Stamnodes aumatlapalli Matson 2023, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Matson, Tanner A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Geometridae
Stamnodes
Stamnodes aumatlapalli

description: Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 44DDB9C4-9466-4B90-8E80-1D4AF7F0F1F1
Figs 1, 41, 61, 74, 94–95
Diagnosis
Specimens of S. aumatlapalli sp. nov. examined from the CNIN were found intermixed with S. favilla sp. nov. and S. penguinifera (Dyar, 1910). The absence of a dark red outlining around the white patterning of the forewing apex and hindwing underside separates this species from S. favilla; additional more subtle differences of the hindwing underside also separate the two: notably, the longitudinal, medial white band is continuous in S. aumatlapalli (see right arrow, Fig. 1b), but interrupted at the postmedian in S. favilla (see right arrow, Fig. 7b).
Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov. is more strongly marked above and bears a slightly darker orange-yellow ground colour than S. penguinifera. The hindwing underside is markedly different from that of S. penguinifera and can be easily identified by the curved, transverse, medial white band near the posterior inner margin of the hindwing underside that angles distad toward the tornus (see left arrow, Fig. 1b). The same band is straight, thicker, and angles basad in S. penguinifera (see left arrow, Fig. 3b). When viewed in conjunction with the longitudinal, medial white band, S. penguinifera appears to have a large Y-shaped mark in the center of the hindwing underside; such is absent in S. aumatlapalli.
The number, shape, and orientation of cornuti on the vesica immediately separates S. aumatlapalli sp. nov. from S. penguinifera and S. favilla sp. nov. The vesica of S. aumatlapalli bears an echinate field of several dozen small cornuti over much of its surface (Fig. 41b), while S. favilla has a dense spinose cluster of approximately nine cornuti of varying size that are much larger and more heavily sclerotized than S. aumatlapalli (Fig. 46b), and S. penguinifera has dozens of cornuti in a dense cluster (Fig. 43b). Female genitalia of S. aumatlapalli are similar to those of S. penguinifera and S. favilla in size, shape, and signum attributes. While S. aumatlapalli and S. favilla appear to consistently have a laterally sclerotized area of the corpus bursae; such appears to be absent in studied preparations of S. penguinifera.
Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov. appears to be most closely related to S. cannonaria (Schaus, 1927). The latter is known only from the Guatemalan volcanic highlands. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec represents a significant biogeographic boundary, dividing the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Northern Oaxacan Highlands, and Sierra Madre del Sur from the volcanic highlands of Guatemala. Stamnodes aumatlapalli can be separated from S. cannonaria by the presence of an oblique patch of ground colour within the black apical area of the forewing (this may be variable), and subtle differences of the hindwing underside that include a fine, dark grey outline around the white patterning and a lighter grey patch colour. Stamnodes cannonaria has a darker, nearly black, patch colour. Although the male genitalia of both species are similar, there are notable differences. The acuminate lateral processes of the juxta in S. aumatlapalli appear to be thinner and more widely separated, spanning the width of the vinculum, whereas those of S. cannonaria are roughly twice as thick, about one-quarter longer, and not as wide as the vinculum. In addition, the small cornuti on the vesica of S. aumatlapalli appear to be about one-half to one-third the size of those of S. cannonaria; however, only one male specimen (TAM-2021-104) of S. cannonaria was available for genitalic study.
Etymology
The specific epithet aumatlapalli is derived from the Latin word for gold, ‘ aurum ’, represented by the double vowel ‘au’, and the Aztecan Nahuatl root ‘ mātlapalli ’, meaning ‘wings’. When these two parts are combined, they form the name ‘golden wings’. The name is a noun in apposition. See Remarks section for further explanation of this name.
Material examined
Holotype
MEXICO • ♂; Hidalgo, nr Jacala; [21.01° N, 99.19° W]; 3 Jul. 1965; Flint & Ortiz leg.; BOLD Process ID: LNAUY170-19; GenBank: OP898429; USNMENT01523813.
Paratypes (20 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀)
MEXICO – Hidalgo • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; BOLD Process ID: LNAUY169-19; GenBank: OP898466; USNMENT01523812, USNMENT01771265 to USNMENT01771268 • 5 ♂♂; Santiago de Anaya; 20°24′07.61″ N, 98°53′17.97″ W; 26 Sep. 2017; A. Ibarra Vázquez leg.; genetic voucher: TAM0057; genitalia: TAM-2020-043, TAM-2021-063; CNIN • 1 ♀; 4 km carr. Tlanchinol San Cristóbal; 20°57′19″ N, 98°39′42″ W; elev. 1450 m; 18 Feb. 1999; A. Ibarra leg.; CNIN LEP 067444 • 1 ♀; Pachuca de Solo; 20.08273° N, 98.78725° W; elev. 2369 m; Aug.–Oct. 2021; Elsi B. Pérez-Jarillo leg.; CNIN LEP190415 • 1 ♀; Pachuca de Solo; 20.12195° N, 98.73589° W; elev. 2399 m; Aug.–Oct. 2021; Elsi B. Pérez-Jarillo leg.; LEP190393 CNIN. – Querétaro • 2 ♀♀; Chuvejé; 21°10′41″ N, 99°33′38″ W; elev. 1300 m; 20 Oct. 1998; A. Ibarra leg.; genitalia: TAM-2020-04; CNIN LEP 068224 • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; desviación a Misión de Bucareli; 21°6′36″ N, 99°39′25″ W; elev. 2250 m; 25 Jun. 1998; Vences and Ibarra leg.; CNIN LEP 064591, CNIN LEP 0645931 • 1 ♂; Km 4 carretera La Lagunita–Tilaco; [21.20° N, 99.22° W]; elev. 1116 m; 20 Oct. 1998, A. Ibarra leg.; CNIN. – Guerrero • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; [I]guala, Cerro Tuxpan; [18.41° N, 99.42° W]; elev. 1700 m; 25 Jun. 1987; CNIN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 32 km W of Iguala; [18.36° N, 99.80° W]; elev. 1350 m; 15 Sep. 1982; J.A. Powell and J.A. Chemsak leg.; EMEC1748441, EMEC1748442. – Morelos • 3 ♂♂; 2 km S of Ignacio Bastida; [18.91° N, 99.02° W]; 1 Aug. 1981; T.A. Sears leg.; BMEC. – Aguascalientes • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; ridge NW of Jocoque Dam; [22.12° N, 102.36° W]; 19 Aug. 1960; P.H. Arnaud Jr., E.S. Ross, D.C. Rentz leg.; CASENT8539091 to CASENT8539095. – Tamaulipas • 1 ♂; 12 mi. SW of Cd. Victoria; [23.60° N, 99.21° W]; elev. 4000 ft; 18 Sep. 1976; J.A. Chemsak and J. Powell leg.; EMEC1748443.
Description
Male
FOREWING LENGTH. 15–16 mm (n = 21).
HEAD. Antenna filiform, fuscous. Vertex mostly scarlet, but with some white and fuscous scales; frons white and pink dorsally, fuscous medially, and white ventrally. Labial palpus short, slightly porrect, subequal to diameter of eye, fuscous and white. Cephalic collar mostly pink, but with some white and fuscous scales.
THORAX. Patagium mostly fuscous; tegula fuscous above, white below. Mesoscutum mostly fuscous with faint midsagittal stripe. Legs banded in fuscous and white; tibial spur formula 0–2–4; epiphysis well developed.
FOREWING. Ground colour orange-yellow, patterned similar to S. cannonaria. Costal area light grey at base and with darker grey crescent patch at costal median. Apical area black with oblique patch of orange-yellow ground colour; ground colour sometimes extending into apical area at subterminus of outer margin but often faint. Underside like upperside but with several white patches along dark grey apical area: (1) small patch along costa near postmedian, (2) larger patch at costa just before apex extending posteriobasad at oblique angle toward body, and (3) small, serrate to irregular patches at subterminus of outer margin below apex. Faint, small, white costomedial spot also present. Fringe starkly checkered with black and white.
HINDWING. Concolourous with forewing, apical area with small black patch (sometimes reduced); pattern elements of underside visible when viewed from above. Underside much different than upperside, predominantly dark grey, with broadly reticulate, large, irregular white patches outlined finely in dark grey to black. Largest white patch extending longitudinally through center of hindwing with thin arms angling toward inner margin and tornus. Smaller white patches at median of costa, apex, and median of inner margin (see Fig. 1b). Fringe as in forewing.
ABDOMEN. Fuscous above, paler below, some pink lateral scales, and with subtle banding from pale scales at posterior of segments.
GENITALIA (Fig. 41). Uncus long, slender, and tapering toward apex. Subscaphium well developed. Juxta wide and broadly U-shaped, with posterolateral, long, curved, acuminate-conical processes. Inner surface of valva with two hair tufts: smaller tuft arising basally from digitate tubercle; second, larger more laterally widened tuft residing in slight depression and extending to subapical area of valva. Costal sclerite swollen in basal third, then gradually narrowing toward apex. Vesica bearing echinate field of several dozen small cornuti.
Female
Outwardly undifferentiated from male.
FOREWING LENGTH. 15–16 mm (n = 13).
GENITALIA (Fig. 61). Ovipositor short. Anterior apophysis two-thirds length of posterior apophysis. Ductus bursae short and narrow with prominent sclerite flattened on ventral surface and dorsolaterally rolled toward median. Corpus bursae ovoid; surface with lightly sclerotized patch in posterior half, and with circular depressed signum bearing minute papillae; signum situated at anterior third.
Distribution (Fig. 74)
Mexico: Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov. is primarily an inhabitant of the pine-oak woodlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental and Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt; its distribution in the Sierra Madre Oriental appears to be primarily southern, corresponding to the Hidalgoan subprovince (Morrone 2020). An unusual observation was recorded from Zacatecas on iNaturalist (Observation: 1804430); this moth may be misrecorded. The arid region where this individual was observed is far removed from the typical habitat of S. aumatlapalli and until a second observation can be confirmed, this record will be considered suspect and omitted from range maps and discussion.
Biology
Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov. was collected with S. ferropulvisa sp. nov. in Santiago de Anaya, Hidalgo. The immature stages remain unknown, but from knowledge of visually similar Stamnodes, it is predicted this species will likely be hosted by local mints (Lamiaceae). Adults are likely bi- or multivoltine as adult collections span much of the year: February, June, July, September, and October.
Molecular characterization
This species is represented in BOLD as BIN: BOLD:ADZ0046 (n = 2). At present, the average pairwise intraspecific distance is 0.4%. The nearest adjacent interspecific neighbour to Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov. is a single barcode of S. penguinifera (LNAUX434-18) (Fig. 94). The sequence of the latter has not been given a BIN number, nor is it incorporated into BOLD’s nearest neighbour details as the sequence is a partial read of 325 base pairs.
Remarks
This species was described as part of a project undertaken by Mr Isaac Russell’s 2019–2020 eighth-grade science class from Topeka, Kansas. With COVID-19 disrupting educational classrooms, Mr Russell contacted me to assist with a proposed adaptation to his curriculum that would keep his students engaged and learning while they were isolated in their homes. A working group of interested students received lectures on topics such as evolutionary biology, systematics, biodiversity, Mexican biogeography, and the process of describing new species. Students were then given the opportunity to select the name for this new taxon as long as it alluded to the morphology of this species or was related to its country of origin, Mexico. Mr Russell’s eighth-grade science class enthusiastically proposed the new species name, Stamnodes aumatlapalli sp. nov.; its etymology speaks to both morphology and native language and culture.
description: Published as part of Matson, Tanner A., 2023, A review of Mexican Stamnodes (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) with the description of 16 new species, pp. 1-79 in European Journal of Taxonomy 911 on pages 5-8, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.911.2371, http://zenodo.org/record/10376790