Actinote pratensis Francini, Freitas & Penz

Francini, Ronaldo Bastos, Freitas, André Victor Lucci & Penz, Carla, 2004, Two new species of Actinote (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) from Southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 719, pp. 1-10 : 5-7

Actinote pratensis Francini, Freitas & Penz , sp. nov. (Fig. 2)

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: Adult male ex­larva (Fig. 2A, B), Bosque Municipal de Águas da Prata, Águas da Prata, São Paulo, Brazil, reared by R. B. Francini and A. V. L. Freitas, larvae collected 3 November 1990. Deposited in the collection of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo ( MZUSP) (collection reference number RBF 8727). Holotype labels (four labels, separated by transverse bars): MORIO­SP, F2302, L­ 1017, n 10 / RBF 0 0 8727 / Bosque Municipal de Águas da Prata, Águas da Prata, São Paulo, Brazil, 03/NOV/1990 – ex larva / HOLÓTIPO.

Allotype: Adult female, ex­larva (Fig. 2C, D) same locality data as holotype, deposited in MZUSP (collection reference number RBF 8871). Allotype labels (four labels, separated by transverse bars): MORIO­SP, F2302, L­1017, n 21 / RBF 0 0 8871 / Bosque Municipal de Águas da Prata, Águas da Prata, São Paulo, Brazil, 03/NOV/1990 – ex larva / ALÓTIPO.

Paratypes: Two males (collection reference numbers: RBF 8931, 9107), ex­larva, MZUSP; two males (collection reference numbers: RBF 9170, 9230), ex­larva, Museu de História Natural, Unicamp ( ZUEC); 14 females (collection reference numbers: RBF 8704, 8822, 8845, 8929, 8934, 9041, 9044, 9058, 9068, 9082, 9121, 9126, 9179, 9198), ex­larva, MZUSP; three females (collection reference numbers: RBF 8959, 9136, 9140), ex­larva, ZUEC; all same data as holotype. One male and one female, Mata da Santa Genebra, Campinas, State of São Paulo, reared by A. V. L. Freitas, larvae collected on August/1999, AVLF collection. Four males and one female, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil, 17.IV.1963, H. Ebert leg (collection reference numbers DZ 6058, DZ 6550, DZ 6534, DZ 6074, DZ 6502), UFPC.

Diagnosis. The new species is smilar to A. pyrrha (Fabricius) and A. carycina Jordan but can be distinguished by the following combination of characters. In general male pratensis are larger than those of pyrrha and carycina , although the range in forewing length overlaps; the basal markings of the forewing are orange, and those in cells Cu1 and Cu2 are usually diffuse at the edges; the sub­apical forewing markings are dirty white, usually ranging from R5 to Cu1; and the PD spot is absent. The dark border of the hindwing is generally broader in pratensis than in pyrrha , but the ranges of variation in this character overlap between these two species. Male valva are bowed, nearly homogeneous in width in lateral view, with a blunt apex. The aedeagus is shorter than the length of the genitalic capsule and comparatively thicker than those of A. pyrrha and A. carycina . The female wings are translucent at the base and slightly lighter than those of males, with the forewing orange color sometimes replaced by dirty white. The sphragis is vertically attached to abdomen.

FIGURE 2. A. pratensis ; A, holotype, dorsal view; B, holotype, ventral view; C, allotype, dorsal view; D, allotype, ventral view; E–H, male genitalia (RBF 9170) E, ventral view; F, dorsal view; G, 8th sternum (posterior edge up); H, lateral view. Codes follow Figure 1 .

Description. Male. (Fig. 2 A, dorsal; B, ventral; E–H, genitalia). Antenna black, extending to mid­costa. Forewing narrow and elongate, length 25–32 mm (mean = 30 mm; SD = 2.0; n = 11); hindwing rounded, about two­thirds the length of forewing. Body black, abdomen ventrally covered by cream scales with a central black line, dorsolateral cream spots starting from first abdominal segment; lateral membrane covered with cream scales. Forewing upper surface background black, not translucent. Discal cell with two orange markings, basal stripe broad, reaching about half the length of discal cell, distal marking broad, reaching end of discal cell. Cells Cu1 and Cu2 with well developed orange markings usually diffuse at edges. Black dot near the basal area of cell Cu2 (“PD” dot of Francini 1992: 32) absent in all known individuals. A sub­apical transverse dirty white stripe (about 3–4 mm wide) crosses the distal third of the wing, from R5 to Cu1. Hindwing not translucent. Background black, central area covered by orange scales. Dark margin occupying ca. one­fourth of wing surface, extended from coastal to anal areas. Hindwing “v” shaped mark weak, discontinuous or absent. Scales in humeral area orange. Ventral surface of wings with same pattern, but lighter than dorsal surface.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2 E–H): Valvae elongate, length four times width of median portion; broader at base; bowed and only slightly compressed dorsoventrally; nearly homogeneous in diameter in lateral view; apex blunt. In dorsal view, uncus gradually narrowing to a point. Tegumen short. Gnathos absent. In ventral view, saccus shaped as an isosceles triangle, about half the length of genitalic capsule. Aedeagus shorter than length of genitalic capsule, ending in a sharp point, in lateral view slightly bowed ventrally. Juxta broad, approaching the width of the base of one valva (in ventral view).

Female (Fig. 2C, D). Similar to male, but paler (in some individuals the orange of forewing completely replaced by dirty white). Base of forewings slightly translucent. Sphragis vertically attached to abdomen, similar to that of A. pyrrha .

Distribution and flight period. Populations of A. pratensis were recorded in four sites in São Paulo State: Águas da Prata, Rio Claro, Campinas, and Jundiaí. This species is bivoltine as are most species of Actinote from SE Brazil ( Francini 1989), with adults flying in April and November.

Etymology. The name of this species is a Latinized version of ‘pratense’, the Portuguese word that denotes resident s of Águas da Prata, where the first population of A. pratensis was found.

Biology. Eggs are laid in clusters on the underside of Eupatorium sp. leaves ( Asteraceae ). Mature larva are dull green and have long body scoli (at least twice the width of the epicranium). Both these characteristics are distinctive from other known Actinote caterpillars. A full account of the early stages of A. pratensis is in preparation (R. B. Francini & A. V. L. Freitas in prep.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. eberti; A, two males showing variation in wing size; B, holotype, dorsal view; C, holotype, ventral view; D, female, dorsal view; E – H, male genitalia (E, F, H, DZ 2969; G, DZ 3805); E, ventral view; F, dorsal view; G, 8 th sternum (posterior edge up); H, lateral view; sa = saccus, va = valva, ae = aedeagus, un = uncus.