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| Walkeriella miraculosa C. Mielke, Grehan & Grados in Mielke, Grehan & Grados, 2019 |
Abstract
Walkeriella miraculosa gen. n. et sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae) is based on two specimens collected from rainforest southwest of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Madre de Dios department, southeastern Peru. The distinct genitalia and wing venation separate this taxon from other genera of Hepialidae although four derived characters states are shared in common with the cibyrine clade. The holotype male is deposited in the collection of the Museo de Historia Natural, Lima, Peru.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, morphology, Neotropical, new genera, taxonomy
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| FIGURES 2−4. Walkeriella miraculosa sp. nov., male holotype habitus. 2, Dorsal view (a), ventral view (b). Scale bar = 1 cm. 3, Forewing ornamentation (adc = anterior discal cell, cdc = central discal cell, mb = marginal band, pdb = postdiscal band, pdc = posterior discal cell, pmb = premarginal band, smb = submarginal band). 4, Wing venation. Arrow indicates the fusion of Rs1 + Rs2 and Rs3. |
Walkeriella gen. nov.
Type species: Walkeriella miraculosa sp. nov., monotypic by present designation.
Diagnosis. Externally distinguished from all other Pan-American Hepialidae by a large white spot edged with dark brown at the base of each discal cell and by the large curved spot between Rs1 and M1 at the outer anterior discal cell. Walkeriella gen. n. is also recognized by the distinctive male genitalia, particularly the valva with its concave inner (medial) surface extending from the base to the apex in contrast to either a blade-like shape or lobular shape in the other American species, and by the ‘oxycanine’ venation on the forewing and ‘hepialine’ venation (Dumbleton 1966) on the hindwing with partial fusion of Rs1+Rs2 and Rs3 at their base.
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Etymology. This new genus is named for Francis Walker, a British entomologist, who described some Neotropical Hepialidae species in the 19th century. The name follows the tradition of Druceiella, Dugdaleiella Grehan & C. Mielke, Hampsoniella, Kozloviella Grehan & C. Mielke, and Pfitzneriella Viette. The gender of the name is feminine.
Remarks. The presence of Walkeriella gen. n. in southern Peru, a relatively well surveyed country, is surprising since no other similar taxon is so far known from the Neotropical region. The presence of a strongly developed posterior lateral knob, a broad intermediate connection between the tergosternal bar and the lateral ridge and a broken anterior margin at the tergosternal connection, along with a very close parallel position between the outer hindwing Sc and R veins support inclusion of Walkeriella gen. n. within the ‘cibyrine’ cluster of genera (Grehan 2012). The configuration of Rs1+Rs2 and Rs3 is unique among all Hepialidae genera and this is the first case that both hepialine and oxycanine venations are found in the same species. In the holotype the left forewing has an oxycanine arrangement (Rs3 joining the common stalk of Rs1+Rs2) whereas the right wing has a hepialine arrangement with Rs3 joining the base of Rs4. The hindwing arrangement is hepialine on both sides. The paratype has oxycanine venation on both forewings and hepialine venation on both hindwings. Further investigation will be necessary for a better understanding of this pattern.
Walkeriella miraculosa sp. nov.
Diagnosis. The single known species may be recognized using diagnostic attributes of the genus. The male genitalia show the most important diagnostic features: (i) asymmetrical projection of the pseudotegumen; (ii) valva with a ventral expansion; and (iii) phallus long and narrow, tapering to apex.
Distribution. Walkeriella miraculosa sp. n. is known from the type locality, about 40 Km southwest of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Madre de Dios department, Peru at 230 m. (Fig. 10).
Ethology. All specimens at the type locality were attracted to light at dusk.
Etymology. The species name miraculosa is a feminine Latin noun in singular nominative meaning wonderful.
Carlos G. C. Mielke, John R. Grehan and Juan Grados A. 2019. Description of Walkeriella miraculosa, gen. n. et sp. n. from South-East Peru (Lepidoptera: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae). Zootaxa. 4609(2); 335–342. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4609.2.8
