Zaphanta bahiana St Laurent & Giusti 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: St Laurent, Ryan A.
name: Giusti, Alessandro
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Mimallonidae
Zaphanta
Zaphanta bahiana

description: Zaphanta bahiana sp. nov.
(Figures 21–24, 37, 42) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F1C63621-EF30-40B1-B437-87A79BD7E339
Diagnosis
Zaphanta bahiana is most similar in external morphology and genital structure to the previous species, Z. acuta. Zaphanta bahiana is slightly larger (on average), with broader, less acute fore wings, and is more darkly maculated. The postmedial line is more well defined in this species, and there are hints of a dorsal fore wing antemedial line. Many of the specimens of Z. bahiana have a well-developed black mark midway along the costa; the holotype has an additional black spot immediately below this mid costal mark. The genitalia of Z. bahiana resemble those of Z. acuta; however, the uncus is substantially bifid, the subuncus region bears an open diamond shaped sclerotised band unlike the V-shaped sclerotisation of Z. acuta, and the ventral margin of the tegumen is more heavily sclerotised and mesally extended on either side forming projections. The costal valva extensions are somewhat trumpet shaped, and more heavily sclerotised than in Z. acuta. The most striking character of Z. bahiana is the extremely narrowed phallus which is distally widely splayed, being distinctly forked.
Description
Male. Head: As for genus. Thorax: As for genus. Legs: As for genus. Fore wing dorsum: Fore wing length: 9.0–12.5 mm, avg.: 11.5 mm, wingspan: 18–24 mm, n = 7. As for genus but markings, although typical of the genus, are particularly well developed with notable postmedial line and faint antemedial marking. Black marks present almost midway along costa, secondary black marking may be apparent below costal mark, apically three additional black marks present. Colouration overall darker due to presence of purple-brown suffusion and brown scales, especially antemedially and submarginally. Fore wing ventrum: As for genus, but ante- and postmedial lines especially well developed, with dense purple-pink scaling antemedially. Hind wing dorsum: As for genus, but colouration nearly entirely suffused by dark brown-pink scales, especially darkened antemedially and submarginally, darker patch of scales present above anal angle; postmedial line well developed. Hind wing ventrum: As for genus, ante- and postmedial lines particularly well defined; antemedial area lighter in colour than antemedial area of fore wing ventrum. Abdomen: As for genus, colouration grey-brown, terminus with distinct outwardly projected tufts of scales. Genitalia: (Figure 37) n = 3 (six additional specimen terminalia were brushed). Vinculum ovoid. Tegumen broad, thickly sclerotised, ovoid. Uncus triangular, bifid, not more heavily sclerotised apically. Subuncal region with narrow strip of weak sclerotisation along ventral margin of tegumen, downwardly projected and widened mesally forming open diamond shape, upper margin of subuncal sclerotisation slightly dentate; uncus-tegumen complex wider than vinculum at widest part. Ventral margin of tegumen more heavily sclerotised than surrounding region, extended outward forming pair of lobed projections; one on either side of tegumen. Transtilla apparently absent. Valvae extremely narrow, elongate, slightly curved upward. Costal base of valvae (valva apodeme) densely covered in setae, setae obscure presence of well-sclerotised trumpet shaped valva apodeme projection which curves outwards, some setae densely compacted within trumpet shaped projection. Juxta as V-shaped sclerotisation which attaches ventrally to phallus and between saccular valvae apodemes. Caecum of phallus shorter than one-quarter length of phallus, caecum phallus rounded, distally forked with upper component of fork shorter than lower component.
Female. Head: As for male, but smaller overall; antenna smaller. Thorax: As for male. Legs: As for genus. Fore wing dorsum: Fore wing length: 13.5 mm, wingspan: 24.5 mm, n = 1. As for male but wings slightly broader overall, more densely suffused with brown and contrasting black petiolate scales, giving the wing a darker tone. Black marks near costa smaller. Fore wing ventrum: As for male; overall more heavily suffused with brown scales as on dorsum. Hind wing dorsum: As for male but more heavily suffused with brown scales as on fore wing dorsum. Hind wing ventrum: As for male, but more heavily suffused with brown and black petiolate scales. Abdomen: As for male, but more robust; terminus of abdomen lacks paired scale tufts. Genitalia: Not examined.
Type material
Holotype ♂. Brazil: Bahia: BRASIL BA, Camacã, 400–700 m, 21–30.ix. 1991, V.O. Becker Col. / Col. BECKER 83179/USNM-Mimal: 2332/ St Laurent dissection: 5-16-18:3 / HOLOTYPE ♂ Zaphanta bahiana St Laurent and Giusti, 2019 /(ex. USNM, to be transferred to VOB).
Paratypes. (8 ♂, 1 ♀ total) Brazil: Bahia: 1 ♂, data as exactly as for holotype (VOB). 1 ♂, data as for holotype except with additional labels: USNM-Mimal 2333, St Laurent dissection: 5-16-18:4 (USNM). 1 ♂, Locale and collector as for holotype except: 13–- 14 April 1992, Col. Becker 84469 (VOB). 5 ♂, 1 ♀, Camacan [Camacã], Serra Bonita Res., 15.38°S, 39.55°W, 800 m: 1–15 February 2005, V.O. Becker col., Col. Becker 135914 (1 ♂, VOB); VI. 2009, L.R. Pinheiro and S.S. Moraes col., Col. Becker 143337 (1 ♂, VOB); July 2010, V.O. Becker col., Col. Becker 146266 (1 ♂, VOB); February 2018, V.O. Becker col., Col. Becker 155410 (1 ♀, VOB). 1 ♂, Camacã, Serra Bonita, 15.38°S, 39.55°W, 800 m: 16–- 24 April 2012, V. Becker and A. Moser leg. (CLAM). Paratypes with label reading: ‘ PARATYPE ♂/ ♀ Zaphanta bahiana St Laurent and Giusti, 2019 ’ (yellow label).
Distribution
Zaphanta bahiana is only known from the type locality in and near Camacan, Bahia, Brazil.
Etymology
Zaphanta bahiana is named for the Brazilian state of Bahia, where the type series was collected.
Remarks
Based on male genitalia and biogeography, this species appears to be most closely related to the previous two species, particularly Z. acuta. The extremely narrowed and then distally splayed phallus, and shapes of the uncus, subuncal sclerotisation and valva apodeme projections, as well as external differences, led us to treat the Bahia population as a distinct species. We are uncertain whether these two taxa are sympatric in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, although the nearest population of Zaphanta in Linhares, Espírito Santo, has genital characters wholly consistent with Z. acuta, and not intermediate between the two species. All male specimens from the type series of Z. bahiana were dissected or brushed in order to observe the diagnostic genital structures. The uniquely shaped phallus is usually most apparent and allows for quick determination in the absence of a full dissection, although in some specimens the diagnostic features of the uncus and subuncal sclerotisation may be clearly visible as well.
The specimen in Figure 22 is particularly small and lightly coloured for Z. bahiana, but examination of the genitalia (through brushing) revealed all the necessary diagnostic characteristics of this species to allow us to confidently include it in the type series. We include a figure of this specimen to show the degree of variation in size and maculation that can exist in Zaphanta, making identifications based merely on external morphology quite unreliable.
description: Published as part of St Laurent, Ryan A. & Giusti, Alessandro, 2019, Revision of Zaphanta Dyarı 1910 (Lepidoptera: Mimallonidae: Zaphantinae) ı with descriptions of nine new species, pp. 1209-1246 in Journal of Natural History 53 (19) on pages 1243-1245, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2019.1634772, http://zenodo.org/record/3673463