Introduction

The New World genus Nycterotis Felder, 1874, includes 34 species, ranging from the Southern United States to Argentina (BECKER, 2014: 17). Of these, 25 species were treated before [as Pentobesa Schaus, 1901, a junior synonym]: the xylinoides-group, with five species, by WELLER (1991), and 20, clustered into four species-groups, by THIAUCOURT (2008). The remaining species, including several names treated as junior synonyms, were transferred from other genera, mostly from Dasylophia Packard, 1864 by BECKER (2014: 17). The new species described here, restricted to the Cerrado [Savanna] Region of Central Brazil, belongs to the aroata-group.

Nycterotis rhudarioides Becker, sp. n.

Material examined: Holotype 1, BRAZIL: DF, Planaltina, 15º 35’S, 47º 42’W, 1100 m, 15-V-1982 (Becker, VOB 40210); Paratypes: 1 1, 1 0, same data, but 30-V-1978 (VOB 34688, g. s. 4641), 20- IV-1982 (VOB 39923), respectively; 1 1, Idem: GO: Formosa, 800 m, 19-III-1977 (VOB 20221) (VOB).

Description: Male 25 mm (58 mm wingspan) (Fig. 1). Head, thorax, forewings and abdomen gray, mixed with whitish scales. Labial palpi with ventral, longitudinal dark gray line; dark gray dorsally. Antennae gray; tips of pectination white. Forewings with a diffuse, arched, blackish band, from basal third of costa, bending obliquely towards lower margin of cell, following it, then bending evenly towards apex. Hind wings semitransluscent whitish; a few dark scales near tornus, forming a diffuse, narrow wedge-shaped mark pointing inwards. Abdomen paler ventrally, with a diffuse, dark gray line along middle.

Female: 29 mm (63 mm wingspan) (Fig. 2). Similar to male. Wings broader; termen more rounded. Hind wings with dark scales along posterior margin.

Genitalia male (Figs. 3-4): Uncus long, broad, bent ventrad; apex heart-shaped distally; a small tooth near middle, ventrally. Socii long, cylindrical, apex slightly curved outwards. Valvae short, broad; costa evenly curved, broad end with a digital expansion ventrally, bent distad; sacculus a weakelly sclerotized long triangle; vinculum round. Aedeagus straight, cylindrical, gradually expanded distad; apex with a blunt, short tooth dorsally and a pair of short teeth ventrally. Vesica with a few small spines and several deciduous stellate spinulae. Eighth sternite assymmetrical, divided along middle; distal margin very complex, as shown in figure 5.

Diagnosis: Forewings gray with contrasting dark gray marks; hind wings semitransluscent white. It is the only species in the genus lacking an ochreous tinge on the forewings, thus resembling some species of Rhudara Thiaucourt, 1996 especially R. trepida (Draudt, 1932) and allies. This carácter makes it readily distinguishable from all other species in the genus. The male genitalia are similar to those of R. apostatica (Dyar, 1915) and R. densissima (Dyar, 1915), having the apex of valva similar to those of the former and the uncus like that of the latter.

Etymology: Derived from Rhudara Thiaucourt, a Heterocampinae genus.

Acknowledgements

Alexander Schintlmeister (Museum Witt, München) and Robiara U. S. Becker (Reserva Serra Bonita) helped with the illustrations, and Scott E. Miller (USNM), revised the manuscript.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BECKER, V. O., 2014.- Checklist of New World Notodontidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea).- Lepidoptera novae, 7(1): 1-40.

THIAUCOURT, P., 2008.- Notes sur le genres Pentobesa Schaus, 1901 et Bahaia Dyar, 1924 (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae).- Nouvelle Revue d’Entomologie N. S., 24(4): 291-319.

WELLER, S. J., 1991.- Revision of the Pentobesa xylinoides (Walker) species-group (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).- Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 93(4): 795-807.