Costalampys decorata (Olivier, 1888) da Silveira & Roza & Vaz & Mermudes, 2021

da Silveira, Luiz Felipe Lima, Roza, Andre Silva, Vaz, Stephanie & Mermudes, Jose Ricardo M., 2021, Description and phylogenetic analysis of a new firefly genus from the Atlantic Rainforest, with five new species and new combinations (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Lampyrinae), Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 115-150 : 115

Costalampys decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov. Figs 9A-M , 22

Ethra decorata Olivier, 1888: 40 (desc.); Blackwelder 1945:353 (cat.); McDermott 1966:86 (cat.).

Ethra decorata var. circumscripta Olivier, 1909:223 (desc.); Blackwelder 1945:353 (cat.); McDermott 1966:86 (cat.).

Lucidota oculata diversicollis Pic, 1938:27 (desc.); Blackwelder 1945:354 (cat.); McDermott 1966:67 (cat.).

Diagnostic description.

Overall black. Pronotal disc (Figs 9F, H , 10 ) entirely pink or orangish, sometimes as two almost contiguous spots occupying most disc, pronotal expansions from entirely black to entirely testaceous, mildly translucent anteriorly. Elytron (Fig. 9A, C ) black, with a pale-yellow longitudinal stripe about 4/5 × as long as elytra. Legs (Fig. 9B, D ) dark brown to black, except for trochanters, which are brown. Sternum VIII entirely dark brown, without lateral vitreous spots. Pygidium (Fig. 9H ) entirely dark brown.

Pronotum (Fig. 9F ) with sides rounded, divergent posteriorly. Male. Total length = 12.4-12.9 mm (aver. 12.65 mm); Pronotal length = 2.2-2.6 mm (aver. 2.4 mm); Pronotal width = 3.5-3.8 mm (aver. 3.65 mm); Elytral length = 9.5-10.3 mm (aver. 9.9 mm); Elytral width = 2.1-2.5 mm (aver. 2.3 mm). Antennomere III (Fig. 9E ) with lamella about 2.5 × longer than core antennomere. Sternum VI (Fig. 9B ) with a lantern of moderate size, occupying the medial 1.3 of the sternum, reaching its anterior margin. Sternum VIII (Fig. 9G ) with posterior margin bisinuose. Pygidium with sides rounded, posterior corners weakly developed, posterior margin rounded to almost straight. Syntergite (Fig. 9I, J ) boomerang-shaped (with anterior margin strongly curved). Phallus (Fig. 9K-M ) with dorsal plate curved dorsally in lateral view, with sides straight and acuminate at apical half. Paramere apex almost straight, ventral projection (lateral view) well-developed, almost right-angled. Female (Fig. 9C, D ). Total length = 12.9-13.3 mm (aver. 13.1 mm); Pronotal length = 2.3-2.7 mm (aver. 2.5 mm); Pronotal width = 3.6-3.9 mm (aver. 3.75 mm); Elytral length = 9.0-9.6 mm (aver. 9.3 mm); Elytral width = 2.4-2.7 mm (aver. 2.55 mm). Antennomeres III-X with apical corners projected, pointed, Sternum VI (Fig. 9D ) with moderate lanterns, occupying the medial 1.3 of the sternum, almost reaching its anterior margin.

Remarks.

Olivier (1888) described Ethra decorata based on specimens from Brazil ( Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State), and mentioned that the specimens had testaceous pronotal expansions. Later on, Olivier (1909) described a variant of Ethra decorata with darker pronotal expansions, which he named "var. Circumcincta", but didn’t mention any type locality - the holotype examined is from Brazil, Minas Gerais. The latter variant must be deemed as a subspecies according to ICZN article ICZN Art. 45.6.4, therefore Ethra decorata circumcincta Olivier, 1909 (according to Art. 5.2). After analyzing a larger series of C. decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov. (including type material of both subspecies), we found out that some individuals in the same population had pronotal expansions of variable color - some were testaceous, and others were dark brown to varying degrees. Therefore, we synonymize here both subspecies, Ethra decorata decorata Olivier, 1888, and Ethra decorata circumcincta Olivier, 1909, the former having priority over time.

Pic (1938) published a study about mimicry across firefly species from Brazil, including some new taxa. He noted that a new variety (i.e. a subspecies, see above), Lucidota oculata diversicollis Pic, 1938 was very similar to Ethra decorata Olivier, 1888, but with different antennae, among other traits. The holotype of Lucidota oculata diversicollis Pic, 1938 is a female specimen, cospecific of Ethra decorata . Hence, after the study of the type material, we synonymize Lucidota oculata diversicollis Pic, 1938 with Ethra decorata , which has priority over time. After our phylogenetic analyses (see section 3.2), we transfer Ethra decorata to Costalampys gen. nov., therefore Costalampys decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov.

In the same aforementioned work on mimicry, Pic (1938) described a second subspecies of E. decorata , which he named Ethra decorata schneideri Pic, 1938. After the study of the holotype, we synonymize it with Lucidota tricolor Gorham, 1880, which we transfer to Costalampys gen. nov. (see below) in this paper.

Olivier (1888) does not give an explicit etymology for Ethra decorata , but we assume it was based on the Latin word for “decorated” or “adorned”.

Costalampys decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov. is similar to C. delicata sp. nov., C. joanae sp. nov., C. tricolor (Gorham, 1880) comb. nov., and C. bella sp. nov., in the dorsal color pattern (overall brown or dark brown, with pronotal disc broadly pink, and with an elongate pale-yellow spot on elytron). C. decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov. is unique among the aforementioned species by having more well-developed lanterns - both in males and females - which occupy the medial 1/3 of the sternum, reaching or almost reaching the anterior margin of the sternum. The sternum VI lantern is never longer than 2/3 × sternum length, or wider than 1/5 × sternum width in the other similar species given above.

Costalampys decorata (Olivier, 1888) comb. nov. was previously reported for the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Here, we expand the geographic range to the states of Espírito Santo and São Paulo, and provide for the first time detailed information of temporal occurrence of the said species.

Types.

Syntype of Ethra decorata Olivier, 1888: BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro: 1♂, Sahlberg col. ( MNHN - col. E. Olivier). Holotype of Ethra decorata circumcincta Olivier, 1888: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: 1 male ( MNHN - col. E. Olivier). Holotype of Lucidota oculata diversicollis Pic, 1938: BRAZIL: 1 female ( MNHN - col. M. Pic)

Material examined.

BRAZIL: Espírito Santo: 1♀, Santa Tereza, V. Alegre, 13-17.III.67, C & C.T. Elias leg. ( DZUP); Rio de Janeiro: 1♀, Angra dos Reis , Ilha Grande, Vila do Abraão, 22-24.IX.2017, L. Silveira col. (DZRJ); 1♂, Angra dos Reis , Pico do Papagaio , 200-400 m, 22-24.IX.2017, L. Silveira col. (DZRJ); 2♂, Angra dos Reis, P.E . Ilha Grande, Trilha Pico do Papagaio , active search [around noon], 750 m, 29.VII.2017, L. Silveira col. (DZRJ); 1♂, PE Ilha Grande , Malaise trap, 23°08 ’49.9” S, 44°10 ’51.5” W, 336 m, IX.2017, L. Silveira, S. Vaz, R. Queiroz & L. Campello col. (DZRJ); 1♀, PE Ilha Grande, Malaise 450B (24°08 ’47” S, 44°11 ’10.5” W, 444 m), IX.2017, L. Campello, L. Silveira & R. Queiroz col. (DZRJ); 1♂, PE Ilha Grande, Malaise IG 2A, 23°09 ’12.4” S, 44°11 ’24.1” W, 720 m, VIII.2017, L. Campello, L. Silveira & R. Queiroz col. (DZRJ). 1♂, Rio de Janeiro, P.N da Tijuca, Malaise trap, 22°56.792'S, 43°17.504'W, 815 m, X.2016, L. SIlveira, S. Vaz & B. Clarkson col. (DZRJ); 1♂, P.N. da Tijuca, Próx. a Bom Retiro, Malaise 02 (22°34 ’10.8” S, 43°10 ’36.4” W, 784 m), 01.IX-04.X.2016, L. Silveira and B. Clarkson col. (DZRJ); 2♂, P. N. da Floresta da Tijuca , Trilha Bom Retiro-Cocanha, 24.IX.2016, L. Silveira & S. Vaz col. (DZRJ); 1♀, 07.I.2017, active search [around noon], L. Silveira col. (DZRJ). - From photography : BRAZIL: São Paulo: 1♂, Votorantim , 25.11.2011 (Photo: Enio Branco, Fig. 10 ) .

Figures

Figure 9. Costalampys decorata (Olivier) comb. nov. A, Male habitus, dorsal view; B, Male habitus, ventral view; C, Female habitus, dorsal view; D, Female habitus, ventral view; E, Male antena, lateral view; F, Male pronotum, dorsal view; G, Male terminal segments, ventral view; H, Pygidium, dorsal view; I, Syntergite, dorsal view; J, Sternum IX, Ventral view; K, Aedeagus, dorsal view; L, Aedeagus, lateral view; M, Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bar: 2 mm (A-D; G-H); Scale bar: 0.5 mm (I-M).

Figure 10. Costalampys decorata (Olivier) comb. nov., male in natural environment (in Brazil: SP, Votorantim). Photo author: Enio Branco.

Figure 22. Distribution map of Costalampys gen. nov. species.