Melanastera melanocephala, Serbina & Malenovský & Queiroz & Burckhardt, 2025

42 Melanastera melanocephala sp. nov.

( Figs 1F View FIGURE 1 , 7F View FIGURE 7 , 12C View FIGURE 12 , 18G View FIGURE 18 , 31G–L View FIGURE 31 , 40E, F View FIGURE 40 )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: RORAIMA: Uiramutã, Caramambatai , N5.1333 /1466, W60.5850 /5916, 970– 1200 m, 7–14.iv.2015, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #161(6) ( UFPR; dry). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. Brazil: GOIÁS: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Rio Verde , ca. 40 km E Jatai, BR-060, S17.8316, W51.3716, 820 m, 31.x.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #52 ( NHMB; slide; NMB-PSYLL0008563) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Mineiros , ca. 15 km NW of Mineiros, BR-364, S17.8310, W51.3709, 860 m, 1.xi.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #53 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007429) GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂, 6 ♀, 11 immatures, 1 skin, Pirenópolis, Cachoeira do Abade , S15.80877, W48.91899, 960 m, 1.viii.2018, Miconia albicans (D.L. Queiroz) #864(4) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007454, NMB-PSYLL0008266, NMB-PSYLL0008267) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 14 immatures, 1 skin, same but Cachoeira do Lázaro e Santa Maria , S15.84558, W48.95808, 920 m, 1.viii.2018, Miconia sp. (D.L. Queiroz) #866(4) ( MMBC, NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007455, NMB-PSYLL0007466, NMB-PSYLL0007467) GoogleMaps .— MATO GROSSO: 2 ♂, Alto Garças , ca. 120 km SE of Rondonópolis, BR-364, S16.9000, W53.6550, 720 m, 1.xi.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #54 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007430) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Chapada dos Guimarães, MT-351, Rio Coxipó-açú , S14.53463, W55.80082, 260 m, 24.viii.2018 (D.L. Queiroz) #880 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007456) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, Cuiabá, Chapada dos Guimarães, Caverna Aroe Jari , S15.5683, W55.4817, 750 m, 2.xi.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #56 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007431) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♀, same but Parque Mãe Bonifácia , S15.5766, W56.1016, 200 m, 3.xi.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #57 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007432) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Lucas do Rio Verde , S13.2490, W56.0275, 400 m, 12.vi.2016 (L.A. Pezzini) #794 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0005769) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, 1 immature, 1 skin, same but BR-262, S20.4755, W53.6191, 490 m, 22.x.2021, Miconia albicans, Cerrado vegetation (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #482(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008569) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♂, 15 immatures, 9 skins, Tabaporã, Fazenda Crestani , S11.3133 /3666, W55.9616 /9759, 330– 380 m, 6–8.xi.2012, Miconia rubiginosa (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #62(2) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007433, NMB-PSYLL0007464, NMB-PSYLL0007465) GoogleMaps .— MATO GROSSO DO SUL: 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Campo Grande , near BR-163, S20.8907 /8948, W54.5713 /6599, 440– 450 m, 16.xi.2012, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #74(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007435) GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂, 1 ♀, Rio Verde, MS-427, South of Rio Verde , S19.0183, W54.8583, 470 m, 14.xi.2012, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #69(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007411) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, Rio Verde do Mato Grosso , BR-163, S18.9281 /9519, W54.8357 /9339, 350–440, 13.xi.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #68 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007434) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Ribas do Rio Pardo, Ribas do Rio Pardo , S20.4559, W53.7426, 390 m, 22.x.2021, Miconia albicans , edge of cerrado (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #481(7) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008568) GoogleMaps .— MINAS GERAIS: 1 ♀, 4 immatures, 1 skin, Buenópolis, Parque Estadual da Serra do Cabral, Marcos Teixeira , S17.9035, W44.2308, 1000 m, 20.ix.2019, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #369(5) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007450) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 immatures, same but S17.9122, W44.2092, 830 m, 9.iv.2021, Miconia sp. , dense cerrado vegetation #391(1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008564) GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 immature, Chapada Gaúcha, Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, road to Base Itaguari , S15.1339, W45.8312, 710 m, 3.v.2021, Miconia albicans, Cerrado vegetation (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #451(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008566) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same but Rio Preto , S15.1213, W45.7378, 710 m, 4.v.2021, Miconia albicans, Cerrado vegetation (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #452(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008567) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, Coromandel, Fazenda Laje , S18.5610, W46.9020, 1060 m, 12.ii.2018 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #263 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007448) GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, same but S18.5610, W46.9020, 1060 m, 23.viii.2019, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #346(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007449) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♂, 10 ♀, 3 immatures, 2 skins, same but S18.57477, W46.88815, 1050 m, 5.iii.2014, Miconia albicans (D.L. Queiroz) #605(2) ( MMBC, NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007451, NMB-PSYLL0007468–NMB-PSYLL0007470) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, same but S18.56773, W46.90342, 1060 m, 5.iii.2014 (D.L. Queiroz) #606 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007452) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 3 immatures, Lavras, S21.2672, W44.9353, 900 m, 1–6.vi.2010, Miconia albicans , edge of Atlantic forest around coffee plantation mixed with pastures (D. Burckhardt) #1(12) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007416, NMB-PSYLL0008585) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Ouro Preto, Trevo da Chapada , cachoeira do moinho, S20.45302, W43.55230, 1240 m, 18.xi.2018 (D.L. Queiroz) #914 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007457) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♂, 6 ♀, Patos de Minas, Fazenda Laje , S18.5428 /5584, W46.8992 /9164, 990– 1060 m, 28.x.2012, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #49(3) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007412, NMB-PSYLL0007440 [LSMelmel-10], NMB-PSYLL0007460 [LSMelmel- 10], NMB-PSYLL0007462 [LSMelmel-10], NMB-PSYLL0007463 [LSMelmel-10]) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♀, 1 immature, 1 skin, São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, Parque Estadual do Rio Preto , near guest house, S18.1263, W43.3570, 850 m, 16.iv.2021, Miconia sp. , planted trees (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #411(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008565) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 immature, São Roque de Minas, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, 15 km before Cachoeira Casca d’Anta , S20.3391, W46.4392, 850–860 m, 4–8.ix.2014, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #142(1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007437) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Uberlândia, Clube Caça e Pesca Itororo , S18.9932, W48.3065, 830 m, 7.x.2017, Miconia sp. (D.L. Queiroz) #836(7) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007453) GoogleMaps ; 1 immature, 2 skins, same but 9.ii.2018, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #262(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007447) ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same but Panga , S19.1837, W48.3961, 810 m, 8.ii.2018, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #261(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007446) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♂, 10 ♀, Vargem Bonita, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Cachoeira Casca d’Anta , around park entrance, S24.8541 /8573, W48.6982 /7121, 850– 860 m, 4–8.ix.2014, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #141(15) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL00003110, NMB-PSYLL00003118, NMB-PSYLL00003120) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♂, 6 ♀, same but near waterfall, S20.3090, W46.5231, 860 m, 5.ix.2014, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #143(2) ( NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007436, NMB-PSYLL0007458, NMB-PSYLL0007459) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same but plateau, S20.2976 /2986, W46.5195 /5289, 1160–1250 m, 6.ix.2014, Miconia sp. (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #144(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007438) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♂, 3 ♀, Viçosa , S20.7633, W42.8717, 1.i.2006, Miconia sp. (E.G. Fidelis) ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0003236–NMB-PSYLL0003242) GoogleMaps .— PARANÁ: 1 ♂, Colombo, Embrapa campus, S25.3196 /3353, W49.1562 / 1677, 920 m, 1–5.iv.2013 (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #96 ( NHMB; slide; NMB-PSYLL0007461) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀, Jaguariaíva, Parque Estadual do Cerrado , S24.1638 /1846, W49.6534 /6665, 660– 780 m, 26–27.vi.2015, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #172(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007444) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, same but S24.1685 /1833, W49.6603 /6670, 780– 820 m, 15–16.ii.2016, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #197(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007445) GoogleMaps .— RORAIMA: 1 adult, Boa Vista, 41 km E Boa Vista, Campo Experimental Água Boa , N2.6716, W60.8400, 80 m, 2.iv.2015, Guatteria sp. (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #154(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007443) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♂, 2 skins, Pacaraima, along RR-174 from Pacaraima to ca. 20 km S of Pacaraima, N5.1333 /1466, W60.5850 /5916, 490– 910 m, 15.iv.2015, Miconia albicans (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #162(5) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007442) GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂, 3 ♀, 13 immatures, 2 skins, same as holotype but ( NHMB; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007439, NMB-PSYLL0007441, NMB-PSYLL0008264, NMB-PSYLL0008265, NMB-PSYLL0007511) .

Description. Adult. Coloration. Sexually dimorphic. Orange. Male with head, pronotum and anterior half of mesopraescutum brown with dark brown or almost black dots. Antenna yellow, apices of segments 4–9 and entire segment 10 brown. Mesoscutum with four broad, brown longitudinal bands. Forewing ( Fig. 18G View FIGURE 18 ) whitish with sparse, irregular brown dots; base and apex of pterostigma, apices of R+M+Cu, Rs, M 1+2, M 3+4, Cu 1a, Cu 1b and middle section of A each with a dark brown dot. Legs yellow, femora with brown patches. Abdominal tergites partly and sternites entirely brown. Female as male but with yellow vertex, pronotum and anterior half of mesopraescutum. Younger specimens with less expanded dark colour.

Structure. Forewing ( Fig. 18G View FIGURE 18 ) oval, widest in the middle, broadly, evenly rounded apically; wing apex situated at apex of M 1+2; C+Sc weakly curved in apical third; pterostigma in the middle distinctly narrower than cell r 1, weakly widening to the middle; Rs weakly, irregularly convex; M slightly longer than M 1+2 and M 3+4; Cu 1a irregularly curved, ending at M fork; surface spinules present in all cells, dense, forming hexagons of a double row of spinules, leaving very narrow spinule-free stripes along the veins. Hindwing with 3–4 + 2–5 grouped costal setae. Metatibia bearing 4–5 grouped apical spurs, arranged as 2 + 2–3, anteriorly separated by 5–7 bristles.

Terminalia ( Fig. 31G–L View FIGURE 31 ). Male. Proctiger tubular; densely covered with moderately long setae in apical two thirds. Subgenital plate, in lateral view, subglobular; dorsal margin weakly curved; posterior margin weakly rounded; with sparse moderately long setae. Paramere, in lateral view, narrowly acuminate; apex blunt, directed upwards; in dorsal view, apex narrow, acute, directed upwards and slightly inwards, bearing two small sclerotised teeth; outer face with relatively short setae in apical two thirds; inner face with dense, moderately long setae; posterior margin with long setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part moderately subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus almost straight in basal half with dorsal margin weakly sinuate; ventral process situated in apical third of segment, short, in lateral view, lamellar, with more or less distinct lateral lobes, in dorsal view, ventral process distinctly broader than apical dilation, widening to apical third, indistinctly three-lobed, median lobe rounded apically; apical dilation, in lateral view, moderately broad, subparallel-sided, dorsal part of apical dilation membranous and slightly produced at base, in dorsal view, apical dilation broadest in apical third, rounded apically; sclerotised end tube short and weakly sinuate.—Female terminalia cuneate; densely covered with mostly short setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, concave in apical third, apex upturned, pointed; in dorsal view, apex subacute; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, vaguely cruciform. Subgenital plate, in lateral view, abruptly narrowing to apex in apical third, apex upturned, pointed; in ventral view, apex blunt.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Yellow to reddish; cephalothoracic sclerite, antennae, wing pads, legs and caudal plate pale to dark brown.

Structure. Eye with one moderately long simple ocular seta dorsally.Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(1), 3(0), 4(2), 5(0), 6(2), 7(1), 8(1), 9(0), 10(0). Forewing pad with 7–8 marginal and 1–2 dorsal pointed sectasetae; hindwing pad with 2–3 marginal and one dorsal pointed sectasetae. Metatibiotarsus bearing 3–4 pointed sectasetae on outer side; tarsal arolium narrowly fan-shaped apically, slightly longer or about as long as claws. Abdomen with three lateral pointed sectasetae anterior to caudal plate. Caudal plate with anterior margin relatively close to anterior margin of extra pore fields; with five pointed sectasetae on either side laterally, one pointed sectaseta medially on each inner side of extra pore fields, and four pointed sectasetae on either side subapically, anterior to circumanal ring. Extra pore fields forming continuous outer and inner bands, consisting of small oval and rounded patches; outer band long medially, end pointing outwards. Circumanal ring small.

Host plants and biology. Miconia albicans (Sw.) Steud. , M. rubiginosa (Bonpl.) DC. ( Melastomataceae ). Immatures covered with waxy secretions develop often on inflorescences and infrutescences ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ) but also on young leaves and shoots. The feeding damages the leaf epidermis leading to a crumpling of the leaf ( Fig. 40F View FIGURE 40 ). The eggs, first white, later turning black, are laid on the young shoots ( Fig. 40E View FIGURE 40 ).

Distribution. Brazil (GO, MG, MS, MT PR, RR).

Derivation of name. From the Ancient Greek μέλας = black and κεφαλή = head, referring to the cospicuously black head in the male.

Comments. Melanastera melanocephala sp. nov. differs from other species of the ingariko -group by the conspicuously dark head and pronotum of the male, strongly contrasting from the rest of the thorax, and the straight, slender paramere.