Falcicaputis australis St Laurent & Prada-Lara, 2025

Falcicaputis australis St Laurent & Prada-Lara , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C57890D8-F22F-4B19-8BFD-3982D938E4B0

Figs 12E–F View FIGURE 12 , 13B View FIGURE 13 , 14E View FIGURE 14 .

Type material: Holotype: ARGENTINA: Missiones : 1 male, Formosa R [epublica] A[rgentina]/ April 1919 / Collection WmSchaus/ [handwritten label reading] N=342/ USNMENT02010029/ St Laurent dissection: 6-

3-24:4/ [red label] HOLOTYPE ♂ Falcicaputis australis St Laurent and Prada-Lara, 2025 ( USNM) . Paratype: BOLIVIA: Beni: 1 male, 40 km E. San Borja Estación Biologica Beni, Palm Camp, inundation forest 01-13-12-01, blacklight trap, BIOLAT/ LEPI000001946 , 12.IX.1987, MG Pogue , USNMENT02010030, St Laurent dissection: USNMENT02010030 ( USNM) . Paratype with yellow label reading “ PARATYPE ♂ Falcicaputis australis St Laurent & Prada-Lara, 2025 ” .

Diagnosis. Largely as for genus, but the most notable external marking distinguishing this species from praxia is the disconnected black dash near the apex of the forewing and the relatively smaller size of the white discal mark. Overall F. australis lacks much of the irregular lighter scaling seen in praxia along the antemedial and submarginal lines giving the new species a somewhat more subdued appearance. The single specimen of F. modica is in too poor condition to diagnose from either of the other members of the genus on external features alone. Differences in genitalia are quite apparent, but most notably F. australis can be distinguished from both F. praxia and F. modica by the short, bulbous socii densely covered in thick short setae, the socii are elongated and with fewer setae in F. praxia . The valvae of F. australis are broader and the costulae lack spines compared to F. praxia which has narrower more acutely apex valvae with shorter densely spined costulae and so F. australis is more similar to F. modica in this respect. The phallus is notably thicker in both F. australis and F. modica . Finally, the eighth sternite is broader and less hourglass shaped in F. australis but that of F. modica is broader still, in F. praxia this structure is significantly narrower distally before broadening again at its terminus.

Description. Male: Head: As for genus. Thorax: As for genus. Forewing length 11 mm (n = 2); subtriangular, outer margin straight becoming convex along tornus, apex rounded. Wings as for genus but somewhat more acute apex, lighter brown overall and with broken black apical band, no light scales submarginally. Abdomen: As for genus but the VIII sternite has a mesal point. Terminalia: ( Fig. 14E View FIGURE 14 ) (n = 2) As for genus but socii short and bulbous, densely covered in spine-like setae, valvae broadly triangular with fingerlike costulae lacking spine-like setae, and phallus short and stout.

Female: Unknown.

Life history. Unknown.

Etymology. The name is derived from Latin austral referring to the South American range of the new species.

Distribution. Although broadly distributed between northwestern Bolivia and northern Argentina, we are aware of no intervening populations.

Remarks. This new species is known to us only by two specimens, given data attached to the single Bolivian specimen, this species is probably nocturnal.