Cibyra simone, Mielke & Grehan & Koike, 2025

Mielke, Carlos G. C., Grehan, John R. & Koike, Ricardo M., 2025, Review of the genus Cibyra Walker (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) with descriptions of twenty-four new species from Brazil and Argentina, Zootaxa 5709 (1), pp. 1-74 : 29-30

Cibyra simone sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Pl. 5 : Figs 8–12 , Pl. 11: Fig. 7 , Pl. 16: Fig. 3 , Pl. 20: Fig. 9

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( Pl. 5 : Fig. 8 ): / Brazil — São Paulo (SP) , Campos do Jordão, 1898 m, 7.II.1988 (30). R. Koike leg., W 45°25'39", S 22°43'10"/ DZ 15.622/ HOLOTYPUS, Cibyra simone C. Mielke, Grehan & Koike, 2024 / ( DZUP).

Paratypes (in total 6 ♂ 1 ♀). Brazil. Minas Gerais. Delfim Moreira, Barreira , 1400 m: 1 ♂, 4.XI.2001, R. Koike leg. ( CGCM 44.333 ; CGCM) . São Paulo. Sapucaí Mirim, Cidade Azul, 1400 m: 1 ♂, 7.XI.1953, Travassos, F. &. M. Kuhlmann, C. Gans & S. Medeiros leg. ( MZUSP) . Same locality and collector as holotype: 1 ♂, 15.I.2000 ( CGCM 44.059 ; CGCM) . Salesópolis, Boraceia , 800 m: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 24.I.1968, Ric., Travassos & Travassos F. leg. ( MZUSP) . Paraná. Quatro Barras, Banhado , 800 m: 1 ♂, 7.II.1970, V. O. Becker leg. ( CGCM 46.774 ; CGCM) ; 1 ♂, 27.II.1970, Laroca & V.O. Becker ( CGCM 15.535 ; CGCM) .

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from all congeners in the pluriargenteus species-group by the shorter antennae in males due to smaller distances between each flagellomere ( Pl. 5 : Figs 8–11 ), and the tergal lobes are enlarged basally only, without any process (Pl. 16: Fig. 3 ; see upper arrow). The valvae are broader and much less apically curved (Pl. 16: Fig. 3 ; see lower arrow).

Description. Male ( Pl. 5 : Figs 8–11 , Pl. 11: Fig. 7 ). Forewing length: 13–15 mm, wingspan: 29–32 mm. Epiphysis present.

Male genitalia. (Pl. 16: Fig. 3 , Pl. 20: Fig. 9 ). Tergal lobes basally enlarged basally. Tegumen slightly S-shaped. Pseudotegumen projected postero-dorsally, ventrally expanded, reinforced, and ribbed medially. Fultura inferior bilobed dorsally, 1.2× wide as long.

Female ( Pl. 5 : Fig. 12 ). Forewing length: 23 mm, wingspan: 46 mm. Epiphysis present.

Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Distribution. Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo to eastern Paraná, southeastern and southern Brazil, at altitudes ranging between approximately 800 to 1898 m (Pl. 26: Fig. 2 ).

Etymology. Homonym in honour of Simone L. da Costa, feminine. It is treated as a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Remarks. Despite intensive collecting efforts in areas where C. simone sp. nov. is known to be present, few specimens are known. Records from late spring to late summer suggest a broad flight period. It is only sympatric and synchronic with C. pluriargenteus within this species-group.

f) Species-group: dorita . Five species: C. dorita , C. verresi , C. danieli , C. forsteri , and C. zischkai .

All members share tapered,thumb-shaped or digitiform valvae, along with an anteriorly expanded pseudotegumen. In addition, by: i) fultura inferior about 1.0 to 1.5× longer than wide, slightly cup-shaped; ii) male sternite VIII rectangular and mesally notched posteriorly; iii) tegumen extended beyond articulation with saccus; iv) in the two species examined ( C. dorita and C. verresi ), phallus as long as the genital apparatus with a rounded distal bladder, and; v) lateral plates of the lamella antevaginalis with mesal corner projected.

Distribution. Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and the coastal and mainland between São Paulo in southeastern Brazil and Santa Catarina in southern Brazil at altitudes between about 800 and 2600 m. There are no records between these two main areas, indicating a disjunct distribution (Pl. 27: Fig. 1 ; Pl. 28: Fig. 1 ).

Remarks. Future examinations of the phallus will be critical to confirm the inclusion of C. danieli , C. forsteri , and C. zischkai in this species-group, but due to the Euparal preparations of the genitalia, this structure is not visible. Based on the shape of the valvae, the expansion of the pseudotegumen anteriorly, and the shape of the fultura inferior as stated above, they are provisionally assigned to this species-group.

Key for species based on males

1) FW with a golden, transverse and somewhat arched or sinuate, line...................................... C. verresi FW not as above..................................................................................... 2

2) FW mottled, ground colour orange with disperse golden marking........................................ C. dorita FW not as above..................................................................................... 3

3) FW with postdiscal band dark brown ( Viette 1961), ground colour dark orange............................. C. danieli FW without postdiscal band ( Viette 1961)................................................................. 4

4) FW ground colour tawny-ochraceous ( Viette 1961).................................................. C. forsteri FW ground colour red copper ( Viette 1961)........................................................ C. zischkai

Figures

PLATE 1. FIGURES 1−12. Cibyra spp. of ferruginosa species-group. Adults (dorsal): 1 (CGCM 33.377), 2 (CGCM 35.939), 3 (type no. 18604), 4 (CGCM 10.168), 5 (CGCM 27.547), 6 (CGCM 26.691), 7 (CGCM 23.321), 8 (CGCM 30.335), 9 (CGCM 30.343), 10 (CGCM 23.937), 11 (CGCM 42.000), 12 (CGCM 29.967). Depositories of the specimens: 1–2, 4–12 in CGCM; 3 in USNM.

PLATE 5. FIGURES 1−12. Cibyra spp. of pluriargenteus species-group. Adults (dorsal): 1 (CGCM 36.084), 2 (CGCM 44.740), 3 (CGCM 43.008), 4 (CGCM 51.260), 5 (CGCM 24.987), 6 (CGCM 22.876), 7 (CGCM 23.084), 8 (CGCM 36.075), 9 (CGCM 44.059), 10 (MZSP 14 410), 11 (CGCM 44.333), 12 (MZSP 14 414). Depositories of the specimens: 1–6, 9, 11 in CGCM; 7–8 in DZUP; 10, 12 in MZSP.