Hyperthaema haemacta Schaus, 1901

Laguerre, Michel, 2025, New species of Arctiinae east of the Canal Zone, Panama (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini), Faunitaxys 13 (12), pp. 1-17 : 14-15

The case of Hyperthaema haemacta Schaus, 1901

Among the material received from Panama, there was a male specimen of the genus Hyperthaema Schaus, 1901 (see Fig. 31). This specimen resembles H. haemacta Schaus, 1901 described from Costa Rica, Cartago, El Sitio (lectotype in USNM). The specimen was dissected and its genitalia were compared to the lectotype dissection made by Alan Watson ( Watson, 1971, Pl. 156, reference AW255) thus confirming the identity of the specimen. A picture of the fresh specimen along with a description of its genitalia are provided below ( Fig. 32).

Material examined

- 1 ♂, PANAMA, Panama, Los Altos de Cerro Azul , 11-XI-2023, 700 m, 9.2030° N 79.4150° W, D. Herbin leg., dissected Gen. ML3831 (light-blue manuscript label). In MLC. FWL = 16 mm .

Genitalia male ( Fig. 32)

Genital capsule assymetrical, right valva longer than left valva. Uncus short, well sclerotized bent downward with a blunt tip.Below uncus a subquadrate structure (maybe two fused socii). The valvae are long, outreaching the tip of uncus. Their base is large, then they are divided into two parts: one ventral narrow and elongated and one dorsal spatulated at tip. The right valva is longer than the left one, the ventral part is narrow and slightly bent dorsally, longer than the dorsal part which is straight and spatulated at tip. For the left valva, the two parts are subequal and shorter than the right ones. The ventral one isnarrower and straight, the dorsal one is larger, straight and spatulated at tip. Juxta subrectangular divided vertically by a cleft.Vinculum and saccus shaped as a pointed triangle slightly bent to the left in ventral view. Aedeagus straight, narrow and cylindrical. Vesica smooth, perpendicular to the aedeagus with one lobe on each side.

Below is included a list of some interesting material collected in the same area in Panama. The list is presently far from being exhaustive and more interesting species will very likely be discovered with time.