Dysschema amphissa (Geyer, 1832)

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 amphissa (Geyer, 1832)

Figs 1 G male, 1 H female

Remarks.

This species has a considerable level of sexual dimorphism in terms of its wing pattern. Immature reared by Lauro Travassos and deposited in the MZUSP corroborate the establishment of synonymy between Episteme amphissa and Pericopis vestalis . Males have a white wing pattern with the forewings (mainly on the costal margin, apical region and posterior margin) and hindwings (submarginal band) showing brown obscured regions. Specimens recently collected in Brazil show this pattern, although the material studied in collections revealed the presence of some individuals whose brown markings on the wings are faded. However, such variation seems to be due to the storage of specimens rather than polychromatism. Females have an orange pattern, similar to that of other Dysschema species involved in mimetic rings with several species of Heliconiinae and Ithomiini butterflies ( Nymphalidae ).

Material examined.

2 males, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro; 2 females, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of pericopine moths, dorsal view. A. Calodesma maculifrons (Walker, 1865) (ZMH 0840354); B. Chetone isse (Hübner, [1831]) (ZMH 0840038); C. Chetone kenara (Butler, 1871) (ZMH 0840367); D. Netoche histrio (C. Felder & Felder, 1874) (ZMH 0840040); E. Chetone phaeba Boisduval, 1879 (ZMH 0840368); F. Composia credula (Fabricius, 1775) (ZMH 0840355); G. Dysschema amphissa (Geyer, 1832), male (ZMH 0840048); H. Dysschema amphissa (Geyer, 1832), female (ZMH 0840049); I. Dysschema boisduvalii (Hoeven, 1840), male (ZMH 0840352); J. Dysschema boisduvalii (Hoeven, 1840), female (ZMH 0840353); K. Dysschema centenaria (Burmeister, 1878), male (ZMH 0840356); L. Dysschema centenaria (Burmeister, 1878), female (ZMH 0840357); M. Dysschema hilara (Weymer, 1895), male (ZMH 0840043); N. Dysschema leucophaea (Walker, 1854), female (ZMH 0840359); O. Dysschema lycaste (Klug, 1836), male (ZMH 0840045); P. Dysschema marginalis (Walker, 1855), male (ZMH 0840046); Q. Dysschema neda (Klug, 1836), male (ZMH 0840047); R. Dysschema picta (Gue ́ rin-Me ́ neville, 1844), male (ZMH 0840044).