Anurocampa markhastingsi, Chacón and St Laurent, 2023

Anurocampa markhastingsi, Chacón and St Laurent View in CoL sp. nov. ( Figs 11–17 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 )

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Type material. Holotype. 1 ♂ COSTA RICA: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste , Guanacaste Prov., Sector Cacao, Sendero Arenales , 10.92471, -85.46738, 1080 m, eclosed 2.V.2009 host: Eugenia costaricensis |Voucher 08- SRNP-35711 D. H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs DB http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu |USNMENT01771159 | HOLOTYPE Anurocampa markhastingsi Chacón and St Laurent. Note, this specimen was sequenced for mitochondrial COI and phylogenomics separately, its COI barcode associated with voucher 08-SRNP-35711 and phylogenomic data associated with USNMENT01771159 GoogleMaps . Paratypes, same forest locality as holotype, COSTA RICA: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste , Guanacaste Province, 18 ♂, 4 ♀, Sector Cacao, Sendero Arenales , 10.92471°, -85.46738°, eclosed 27.V.1998 (♂), GoogleMaps 10.V.2000 (♀), GoogleMaps 19.V.2000 (♀), GoogleMaps 14.IV.2001 (♂), GoogleMaps 20.IV.2001 (♂), GoogleMaps 8.IX.2003 (♂), GoogleMaps 24.IV.2004 (♂), GoogleMaps 7.V.2004 (♂), GoogleMaps 10.V.2003 (♂), GoogleMaps 24.IV.2005 (♂), GoogleMaps 30.IV.2009 (♂), host: Eugenia costaricensis , 97-SRNP-1971 (♂), GoogleMaps 99-SRNP-1162 (♀), GoogleMaps 00-SRNP-9851 (♂), GoogleMaps 00-SRNP-9852 (♀), GoogleMaps 00-SRNP-9889 (♂), GoogleMaps 02-SRNP-23881 (♂), GoogleMaps 03- SRNP-4226 (♂), GoogleMaps 03-SRNP-4227 (♂), GoogleMaps 03-SRNP-22769 (♂), GoogleMaps 04-SRNP-35554 (♂), GoogleMaps 08-SRNP-36489 (♂) ( USNM) GoogleMaps . All paratypes were reared from wild-caught caterpillars in the same forest as the holotype, from among a total of 112 caterpillars found over 14 years. Almost all were found at night because of their differential reflection from foliage when hit by the beam of a flashlight. None were parasitized by a wasp or fly. An additional 5 ♂ paratypes are in MNCR: COSTA RICA: Prov. Alajuela : 1 ♂: INBIOCRI002247148 (COI Barcoded), Upala, Sector San Ramón de Dos Ríos , 1.5 Km NW Hacienda Nueva Zelandia, 620 m, 10.88326 -85.41354, 18 March 1995, Quesada, Freddy A. ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . 1 ♂: INB0004294955 (COI Barcoded), Upala, Bijagua , Alto Los Brenes , 700 m, 10.71666 -85,09056, 30 August 2011, Azofeifa Zuñiga, José Antonio ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . 1 ♂: INB0004336487 (COI Barcoded), Guatuso, Buenavista (San José), Punto 1 : Catarata Río Buenavista , 800 m, 10.70612 -84,99288, 17 August 2012, Azofeifa Zuñiga, José Antonio ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . 1 ♂: INBIOCRI002405252 (COI Barcoded), San Ramón, Ángeles , Sector Colonia Palmareña , San Ramón , 760 m, 10.23222, -84,55330, 1 September 1995, Carballo, Gerardo ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . 1 ♂: INB0004249967 (COI Barcoded), San Ramón, Ángeles , Estación Biológica Villa Blanca , 1115 m, 10.20136 -84,48510, 8 August 2010, Rojas Vásquez, Robert ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . All of these specimens were originally identified as A. mingens in the original INBIo national inventory collection (today, in the MNCR).

Etymology. Anurocampa markhastingsi sp. nov. is named in honor of Mr. Mark Hastings of Boston, Massachusetts, USA for his substantial support of the mitochondrial DNA sequencing of Costa Rica wild insects as part of the BioAlfa bioliteracy process conducted by the Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund in its support of the survival of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica and growth of the DNA barcode library of Costa Rica. The name is a masculine noun in the genitive case.

Diagnosis. Externally similar to A. mingens and the following species A. abelarochaconi sp. nov., but the forewings are darker green with a more contrasting and well-defined costal white patch than in either species, and furthermore in A. mingens , the costal patch may be almost absent and is less contrasting in A. abelardochaconi sp. nov.. Anurocampa mingens in particular, tends to be grayer and lighter overall on the forewing surface due to heavier presence of light gray scales overlaying the green ground color that is typical of the genus. The forewing lines and discal mark of A. markhastingsi sp. nov. are not readily discernable (but usually present) whereas these markings are quite apparent in A. mingens . In A. markhastingsi sp. nov. the hindwings are typically lighter, tending to be darker brown in A. mingens and more intermediate in A. abelardochaconi sp. nov.. Specimens of Amazonian Anurocampa which may be A. orousseti or a further undescribed species, are notable for nearly lacking the costal patch and having double postmedial lines that are readily apparent (these being absent in the other Anurocampa species). In Amazonian populations the postmedial region of the forewings may be contrasting brown against the more typical green basal antemedial and medial areas of the forewings. Ventrally, the forewing medial line is concave and the hindwing medial line is more curved tornally in A. markhastingsi sp. nov. than in any other Anurocampa species. Genitalia are rather nondescript but are similar to the preceding two species and the following one, the main distinction of A. markhastingsi sp. nov. being the weakly toothed apical region of the valvae, somewhat shorter socii, broader uncus, and broader phallus than in other species. Finally, the VIII tergite pits are present in A. markhastingsi sp. nov. (as in A. mingens and A. cf. orousseti ) but are absent in A. abelardochaconi sp. nov..

Description. Adult. Male. Head: Width less than half that of thorax, frons coloration hoary green, eyes large, naked, occupying more than 2/3 area of head; labial palpus extending beyond frons, apparently three segmented, palpi clothed in tan scales ventrally, brown scales laterally, distally and internally with hoary green scales; haustellum of moderate length (full extent not examined), antennae yellow-tan, very long extending nearly to midway of costa, bipectinate to tip with roughly uniform pectinations along length. Thorax: clothed in hoary green scales, inverted Ushaped pattern of black scales faintly present mesally. Prothoracic legs outwardly clothed in hoary green scales as for thorax, but inwardly scaled with long, fine hair-like yellow-tan scales, mesa- and metathoracic legs covered only in yellow-tan scales. Tibial spurs clothed in yellow-tan scales, in formula 0-2-4. Tarsal claws simple. Forewing length 42–47 mm, wingspan 84–96 mm (n = 9); overall ovoid, outer margin convex, apex rounded. Forewing dorsum ground color deep green with fine irroration of gray and black scales giving much of the wing hoary appearance. Overall wing pattern poorly defined due to hoary appearance, but faint wavy antemedial and postmedial lines present with latter being incomplete, submarginal region ranging from being concolorous with medial area to lighter gray. Discal spot somewhat visible as a white patch but usually appearing very faint due to its localization within a somewhat triangular white patch midway along costa that reaches to roughly halfway to inner margin, white patch overlaid by green, gray, and black scales, despite overlay of scales costal patch relatively well contrasting against wing ground color. Anal angle of forewing somewhat pronounced near thorax, with longer black erect scales. Forewing ventrum mostly unmarked, basally yellow-tan to gray-brown, distally gray-brown, these two regions of ventrum delimited by convex medial band, clear antemedial and postmedial bands absent, in some specimens ventrum more uniform yellow-tan overall. Hindwing without distinct markings, coloration brown underlaid with yellow-tan scales that are most prominent and somewhat erect basally, margin of wing with yellow-brown fringe that contrasts against overall brown coloration of hindwing. Hindwing ventrum as for hindwing dorsum but more yellow-brown than gray-brown and usually stronger medial line. Frenulum a single bristle. Abdomen: Robust, appearing banded due to yellow-tan scales at segment margins with intersegmental regions dark brown, abdomen with grayish dorsal band, ventrally yellow-tan, sclerotized cteniophores bearing many (>20) spines, distalmost spines less heavily sclerotized and longer. Eighth sternite broadest anteriorly, posteriorly truncated with pair of separate pits mesally ( Figs 12d View FIGURE 12 , 15d View FIGURE 15 ). Genitalia ( Figs 12a–c View FIGURE 12 , 15a–c View FIGURE 15 ) (n = 2) Vinculum broadly ovoid, somewhat triangular dorsally. Tegumen weakly defined. Uncus somewhat elongate but width variable, always wider than thick, heavily sclerotized and truncated or slightly indented at apex. Socii simple, fingerlike, upcurved more heavily sclerotized than uncus, reaching roughly halfway to uncus apex. Gnathos absent. Valvae narrow, bowed downward, costal region more strongly sclerotized than remainder of valvae, subapical region of valvae with weakly defined projection. Juxta ventrally projected, otherwise a simple flat structure. Phallus short, broad, somewhat flattened, distally covered in short spines ventrally, with spins continuing on to cover the thick, balloon-like vesica, phallus pointed outward laterally, coecum phallus very flat and distally broadened. When viewed from ventral or dorsal aspect, phallus broadened on either terminus.

Female. Sexual dimorphism most notable in size difference with females being roughly 1.5 times the size of males. Head: As for male but antennae slimmer with shorter pectinations. Thorax: As for male. Forewing length 55 mm, wingspan 102–112 mm (n=2); as for male but costal white patch less contrasting and appearing stretched farther along costa. Hindwing as in male. Frenulum with numerous tightly packed bristles. Abdomen: As for male but more robust, eighth sternite and tergite simple, lacking the pits on variable sclerotization of males. Genitalia ( Figs 13 View FIGURE 13 , 16 View FIGURE 16 ) (n = 1) tergite VIII broadly rectangular with posterior margin outwardly project. Apophyses anteriores small, fingerlike; apophyses posteriores extremely fine, crisscrossing each other and held parallel to VIII segment margin, their length slightly less than VIII-IX/X intersegmental width. Lamella antevaginalis a weakly sclerotized plate embedded in membrane; lamella postvaginalis a more sclerotized band. Ductus broad, thickly membraned with two sclerotized bands embedded; corpus bursae very small and baglike, not greater in size than ductus; papillae anales large and broad, width almost equivalent to posterior margin of VIII, papillae anales covered in relatively short, fine setae.

Life history. The gross morphology of the larva of A. markhastingsi sp. nov. is very similar to what we have described in detail for A. mingens . However, based on available images for late instar larvae that gave rise to our type series of A. markhastingsi sp. nov. ( Fig. 17 View FIGURE 17 ), we note the following distinct differences from A. mingens larvae: A. markhastingsi sp. nov. larvae lack the white spots that are present over the whole lateral body of last instar of A. mingens (in our unique reared individual these spots are encircled by red, but otherwise typically the red is absent in A. mingens larvae, nonetheless A. markhastingsi sp. nov. does not have lateral spotting); the white lateral line of A. markhastingsi sp. nov. is dorsally lined with red, this red lining absent in A. mingens ; the dorsal-lateral longitudinal band on the squared edge of T3 is light blue in A. markhastingsi sp. nov. whereas it is white or blue and red in A. mingens ; the lateral projected spots of A8 are either bisected red and yellow or dorsally lined with red in A. markhastingsi sp. nov. but in A. mingens these spots are mostly yellow encircled by red or black; finally, A9 bears a pair of red spots encircled by light blue in A. markhastingsi sp. nov., in A. mingens A9 has a single yellow dorsal spot and bright yellow bands edged in red or black laterally on A8–10, these bands replacing the white lateral band over A8–10, the lateral band is continuous to A 10 in A. markhastingsi sp. nov.. The last set of characters on A8–10 are the most consistent and easily observed difference between A. markhastingsi sp. nov. and A. mingens .

Distribution. In Costa Rica A. markhastingsi sp. nov. has been collected in rain and cloud forest on both slopes of the Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilarán, the volcanoes to the north of the Meseta Central, but not on the uplift mountains to the south of the Meseta Central. The elevational range for the species is 620–1160 m, with nearly all from the upper edge of this range. All are from Guanacaste and Alajuela Provinces.

Remarks. This new species is principally known from Costa Rica where more than 100 wild-caught larvae were found feeding singly on Eugenia costaricensis O.Berg ( Myrtaceae ) over the course of more than a decade. Our type series is entirely restricted to these reared individuals and others that were barcoded.Adults frequently come to light traps placed in the forest where the caterpillars are found.