wings with the same pattern but lighter than dorsal surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 1 E–H). Valvae elongate, length five times the width of the median portion; broader at base; in ventral view, there with slight constriction at about one­third of valva length; bowed dorsoventrally; apex with a short point. In dorsal view, basal portion of uncus wide, abruptly narrowing, ending in a point. Tegumen long and broad, trapeze­shaped. Gnathos absent. In ventral view, saccus shaped as an isosceles triangle, about half the length of the genitalic capsule. Aedeagus shorter than the length of genitalic capsule, ending in a sharp point, in lateral view slightly bowed ventrally. Juxta with an anterior point; narrow, about one­fourth the width of the base of one valva (in ventral view).

Female ( Fig. 1 D). General color and pattern similar to that of males. Sphragis vertically attached to the abdomen resulting in a conspicuous protuberance. We did not dissect the genitalia of the single female available. Studies in progress (R. B. Francini unpublished and M. Paluch in prep.) will provide this information.

Distribution and flight period. Based on the ten individuals known, the species occurs in Itatiaia and Campos do Jordão, and the flight period appears to be November and December. Because Itatiaia and Campos do Jordão are part of a continuous mountain range, this species is likely to occur in adjacent sites to the north or south of the type locality (e.g., Piquete and Queluz, São Paulo).

Etymology. The species is dedicated to Dr. Heinz Ebert (1907–1982), a geologist and indefatigable field entomologist who contributed greatly to our knowledge of systematics and biogeography of Brazilian butterflies.

Biology. The early stages and host plant are unknown, but based on known records for other Actinote species from the Brazilian Mata Atlântica ( Francini 1989, 1992; Brown & Francini 1990; Brown 1992; Penz & Francini 1996), this species probably feeds on Asteraceae . Color pattern of museum specimens corresponds to some extent to the “black­yellow mimicry group” ( A. melanisans and similar species) (R. B. Francini & C. M. Penz in prep.), but field observations of live individuals are needed to confirm this tentative assessment.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. eberti; A, two males showing variation in wing size; B, holotype, dorsal view; C, holotype, ventral view; D, female, dorsal view; E – H, male genitalia (E, F, H, DZ 2969; G, DZ 3805); E, ventral view; F, dorsal view; G, 8 th sternum (posterior edge up); H, lateral view; sa = saccus, va = valva, ae = aedeagus, un = uncus.