Staphylus (Capilla) melius S. R. Steinhauser 1989

Staphylus (Capilla) melius Steinhauser, 1989 Figures 1, 4O, P, 6 E – H, 12 Staphylus melius Steinhauser, 1989. Bull. Allyn Mus. 127: 36, figs 43, 44 (male d, v), 87 (male gen.); holotype male, 19 - XII- 1974, Rio San Francisco at R. R., Yuchan, Salta, Argentina, R. Eisele leg.; AME. – Bridges, 1994. Cat. Fam. - Group, Gen. - Group, Sp. Group Nam. Hesp. (Lep.) World 8, p. 140; 9, p. 64. – O. Mielke, 2004. Hesperioidea, p. 56, in Lamas (ed.). Checklist: Part 4 A, Hesperioidea - Papilionoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas Neotrop. Lep. 5 A. – O. Mielke, 2005. Cat. Amer. Hesperioidea 3, p. 731. – Klimaitis et al., 2018. Marip. Argentinas, p. 300. Taxonomic history. Steinhauser (1989) described Staphylus melius and subsequent authors have cited this species in catalogues. Type. Staphylus melius Steinhauser, 1989 was described based on the male holotype from Rio San Francisco at Yuchan, Salta, Argentina, 19. XII. 1974, R. Eisele leg., deposited in AME, currently in MGCL, with the following labels: / ARGENTINA: SALTA Yuchan: Rio San Francisco at RR 19. xii. 1974 / R. Eisele / A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6 / SRS Database No. 262 / Genit. Vial SRS- 1725 / Allyn Museum Photo No. 880729 B / 19, 20 / HOLOTYPE ♂ Staphylus melius S. R. Steinhauser /. Diagnosis. Staphylus (C.) melius is readily distinguished from the other species of Staphylus (Capilla) due to a combination of characters of the male genitalia (Fig. 6 E – H): sacculus bearing a dense set of small, stout, socketed spines; harpe distally with a rounded, thin expansion on the dorsal margin that overlaps ampulla; aedeagus dorsally bearing a set of socketed spines on the distal portion. Male description. Fig. 4 O, P. Head: Brown with golden scales dorsally; pure-white ventrally. FW length: 1.1–1.4 cm. HW length: 0.9–1.1 cm. DFW: Brown. No white wings spots. Fringe brown. VFW: Same white markings as on DFW. VHW: Lighter brown. Genitalia (Fig. 6 E – H): Uncus somewhat rounded at the base, tapering towards the apex, and dorsally bearing a tuft of short hair-like scales. Fenestra developed. Valva: sacculus scalene triangular-shaped, bearing a dense set of small, stout, socketed spines; harpe exceeding ampulla, distally with a rounded, thin expansion on the dorsal margin that overlaps ampulla, bearing thin setae at distal margin; ampulla broad, rounded at distal margin, bearing a set of medium-sized, stout, socketed spines, on its internal-ventral margin produced as strongly quadrate process bearing sharp denticles. Aedeagus slightly shorter than valva, bearing a set of about 15 socketed spines dorsally on the distal portion. Fultura superior without spines. Female. Unknown. Distribution. Fig. 12. Argentina: Chaco, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta and Tucumán. Temporal distribution. Staphylus (C.) melius is recorded from January, March and October – December. Etymology. Steinhauser (1989) did not provide an etymology for the name melius. Examined material. ARGENTINA: Chaco – Villa Río Bermejito, 29. I. 2001, 1 ♂, Núñez Bustos leg., DZ 44.961 * (DZUP). Jujuy – San Pedro de Jujuy, 22. III. 1978, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., A. C. Allyn Acc. 1981-3, SRS Database No. 271, Paratype, Genit. Vial SRS- 1496 * (MGCL). Misiones – No specific locality, Tabunas, 3. XII. 1951, 1 ♂, Willink & Monrós leg., DZ 46.167 * (DZUP). Dos de Mayo, 7. III. 1989, 2 ♂, OM 21.047, OM 21.984 * (OM). Salta – Not specific locality, Urondel, 27. I. 1950, 1 ♂, Golbach leg., DZ 843 * (DZUP). Pichanal, 1 Km NE, 6. X. 1973, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., Allyn Museum Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 270, Paratype, Genit Vial SRS- 1727 * (MGCL); 2 Km E, 28. X. 1976, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., R. Eisele coll. – Allyn Accession # 1979-25, GEN. PREP. LEMES 2021-22 *, MGCL 1112155 (MGCL). Tartagal, Tartagal to Totono, 420 m, 15. X. 1972, 1 ♂, B. MacPherson leg., MGCL 1112050 (MGCL). Yuchán, Rio San Francisco, no data, 2 ♂, Eisele leg., DZ 46.168 *, DZ 46.169 (DZUP); 22. X. 1974, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 269, Paratype, Genit. Vial SRS- 1724 * (MGCL); 14. XI. 1974, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 268, Paratype (MGCL); 16. XI. 1974, 1 ♂, R. Eisele leg., A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 267, Paratype (MGCL); 23. XI. 1974, 2 ♂, R. Eisele leg. A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 265, SRS Database No. 266, Paratypes, Genit. Vial SRS- 1726 * (MGCL); 13. XII. 1974, 2 ♂, R. Eisele leg., A. C. Allyn Acc. 1977-6, SRS Database No. 264, Paratype (MGCL). Tucumán – San Pedro de Colalao, 7–30. III. 1949, 1 ♂, no collector, DZ 836 * (DZUP).