Spicauda Grishin, 2019

Grishin, Nick V., 2019, Expanded phenotypic diagnoses for 24 recently named new taxa of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey 8 (1), pp. 1-16 : 9-10

Genus Spicauda Grishin, 2019

Type species: Goniurus procne, Plötz, 1881 .

ZooBank registration: 14D26B57-940C-407B-8E70-4E25203044B8

Diagnosis: The genus was defined as a clade from about 15 Mya that contains the species Goniurus procne, Plötz, 1881 , and putatively synapomorphic DNA characters for this clade were given ( Li et al., 2019). Phenotypically, species in this genus would key to C.13.13c in Evans (1952). Previously placed in Urbanus Hübner, [1807] owing to long hindwing tails, but distinguished from it by unique shape of genitalic harpe that is upturned and with a spike-like process (or two) at its dorsal margin ( Fig. 15 ). Externally, can be distinguished from other Eudaminae with long tails by a combination of the following characters: wings and body brown, without extensive green scales; fringes not checkered, brown or paler, but not white; if forewing cell M 3 -CuA 1 with hyaline spot, it forms part of the discal band, not detached from it.

Species included: Goniurus teleus Hübner, 1821 , Urbanus tanna Evans, 1952 , Urbanus ambiguus de Jong, 1983 , Urbanus cindra Evans, 1952 , Goniurus zagorus Plötz, 1881 , Papilio simplicius Stoll, 1790 , and Goniurus procne Plötz, 1881 .

Parent Taxon: Subtribe Eudamina Mabille, 1877 .

Type species: Goniurus esmeraldus Butler, 1877 .

ZooBank registration: 20FAC3B6-F038-40A0-B182-3C7F32A40702

Diagnosis: The subgenus was defined as a clade from about 12 Mya that contains the species Goniurus esmeraldus Butler, 1877 , and putatively synapomorphic DNA characters for this clade were given ( Li et al., 2019). Phenotypically, species in this subgenus would key to C.13.6a in Evans (1952). Member of this subgenus are diagnosed by an apparent synapomorphy: dorsally directed process on genitalic valvae, lacking in the nominotypical subgenus, where valva may have a small "nose"-shaped projection ( Fig. 16 ). Species included: Goniurus esmeraldus A. Butler, 1877 , Urbanus esma Evans, 1952 , Urbanus prodicus E. Bell, 1956 , Urbanus elmina Evans, 1952 , Urbanus evona Evans, 1952 , Urbanus esta Evans, 1952 , Urbanus viridis H. Freeman, 1970 .

Parent Taxon: Genus Urbanus Hübner, [1807] .

Figures

Fig. 15. Spicauda. Diagnostic shape of valva with the spike in Spicauda procne, Guatemala (left) and Spicauda teleus, Mexico, Ver. (right).

Fig. 16. Urbanoides. Valva with a process in Urbanus (Urbanoides) esmeraldus, Brazil: MG (left), compared to valva with a "nose" in Urbanus (Urbanus) proteus (Linnaeus, 1758), Brazil: RS.