Bahaia, DYAR, 1924

3. BAHAIA DYAR, 1924 View in CoL

Bahaia Dyar, 1924 . Type species: Bahaia sceletaria Dyar, 1924 (= Bahaia empirica (Dognin, 1905)) . Insecutor Inscit. Menstr. 1: 12. pl. 17

Adults. ( Figure 1C View FIGURE 1 , 10B View FIGURE 10 ) Head: male antennae pectinated to beyond basal half, female antennae simple filiform; antennal tuft present; third segment of labial palpi long; ocelli reduced. Thorax: male prothoracic leg with no scent pocket; tarsal claws bifid. Wings: males 33 to 39 mm, females 40 to 44 mm; accessory cell absent; forewing pattern with a dark band raging from the apex to the anal edge which is a brownish basal area. Male terminalia ( Figure 8A View FIGURE 8 ): Eighth tergite with midplate; eighth sternite with two sclerotized apodemes; SSO reduced; valvae highly sclerotized with curved processes at the apex, uncus short; sclerotized socii shorter than uncus; costulae absent; aedeagus sclerotized and slender, Y shaped basally. Female terminalia: papillae anales long and membranous; ostium sclerotized; anterior and posterior apophyses large (longer than the papillae); ductus bursae short and sclerotized; corpus bursae membranous, single signum; eighth sternite with midventral prominences; eighth tergite simple.

Diagnosis. According to Thiaucourt (2008) the genus can be recognized by the male terminalia: the presence of sclerotized apodemes on the eighth sternite, the short uncus and socii, and the valvae which are highly sclerotized with curved processes. Additionally, the pectinated antennae on basal half on males, the large antennal tuft, and the dark band extending from the apex to the anal edge aid in the in identification of the genus.

Comments. The described species are phenotypically quite similar and difficult to differentiate, genitalia dissections are needed. The four species of the genus were revised by Thiaucourt (2008); genitalia of the species can be found there. Caterpillars of B. empirica were collected on Enterolobium cyclocarpum ( Fabaceae ) (ACG database).

Distribution. From Mexico to Argentina.

Species included (4).

Bahaia empirica (Dognin, 1905) *

Bahaia gallica Dyar, 1924

Bahaia schrottkyi (Dognin, 1911)

Bahaia tucumanata (Dognin, 1901)