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

55 Melanastera simillima sp. nov.

( Figs 13D View FIGURE 13 , 19J View FIGURE 19 , 34M–R View FIGURE 34 , 37A–C View FIGURE 37 )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: PARANÁ: 1 ♂, Morretes, Recanto Engenheiro Lacerda PR-410, S25.3333 /3337, W48.9009 /9015, 780– 870 m, 13.ix.2011, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #2(1) ( UFPR; dry). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. Brazil: PARANÁ: 10 ♂, 19 ♀, 2 adults without abdomen , 9 immatures, Antonina, Usina Parigot de Souza , S25.2557, W48.7787, 720 m, 19.vii.2017, Pleroma raddianum (L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) ( MMBC; slide, 70% ethanol) GoogleMaps ; 10 ♂, 16 ♀, same as holotype but ( NHMB, UFPR; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008598– NMB-PSYLL0008602, NMB-PSYLL0008087, NMB-PSYLL0008107 [LSMelsim-32], NMB-PSYLL0008109 [LSMelsim-32], NMB-PSYLL0008110 [LSMelsim-32], NMB-PSYLL0008108 [LSMelsim-32]) ; 2 ♀, same but Recanto Ferradura PR-410, S25.4528, W48.8794, 40 m, 13.ix.2011, Pleroma reitzii (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #3(1) ( NHMB; dry, slide; NMB-PSYLL0008088, NMB-PSYLL0008111) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀, same but PR-410, Recanto Rio Cascata, S25.3340, W48.8984, 800 m, 26.vii.2017, Atlantic forest , Pleroma raddianum (L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC1 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 3 ♀, same but PR-410, Recanto Rio Cascata, S25.3340, W48.8984, 790 m, 26.vii.2017, Atlantic forest , roadside vegetation with dominant Pleroma raddianum (L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC2+3 ( MMBC;70%ethanol) GoogleMaps ; 2♂, 7♀, Piraquara, Parque Estadual do Marumbi , S25.1566 /1583, W48.9750 /9933, 890– 1170 m, 23–24.iv.2013, Miconia pusilliflora (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #109(10) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008090, NMB-PSYLL0008112, NMB-PSYLL0008106, NMB-PSYLL0008104 [LSMelsim-32], NMB-PSYLL0008105 [LSMelsim-32]) GoogleMaps ; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, same but, S25.1566 /1583, W48.9750 /9933, 890– 1170 m, 23–24.iv.2013, Miconia pusilliflora (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #109(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008089) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same but Marumbi, Estação Carvalho , S27.4727, W48.3781, 1002 m, 11.ii.2015 (D.L. Queiroz) #670 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008091) GoogleMaps .— SANTA CATARINA: 1 ♀, Florianópolis, Costão do Santinho , S11.8339, W55.4996, 170 m, 16.ii.2015 (D.L. Queiroz) #672 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008092) GoogleMaps .

Description. Adult. Coloration. As in M. sellowianae sp. nov.

Structure. Forewing ( Fig. 19J View FIGURE 19 ) oblong-oval, costal and anal margins subparallel, widest in the middle, evenly rounded apically; wing apex situated in cell r 2, near apex of M 1+2; C+Sc moderately curved in distal third; pterostigma distinctly narrower in the middle than r 1 cell, weakly widening to apical third; Rs weakly convex; Cu 1a weakly irregularly curved, ending proximal of M fork; surface spinules large, dense, present in all cells, leaving no or very narrow spinule-free stripes along the veins, forming hexagons of a double row of spinules. Hindwing with 5–6 ungrouped costal setae. Metatibia bearing 6–10 grouped apical spurs, arranged as (3–5) + (3–5), separated by 2 or more bristles.

Terminalia ( Fig. 34M–R View FIGURE 34 ). Male. Proctiger moderately produced posteriorly; densely covered with short setae in apical two thirds. Subgenital plate small, irregularly ovoid; dorsal margin curved; posterior margin concave; with moderately long setae. Paramere, in lateral view, irregularly acuminate; apex, in lateral view, blunt, directed inwards, in dorsal view, apex lacking distinct sclerotised tooth; outer face with short setae in apical half; inner face with dense moderately long setae; posterior margin with very long setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part weakly subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus strongly curved in basal half; ventral process situated in the middle, with a long stem bearing three small lobes: the median directed ventrad, the two lateral lobes oriented laterad, perpendicularly to the median lobe, in dorsal view, about the same size as apical dilation; apical dilation slightly widening towards rounded apex; sclerotised end tube of ductus ejaculatorius short and weakly sinuate.— Female terminalia cuneate; densely covered with setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, weakly sinuate, apex pointed; in dorsal view, apex blunt; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, vaguely cruciform. Subgenital plate, in lateral view, pointed apically; in ventral view, apex blunt.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Pale yellow; antenna pale yellow to pale brown, three apical segments dark brown; cephalothoracic sclerite, wing pads, legs and caudal plate pale brown.

Structure. Eye with one short ocular seta dorsally. Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(1), 3(0), 4(2), 5(0), 6(2), 7(0), 8(1), 9(0), 10(0). Forewing pad with 9–10 marginal pointed sectasetae and several (6–8) pointed lanceolate setae dorsally; hindwing pad with two marginal and 3–4 lanceolate setae dorsally. Tarsal arolium ( Fig. 37C View FIGURE 37 ) broadly triangular apically, about as long as claws, with relatively short petiole. Abdomen anterior to caudal plate with three rows of four sparsely spaced pointed sectasetae dorsally and 2 + 2 pointed sectasetae on either side laterally; margin of abdomen including caudal plate covered with dense microtrichia and sparse minute clavate setae. Caudal plate ( Fig. 37A, B View FIGURE 37 ) distinctly sinuous subapically; with three rows of 4–6 sparsely spaced pointed sectasetae or lanceolate setae dorsally, 2 + 2 pointed sectasetae on each marginal hump laterally, and four pointed sectasetae near circumanal ring on either side dorsally. Extra pore fields absent. Circumanal ring large.

Host plant. Pleroma raddianum (Cham.) Cogn. ( Melastomataceae ); adults were also collected on Miconia pusilliflora (DC.) Naudin and Pleroma reitzii (Brade) P.J.F.Guim. & Michelang. which are possible hosts.

Distribution. Brazil (PR, SC).

Derivation of name. From the Latin adjective simillimus = most similar, referring to the close resemblance to M. sellowianae .

Comments. Details on the morphological similarities and diagnostic characters for Melanastera simillima sp. nov. and M. sellowianae sp. nov. are given under the latter species.