Rhipha persimilis marginata ( Rothschild, 1909 )

Laguerre, Michel, 2025, New species of Arctiinae east of the Canal Zone, Panama (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini), Faunitaxys 13 (12), pp. 1-17 : 13-14

The case of Rhipha persimilis marginata ( Rothschild, 1909)

In 1909, Rothschild described Automolis persimilis from Peru, La Oroya, R. Inambari (lectotype ♂ in NHMUK) and in the same paper he described the ssp marginata from Costa Rica, Tuis (lectotype ♂ in NHMUK). In 1975 Watson transferred these two entities within the genus Rhipha Walker, 1854 ( Watson, 1975 p. 91). In the Catalogue published in 2014 these two entities were considered as synonyms. One male specimen was found in the material received from Panama (see ♂ below Fig. 28 and ♂ genitalia Fig. 29). The genitalia are identical to the dissection of the lectotype of marginata provided by A. Watson in NHMUK (reference 1686). Unfortunately the genitalia are very homogeneous in this group and it is not possible to confirm that marginata is a synonym or a subspecies of persimilis and not a full species. Only sequencing will be able to solve this problem.

Material examined

- 1 ♂. PANAMA, Panama, Los Altos de Cerro Azul , 05-VIII-2023, 700 m, 9.2030° N 79.4150° W, L. & J. Harrison leg., dissected Gen. ML3958 (light-blue manuscript label). In MLC. FWL = 14 mm .

Genitalia male ( Fig. 29)

Genital capsule slightly assymetrical not unlike the male genitalia of Pseudalus : right valva slightly longer and less curved than left valva. Uncus bent at 90° downward with two dorsal carinae fused at tip. Tegumen flat on each side of the uncus. Valvae large at base then strongly narrowed in the last half, finishing as a narrow and pointed arm. The right one is longer and weakly bent inward, the left one is shorter and more strongly bent inward. Juxta ovoid. Vinculum evenly rounded with a long and narrow pointed saccus. Aedeagus straight, narrow and cylindrical. Caecum penis present. Vesica with a single lobe shaped as a tongue turned at 180° and covered with tiny spicules.