Corresponding author: Rayner Núñez Aguila (
Academic editor: Donald Lafontaine
A new genus and species of
The
In the present paper, a new genus of
Characters for genus and species descriptions are the same as those used by
Genitalia were dissected by maceration in 10% potassium hydroxide, later neutralized in 30% alcohol with two drops of glacial acetic acid, and finally stored in glycerin in microvials. Wings were cleared in sodium hypochlorite bleach, stained with Eosin-Y, and slide-mounted in Euparal.
Type material is deposited at the entomological collection of the Institute of Ecology and Systematics (CZACC), Havana, Cuba. Updated information on species richness and endemism on other
“Alexander von Humboldt” National Park
cubito–anal vein
forewing
hindwing
medial vein
Nipe–Sagua–Baracoa
radial vein
radial sector
Compared to other
The phylogenetic position of the new genus will be better understood when females and larvae are available. Although some characters suggest a relation with
The generic name
The six known specimens were captured at two localities in different sections at the western half of the NSB mountain range in northeastern Cuba.
Unknown.
This taxon and
Holotype: ♂, Cuba, Holguí, Moa, vicinity of Morones mountain stream (
The uniform dark brown wing pattern of
Habitus of
Head, thorax, and abdomen of
Tympanum of
Wing venation of
Seventh and eighth abdominal sterna and male genitalia of
The species–group name is derived from the Latin
(
Distribution of
(
Habitats of
The substratum rocks are metamorphic. Soils are poor, acidic, and humid (“Ferralítico Rojo Lixiviado” and “Ferralítico Amarillento Lixiviado”), over a ferralitic, meteorized (weathered) crust (
The vicinity of La Zoilita is covered by sclerophyll rainforest [name modified from
Rainfall is 1600 mm per year. Average annual relative humidity is 91% at 7:00 am, and 67% at 1:00 pm. The average yearly temperature is 21.6°C, with the highest average value being 23.8°C during July, and the minimum being 19.0°C in February.
The substratum rocks are ophiolithic. The soils are “Ferríticos Rojos Oscuros,” very poor and acidic, and shallow to very deep; sometimes with bare rock exposed.
All individuals of
Roughly 60 hours of light trapping were spent at La Zoilita using a 250 watt mercury vapor bulb in February of 2010, but no
The NSB range contains the largest and best-preserved mountain ecosystem remnants in Cuba and possibly in all of the Caribbean islands (
NSB harbors the highest values of species richness and endemism in the Cuban flora and fauna for many groups including liverworts, mosses, vascular plants, spiders, hymenopterans, amphibians and reptiles (
The presence of
There is little information on the biology of
Observed clustering during flight seems to be one of the few records of this behavior in the
Regarding potential hostplants, many of the genera used by the
Concerning conservation, both collection localities are included within protected areas. The Morones mountain stream runs through the heart of the AHNP. This park, with 706.8 km2, is one of Cuba’s largest and most important protected areas (Category II, World Conservation Union, IUCN) in terms of biodiversity. The AHNP constitutes the core of the “Cuchillas del Toa” Biosphere Reserve. La Zoilita, with 185 km2, is within the “Pico Cristal” National Park, and its eastern limit is located 20 km from the western border of AHNP.
I thank Norvis Fernández and Sara Ilse Suárez and David Lambert for their help in preparing expeditions to “Alexander von Humboldt” and “Pico Cristal” National Parks respectively. Equipment using for this work was financed by Rufford Small Grants (8909–1).