Ernassa persivalei, Grados, 2024

Grados, Juan, 2024, Beyond appearances: the genus Ernassa Walker, 1856 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Phaegopterina) and the description of eight new species, Zootaxa 5493 (4), pp. 301-327 : 312-313

Ernassa persivalei sp. nov.

( Figs. 29–34 )

Diagnosis: Similar to E. tarisca , it differs by the subproximal, somewhat more elongate white spot in M 2 -M 3 of the forewing, and the dorsal process of the valva, which is narrow, with the distal end directed towards the mesal margin.

Type material: HOLOTYPE male ( Figs. 29–30 ). PERÚ, HUÁNUCO. 1 male, Estación Biológica Panguana , 09°38’36”S, 74°54’55”W, 260 m, vii–viii.2013, H. Thony (GENITALIA # JGA-1318 , MUSM). 7 PARATYPES. LORETO. 1 male, Río Blanco nr. Capanahua , 06°29’03”S, 73°48’03”W, 152 m, 25–26.x.2008, A. García (GENITALIA # JGA 1265 , MUSM) . HUÁNUCO. 1 males, idem the holotype, except (GENITALIA # JGA 1248 , MUSM) ; 1 male, idem except, (GENITALIA # JGA 1317 , MUSM) ; 1 male, Estación Biológica Panguana , 09°36’48”S, 74°56’12”W, 260 m, 13.viii.2017, J. Monzón (GENITALIA # JGA-1249 , MUSM) . PASCO. 1 male, P.N. Yanachaga-Chemillén. Est. Biol. Paujil , 10°19’25.0”S, 75°15’48.8”W, 375 m, 02.x.2015, M. Rodriguez (GENITALIA # JGA-1254 , MUSM) ; 1 male, P.N. Yanachaga-Chemillén, Est. Biol. Paujil , 10°19’24,8”S, 75°15’50,0”W, 373 m, 14.ix.2007, J. Grados & S. Carbonel (GENITALIA # JGA-1255 , MUSM) . CUSCO. 1 male, San Martín C ., 11°47’S, 72°41’W, 480 m, 26.iii.1997, J. Grados (GENITALIA # JGA-1266 , MUSM) . All deposited in the MUSM .

Male. Forewing span (21–23 mm) (n=8). Head. Reddish-orange. scape Reddish-orange, flagellum brown with a whitish spot on the distal segments. Thorax. Reddish-orange. Legs reddish. Forewing. Elongate. Dorsal. Reddish-orange. Half of the anterior margin brown. Posterior margin with leaden scales, except the base. Termen brown. Veins with leaden gray scales. Brown spot near the base. Subproximal rhomboid orange spot, delimited by an antemedial and a medial band of leaden scales, flanked in turn by reddish scales. Poorly defined orange spots at the discal cell. A subproximal elongate ovoid white spot at M 2 -M 3. With scattered, unclearly defined spaces of reddish, orange-reddish and leaden gray scales towards the outer margin area. Ventral. Orange red. All the anterior margin brown. Termen brown. Hindwing. Elongate and rhomboid with rounded angles. Dorsal. Reddish, slightly paler towards the central part. Ventral. Reddish, with the same traits as the dorsal side. Abdomen. Reddish. Male genitalia ( Figs. 31–34 ) (Genitalia # JGA 1248, 1249). Tegumen with narrow sides, the anterior margin shaped as an inverted “U”. Uncus base wider than the distal part of tegumen; near its base, two sclerotized lateral processes in the form of an arched “˩”, with abundant long bristles on its mesal side; distal part short, pointed and hook shaped at its end, a concave notch on its ventral part. Valva. Lateral view: wide, elongate, concave on its ventral and dorsal margins; ventral process elongate, membranous, with setae present; dorsal process sclerotized, almost straight, pointed distally and longer than the ventral process. Ventral view: wide; concave in the middle of the mesal margin, ending obliquely towards the dorsal process, setae on the mesal margin; curved dorsal processes towards mesal margin. Juxta sclerotized, pentagonal, membranous in the central part of the margins: finger-shaped on the anterior margin and slightly concave on the posterior margin. Transtilla sclerotized, triangular, with posterior side rounded.Aedeagus elongate and curved; coecum penis elongate; vesica membranous, process dorsally elongate and a digitiform process ventrally; with minute spicules at the dorsal area.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. persivalei is a latinized noun in genitive singular, dedicated to Roberto Persivale for his contributions to sustainable businesses in blue and green economy.

Distribution. In the Amazon forests of the departments of Loreto, Pasco, Huánuco and Cusco.

Figures

FIGURES 29–30. Ernassa persivalei sp. nov. Holotype. 29. Dorsal view. 30. Ventral view. Scales=5 mm.

FIGURES 31–34. Genitalia of Ernassa persivalei sp. nov. Male (Genitalia # JGA-1248, MUSM). 31. Dorsal view. 32. Ventral view. 33. Lateral view. 34. Aedeagus. Scales= 1 mm.