Apu mooreorum, Grados, 2021

Grados, Juan, 2021, Apu, a new genus of Euchromiina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini), and a new species from the montane forests of southeastern Peru, Revista Chilena de Entomología (Rev. Chil. Entomol.) 47 (3), pp. 639-648 : 641-642

Apu mooreorum sp. nov.

( Figs. 1-8 )

Diagnosis. One of the largest species of all Euchromiina , with wings and body covered with black piliform scales and some parts in bluish-green hues. Easily distinguished from A. flavicornis , because A. mooreorum is larger, bears black antennae, the proximal part of the valva is narrower and the distal part triangular with internal processes of irregular shape, while A. flavicornis has yellow antennae and the distal part of the valva is digitiform with no internal processes present.

Male ( Figs. 1-2 ). Head. Proboscis black. Palpi somewhat curved and reaching the middle of the frontoclypeus. First palpomere with large, black piliform scales of a bluish-green hue on its underside. Second palpomere twice the length of the third one; both black. Frontoclypeus with brown piliform scales of a bluish-green hue, except for the upper part, where it bears brown laminar scales dentated at the distal area. Vertex with brown piliform scales. Ocellus brown. Postgena brown. Antennae black and bipectinate. Rami proximal small, increasing in size towards the middle part. Medial rami four times the length of the flagellum axis. Distal rami decreasing in size towards the distal end. Thorax. Patagia, tegulae, mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metascutum and metascutellum covered in black piliform scales with a bluish-green hue, most pronounced on the posterior part of the tegulae and the mesoscutellum. The three pairs of black legs with a bluish-green hue. Forewing span: 26-28 mm (n = 4). Forewing (dorsal). Elongated and black, a bluish hue in all its extension. With well-defined transparent areas: a rectangular one at the central part of the discal cell; the largest, an elongated one, at the Cu 2 -CuP cell. Five continuous transparent areas: an elongated, small and triangular one at the proximal part of R 5 - M 1; an elongated one, subproximal at M 1 -M 2; an elongated one, proximal at M 2 -M 3; an oval one in the middle of M 3 -Cu 1 and a triangular one, sub-distal at Cu 1 -Cu 2. Forewing (ventral). Black and elongated, with same traits as on the dorsal side. Retinaculum brown. Hindwing (dorsal). Black and elongated with a bluish hue in all its extension. With three transparent areas: the largest one, proximal at M 1 -M 3; a small one at the proximal part of M 3 -Cu 1 + Cu 2; the last one, large and elongated, subproximal at Cu 2 -1A+2A. Internal margin with piliform scales of a bluish-green hue. Hindwing (ventral). Similar to dorsal side. Abdomen. Black, long, piliform scales with a bluish hue on the first tergite. The rest of the abdomen black with short piliform scales of a greenish hue. Male genitalia. (genitalia # JGA-411, MUSM) ( Figs. 5-8 ). Tegumen wider than the vinculum, sclerotized, the anterior margin “V” shaped, with a digitiform space towards the posterior part; posterior margin straight, with small lateral sclerotized processes. Separation between tegumen and uncus, membranous. Uncus unilobate and sclerotized; its base narrower than the posterior margin of the tegumen; a peduncle between the base and the distal part; dilated in its central part; setae on the sides of the dilated area; in lateral view, spindle-shaped. Juxta sclerotized on the lateral parts, ventrally membranous. Transtilla sclerotized. Valva sclerotized, wide at its proximal part, narrowing towards its central part; triangle shaped at its distal part, with setae present at the ventral area; in ventral view, with internal irregular sclerotized processes at the beginning of the posterior half. Aedeagus elongated, narrow and smaller than the genital capsule; slightly sclerotized in the proximal half and strongly sclerotized in the distal half; carina penis present.

Female ( Figs. 3-4 ). Forewing span: 28 mm (n = 1). Same traits as the male, except for rami smaller. Frenulum with 4 bristles.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ( Figs. 1-2 ): PERU. 1 male, PUNO, Chacaneque (13°39’ S, 70°28’ O, 1800 m), vii.2005 (J. Böttger) (diurnal collection) . PARATYPES. PERU: 1 male, 1 female, same data of holotype ; 2 males, idem except (13°40’0.6”S, 70°28’40.9”O, 1655 m), 22-23. xii.2009 (E. HuamanÍ). All deposited in the MUSM .

Etymology. mooreorum is a genitive noun, derived and dedicated in honor of Gordon and Betty Moore (Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation) for their unconditional support on the discovery new species project (Wired Amazon) in southeastern Peru.

Distribution. Known only from the montane forests of the southeastern Peru, department of Puno.

Comments. Species of diurnal habits. Known for now from the department of Puno. It is likely to occur in the montane forests of Bolivia.

Figures

Figures 1-4. Apu mooreorum sp. nov. 1-2. Holotype male. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral view. 3-4. Female. 3. Dorsal view. 4. Ventral view. Scale: 5 mm. / Apu mooreorum sp. nov. 1-2. Holotipo macho. 1. Vista dorsal. 2. Vista ventral. 3-4. Hembra. 3. Vista dorsal. 4. Vista ventral. Escala: 5 mm.

Figures 5-8. Male genitalia of Apu mooreorum sp. nov. (Genitalia # JGA-411, MUSM). 5-7. 5. Vista dorsal. 6. Vista ventral. 7. Vista lateral. 8. Aedeagus. Scale:1 mm. / Genitalia macho de Apu mooreorum sp. nov. (Genitalia # JGA-411, MUSM). 5-7. 5. Vista dorsal. 6. Vista ventral. 7. Vista lateral. 8. Edeago. Escala: 1 mm.