March 17, 2024

Lepidoneiva erubescens: Taxonomy, Distribution and Behavior.

Lepidoneiva erubescens was first described by Butler, 1986 (https://archive.org/details/journaloflinnean121876linn/page/389/mode/1up?view=theater) as Cosmossoma erubescens. Travassos, 1940 established the genus Lepidoneiva based on this species, which then became known as Lepidoneiva erubescens. Despite this, the species was often considered a subspecies of Cosmossoma teuthras and the genus Lepidoneiva was long ignored as a valid genus (Laguerre, 2022). Laguerre, 2022 reviewed the genus using modern systematic techniques such as barcoding and dissection of the reproductive system. It was concluded that several species were distantly grouped from the other Cosmossoma species and therefore could be considered as their own genus. Among the species in this group was the taxon Cosmossoma teuthras erubescens, Michel Laguerre then recognized the validity of the genus Lepidoneiva created by Lauro Travassos. Thus, Lepidoneiva erubescens was reinstated and recognized as a different species from the now renamed Lepidoneiva teuthras.

Both Butler, 1986 and Laguerre, 2022 separate Lepidoneiva erubescens and Lepidoneiva teuthras similarly: L. erubescens is a smaller species; the red stripe on the inner margin of the forewing extends to the anal angle; L. teuthras has red scales at the base of the wing that are absent in L. erubescens. In addition to these characteristics, I noted that the dorsal part of the thorax often has a brown stripe in L. erubescens, it was not clear whether due to shedding of red scales or if they are indeed short brown scales.

With this information, I conducted a search on the Inaturalist website looking for photographs of specimens of this species. The search was restricted to adult specimens identified at least in the subfamily Arctiinae in South American countries, excluding the Andean countries and the far north.

I found 198 observations corresponding to the species L. erubescens, bringing the total observations from 98 to 217. The specimens were found in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Bahia, Ceará, and also in the Federal District, in the Argentine provinces of Corrientes and Jujuy, and in the countries Paraguay and Bolivia. Observations were most frequent between October and March, with a peak in January.

In addition to the locations found in this study, other locations also had the species recorded. Laguerre, 2022 found the species in the Argentine province of Formosa and in Peru, while Ferro, 2007 recorded the species in the Brazilian states of Pará, Tocantins, and Maranhão.

L. erubescens exhibits clustering behavior, which was photographed for the first time by Kozue Kawakami (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189686067) and subsequently by Agnaldo Correa de Assis (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/199742549). This behavior was also documented in writing by Rogerio Dias (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195313536) and the user agujaceratops (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194062907). The records occurred in October, December, and February, suggesting they do not occur on a specific date. The locations were also distinct, with the phenomenon occurring in Bolivia and the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.

Bibliography:

Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi. Diversidade de mariposas Arctiidae (Lepidoptera) do cerrado. 2007. Tese (doutorado) - Curso de ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2007.

Laguerre, M. 2022. Revision of the genus Lepidoneiva Travassos, 1940: ressurection of several species. Antenor 9 (4): 143-160.

Travassos, L. 1940. Lepidoneiva, novo gênero da família Euchromiidae (Lepidoptera). Revista de entomologia 11 (1-2): 477-487.

Posted on March 17, 2024 03:36 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 0 comments | Leave a comment

March 16, 2024

First Identifications of Leucanopsis biedala (Lepidoptera; Erebidae) on Inaturalist.

Leucanopsis biedala is a species first described by Schaus, 1941 (https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofuni891942unit/page/502/mode/1up?view=theater) with the type locality being the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina; however, no figure was provided in the description. The BOLDSystems website has images of pinned specimens of the species. The images provided by Maurício M. Zenker are dark and difficult to observe the color patterns, while the photo provided by Benoit Vincent in 2011 appears to be a misidentification and seems to belong to the species Leucanopsis mandus. Another specimen from Benoit Vincent from 2020 has better quality and appears to be correctly identified. The website leps.fieldguide.ai has a photograph of a live specimen of the species with credits to Maria Isabel Weyermanns (https://leps.fieldguide.ai/figures?category=59baf480929d3d10ea8f39ab), the specimen matches the description of the species and also the specimens from the BOLDSystems website, but there is no information on who identified this photograph.

The species is characterized by its yellow color; a dark brown stripe centered on the dorsal side of the thorax; two brown bands on the forewing, one curved on the costa and one straight on the anal margin; fringe with dark spots where the veins end.

Based on this information, a search was made on the Inaturalist website for photos of the species. Images of specimens identified at least in the subfamily Arctiinae in the region near its known distribution area were selected.

21 photographs of Leucanopsis biedala were found distributed in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, and Bahia, as well as in the Argentine province of Misiones.

In addition to these locations found, the species was known for the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas (Ferro, 2007). However, the species was not known for the province of Misiones, possibly being the first evidence of the species for the province and also for Argentina (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177405204). Thus, Leucanopsis biedala ceases to be endemic to Brazil.

Bibliography:

Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi. Diversidade de mariposas Arctiidae (Lepidoptera) do cerrado. 2007. Tese (doutorado) - Curso de ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2007.

Posted on March 16, 2024 03:18 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 0 comments | Leave a comment

January 10, 2024

Observation of a very rare beetle of the species Bergidora picturella (Coleoptera; Buprestidae)

One of my personal goals on Inaturalist is photograph and publish very rare taxa. For this purpose, I defined as very rare the taxa that have less than 10 observations on Inaturalist. In december 26 I did a morning walk in a rural road while photographing biodiversity. I found a beautiful beetle in flowers of Verbena rigida.

I posted the photos in the Inaturalist site and the beetle was identified as Bergidora picturella by the user fmiudo.

The species is well known for Argentina but I was incapable of find any reference of the species for Brazil.
This can be the first evidence of the species for Rio Grande do Sul state and Brazil. Bergidora picturella looks intimaly related with plants of the genus Verbena because almost all the observations in the site Inaturalist the beetle are in Verbena flowers.

Why it is rare?

Occurrence area in South America where have fewers naturalists.
Small organism, better photographed with macro lens.
Possibly small populations.

Posted on January 10, 2024 02:26 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

December 5, 2023

First Identifications of Carathis australis (Lepidoptera; Erebidae) on Inaturalist.

Carathis australis was first described by Rothschild, 1909 (https://archive.org/details/ser8annalsmagazi04londuoft/page/208/mode/1up?view=theater) with type locality in the brazilian state of Santa Catarina. A plate with Carathis australis picture was also provided in 1910 (https://archive.org/details/novitateszoologi17lond/page/n607/mode/2up?view=theater). Recently, a review of the genus Carathis was published with key to species, diagnosis and pictures of museum specimens (Becker, 2011).

While conducting a search in Inaturalist site looking for Carathis byblis in the state of Paraná I found a moth with similar pattern but different from C. byblis. Investigating the genus in the site Funet.fi I found another species in the genus sympathric with C. byblis (https://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/arctiidae/arctiinae/carathis/). The species is Carathis australis that, based in the pictures and review paper, fully matched the observations in Inaturalist.

It was found 2 observations recognized as Carathis australis in the brazilian state of Paraná: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177333138, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182037714.

This was the first identifications of C. australis in Inaturalist and also the first known photographs of living specimens. By now the species is only known for the brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Paraná (Becker, 2011), but Inaturalist have potential to extend the known distribution because it's a species that can be recognized by photographs.

Bibliography:

Becker, V. O. 2011. A review of the neotropical moth genus Carathis Grote (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Tropical Lepidoptera Research 20 (2): 95-97.

Posted on December 5, 2023 11:50 AM by regisrafael regisrafael | 0 comments | Leave a comment

November 9, 2023

Observation of a very rare bush of the species Miconia purpureovillosa (Myrtales; Melastomataceae).

One of my personal goals on Inaturalist is photograph and publish very rare taxa. For this purpose, I defined as very rare the taxa that have less than 10 observations on Inaturalist. In October 4 I decided explore a new trail in Ilópolis. The vegetation is characterized by Pinus elliottii, exhotic and invasive, that grew and formed an under forest with native vegetation. I found this Melastomataceae bush that I recognized as Miconia, but a species that I never saw before.

I used Flora e Funga do Brasil internet site to find the species of Miconia occuring in Rio Grande do Sul state, many of them was in the genus Leandra. A good character that I found to separate the species was anther colour, only two species have pink anther in Rio Grande do Sul, M. purpureovillosa and M. erostrata. I compared the two species in speciesLink internet site (https://specieslink.net/search/), I found that M. erostrata have a more rounded leave and is whitish underside. This was the second observation in Inaturalist identified as Miconia purpureovillosa.

The species is known to the brazilian states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro.

Why is rare?

Occurrence area in South America where have fewers naturalists.
Hard to identify and there are few botanists identifying in the area of occurrence
The bush attract little attention and live in areas of low human traffic.
Need key photos to identify.

Posted on November 9, 2023 12:31 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 31, 2023

Observation of a very rare tree of the species Ilex brevicuspis (Aquifoliales; Aquifoliaceae).

Recently, I participated in a class of trees identification and registered lots of individuals identified by Martin Grings, a local botanist. One of the species identified was Ilex brevicuspis that was just the fourth observation identified as this species on Inaturalist site.

The species is known to the brazilian states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and in the province of Misiones in Argentina.

Why is rare?

  • Occurrence area in South America where have fewers naturalists.
  • Ilex brevicuspis can be hard to make photographs of key characteristics like leaves, flowers and fruits because they are too high.
  • Hard to identify and there are few botanists identifying in the area of occurrence
  • The tree doesn't attract attention and live in areas of low human traffic.
Posted on October 31, 2023 11:37 AM by regisrafael regisrafael | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 30, 2023

First observation of Sisyrinchium platycaule (Asparagales; Iridaceae) on Inaturalist.

Make the first observation on Inaturalist is an important event because this observation can be used later to made more identifications of the same species. The genus Sisyrinchium have around 150 described species and many of this species have very similiar morphology.

October 27 I decided make some photos, I choosed a pasture to explore for herbs and insects. I found some Sisyrinchium, I was looking for rare species and ignored Sisyrinchium micranthum. Three forms looked diferent from S. micranthum and I took shots. Later, when I upload the pictures I was convinced that one of them are S. micranthum, despite it looked diferent at field.

To identify I consulted Flora e Funga do Brasil site (https://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/reflora/listaBrasil/PrincipalUC/PrincipalUC.do;jsessionid=F0F858585E5FCCDE8A4EFA8F22A5EB6A) and made a search selcting genus Sisyrinchium and state of Rio Grande do Sul. Most of the species have pictures and I could compare with my own photos. One of them, that I thinked was S. micranthum, matched perfectly with S. platycaule images. Compared with S. micranthum is a smaller plant with free tepals, with a different tepal color pattern.

It was the first observation on Inaturalist identified as S. platycaule. I found another of my observations that matched as S. platycaule, misidentified as S. micranthum. Later, I searched the site for more observations of this species and found a total of 7 observations.

I believe this species was overlooked because is hard to identify and don't attract much attention of naturalists at field. Also, the region of occurence still have very little botanic identifiers.

Posted on October 30, 2023 02:29 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 1 observation | 3 comments | Leave a comment

October 17, 2023

An observation of a very rare tree of the species Picrasma crenata (Sapindales; Simaroubaceae).

One of my personal goals on Inaturalist is photograph and publish very rare taxa. For this purpose, I defined as very rare the taxa that have less than 10 observations on Inaturalist. Recently, I participated in a class of trees identification and registered lots of individuals identified by Martin Grings, a local botanist. One of the species identified was Picrasma crenata that was the third observation identified as this species on Inaturalist site.

The key characteristics for the identification was leaves alternate, imparipinnate, opposite leaflets with asymmetrical base, crenulate to serrate margin and branch with bitter taste.

The species is known to the brazilian states of Bahia, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, north of Argentina and Paraguay. Picrasma crenata is hard to make photographs of key characteristics like leaves, flowers and fruits beacause they are too high or are too small. The wood is very bitter and has medicinal properties.

Posted on October 17, 2023 07:24 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 12, 2023

Distributional area of Aclytia terra (Lepidoptera; Erebidae).

Aclytia terra is a species first described by Schaus, 1896 (https://archive.org/details/journalofnewyork41896newy/page/133/mode/1up?view=theater). Hampson, 1898 also described the species and provided a figure (https://archive.org/details/catalogueoflepid01brituoft/page/458/mode/1up?view=theater, https://archive.org/details/catalogueoflepid13brit/page/n73/mode/2up?view=theater). The species was previously known to brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Goiás and Rondônia; and Argentina and Ecuador countries (Ferro, 2007).

To improve the knowledge of the species distribution, I compared Inaturalist observations with Hampson illustration and BOLD Systems images (https://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=355032). The search was made in the brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Bahia, Tocantins, Pará, Amazonas and Rondônia; argentinian provinces of Misiones and Corrientes; and in the countries of Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Photos of adults previously identified at least in the subfamily Arctiinae was checked. "Research grade" observations was excluded of the search.

It was found 53 observations recognized as Aclytia terra: 6 from Rio Grande do Sul, 21 from Paraná, 3 from São Paulo, 1 from Rio de Janeiro, 1 from Minas Gerais, 18 from Misiones, 1 from Corrientes, 1 from Peru, 1 from Ecuador and 1 from Guatemala.

This is the first evidence of this species to Minas Gerais. It can be the first evidence of this species for Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala, but I was unable to confirm or refute this evidence.

Bibliography:

Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi. Diversidade de mariposas Arctiidae (Lepidoptera) do cerrado. 2007. Tese (doutorado) - Curso de ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2007.

Posted on October 12, 2023 03:33 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 7, 2023

First Identifications of Isanthrene melas (Lepidoptera; Erebidae) on Inaturalist.

Isanthrene melas was first described as Sphinx melas Cramer, 1775, that gave a plate of the species (https://archive.org/details/deuitlandschekap11779cram/page/n220/mode/1up?view=theater). Later, Hampson, 1898 transferred the species to genus Isanthrene (https://archive.org/details/catalogueoflepid01brituoft/page/173/mode/1up?view=theater). The species was previously known to Suriname, French Guiana and the Brazilian states of Amazonas, Pará, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul (Ferro, 2007).

To improve the knowledge of the species distribution, I compared Inaturalist observations with Cramer illustration and BOLD Systems image (https://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=1130525). The search was made in the brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Bahia, Tocantins, Maranhão, Pará, Amapá, Amazonas, Rondônia, Acre and Roraima; argentinian provinces of Misiones and Corrientes; and in the countries of Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Photos of adults previously identified at least in the subfamily Arctiinae was checked. "Research grade" observations was excluded of the search.

It was found 18 observations recognized as Isanthrene melas: 1 from Rio Grande do Sul, 2 from Paraná, 5 from Rio de Janeiro, 1 from Mato Grosso do Sul, 1 from Minas Gerais and 7 from Misiones.

Mostly of the observations was misidentified as Isanthrene incendiaria, a similar sympatric species that can be differentiated by the thorax and abdomen first segment lines and dots. No previous identifications of the species had been made at Inaturalist site before this search and it's the first known photos of living specimens of Isanthrene melas. This is the first evidence of this species to Mato Grosso do Sul and Missiones (first evidence for Argentina). The species has a wide distribution but is somewhat difficult to find.

Bibliography:

Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi. Diversidade de mariposas Arctiidae (Lepidoptera) do cerrado. 2007. Tese (doutorado) - Curso de ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2007.

Posted on October 7, 2023 10:47 PM by regisrafael regisrafael | 0 comments | Leave a comment