Elasmia, MOSCHLER, 1886

11. ELASMIA MÖSCHLER, 1886 View in CoL

Elasmia Moeschler, 1886 . Abhandl. Seckenberg Nat. Ges 14: 36. Type species: Edema insularis Grote, 1867 . Proc. ent. Soc. Phila. 6: 321, pi. V. Monotypy.

Adults. ( Figure 1K View FIGURE 1 ) Head: male and female antennae simple filiform; antennal tufts present; third segment of male labial palpus long. Thorax: male prothoracic leg lacks scent organ; tarsal claws bifid. Wings: males 36 to 46 mm, females 37 to 55 mm; coloration usually dark brown with a white dash of variable length, extending from the forewing tip along the radial veins to the cell; accessory cell present; hindwing with Sc-Rs stalked. Male terminalia ( Figure 6C View FIGURE 6 , 8C View FIGURE 8 ): eighth tergite with a well-developed midplate; eighth sternite with antecosta v-shaped, some species with apical prominences. SSO well-developed; uncus with a flattened helmet-shaped, arrow-shaped or manta ray-shaped; socii sclerotized (sometimes hornlike), costulae large and thin, valva apex with a pair of tiny bulbous processes; circular juxta strongly attached to phallus. Aedeagus drumstick-shaped with a large footlike callosum; vesica with a sclerotized patch of cornuti and also deciduous cornuti. Female terminalia ( Figure 9E View FIGURE 9 ): Papillae anales membranous with short setae; posterior apophyses long. Eighth tergite with large middorsal area weakly sclerotized, wishbone shaped. Eighth sternite with small lateral prominences; ostium bursae wide; antevaginalis usually an exaggerated m-shape. Ductus bursae sclerotized and dorso-ventrally flattened. Corpus bursae with extensive sclerotized shield, well-developed signum.

Diagnosis. Elasmia moths are not easily recognizable due to their obscure markings and otherwise drab appearance. The white dash of variable length, extending from the forewing tip along the radial veins to the discal cell is somewhat useful but this marking can be very faint. However, the genus is easily recognized by its male genitalia, particularly the drumstick shaped aedeagus, the circular juxta, the long socii, and the helmet/manta ray shaped uncus.

Comments. Elasmia probably comes from the Greek word “elasma” which means “metal plate.” This may refer to the white or pale forewing markings above the forewing cell on the distal edge of the wing. Recorded hostplants include several species from the Sapindaceae family (ACG database). Metzler and Knudson (2011) and Miller et al. (2021) illustrate several male and female genitalia. While we follow Becker (2021) and treat E. perses (Druce) as a member of Elasmia rather than Bardaxima as it was placed previously, the male genitalia are in fact more reminiscent of Bardaxima than typical Elasmia (e.g. E. perses as figured in Becker (2021, figs 72, 73) show reduced SSO, narrow uncus) and so we are uncertain if Elasmia is the proper placement for that species.

Distribution. USA to Brazil.

Species included (14).

Elasmia astuta (Schaus, 1894)

Elasmia cave Metzler, 2011

Elasmia cinga (Druce, 1911)

Elasmia gracita (Schaus, 1921)

Elasmia insularis (Grote, 1867) *

Elasmia mandela (Druce, 1887)

Elasmia matheis (Schaus, 1892)

Elasmia packardii (Morrison, 1875)

Elasmia perses (Druce, 1900)

Elasmia pronax (Dognin, 1908)

Elasmia salandera (Schaus, 1905)

Elasmia schausi (Dyar, 1908)

Elasmia talae (Berg, 1878)

Elasmia vittipalpis (Walker, [1858])