Cibyra volta, 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 : 41-42

Cibyra volta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Pl. 8: Figs 12–13 , Pl. 12: Fig. 5 , Pl. 17: Fig. 9 , Pl. 21: Fig. 9

Type material. Holotype ♂ (Pl. 8: Fig. 13 ): / BRASIL: GO [ Goiás] Alto Paraíso, 1400 m, 1-6.xi.1996, V. O. Becker Col / 13.907 Col. C. Mielke [ JX215602 ]/ BC-CGCM/ DZ 52.598 / HOLOTYPUS, Cibyra volta C. Mielke, Grehan & Koike, 2024 / ( DZUP) .

Paratypes (in total 6 ♂): Brazil. Goiás. Alto Paraíso : same data as holotype ( CGCM 14.231 [ JX215636 ], 15.259, 15.614 [ JX215641 ]; CGCM); 3 ♂, São Jorge, Volta da Serra, 1020 m, 47°45′18.03′′ W, 14°10′7.34′′ S, 22.XI.2022 ( CGCM 45.693 , 46.355 , 46.938 ; DZUP) .

Diagnosis. This new species is easily distinguished from all other congenerics by the FW mottled pale brown with golden markings in the FW. The genitalia resemble the two previous species, but this species can be rapidly separated by i) emargination as an inverted trapeze of the posterior margin of the saccus while is V-shaped in C. agnes sp. nov. and U-shaped in C. alina sp. nov. (Pl. 17: Figs 7–9 ; see arrows), ii) the slightly protruded tergal lobes, while mesally projected in C. agnes sp. nov. and non-protruded in C. alina sp. nov. and iii) the inner side of the valvae are curved in C. volta sp. nov., while L-shaped in the two previous species.

Description. Male (Pl. 8: Figs 12–13 , Pl. 12: Fig. 5 ). Forewing length: 14–17 mm, wingspan: 30–35 mm. Epiphysis absent.

Male genitalia (Pl. 17: Fig. 9 , Pl. 21: Fig. 9 ). Tergal lobes slightly protruded posteriorly. Saccus with posterior margin as an inverted trapezoid mesally. Tegumen slightly sinuate. Pseudotegumen expanded ventrally, ribbed ventro-anteriorly. Fultura inferior as wide as long, constricted laterally, distally bilobed. Valvae inner side curved.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Endemic to the Chapada do Veadeiros, an elevated area within the Cerrado in central Brazil at altitudes between about 1000 and 1400 m (Pl. 28: Fig. 2 ). It is the northernmost record for the genus.

Etymology. Homonym in reference to the Santuário Volta da Serra, feminine, where some specimens were captured. It is treated as a noun in the nominative singular in apposition.

Remarks. In contrast to the previous species, C. volta sp. nov. is not highly variable, except for the FW golden markings, which can be variable in number, and the ground colour ranging from light brown to orangish-brown. The golden markings are also found in C. dorita , but the genitalia leave no doubt about its placement in this species-group. Allopatric to all congenerics.

j) Species-group: olinda . Six species: C. babi sp. nov., C. clara sp. nov., C. kika sp. nov., C. parana sp. nov., C. piacaba sp. nov., and C. olinda sp. nov.

The principal defining feature of this group is the separation of inner and outer walls of the saccus, producing an external bag, a unique condition within the genus. The inner wall articulates with the fultura inferior. The group can also be recognized by: i) male sternite VIII trapezoidal, uniformly sclerotised, and the posterior margin concave; ii) tergal lobes arcuate, with or without projection; iii) tegumen extended beyond the articulation with saccus; iv) pseudotegumen not ribbed, expanded anteriorly and conspicuously projected ventrally and curved outwards distally; v) valvae spoon-shaped, setose, and not ribbed; vi) fultura superior always present, sometimes softly sclerotised, and; vii) lamella antevaginalis with mesal portion fused, laterally with processes.

Distribution. Coastal between Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil and northeastern Santa Catarina in southern Brazil, at altitudes between about 500 and 1900 m (Pl. 29: Fig. 1 ).

Remarks. Within this group, there are two subgroups. The first, composed by C. babi sp. nov., C. clara sp. nov., and C. parana sp. nov., where the outer margin of the saccus is not notched posteriorly, valvae are basally concave, not reinforced, blade-shaped distally, and two ventro-anterior and two ventro-posterior diverticula in the phallus. The second, composed by C. kika sp. nov., C. piacaba sp. nov., and C. olinda sp. nov., has the outer margin of the saccus notched, deeply invaginated posteriorly, and valvae basally concave, reinforced, stout distally, and with a single ventro-anterior and two ventro-posterior diverticula in the phallus.

Key for species based on males

1) Outer wall of saccus not notched......................................................................... 2 Outer wall of saccus notched............................................................................ 4

2) Tergal lobe slightly projected, FW discal spot either reduced or conspicuous...................................... 3 Tergal lobe with a digitiform projection, FW discal spots oblique................................. C. parana sp. nov.

3) Tergal lobe slightly projected, discal spot reduced............................................... C. babi sp. nov. Tergal lobe with a triangular projection, discal spot transverse.................................... C. clara sp. nov.

4) Anterior portion of HW darker............................................................ C. olinda sp. nov. Anterior portion of HW concolorous...................................................................... 5

5) Mesal invagination of outer wall of saccus about 1/2 of length of its anterior projection............... C. piacaba sp. nov. Mesal invagination of outer wall of saccus about 1/3 of length of its anterior projection................. C. kika sp. nov.

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 2. FIGURES 1−15. Cibyra spp. of monoargenteus species-group. Adults (dorsal): 1 (CGCM 25.160), 2 (CGCM 22.636), 3 (CGCM 24.860), 4 (CGCM 27.289), 5 (CGCM 36.137), 6 (CGCM 35.529), 7 (CGCM 35.658), 8 (CGCM 49.783), 9 (CGCM 49.833), 10 (CGCM 49.965), 11 (CGCM 45.284), 12 (CGCM 23.315), 13 (CGCM 43.815), 14 (CGCM 42.861), 15 (CGCM 23.483). Depositories of the specimens: 1–6, 13–15 in CGCM; 7, 12 in DZUP; 8–11 in CEIOC.