Automeris belemensis
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Ordo: Lepidoptera
Familia: Saturniidae
Genus: Automeris
Name
Automeris belemensis Decaëns, Rougerie & Bénéluz sp. nov. – Wikispecies link – ZooBank link – Pensoft Profile
Type material
Holotype. Brazil • ♂ (Fig. 1C, G); Pará state, Maçaranduba, Nova Ipixuna; Apr. 2008; 4.7990°S, 49.3630°W; elevation: 100 m; at MV light; TD leg.; BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0008; deposited in MPEG (catalogue number: MPEG.HLE 04018743).
Paratypes (16 ♂♂). Brazil • 13 ♂♂, same data as holotype with different sampling locations in the same area: 4.7990°S, 49.3630°W; 4.8110°S, 49.3670°W; 4.8050°S, 49.3690°W; 4.8040°S, 49.3230°W. Brazil • 1 ♂; Pará state, Pacajá; June 2008; 3.7060°S, 51.0390°W; at MV light; TD leg. Brazil • 2 ♂♂; Maranhão state, Reserva Biologica do Gurupi; 18 Apr. 2010; 4.0014°S, 46.8372°W; at MV light; TD leg. Deposited as follow: 3 ♂♂ in MPEG (BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0667, BC-TDMPEG0743, BC-TDMPEG0744; MPEG catalogue number: MPEG.HLE 04018744, MPEG.HLE 04018745, MPEG.HLE 04018746), 4 ♂♂ in the MNHN (BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0918, BC-TDMPEG0919, BC-INCT1136, BC-INCT1137), 3 ♂♂ in CFB (BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0956, BC-TDMPEG0957, BC-TDMPEG0982), 2 ♂♂ in CCGM (BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0983, BC-TDMPEG0920), 4 ♂♂ in CTD (BOLD SampleID: BC-TDMPEG0007, BC-TDMPEG0009, BC-TDMPEG0014, BC-TDMPEG0301).
Diagnosis
Phenotypically, Automeris belemensis sp. nov. is closely related to A. cinctistriga and A. godartii from which it is difficult to separate based on wing patterns, particularly if we consider the phenotypic variability that characterises these species (see Fig. 3 for distribution map of these species). However, the examination of a large number of specimens reveals subtle characters that make it possible to differentiate them. The distinction from A. cinctistriga is possible because of the general shape of the forewings in A. belemensis sp. nov. usually less elongated with a less prominent apex, and by the ornamentation of the eyespot of the hindwings, whose yellow ring is thinner, and highlighted externally by the presence of a line of black scales which is usually lacking in A. cinctistriga. The distinction from A. godartii is more difficult, but the general colouration of the wings is, however, different in the 22 specimens examined of the two species. In A. belemensis sp. nov., the ground colour of the forewings is a lighter orange-brown than the grey-brown ground colour that is characteristic of A. godartii. The dusting of silver scales generally present in A. godartii, in particular in the preapical triangle of the forewings, is weakly marked or completely absent in A. belemensis sp. nov. The ante- and postmedial lines are also lighter in A. belemensis, standing out in a more contrasted way compared to the surrounding wing colour. Finally, the line of black scales surrounding the eyespot of the hindwings, and sometimes even the yellow periocellar ring, which are continuous in A. godartii, are frequently interrupted towards the subcostal area in A. belemensis sp. nov. It is likely that the male of A. godartii figured in Lemaire (2002[1]: plate 40, fig. 4), originating from the state of Pará in Brazil, actually belongs to A. belemensis sp. nov.
With a long posteriorly produced uncus, male genitalia are similar to those of A. godartii, but also to those of A. lemensis, which is known only from the Gran Sabana region in southern Venezuela (Fig. 3). Interestingly, the DNA barcodes of the 11 sequenced specimens of A. belemensis sp. nov. form a distinct cluster in the NJ tree (BINBOLD:AAA5242) with A. lemensis as the nearest neighbour with 2% minimum uncorrected p-distance (Fig. 4). However, both species can easily be distinguished by the ground coloration of their wings, which is much duller in the former, especially in the periocellar area of the hindwings, and an otherwise much rounder hindwing eyespot.
Description
♂ (Fig. 1C, G). Wingspan: 70–71 mm. Head: dark brown, labial palpi and antennae orange brown. Thorax: dorsally dark brown and ventrally orange brown; legs dark brown. Abdomen: orange brown. Forewings: Length 35–37 mm, slightly elongated, slightly prominent apex, straight outer border; dorsal ground colour orange brown; ante- and postmedial lines thin and yellow, the latter slightly convex, becoming barely visible upon reaching the costal margin 3–4 mm from the apex; discocellular mark rectangular, darker than the surrounding wing surface, with four to six dark brown spots at its angles. Ventral side yellow brown, slightly darker on the outer margin, with the postmedial line underlined by dark brown scales, and a large black discocellular spot, marked in its centre by a small white discal dot. Hindwings: basomedian area dull orange with a large eyespot in its centre formed by, from its centre: a small black and white pupil, a large grey brown iris surrounded by a broad black periocellar ring, followed by a thin yellow ring, and finally by an external line of black scales. Postmedial line lunular, formed by a thin yellow line bordered proximally and distally by a wider black line; postmedian area dull orange; marginal band orange brown. Ventral side uniformly yellow brown, with a straight, weakly marked postmedial line, a faint zigzagging premarginal line, and with a small white discal spot.
Female unknown.
Genitalia ♂ (Fig. 2B): similar general structure as in other species of the bilinea subgroup. Uncus well developed, long and bent downwards, apically barely bifid. Dorsal lobes of valves well developed and broadly triangular. Median plate of gnathos strongly sclerotised with its posterior margin convex, a developed median projection, and long lateral appendages. Saccus well developed, triangular and acute anteriorly. Phallus straight, with a small lateral spine on its base; its posterior end slightly bent upward, with a weakly developed vesica.
Distribution
Automeris belemensis sp. nov. is known from the lower Amazonian watershed in the Brazilian states of Pará and Maranhão, Brazil (Fig. 3). It has not been found despite of extensive collecting efforts in neighbouring region of French Guiana, and is also unknown from other areas of Brazilian Amazonia. This suggests it could be restricted to the Belém area of endemism as defined in Cardoso da Silva et al. (2005)[2], which was recently highlighted as a hotspot for the diversity of so far undescribed moth species (Lamarre et al. 2016[3]).
Etymology
Automeris belemensis sp. nov. is named as a reference to the area of endemism of Belém where this species has been found and to which it is likely endemic.
Original Description
- Decaëns, T; Bénéluz, F; Ballesteros-Mejia, L; Bonilla, D; Rougerie, R; 2021: Description of three new species of Automeris Hübner, 1819 from Colombia and Brazil (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae, Hemileucinae) ZooKeys, 1031: 183-204. doi
Images
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Other References
- ↑ Lemaire C (2002) The Saturniidae of America (= Attacidae). Vol 4 – Hemileucinae.Goecke & Evers, Keltern, 1388 pp. [140 pls.]
- ↑ Cardoso da Silva J, Rylands A, da Fonseca G (2005) The fate of the Amazonian Areas of Endemism.Conservation Biology19(3): 689–694. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00705.x
- ↑ Lamarre G, Decaëns T, Rougerie R, Barbut J, Herbin D, Laguerre M, Thiaucourt P, Martins Bonifacio M (2016) An integrative taxonomy approach unveils unknown and threatened moth species in Amazonian rainforest fragments.Insect Conservation and Diversity9: 475–479. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12187
