Manerebia clarita, Mahecha-J & Triviño & Andrade-C & Pyrcz, 2021

Mahecha-J, Oscar, Triviño, Paola, Andrade-C, M. Gonzalo & Pyrcz, Tomasz W., 2021, Two new species of Manerebia Staudinger from paramo habitat in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera of the Andes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Pronophilina), Zootaxa 4970 (2), pp. 293-302 : 297

Manerebia clarita Mahecha-J. & Triviño n. sp.

Figures 1E – 2C and 4

Material examined: Holotype male: COLOMBIA: Casanare, Municipio La Salina, Vda. Chinibaque, Sabana Páramo de la Colorada-Sierra Nevada del Cocuy , 3279 msnm, 6°12´5.57’’N, - 72°22’58.27’’O, 22.XI.2017, P. Triviño-C. leg., PTC-2035, ICN-MHN-L 39582 ; Paratypes (1 male): COLOMBIA: Casanare, Municipio La Salina, Vda. Chinibaque, Sabana Páramo de la Colorada-Sierra Nevada del Cocuy , 3331 msnm, 6°12´5.57’’N, - 72°22’58.27’’O, 21.XI.2017, P. Triviño-C. leg., PTC-2029-008, ICN-MHN-L 39583 .

Diagnosis: This species is externally most similar to M. pervaga Pyrcz & Viloria, 2006 , from the Paramo El Táma on the Venezuela — Colombia border, and the Cerro Oroque, Norte de Santander in Colombia. Both species lack any tornal ocelli on both fore and hindwings, as compared to M. levana and M. bernito n. sp, which have tornal ocelli in both sexes, although M. bernito n. sp. has a tornal ocellus only on the VFW. The male of M. clarita n. sp. differs from the males of M. pervaga and M. levana , because of the presences of a thick greyish white line on the base of the discal cell to Cu1vein; a thinner line postdiscal greyish white extends over the Cu2 vein, being thicker in the terminal-termen part; in the A1 cell there is a thin postdiscal grayish white line that widens towards to the margin of the tornus. The male of M. bernito n. sp. is similar to male of M. clarita n. sp. in the wing pattern, but M. bernito n. sp. has a more prominent, wider postdiscal yellowish-brown line along the CuA1 vein than M. clarita n. sp. Further differences are found in male genitalia ( Fig. 2C ).

Description: MALE ( Fig.1E ): Head: antennae ventrally white with yellow-brown clubs, dorsally brown, with club twice as broad as shaft; eyes dark with yellow-brown hairs covering the back base of the eye; labial palp two times longer than head and covered with abundant light brown and black hairy scales. Thorax: dorsally blackish brown, ventrally brown, densely hairy, yellow, covering the patagium. tegulae and prothorax; legs dorsally white with short red spines on the tarsus, ventrally white till last three tarsi which have many short silver spines. Abdomen: dorsally dark brown hairy, ventrally densely hairy, lighter on ventral surface, especially at the posterior tip, first abdominal segment white and last segments light brown. Wings: Forewing triangular (length: 17-20.2mm; mean: 19.6mm; n=2), hindwing rounded, tornus rounded, anal margin straight; dorsal surface of both wings hairy in basal half and along anal margin. Dorsal surface ground color coffee-brown; diffuse darker orange patch on DHW tornus. DFW uniform brown color, large-sized androconial patch uniforms until to the submarginal area, completely covering the discal cell. VFW ground color brown, slightly darkened at the base, costal margin lighter, distal margin, apical and subapical region ochraceous-brown, as well as the base of costal margin. VHW darker orange brown; darker brown at the base of discal cell; a thick greyish white line from the base of the discal cell to Cu1vein extending to the termen, a thinner line from discal to submarginal zone greyish white extends over the vein Cu2, being thicker in the terminal part up to the termen, and in the cell A1 there is a thin postdiscal grayish white line that widen towards to the margin of the tornus near to anal angle. These postdsical lines ‘V’-shaped in cells Cu1 to A1, and approximately parallel to the distal marginal. Male genitalia ( Fig. 2C ): Uncus long and arched with length similar to tegumen; at distal tip to valva ‘five teeth’, which are a little apart from each other, and more prominent than M. pervaga ( Fig. 2D ); it has dense hair from sacculus towards apex; aedeagus as long as valva, elongate, similar to M. bernito n. sp., M. pervaga and M. levana ; with two dorso-lateral patches of spines in middle of posterior section, but in M. clarita n. sp. these spines are more robust than the others; the apical part of the aedeagus of the subsequent process is rectangular in shape; saccus shorter and breadth. FEMALE: unknown.

Etymology: The specific name is a dedication to Clara Inés Jiménez Moreno, mother of the first author, Mahecha-J. She has been the inspiration and support for him throughout his life. Thank you for your dedication to being the best mom and grandmother.

Remarks: This species is externally most similar to M. levana , M. pervaga and M. bernito n. sp. This species may be designated as vulnerable, because of the loss of natural habitats where it occurs. In this kind of habitat, many anthropic activities take place, such as livestock and mining. Ecological studies are necessary to evaluate the status of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adults of the Manerebia “levana” group. A: M. bernito n. sp., holotype; B: M. bernito n. sp., allotype; C: M. levana male; D: M. levana female; E: M. clarita n. sp., holotype male; F: M. pervaga male; G: M. pervaga female.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia. A: M. bernito n. sp., holotype; B: M. levana; C: M. clarita n. sp., holotype; D: M. pervaga.

FIGURE 4. Geographical distribution of the Manerebia “levana” group. Right inset shows the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia.