A new species of Eprius Godman, 1901 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

A new species of skipper butterfly from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest belonging to the subtribe Moncina (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Hesperiini) is herein described: Eprius punctula Medeiros, Gualberto & O. Mielke sp. nov. The new species has a color pattern similar to other species in the genus, differing by the presence of a small yellow spot at the distal end of the discal cell on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the forewing (absent in some specimens). The male and female genitalia are similar to those of Eprius repens (Evans, 1955), but the spined projection near the proximal-ventral margin of the harpe and the approximately straight distal margin of the lamella postvaginalis are exclusive traits of E. punctula sp. nov. Illustrations of the adults and genitalia of both sexes and the male stigma are provided.

Keywords

• morphology
• neotropical
• new taxa
• skippers
• taxonomy