Apiconoma witti Laguerre, 2016

Tavares, Eduardo Vasconcelos, Bó, Saulo Dal, Melo, Ana Beatriz De Medeiros & Pereira-Colavite, Alessandre, 2025, Phenotypic variation in Apiconoma witti Laguerre, 2016 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae), with a distribution map for the genus and an identification key to the species, Zootaxa 5604 (2), pp. 191-194 : 191-194

Apiconoma witti Laguerre, 2016

( Figs 1–3 )

Material examined: 2♂♂ “ BR, PB, Mamanguape/ REBIO Guaribas/ 02–03.IX.2023 / EVT, SDB, APC cols.” [ DSEC0004503 LP], [ DSEC0004504 LP] .

Taxonomy

Phenotypic variation ( Fig. 1A, B ). Head: antenna bipectinate, dark gray; palpus yellow, similar to ventral coloration of the thorax; second palpal segment much larger than the first and third; third segment rounded and dark; second segment yellow ventrally, dark dorsally; first segment with long yellow scales; proboscis present, functional. Thorax: dorsally dark brown; ventrally cream-yellow; patagium with dark edges and a central yellow circular shape; tegulae with a yellow line widening anteriorly. Legs: coxae and tibia cream-yellow and pilose ventrally; gray dorsally and laterally; hind leg with two pairs of tibial spurs; middle leg with one pair. Forewing: wingspan 14 mm; dorsally dark brown with yellowhighlighted veins, especially near the apex; two large, translucent, yellow oval spots distinguish this phenotype from the standard; basal spot projects horizontally; apical spot, vertically; ventral surface similar, with a prominent yellow patch at the wing base merging with the basal oval spot. Hindwing: wingspan 5 mm, reduced compared to the forewing, quadrilateral shape; overall yellow coloration, except for the outer margin with a distinctive dark band and indentations; anal angle with light yellow hairs; ventral side similar, with more prominent hairs. Abdomen: very pilose, yellow overall with dark last segments; three distinct metallic blue bands on the posterior segments, with a less evident band on the terminal segment; dark hair tuft on the last segment; ventrally, three anterior segments show vertical lines expanding posteriorly on each segment.

Standard Form vs. Variant Form. The most striking difference between the standard form of A. witti ( Fig. 1C, D ) and its variant form is the presence of two yellow oval spots on the forewing of the variant, which makes it appear more similar to other species in the genus. However, despite this resemblance, the genitalia clearly link the variant form to the standard one. Additionally, the variant form lacks the small bluish-gray spot found on the forewing of the standard form.

Biogeographical remarks. In the original description of A. witti, Laguerre used three specimens: the male holotype and two paratypes (one male and one female), collected from the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. All type series material exhibits the standard wing pattern ( Fig. 1C, D ), characterized by dark brown coloration and a lack of yellow-orange markings. In direct communication with Dr. Laguerre, we learned that he possesses two specimens from Camacã, Bahia, exhibiting this distinct variation, labeled as follows: 1♂ “ Brazil, Bahia, Camacan, Reserva Serra Bonita, V- 2010, 800 m, 15°23’S 39°33’W, V.O. Becker leg.” in MNHG, dissected Gen. ML2925, and 1♂ “ Brazil, Bahia, Camacan, Reserva Serra Bonita, 24-XI to 2-XII- 2013, 800 m, uvl, 15°23’S 39°33’W, B. Landry & V. Becker leg.” in MNHG, sequenced Process ID ARCTD1340-19, BOLD ID MILA 2204 (yellow printed label).

Another important point to note is that moths of the genus Apiconoma typically exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism, as seen in A. opposita , for example. However, the females of A. mojui remain unknown, as do the females of the phenotypic variation of A. witti , which we describe in this work. To date, only the female of the standard form of A. witti has been documented.

An analysis of collection records for Apiconoma species indicates that the distribution of A. opposita and A. mojui is primarily associated with the Amazon Basin, while A. witti is confined to the Atlantic Forest. Due to the high similarity between A. mojui and A. opposita , some specimens and observations identified as A. opposita may actually belong to A. mojui , especially in areas near the type locality of A. mojui . For these locations, we have marked a “?” symbol on the map.

Through our collections, we have extended the known range of A. witti , and by extension the genus, into the Northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil, north of the São Francisco River. Previously, the closest confirmed record of the species was from Camacã, Bahia, approximately 1,050 km from our current collection site.

To create the species distribution map ( Fig. 3 ) presented in this study, we used data from the type localities in the original descriptions, literature records ( Teston & Ferro 2016, Valente & Teston 2022, Teston et al. 2020), direct communication with Dr. Laguerre and iNaturalist observations marked as “research grade”, meaning the identification was confirmed by multiple independent observers.

iNaturalist observations

Apiconoma opposita (Walker) : FRENCH GUIANA. Cayenne: Montsinéry-Tonnegrande, Lat. 4.90597, Lon. - 52.591705, 16.III.2024. Photo by: elendil_c (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/206403269). Cayenne: Montsinéry-Tonnegrande, Lat. 4.9047409092, Lon. -52.5727318001, 06.III.2021. Photo by: Jérémie Lapèze (https:// www.inaturalist.org/observations/222071122). Cayenne: Sinnamary, Lat. 5.274750398, Lon. -52.9236692219, 08.X.2023. Photo by: Eloise Kerroux (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152542263). Cayenne: Kourou, Guiana Space Center, Lat. 5.1279570424, Lon. -52.8307933266, 13.VI.2020. Photo by: elendil_c (https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/78496635). Cayenne: Kourou, Lat. 5.0974821387, Lon. -52.7672428607, 20.V.2020. Photo by: Jérémie Lapèze (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/205739949). Cayenne: Roura, Lat. 4.6575413637, Lon. -52.415770329, 03.II.2024. Photo by: Jérémie Lapèze (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/205732573). PERU. Madre de Dios: Tambopata, Tambopata National Reserve, Lat. -12.2257083333, Lon. -69.1145316667, 31.V.2021. Photo by: Jose Cueva Santos (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82216637). SURINAME. Sipaliwini: Tapanahony, Lat. 5.0673400369, Lon. -54.4410380323, 19.XI.2019. Photo by: Gerry van Tonder (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35869008); same as the above, 16. XII. 2019. Photo by: Gerry van Tonder (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36710708). same as the above, Lat. 5.1257034512, Lon. -54.5485226065, 31.XII.2019. Photo by: Wildman (https://www.inaturalist.org/ people/eslabbert).

Apiconoma witti Laguerre : BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Iguaçu, Reserva Biológica do Tinguá—ICMBio, Lat. -22.58624, Lon. -43.43827, 21.V.2019. Photo by: Diogo Luiz (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34646606).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Apiconoma witti Laguerre 2016 adults. A—phenotypic variation, dorsal view; B—phenotypic variation, ventral view; C—holotype, dorsal view; D—holotype, ventral view (holotype images provided by Laguerre). Scale: 10 mm.

FIGURE 2. Apiconoma witti Laguerre 2016 male genitalia.A—genital capsule, lateral view; B—genital capsule, ventral view; C—aedeagus, lateral view. Legends: aed, aedeagus; ann, annelus; dc, ductus ejaculatorius; tg, tegumen; unc, uncus; vlv, valva. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Distribution map for Apiconoma Butler, 1876 species in South America.