Feltia pala Dias, Specht & San Blas, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Dias, Fernando Maia Silva
name: Blas, German San
name: Specht, Alexandre
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Feltia
Feltia pala

description: Feltia pala Dias, Specht & San Blas sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 07F14B6A-D791-414E-8A3A-82C3500B3CA9
(Figs 1–31, 58)
Agrotis gypaetina: Specht & Corseuil 1996: 149, part [misidentification].
Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other South American species of Feltia by the following combination of characters: Feltia pala sp. nov. is somewhat larger than other similar species (e.g. 42–44mm of wingspan vs. 36–38mm of F. gypaetina); the forewing upper side is yellowish brown to grayish brown, with a remarkable light brown area along the costal margin (Figs 3–4); the postmedial line is present, serrate (Fig. 3) or sinuous (Fig. 4); the hind wing upper side is conspicuously covered with grayish brown scales (Figs 1–2); the male antennae are biserrate and bifasciculate, with rami similar in size (Figs 9–10); the male genitalia vesica is about three times as long as the aedeagus, with a basal twirl and one apical diverticulum (Figs 22, 29); the female genitalia appendix bursae is tubular, tapered distally and slightly larger than the length of the corpus bursae (Figs 23, 30); and the corpus bursae is pear-shaped, without signa (Fig. 30).
Description. Head. Vertex and frons yellowish brown to grayish brown (Figs 7–8); frons dorsal half slightly darker than ventral half, frontal tubercle naked, rounded, with raised edges and rough central area (Figs 7–8); compound eyes naked, mostly dark brown; male antenna about three fifths the length of the costal margin, scapus and pedicellus similar in color with the vertex (Figs 7–8), flagellum dorsally covered by yellowish brown and creamy white scales, ventrally without scales (Figs 9–11); biserrate, anterior rami about the same size of the posterior rami, with tiny ventral chemoreceptive trichoid sensilla, one eighth the width of the flagellomere, concentrated in the center of the flagellomere (Fig. 9); bifasciculate, two rows of chemoreceptive trichoid sensilla (fascicles), almost half the width of the flagellomere (Fig.9); labial palpus first and second segments with ventral long and thin scales and lateral and dorsal wide and short scales, third segment only with wide and short scales, segments with yellowish brown to grayish brown with creamy white scales (Fig. 12, 15). Female slightly darker than male, antenna filiform with ventral chemoreceptive trichoid sensilla only (Fig. 11).
Thorax. Patagium grayish brown, with a dark brown middle line and a yellowish brown marginal line (Figs 3–4); tegula with a distinctive creamy white patch proximally, grayish brown distally (Figs 3–4); meso- and metathorax dorsally grayish brown, speckled with creamy white scales (Figs 1–4); thorax slightly lighter brown ventrally. Female slightly darker than male; tegula creamy white patch with speckled grayish brown scales (Fig. 2).
Legs. Generally grayish brown, with scattered creamy white scales, with a ring of creamy white scales on apex of femur, tibia and each tarsi; femur inner margin with long creamy white scales; midleg tibia outer margin proximally with long grayish brown scales; hindleg tibia outer margin proximally with long creamy white scales; foreleg tibia dorso-ventrally flattened, about half the width of the femur, wider in anterior view, with lateral and distal spines (Figs 16, 20); foreleg epiphysis 2/3 the length of the tibia (Fig. 19); mid- and hindleg tibiae and all tarsi with three somewhat regular rows of ventral spines, tibiae and first tarsomere with sparse additional outer spines, mid- and hindlegs with a pair and two pairs of spurs, respectively (Figs 17–18); tarsal claws bifid, with small medial ventral endodont (Figs 16–18). Female as in male, but slightly darker.
Wings. Size, shape and venation. Measured from the base to the apex of the forewing, males 16–19mm (n=30), females, 17–20mm (n=7); shape and venation similar to other agrotines (Figs 13–14).
Forewing upper side ground color mostly yellowish brown to grayish brown, with lines of dark grayish brown scales on veins and on space CuA2–1A+2A, and in areas near the apex and along the inner margin; area between the base of the wing and the basal line and between the basal line and the antemedial line anterior to R along the costal margin (i.e. proximal part of the sobcostal band) grayish brown; area between antemedial line and postmedial line dorsal to R along the costal margin (i.e. distal part of the subcostal band) light brown; light brown lines along Sc, R and R 1, from the base of the wing to the postmedial line; discal cell with grayish brown areas along R and Cu, with a light brown area from the base of the wing to near the orbicular spot and dark brown areas basal to and between the orbicular and reniform spots; orbicular and reniform spots dark grayish brown entirely bordered by a grayish brown line and a dark brown line; basal and antemedial line light brown, bordered by proximal and distal dark brown lines, from the costal margin to R, and from Cu to 1A+2A, less distinct from 1A+2A to the inner margin; claviform spot dark grayish brown, proximally attached to the antemedial line and bordered by dark brown scales; medial line indistinct; postmedial line light brown, serrated, bordered by marked proximal and faint distal dark brown lines, curved, from about the distal third of the costal margin to the distal third of the inner margin; subterminal area from the costal margin to R 3 and from 1A+2A to the inner margin dark grayish brown, yellowish brown from R 3 to 1A+2A, with dark brown arrowheads surrounded by lighter scales in all spaces from R 3 to CuA 2; subterminal line indistinct, separating the lighter subterminal area from the darker terminal area; terminal area grayish brown speckled with dark brown scales, sinuous, from the apex to the tornus; terminal line dark brown bordered by yellowish brown scales, along the outer margin, from the apex to the tornus; fringe mostly dark grayish brown, with yellowish brown scales. Female as in male, but ground color usually darker and more uniform: most yellowish brown areas are uniformly grayish brown in the female, and grayish brown areas are uniformly dark grayish brown; grayish brown border of the orbicular and reniform spots very faint; postmedial line light brown, sinuous, markedly bordered by proximal and distal dark brown lines. Forewing underside mostly grayish brown, darker along the costal margin; terminal line bordered by lighter grayish brown scales; male retinaculum as a patch of densely packed scales on the R vein. Female as in male, but retinaculum as a patch of enlarged scales on the Cu vein.
Hind wing upper side ground color creamy white, entirely covered by grayish brown scales, markedly on the veins, at the apex, and along the costal and inner margins, fringe mostly grayish brown, with creamy white scales; discal spot faint, grayish brown. Female as in male, but with more grayish brown scales. Hind wing underside similar to the upper side, but without grayish brown scales; discal spot distinct, grayish brown; male frenulum formed by a single strong bristle. Female as in male, but frenulum formed by three weaker bristles.
Abdomen. Dorsally grayish brown to light brown, speckled with creamy white scales, laterally and ventrally usually lighter brown (Fig. 1); tergum and sternum VIII differently sclerotized; male coremata and associated structures absent. Female as in male (Fig. 2).
Male genitalia. Tegumen strap-like, laterally swollen and ventrally connected to the dorsal arms of the saccus (Figs 21, 25, 28); saccus stripe-like, with bulbous anterior projection (Figs 21, 25, 28); uncus thin, sinuous in lateral view, dorsally with hair-like setae, tip ventrally curved and with thick setae, in dorsal or ventral view with a constriction at the basal third and also narrowing at the tip (Figs 25, 28); anal tube formed by two ventrolateral subrectangular sclerites, three times longer than wide (Fig. 28); transtilla as two sclerotized areas basally connected to the valvae (Fig. 28); fultura inferior (“juxta”, Lafontaine 2004) semicircular, posterior margin straight with a slight medial indentation, anterior margin curved (Fig. 28); valva subrectangular, (Figs 26, 28); clavus as a three times longer than wide slightly sclerotized fold (Figs. 26, 28); costa sinuous, projected (Figs. 26, 28); cucullus apex angled and slightly projected dorsally, rounded ventrally, with a distal row of spine-like setae (corona) (Figs 26, 28); sacculus slightly sclerotized, membranous near the clasper and costa, angled in lateral view (Figs 26, 28); clasper as a ventral sclerotized strap supporting the ampulla (Figs 26, 28); ampulla curved, about one fourth the length of the valva (Figs 26, 28); digitus and editum absent; aedeagus cylindrical, ductus ejaculatorius opening dorsal, about half the length of the aedeagus, vesica opening posterior, with a narrow proximal sclerotization (Figs 22, 27, 29); manica inserted at the second third of the length of the aedeagus (Figs 22, 29); vesica about three times the length of the aedeagus, with a proximal twirl, proximal two thirds as wide as the aedeagus, distal third half as wide as the aedeagus, apical diverticulum small, in the second third of the vesica; other diverticula, spined bands and cornuti absent (Figs 22, 29).
Female genitalia. Abdominal segment VIII not fused ventrally, slightly connected to the lamella antevaginalis (Fig. 24); apophysis anterioris dorsal, thin and long, connected to the abdominal segment VIII, about two times smaller than the apophysis posterioris (Figs 23–24); papilla analis oblong, slightly sclerotized and with hair-like setae (Figs 23, 30); antrum membranous; lamella antevaginalis irregularly sclerotized, strap-like (Figs 23–24); lamella postvaginalis membranous; ostium bursa medial (Figs 23–24, 30); ductus bursa tubular, about the same length of the apophysis anterioris (Figs 23, 30); corpus bursae about three times the length of the ductus bursa, pear-shaped, apex rounded and directed to the right side, without signa (Figs 23, 30); appendix bursae slightly longer than the corpus bursae, tubular, tapering posteriorly to the ductus seminalis (Figs 23, 30).
Spatio-temporal distribution. The species is known to occur in southern Brazilian states of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, but certainly also occurs in other southern Brazilian states with similar habitats such as Santa Catarina (Fig. 58). Based on standardized monthly samplings carried out in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between January 1998 and December 1999 (Dias et al. 2017), and in most of Brazil, between July 2015 and June 2017 (Claudino et al. 2021) and specimens deposited in entomological collections, the species only occurs in the southern Brazilian highlands. This geographic region consists of plateaus, rolling hills, and mountain ranges with elevations ranging from 500 to about 2,000 meters. The climate is temperate with distinct seasons, featuring welldistributed rainfall throughout the year. Summers tend to be mild to warm, while winters are cold, particularly in higher elevations. Vegetation comprises mixed ombrophilous forests at lower elevations and grasslands at higher elevations. Based on the known specimens, the species occurs between April and July, with a single outlier in November. Standardized monthly samplings reveal that the species reaches its peak of abundance in May and June (Fig. 31). These data suggest that F. pala sp. nov. probably has a single generation per year; the specimen collected in November probably molted to pupa before the summer rather than undergoing prepupal aestivation and molting to pupa in the autumn.
Immature stages. Immature stages, host plants and parasitoids unknown.
Remarks. Feltia pala sp. nov. is described based on 44 specimens, 36 males and 8 females. The area of occurrence of F. pala sp. nov. in Rio Grande do Sul was extensively sampled by Ceslau Biezanko in the first half of the 20 th century, but no specimens of F. pala sp. nov. were located in his collection (MECB). Nevertheless, the noctuid fauna of Rio Grande do Sul remained relatively unknown until a series of collections conducted mostly by Elio Corseuil and Alexandre Specht throughout the 90’s and in early 2000’s (Specht & Corseuil 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002a,b; Specht et al. 2005). The species probably failed to be previously identified because of the superficial similarity with other species of South American Feltia, especially with F. gypaetina. In fact, Specht & Corseuil (1996) mistakenly identified two specimens of F. pala sp.nov. collected in Salvador do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul as F. gypaetina (specimens with voucher numbers 4175 and 4651, deposited at MCTP). It is important to note that the colder months of late autumn and winter are typically less frequented by collectors, which may partly explain the scarcity of specimens of this species in collections. Furthermore, the absence of this species in studies conducted in its likely area of occurrence, such as Specht et al. (2005), could be attributed to the fact that most of these studies were conducted during spring and/or summer.
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to an element of the traditional “gaucho” folk costume (known as “pilcha campeira”) similar to the “poncho”, used to protect the itinerant horseman from the harsh weather of the southern Brazilian highlands, were the species is known to occur. In southern Brazil, the “pala ” usually consists of a single large squared sheet of a thick woolen fabric with a slit in the center for the head and it is used as a loose outer garment and/or as a blanket. The name is proposed as a noun in apposition.
Type material. Holotype male with the following labels: /HOLOTYPUS /HOLOTYPE Feltia pala Dias, Specht & San Blas det. 2024/Lagoa Verm[elha]. R[io Grande do] S[ul, Brazil] 12/VI/1999 Specht, A [lexandre]. Leg. / MCTP 09545 [b] / DZ 51.317/ deposited at the DZUP.
Paratypes (35♂ & 8♀). Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul, Bento Gonçalves, 488m, 1♀ & 1♂, 19.V.2012, Specht leg., DZ 51.607, DZ 51.326 (DZUP); [mislabeled “ Planaltina, Brasília, Distrito Federal ”], 2♂, 25.V.2012, Specht leg., 01031, 01019 (CPAC); [mislabeled “ Planaltina, Brasília, Distrito Federal ”], 1♂, 25.V.2012, Specht leg., DZ 51.567 (DZUP); Lagoa Vermelha, 3♀, 12.VI.1999, Specht leg., 9547[b], 9547[c] (MCTP), DZ 51.457 (DZUP) 5♂, 12. VI.1999, Specht leg., 9545[a], 9545[c], 9545[d], 9545[e], 15098 (MCTP); 2♂, 27.V.1998, Specht leg., 9544[a], 9544[b] (MCTP); Pinto Bandeira, 613m, 7♂, 14.V.2013, Specht leg., DZ 51.726, DZ 51.437, DZ 51.847, DZ 51.537, DZ 51.687,DZ 51.777, DZ 51.337 (DZUP); 1♂, 14.V.2013, Specht leg., MZUEL-E 00.003 (MZUEL); 640m, 5♂, 31.V.2011, Specht leg., DZ 51.397, DZ 51.617, DZ 51.487, DZ 51.377, DZ 51.667 (DZUP); Salvador do Sul, 1♀, 8.V.1994, Specht leg., 4175 (MCTP); 1♂, 8.XI.1995, Specht leg., 4651 (MCTP); 1♀ & 1♂, 22.V.1996, Specht leg., 4944[a], 4944[b] (MCTP); 2♂, 22.VII1998, Specht leg., 4944[c], 4944[d] (MCTP); São Francisco de Paula, Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza PRÓ-MATA, 2♂, 17.VI.1996, no collector data, 4943a, 4943[b] (MCTP); 1♂, 18.VI.1996, no collector data, 4946 (MCTP); 1♂, 30.V.1996, Petersen leg., 4945[a], (MCTP); 1♂, 30.VI.1996, no collector data, 4945[b] (MCTP); Paraná. Colombo, Embrapa Florestas, 1♀, 5.IV.2016, Mikich leg., DZ 47.280 (DZUP); Curitiba, 1♀, 2.VI.1975, Becker leg., 2659 (VOB); 1♂ 5.VI.1975, Becker leg., 2660 (VOB); Quatro Barras, Banhado, 1♂, 5.VI.1970, Laroca & Becker leg., gen. prep. 66 (VOB).
description: Published as part of Dias, Fernando Maia Silva, Blas, German San & Specht, Alexandre, 2025, A new species of Feltia Walker, 1856 from southern Brazil highlands with a re-description of Feltia gypaetina (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), pp. 335-355 in Zootaxa 5609 (3) on pages 337-345, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5609.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/15215169