Dysschema sacrifica (Hübner, [1831])

Moraes, Simeão de Souza, Freitas, André Victor Lucci & Silva-Brandão, Karina Lucas, 2025, Illustrated catalogue of Pericopina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) in the Museum of Nature Hamburg – Zoology, Evolutionary Systematics 9 (1), pp. 123-134 : 123-134

Dysschema sacrifica (Hübner, [1831])

Figs 2 A male, 2 B female

Remarks.

Sexually dimorphic species, relatively common in collections. The species is widespread in South America, mainly in areas of the Cerrado and in open environments of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, but with extension in Eastern Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and in the north-centre of Argentina ( Chialchia 2009). There is little variation between males and females and both sexes may show a white spot on the forewing in the posterior region of the discal cell. Some males may have the white spots on the submarginal band of the hindwings reduced or absent. Females may show more evident yellow marks on the submarginal band, expanded towards the basal region of the wing.

Several studies recorded the association of immatures with host plants ( Bourquin 1931; Biezanko et al. 1974; Chialchia 2009), revealing a highly polyphagous species, with records in Amarantaceae (e. g. Amaranthus flavus , Amaranthus hybridus ), Asteraceae (e. g. Artemisia absinthium , Chromolaena odorata , Eupatorium conyzoides , Eupatorium inlifolium, Helian agnus , Lactuca sativa , Senecio brasiliensis , Vernonia polyanthes ), Myrtaceae (e. g. Eucalyptus sp. ), Nyctaginaceae (e. g. Pisonea zapallo) and Urticaceae (e. g. Boehmeria caudata ). Dysschema sacrifica was introduced in South Africa as a biological control of the invasive weed Chromolaena odorata ( Asteraceae ) ( Kluge and Caldwell 1993).

Material examined.

1 female, South America; 1 male, Brazil, Santa Catarina; 2 females, Brazil, Santa Catarina; 1 male, Brazil, Santa Catarina, New Bremen [Seara].

Figures

Figure 2. Habitus of pericopine moths, dorsal view. A. Dysschema sacrifica (Hu ̈ bner, [1831]), male (ZMH 0840050); B. Dysschema sacrifica (Hu ̈ bner, [1831]), female (ZMH 0840050); C. Dysschema subapicalis (Walker, 1854), male (ZMH 0840052); D. Dysschema terminata (Gue ́ rin-Me ́ neville, 1844), male (ZMH 0840042); E. Dysschema thetis (Klug, 1836), male (ZMH 0896500); F. Dysschema tricolora (Sulzer, 1776), female (ZMH 0840041); G. Gnophaela vermiculata (Grote [1864]) (ZMH 0840366); H. Hyalurga fenestra (Linnaeus, 1758), male (ZMH 0840057); I. Hyalurga fenestrata (Walker, 1855), female (ZMH 0861006); J. Hyalurga sora (Boisduval, 1870), male (ZMH - 0840363); K. Hypocrita fenestraria (Fabricius, 1775) (ZMH 0840362); L. Eucyane dejanira (Druce, 1895) (ZMH 0840360); M. Hypocrita plagifera (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1862) (ZMH 0840361); N. Isostola divisa (Walker, 1854) (ZMH 0840364); O. Phaloe cruenta (Hübner, 1823) (ZMH 0840053); P. Phaloesia saucia Walker, 1854 (ZMH 0840365); Q. Notophyson tiresias (Cramer, 1776), female (ZMH 0840056); R. Sthenognatha gentilis (C. Felder and R. Felder, 1874) (ZMH 0896537).