Resurgence of a forgotten Southern Brazil endemic species: taxonomic position, redescription, and spatio-temporal distribution of Porosagrotis carolia Schaus, 1929 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the hitherto unplaced taxon Porosagrotis carolia Schaus, 1929 is evaluated and the name is taken out of taxonomic limbo and combined with Feltia Walker, 1856. Feltia carolia comb. nov., described from a single female specimen, is redescribed, including the first description of the male. Head, thorax and its appendages, and male and female genitalia are illustrated through photographs and line drawings; photographs of the holotype and a distribution map for the species is provided. Additionally, the spatio-temporal occurrence of the species in Rio Grande do Sul was assessed by monthly standardized samplings with light traps from January of 1998 to December of 1999 in ten different physiographical zones of the state. Our results suggest that F. carolia comb. nov. is univoltine and goes through prepupal and pupal estival diapauses. The assessment of the distribution of the species, based on the standardized samplings and specimens deposited in entomological collections, suggests that F. carolia comb. nov. is restricted to the southern Brazilian Campos, a mostly neglected environment discontinuously distributed in mountainous plateaus of the southern Mata Atlântica biome.

The Granulate Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Biological Parameters Under Controlled Conditions, Host Plants, and Distribution in the Americas

“…As expected, there is a significant difference (of about 100 mg) between the average weight of the male and female pupae ( Table 4 ). The difference is probably a manifestation of the sexual dimorphism ( Lafontaine 2004 ) observed in some Noctuinae, including in species of Feltia ( Specht et al 2013 , Dias et al 2017 , 2019 , San Blas and Agrain 2017). It is interesting to note the variation in pupal weight between individuals, especially females, where the heaviest pupa is twice the weight of the lightest one ( Table 4 ).…”

“…Specimens and their genitalia preparations were compared with illustrations of the species provided by Lafontaine (2004) and illustrations of the female type deposited at the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (ZMUC). Dissections of the genitalia were conducted as shown in Dias et al (2017 , 2019 ) and San Blas et al (2019) .…”

Overlooked South American noctuid species: revalidation of Feltia llanoi stat. rev. and redescription of Feltia brachystria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

“…Dissections of the genitalia were conducted as in Lafontaine (2004) and Dias et al (2017Dias et al ( , 2018. Chlorazol Black E was employed to stain the female genitalia and the male aedeagus.…”

“…The spatiotemporal distribution of F. brachystria was evaluated by monthly samplings with light traps between January 1998 and December 1999, in the municipalities of Mostardas, São Borja, Santana do Livramento, Iraí, Cachoeira do Sul, Piratini, Camaquã, Lagoa Vermelha, Vila Maria, and São Pedro da Serra, representing the ten of the 11 physiographic zones of the Rio Grande do Sul State (Arend 1990), Brazil, as previously described by Dias et al (2017). The standardized sampling was conducted using light traps of the "Pennsylvania" type (Frost 1957) equipped with fluorescent ultraviolet lamps model F15 T12 LN (wavelengths ranging from 290 to 450 μm and peaking about 340 μm).…”

“…Despite these current efforts, a formal redescription and characterization of the South American species of Feltia is still lacking. Recently, three articles dealing with some species of the genus were published: F. carolia (Schaus, 1929) (Dias et al 2017), F. deprivata (Walker, 1857) (San Blas & Agraín 2017), and F. submontana (Köhler, 1961) (Dias et al 2018); nonetheless, much more effort is still needed to adequately resolve the systematics of the group.…”