Panaphelix mapala, Austin Daniel Rubinoff & nov, 2024

Panaphelix mapala sp. nov.

Figs. 2B, C View Figure 2 ; 5B View Figure 5 ; 8A View Figure 8

Diagnosis. Panaphelix mapala (Hawaiʻi) is most si m i la r to P. marmorata Walsingham (Maui) but can be distinguished by its smaller size (10.3–12.5 mm in P. mapala , 11.5–15.4 mm in P. marmorata ). Male genitalia of P. mapala have an apically split uncus with a deep medial groove, a character present in P. marmorata only as a shallow notch. Female genitalia are exceedingly similar, but the females of P. mapala lack the yellow form that is present in many populations of P. marmorata .

Type material. Holotype: Hawaiʻi: ♂, Puʻu O Umi N [atural] A[rea] R[eserve], above Waiakamali Gulch ; 20.0709, -155.7228; 1485m; 1–2 viii 2023; K. A. Austin, D. Rubinoff; [UV] bucket trap / DNA extraction KA0895 / KAA diss. #1121 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (6♂♂, 3♀♀): Hawaiʻi : 1♂, Kohala Mt. ; 3,800 ft [1158 m]; 29 x [19]94 ( UHIM) . 1♂, Kohala Mts., Kawaihae 2; 4960 ft [1512 m]; 9 xii [20]07 ( UHIM) . 1♀, Kohala F [orest] R[eserve], Ditch Access Rd. ; 3920 ft [1195 m]; 9 iii [20]07 ( UHIM) . 1♀, Puʻu O Umi N [atural] A[rea] R[eserve], Mauga [Mauka?] Cabin; 4500 ft [1372 m]; 27 ix [19]99; N. Agorastos ( UHIM) . 1♂, Hilo Watershed, Red Lepo Road ; 3600 ft [1098 m]; 26 ix [19]98 ( UHIM) . 1♂, same data as previous except 6 iv [19]99; J. Giffin ( UHIM) . 1♂, HakalauN[ational] W[ildlife] R[efuge], Maulua ; 1312 m; 19°52’58.26”N, 155°16’29.1”W [19.8829, -155.2748]; 15 ii 1999; D. A. LaPointe; UV light; ʻōhiʻa/ʻōlapa wet forest ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 1♀, So [uth] Kona For [est] Res [erve], Kukuiopaʻe Sec [tion]; 5000 ft [1524 m]; 26 iv [20]00; J. Giffin ( UHIM) . 1♂, Puʻu Makaʻala N[atural] A[rea] R[eserve], Kulani Sect [ion], along road [at] border of n[orth] b[ou]nd[a]ry and boy’s school units; 1800 m; 19.59053, -155.34227; 21 x 2011; UV light tr[a]p; W. Haines; koa forest / DNA extraction KA0057 / KAA diss. #0336 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps .

Description. Male (n=7). Head. Scales on frons short, yellow; dorsal half of frons additionally clothed in long, bright orange scales; vertex with scales bright orange, rarely with scattered yellow or brown scales; labial palpus porrect, approximately 2× width of compound eye, scales on lateral surface yellow on first segment, brown on second and third segments, often with scattered orange or yellow scales, especially apically; medial surface with scaling pale yellow. Ocellus moderate, separated from compound eye by approximately width of ocellus. Scape with scaling brown, occasionally with scattered orange scales; flagellum strongly bipectinate; ramus approximately 4× width of flagellomere, unscaled; sensillae short, approximately 0.1× length of ramus; dorsal scales of flagellum entirely brown for first seven segments, with alternating rows of brown and pale yellow scales beyond, becoming progressively more yellow apically. Thorax. Dorsum with scaling tricolored brown, yellow, and orange; brown often restricted to lateral and posterior margins, yellow to anterior margin, and orange scattered throughout and dominant; tegulae with scaling typically orange or yellow-orange at base, brown at apex. Lateral surface of foreleg and midleg entirely brown, sometimes reduced to pale yellow in worn individuals; tarsal segments faintly ringed with pale yellow at apices; hindlegs entirely pale yellow, rarely pale brown. Dorsal surface of FW ( Fig. 2B View Figure 2 ; FWL: 10.3–12.5 mm) with ground color yellow, orange, or burnt orange; forewing heavily overlaid with an irregular network of broad, brown strigulae, leaving only portions of the ground colors exposed in a seemingly random fashion; a white comma- or semicircle-shaped patch of scales present at base of cell; veins distinctly overlaid with fine brown or orange scales, especially apparent apically; fringe brown, sometimes with scattered orange scales; costal fold absent. Ventral surface of FW similar to dorsal surface but markings more well-defined. Dorsal surface of HW with a fine network of faint brown strigulae, these becoming denser and more intricate towards fringe and apex.Ventral surface of HW similar to dorsal surface,but more highly contrasting in color. Abdomen. Vestiture of abdomen pale brown, occasionally dirty white, often paler apically; darker brown on ventral surface. Genitalia ( Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ) with uncus slender, only moderately widened at apex, deeply cleft, with short, hair-like setae present at apex; socii absent; arms of gnathos slender, fused at 0.9× length, but separate again and forked at apex; tegumen moderate, without any noticeable modification; transtilla very broad, membranous, ribbon-like; valva high, arching, circular, strongly plicate latitudinally; sacculus broad, well-sclerotized, with distinct thorn-like projection at apical margin; juxta large, plate-like, with shallow medial notch; phallus long, slender, slightly downcurved; caulis obsolete; vesica without observed cornuti or sockets.

Female (n=3). Similar to male except larger( Fig.2C View Figure 2 ;FWL:12.0– 12.7mm);with much more extensive orange coloration on head, thorax; antennae simple, sensillae minute; forewing with brown strigulae narrower, much less extensive, resulting in a much more orange forewing tone; without white patch of scales at base of cell on forewing; hindwing with brown strigulae much less dense, whiter overall. Genitalia ( Fig. 8A View Figure 8 ) with papillae anales slender, closely situated at apex, evenly roughened on ventral surface; apophyses posteriores thin, approximately same length as S7; apophyses anteriores thin, approximately 0.8× length of S7; sterigma very thin, nearly obsolete; ostium similarly thin, ring-like; ductus bursae long, slender, of nearly uniform width throughout; ductus seminalis arising at arising at approximately 0.1× length of ductus bursae; corpus bursae moderate, circular; signum absent.

Biology. Although the host plant(s) for P. mapala is unknown,we strongly suspect it is a leaf-tier on alani ( Melicope spp. ), like its close relative P. marmorata . Melicope is a common understory component of the type locality of P. mapala , but no larvae were found during our limited time in the area.

Distribution. Panaphelix mapala is known from wet forests on the flanks of Kohala, Maunakea, Maunaloa, and Kīlauea volcanoes on Hawaiʻi island between 1100 and 1800 meters elevation.

Etymology. From Hawaiian “māpala ,” meaning “marble,” in reference to the Latin etymology of the very similar species Panaphelix marmorata Walsingham. “Marmor” is Latin for marble.

Conservation Status. Panaphelix mapala is likely secure. It has been found recently at several widely separated locations on Hawaiʻi island and several species of Melicope , its presumed host plant, can still be commonly found in wet forests across Hawaiʻi island.