Valvaminor jacerda, Cock & Laguerre, 2022

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Laguerre, Michel, 2022, Taxonomic changes in the Neotropical wasp moths, Euchromiina and Ctenuchina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) relating to the fauna of Trinidad & Tobago, with descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 5222 (2), pp. 101-132 : 117-121

Valvaminor jacerda new species urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:77BA9A49-31AE-44CE-8192-DDBE573BB56

Figs. 25–29 .

Mesothen pyrrha (Schaus) : Kaye & Lamont (1927), Fleming (1957) [misidentification]

Type material. Holotype ♁: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. Las Lomas, Spanish Farm , to Heliotropium , 12.x.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) / MJWC, dissection 1115 ( Figs. 27–28 ). The holotype will be deposited in NHMUK under Acquisition Number BMNH(E) 2022-156 as specimen number NHMUK010293432 . Paratypes: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. 1♁ Curepe , to Heliotropium , 7.x.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♀ Curepe, v–vi.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♁ Las Lomas, Spanish Farm , to Heliotropium , 12.x.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♀ Palmiste 20.ii.1921 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013333 ]. 1♀ Palmiste, 11.xi.1937 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013369 ]. 1♁ Palmiste , 24.xii.1937 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013360 ]. 1♀ Parrylands Oilfield , 7.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♀, Parrylands Oilfield , to Heliotropium , 25.vii.1981 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. VENEZUELA. 1♁, Merida, Road Sta Cruz de Mora — Canagua, PK 4, 6.viii. 1996, 850 m, (M. Laguerre) [ ML, Gen. ML1280 ]. 2♁, Monagas, Caripe, 800 m, 05.i.2018, A. Audureau leg. [collection J.-A. Cerda; one is dissected (JC 660)]. 1♁ Merida, Road Nueva Bolivia— Torondoy, PK 10, 400 m, 12.iv.2001, F. Bénéluz leg. [collection J.-A. Cerda].

Other material considered to be conspecific but excluded from the type series: TRINIDAD &TOBAGO,Trinidad. 1♁ [Palmiste], [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013378 ]. 1♁ Palmiste, 6.iv.1921 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013324 ]. 1♁ Palmiste, 15.xii.1921 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013351 ]. 1♁ Palmiste , 21.i.1936 [N. Lamont] [ NMS-10013342 ]. VENEZUELA. 1♁ (no orange on thorax), Monagas, Caripe , 800 m, 05.i.2018, A. Audureau leg. [collection J.-A. Cerda] .

Other material considered to be conspecific but not re-examined for this species description, so excluded from the type series: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. 1♁ [Arima Valley], Simla, 250 ft. 5.v.1989 (R.G. Brown) [ UWIZM CABI.5505]. 1♁ Aripo Savannah, 26.xi.1979 (M. Alkins) [ UWIZM.2014.9.1308]. 1♁ (head and right F missing) Curepe, MVL, 1970s (F.D. Bennett) [ UWIZM CABI.5507]. 1♁ (head missing) Curepe, MVL, xii.1970 (R. Cruttwell) [ UWIZM CABI.5503]. 1♁ Curepe, MVL, 22.viii.1978 (M.J.W. Cock) [ UWIZM CABI.5502].? Curepe, MVL, 25.viii.1978 (M.J.W. Cock) [ NHMUK,]. 1♁ Curepe, MVL, 27.viii.1978 (M.J.W. Cock) [ UWIZM CABI.5506]. 1♁ (head detached) Palmiste, 22.ix.2016 [N. Lamont] [ UWIZM.2013.13.1038].1♁ Palmiste, 16.i.1921 [N. Lamont] [ UWIZM.2013.13.1037]. 1♁, (no antennae) Palmiste 20.ii.1921 [N. Lamont] [ UWIZM.2013.13.1035, 1036]. 1♁ (no head) Palmiste, 23.ii.1921 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♀ Palmiste, 13.ii.1926 (W.J. Kaye) [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♁ Palmiste, 9.xii.1927 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♁ Palmiste, 24.xii.1929 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♀ Palmiste, 17.ii.1930 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♁ Palmiste, 9.ii.1932 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♀ Palmiste, 14.ii.1932 [N. Lamont] [ MGCLB, ex coll. Kaye, as Loxophlebia diaphana ]. 1♀ St. Augustine, 24.ii.1924 (C.L. Withycombe) [ NHMUK]. 1♁ St. Augustine, 14.ii.1925 (C.L. Withycombe) [ NHMUK]. 1♁ [Trinidad, Curepe], MVL, viii.1971 (R. Cruttwell) [ UWIZM CABI.5504].

Other material not examined. Fleming (1957) reports 4♁ as V.pyrrha from TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad, Arima Valley, Simla [ AMNH]. Photographic records: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. 1♁ Penal, 18.iv.2014 (K. Sookdeo photo). 1♀ South Oropouche , Mon Desir, 2.ix.2021 (T.P. Maharaj photo) [iNaturalist observation 93457019]. 1♁ South Oropouche , Mon Desir, 9.xii.2022 (T.P. Maharaj photo) [iNaturalist observation 102796741]. 1♀? South Oropouche , Mon Desir, 31.i.2022 (T.P. Maharaj photo) [iNaturalist observation 105960727]. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Tobago. 1♁ Arnos Vale, 11.vi.2022 (R. Deo photo) [iNaturalist observation 121361203].

Diagnosis. Valvaminor jacerda new species is similar to several species of Valvaminor with the thorax orangered: V. inconspicuata sensu Cerda , V. davisi , V. pyrrha , V. bleuzeni , and V. pyrrhina . Cerda (2008) recognized two species resembling V. pyrrha in French Guiana, referring to one as Mesothen pyrrha (now V. pyrrha ) and the other as M. inconspicuata (now V. inconspicuata ). However, we have examined the type of V. inconspicuata (MGCL, ♀ British Guiana) (see also Hampson 1914, pl. 7.22), and it does not appear to be the same as the species Cerda (2008, 2020a) treats under this name. Although it is possible that this reflects sexual dimorphism, to avoid any ambiguity we refer to inconspicuata sensu Cerda ..

Valvaminor jacerda new species has a few orange scales at the base of the dorsal forewing. Cerda (2020a) noted that the base of the dorsal forewing is orange in V. pyrrha and V. davisi , but not in V. bleuzeni , V. inconspicuata sensu Cerda and V. pyrrhina . The forecoxae of V. jacerda new species are dull black, shaded white on the inner margin and more strongly at the base of the outer margin, whereas in V. inconspicuata sensu Cerda they are completely white, in V. pyrrhina they are partly white and in V. bleuzeni , V. pyrrha and V. davisi they are dull black ( Schaus 1889, Cerda 2020a). The flap covering the basal ventral abdomen of the male (Hampson’s valve) is grey mixed with white in V. jacerda new species, but dull black in the other species considered here ( Schaus 1889, Cerda 2020a).

Cerda (2020a) illustrates the male genitalia of all Valvaminor spp. , but does not discuss the differences. The genitalia of V. jacerda new species, V. inconspicuata sensu Cerda , and V. bleuzeni are more or less symmetrical, whereas the genitalia of the other Valvaminor species with the thorax orange are asymmetrical. Valvaminor jacerda new species is the only species with a dorsolateral projection that is wider distally than basally.

Description. Male. Figs. 25 , 27 , 28 . Head. Dorsally dark grey-black, with partially obscured small white patch posterior to antennae. Frons white shaded to dull grey-black in centre. Cheeks behind eyes white. Antennae strongly bipectinate; black, except for a white preapical patch on outer half, followed by brown apex on outer half. Labial palps black, with a very narrow white ring around the base of segments 2 and 3. Thorax. Orange dorsally on prothorax and mesothorax, with admixture of grey-black scales. Patagia orange with grey-black scales mixed in; long grey-black scales project distally. Prothorax anterior to wings orange, remainder grey-black. Metathorax dull grey-black, with a short white bar dorsally. Legs grey black with white markings as follows. Foreleg: coxa grey, white basal streak on outer anterior margin, and narrowly white on inner anterior margin; first tarsal segment weakly white on outer surface. Midleg: trochanter white posteriorly; tibia weakly white in basal portion on outer surface; first tarsal segment as foreleg. Hindleg: coxa and trochanter white on posterior surface; tibia weakly white in extreme basal portion on outer surface. Forewing. Transparent with sharply defined black margin, veins and a notch at tornus; a few orange scales at base on dorsal surface; fringe black. Hindwing. also transparent with sharply defined black margin, and veins; fringe black with some white scales in basal half of inner margin. Abdomen. Dorsally dull grey, extending further laterally in posterior half; a narrow white dorsal line to the end of abdominal segment 1; ventral flap (Hampson’s valve) extends to end of segment 5, dull grey, with a strong overlay of white scales along lateral and posterior margins, but attenuating towards centre which is free of white scales; remainder of abdomen dark grey-black, except for white line alongside and under edge of ventral plate, extending to just beyond the posterior margin of the ventral flap. Genitalia. Fig. 28 . The structure is similar to those of other members of the genus ( Cerda 2008, 2020a, Fig. 24 ). They are more or less symmetrical; the uncus is robust, downturned and distally bifurcate, the claspers are placed sub-ventrally, small and deeply divided, and there is a diagnostic dorsolateral projection, which is narrower at the base than distally ( Fig. 28 C and D ). Female. Fig. 26 . Almost identical to male, except the antennae are simple and biflagellate, there is no ventral flap on the abdomen, and the white ventrolateral lines of the abdomen are thereby sharply marked and conspicuous. Genitalia not examined.

Variability. There is evidence of some variability in the material examined, and the type series has been restricted to those specimens matching the description above. The white dorsal line on the abdomen is variable in length, and may extend onto abdominal segment 2. One male ( NMS 10013351 ) has the basal half of the forecoxa mostly white; three males ( NMS 10013342 , NMS 10013351 , NMS 10013378 ) have the ventral surface of the palpi more extensively white, two males ( NMS 10013324 , NMS 10013351 ) have the ventral flap of the abdomen mostly white; these are all listed above under ‘Other material examined’. One male from a series of three collected in Monagas State, Venezuela, seems to be a distinct morph, resembling V. jacerda new species apart from having no orange colour on the thorax ( Fig. 29 ).

Distribution. Currently only known from the island of Trinidad ( Trinidad & Tobago) and Monagas and Merida States, Venezuela. A photograph of a male from Tobago is expected to represent this species, but as the diagnostic features are not visible, this locality needs confirmation.

Etymology. The specific name is based on the initials and surname of Jean-Aimé Cerda, in recognition of his valuable work on the Euchromina and Ctenuchina of French Guiana. It should be treated as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. In Trinidad, adults of both sexes are attracted to drying Heliotropium by day and to light by night. This is a common and widespread species in lowland areas of Trinidad. To the best of our knowledge, there is only this one species of this appearance in Trinidad. However, although MJWC has documented specimens in several collections during his studies of the Trinidad Euchromina, most of these have not been re-examined for this study, and available images are not adequate to assess the diagnostic features. Accordingly, this material listed above, is excluded from the type series, even though we expect it to be conspecific.

Figures

FIGURE 24. Male genitalia and abdomen of Valvaminor endoleuca (MJWC dissection 118). A–F, genitalia with aedeagus removed: A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, posterior view; D, ventrolateral view; E, lateral view from right; F, lateral view from left. G, abdominal segment 8 tergite. H, abdomen, ventral view. I–K aedeagus: I, lateral view from left; J, ventral view; K, lateral view from right.

FIGURE 25. Paratype male Valvaminor jacerda new species, Trinidad, Las Lomas, Spanish Farm, to Heliotropium, 12.x.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 26. Paratype female Valvaminor jacerda new species, Curepe, v–vi.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 27. Details of male holotype Valvaminor jacerda new species. (MJWC Dissection 1115).

FIGURE 28. Male genitalia of holotype of Valvaminor jacerda new species (MJWC Dissection 1115). A–F, genitalia with aedeagus removed: A, ventral view; B, dorsal view; C, lateral view from right; D, lateral view from left; E, posteroventral view; F, anterolateral view from right. G–H, aedeagus: G, dorso-lateral view; H, ventral view. All to scale as shown, x20.

FIGURE 29. Male morph of Valvaminor jacerda new species with no orange colouring, Venezuela, Monagas, Caripe, 800 m, 05.i.2018, A. Audureau leg. [collection J.-A. Cerda].