Gopha, WALKER, 1862

18. GOPHA WALKER, 1862 View in CoL

Gopha Walker, 1862 . Trans, ent. Soc. Lond. 1: 81. Type species: Gopha mixtipennis Walker, 1862 . ibid. 1: 81.

Adults. ( Figure 2F View FIGURE 2 , 10M View FIGURE 10 ) Head: male antennae shortly bipectinate; female antennae ciliate; antennal tuft present but small; third segment of male and female labial palpi short. Thorax: male prothoracic leg with scent pocket reduced to a small opening. Wings: males 32 mm, females 36 mm; with variable patterns; forewing with accessory cell present; hindwing with Sc-Rs stalked. Male terminalia ( Figure 6J View FIGURE 6 ): eighth tergite with midplate; eighth sternite with antecosta weakly m-shaped or curved; SSO developed but reduced; costa sclerotized rod for two-thirds its length, distal third membranous. Uncus short somewhat membranous; socii thickly sclerotized, finger-like broadened basally; costulae long and slender with enlarged tip extending to costal projection; juxta small, flat, squared. Aedeagus with basiphallus and callosum enlarged. Female terminalia: Papillae anales short, with long and short setae; posterior apophyses long and slender; eighth tergite variously shaped, mid-dorsal area membranous in some species; anterior apophyses short or long; eighth sternite shape species-specific, a central prominence, or rounded with short, lateral prominences; ostium bursae rounded; ductus bursae with sclerotized sinus vaginalis, rest membranous; corpus bursae membranous.

Diagnosis. The long and slender costulae extend nearly three-fourths the length of the costa. The tip of the uncus is very short, and the socii are well-developed. In females, the corpus bursae have some sclerotized areas, and from these extend internal ridges that have a saw-toothed appearance ( Weller 1989).

Comments. Upon review of the members of this genus, we identified two species previously assigned to Gopha that belong to other genera. One, Gopha praxia Schaus is transferred to a new genus Falcicaputis gen. n. described below, given the presence of highly unusual male genitalia unique to that new genus. Another, Gopha niveigutta Schaus , we transfer to Poresta after comparing the lectotype male in the USNM both the type species of Poresta and another species erroneously assigned to Didugua , all of which bear diagnostic characters of Poresta . See those generic sections for specific reasoning for the transfer out of Gopha . Female genitalia illustrated in Weller (1989).

Distribution. From Guatemala to Brazil.

Species included (6).

Gopha albolinea (Schaus, 1905)

Gopha inquieta Draudt, 1932

Gopha manacoides (Schaus, 1920)

Gopha melanitis Schaus, 1939

Gopha mixtipennis Walker, 1862 *

Gopha pulchra (Butler, 1878)