A new species of Hypercompe Hübner, [1818] (Arctiini: Spilosomina) from Northeast Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and new records of Hypercompe and Catenina Burmeister, 1883 for the region

Brazilian and Neotropical Arctiinae diversity and underscores the need for further exploration in the Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot with many species yet to be documented. The urgency of describing species in this region becomes even more evident when considering that historical and present deforestation has reduced the original forests to critically low levels, leaving much of the region’s fauna facing potential extinction. In this context, taxonomic efforts like this are of vital importance, as they allow us to document the region’s precious fauna before it is lost forever. MATERIAL AND METHODS Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae Tavares sp. nov. was studied in the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve (Fig. 1A, B), located in northeastern Brazil within the Atlantic Forest domain, comprising areas of the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco. Most of the reserve lies within the municipality of Quebrangulo, Alagoas. Covering approximately 4,300 hectares, its central coordinates are 9°14’04”S, 36°25’26”W. The reserve is situated in the “Agreste” region, a transitional zone between the coastal Atlantic Forest and the semi-arid Caatinga. This position grants the area highly distinctive ecological features, as it harbors fragments of montane forests locally known as “Brejos de Altitude” (Andrade-Lima, 1982; Tabarelli & Santos, 2004). These enclaves maintain unique floristic and faunistic assemblages that are often distinct from the surrounding environments. Vegetation in Pedra Talhada is classified as seasonal semideciduous forest, and the reserve is situated at elevations ranging from approximately 450 to 900 m, with a A new species of Hypercompe Hübner, [1818] (Arctiini: Spilosomina) from Northeast Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and new records of Hypercompe and Catenina Burmeister, 1883 for the region Eduardo Vasconcelos Tavares1*, Saulo Dal Bó1,2 and Alessandre Pereira-Colavite1,3 1. Laboratório de Entomologia, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. 2. ORCID: https:// orcid.org/0009-0006-3680-6702. 3. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7660-8384; *Corresponding author: [email protected]; https://orcid.org/00090003-7430-0727 Date of issue online: 19 December 2025 Zoobank Registered: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74C923B7-05BB-4B8C-A10E-D580434776E1 Electronic copies (ISSN 2575-9256) in PDF format at: https://journals.flvc.org/troplep; https://zenodo.org; archived by the Institutional Repository at the University of Florida (IR@UF), http://ufdc.ufl.edu/ufir; DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17860797 © The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Abstract: Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae Tavares sp. nov. is described based on material collected in the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve (REBIO de Pedra Talhada), Alagoas, within the Atlantic Forest of Northeastern Brazil. In addition, new records of Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]) and Catenina mus (Oberthür, 1881) expand the known distribution of both genera for Paraíba, Brazil, and provide valuable material for future biogeographical and inventory studies. This work contributes to the knowledge of moth biodiversity in this undersampled region and highlights the importance of continued research in the Atlantic Forest. Keywords: Alagoas; Paraíba; Hypercompe cunigunda; Catenina mus; taxonomy. 85TROP. LEPID. RES., 35(2): 85-88, 2025TAVARES ET AL.: New Hypercompe INTRODUCTION The family Erebidae is known for its vast diversity of species and range of habits (Carneiro et al., 2024), and Arctiinae stands out as one of the most diverse subfamilies. Globally, approximately 11,000 species are recognized, with around 6,000 of them occurring in the Neotropical region (Heppner, 1991) and about 1,600 in Brazil (Pinheiro et al., 2024). Among all this diversity some genera stand out, such as Hypercompe Hübner, [1818], which is one of the most diverse genera in Arctiini, including around 90 species worldwide, with 23 recorded in Brazil (Vincent & Laguerre, 2014; Specht et al., 2024). Recent generic taxonomic revisions (Laguerre, 2023) have distinguished two subgenera, Hypercompe and Pseudocompe Laguerre, 2023, and identified related genera such as Hypsocompe Laguerre, 2023, Catenina Burmeister, 1883, Oxyptera Laguerre, 2023, Leichosila Schmidt, 2009, Microcompe Laguerre, 2023 and Arachnis Geyer, 1837. Despite recent advances in the taxonomy of the genus, much remains to be discovered. One of the main obstacles lies in species determination, as many species were described in past centuries when available technology was far less developed and taxonomic rigor was not applied as thoroughly as it is today. Consequently, it is well known that the genus requires a full revision of its species to enable more complex studies involving its members. Given this, studies reporting new records and species descriptions for poorly explored areas are essential to access the moth diversity of the region, highlighting the relevance of the present discovery. This finding enriches our understanding of 86 TROP. LEPID. RES., 35(2): 85-88, 2025 TAVARES ET AL.: New Hypercompe mean annual temperature of 22-24 °C and annual precipitation between 1,000 and 1,300 mm (Alvares et al., 2013; Tscharner et al., 2015). Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]) and Catenina mus (Oberthür, 1881) were studied in the Guaribas Biological Reserve, located in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, within the Atlantic Forest domain. The reserve is primarily situated in the municipality of Mamanguape, with central coordinates at 6°44'09"S, 35°08'32"W. The portion of the reserve where specimens were collected covers approximately 3,000 hectares. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,750 to 2,000 mm, and mean temperature varies between 24 and 26 °C (Nimer, 1979). This reserve includes two distinct vegetation types (Salgado et al., 1981). One is seasonal semideciduous forest (Fig. 1, C), which represents the typical vegetation of the Atlantic Forest north São Francisco River; the other is open arboreal savanna (Fig. 1, D), locally known as “Tabuleiros.” The latter formation is traditionally associated with the Cerrado, and some faunistic surveys of the area, such as Mesquita et al. (2018), often consider the reserve as having partial Cerrado characteristics. The coexistence of these contrasting vegetation types supports a particularly rich and distinctive fauna. Furthermore, the Guaribas Biological Reserve represents one of the last large protected areas at the extreme northern limit of the northeastern Atlantic Forest, underscoring its importance for biodiversity conservation in the region. Photographs of the male genitalia were taken using a Leica M205C stereomicroscope. Dissections followed standard procedures, with abdomens first soaked in a hot 10% KOH solution for 10 minutes. Dissected structures were then preserved in glycerol alongside their respective specimens for examination and imaging. TAXONOMY Arctiini, Spilosomina Hypercompe Hübner, [1818] Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae Tavares sp. nov. (Figs 2, 3) Type material: HOLOTYPE male, with the following label: “BRASIL, Alagoas, Quebrangulo / REBIO Pedra Talhada / 26.XI-03.XII.2023, Saulo Dal Bó col. [white label] | HOLOTYPE [red label, black bordered]”, DSEC004503LP; genitalia extracted and stored in glycerin in a microvial, pinned with the holotype. The type is deposited in the Coleção Entomológica of the Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia (DSEC) of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Etymology. The species is named after Maria de Fatima, the grandmother of the senior author, to whom he dedicates his love. Diagnosis. Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae sp. nov. can be placed in the genus in question primarily due to the characteristics of the male genitalia, which, as described by Laguerre (2023), include strongly reduced valvae shaped like a digit, robust and strongly sclerotized triangular uncus, massive aedeagus, absence of saccus and abdominal segment VIII welldeveloped. Externally, H. fatimae sp. nov. resembles other species of the genus, such as Hypercompe cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]), which is sympatric with H. fatimae sp. nov. (see Remarks section). However, it can be distinguished by several unique features in both habitus and genitalia. In the hindwing, a dark band runs along the anal margin, ending in a spot at the anal angle. Within this band, a slightly lighter mark, darker than the surrounding wing, extends toward the costal margin, and a small black dot is present just below the CuA2 vein. Notably, the apical area of H. cunigunda appears completely translucent, whereas in H. fatimae sp. nov., the pattern is well defined. In the genitalia, tergite VIII exhibits a distinctive, bread-slicelike shape in H. fatimae sp. nov., while in H. cunigunda the structure is subtriangular and heart-shaped, and the juxta in H. fatimae sp. nov. shows a frayed, carpet-like texture in its posterior region, which is absent in H. cunigunda. Description. Male (Fig. 2A, B). Head black, frons black and vertex white. Antennae filiform with short cilia, base covered with white scales. Palpi short, light cream. Proboscis absent. Thorax with hairy white patagia and a dark central circle. Tegulae with spearshaped dark scales centrally and long bristles along edges. Forewings 25 mm long, light cream, slightly translucent in posterior half specially near apex, costal margin with five dark spots, second and third spots extending beyond subcostal vein, third spot more prominent, five rows of circles with white Figure 1. Environments of the collection sites for specimens in this study. A, B, Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve, Alagoas; C, Guaribas Biological Reserve, Paraíba, seasonal semideciduous forest area; D, Guaribas Biological Reserve, open arboreal savanna area. centers and dark edges aligned with costal spots, containing 1, 3, 5, 8, and 8 circles from base to outer margin, outer margin with seven interveinal dark spots. Hindwings 14 mm long, translucent, hair-like scales at anal margin, dark band along anal margin narrowing near anal angle and widening again, two black spots on costal margin, very small dark spots between veins on opposite margin, short projection at anal angle. Forelegs with femora with black and metallic blue scales on dorsal inner face and white scales laterally, tibiae with white scales at base darkening toward tarsi, tarsi with dark scales and sparse amber scales. Midlegs with femora entirely white, black scales at femur-tibia joint, tibiae with blue scales at femur joint and dark brown scales at tarsus joint, tarsi dark blue. Hindlegs with femora and tibiae white except at joints, tarsi white at base, two dark spots in middle, black at tip. Abdomen robust, dark bluish dorsally and white ventrally. Male genitalia (Fig. 3A-E). Tergite VIII slice-of-bread shape, bilobed 87 Figure 2. Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae Tavares sp. nov. habitus. A, Holotype dorsal view; B, Holotype ventral view. Scale: 10 mm. Figure 3. Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) fatimae Tavares sp. nov. male genitalia. A, genital capsule lateral view; B, genital capsule ventral view; C, genital capsule dorsal view; D Tergite VIII; E, aedeagus, vesica everted. Scale: 2 mm. Figure 4. Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]) habitus. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view. Scale 10 mm. Figure 5. Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]) male genitalia. A, genital capsule lateral view; B, genital capsule ventral view; C, genital capsule dorsal view; D Tergite VIII; E, aedeagus, vesica everted. Scale: 2 mm. Figure 6. Catenina mus (Oberthür, 1881) habitus. A, dorsal view; B, ventral view. Scale 10 mm. Figure 7. Catenina mus (Oberthür, 1881) male genitalia. A, genital capsule lateral view; B, genital capsule ventral view; C, genital capsule dorsal view; D Tergite VIII; E, aedeagus, vesica everted. Scale: 2 mm. posterior region with central depression, rectangular anterior portion with rounded corners. Uncus broad, triangular, ventrally bent, tip slender, slightly curved downward. Valvae reduced to digitate process, extending laterally to uncus tip. Tegumen subrectangular, rounded corners. Juxta hourglass-shaped, broader anteriorly, central narrowing, posterior region with grooves like frayed fabric. Aedeagus massive, short, cylindrical, vesica with single lobe, fine spines in densely spiculated patch. Distribution. The holotype was collected at the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve (REBIO de Pedra Talhada) in Quebrangulo, Alagoas. This is the only known location for this species. REMARKS New records for Hypercompe and Catenina. Recent fieldwork at the Guaribas Biological Reserve (REBIO Guaribas) yielded specimens of Hypercompe (Pseudocompe) cunigunda (Stoll, [1781]) (Figs 4, 5) and Catenina mus (Oberthür, 1881) (Figs 6, 7). These records extend the known distribution of both genera to the state of Paraíba, where their presence had not previously been documented. For H. cunigunda, the closest known locality was the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve in Alagoas (Godé & Nobre 2015), which also represents the type locality of H. fatimae sp. nov., placing the two species in sympatry within that area. The new record from Paraíba further expands the range of H. cunigunda by approximately 310 km to the north. Catenina mus, a species belonging to a genus recently positioned as sister to Hypercompe (Laguerre 2023), was previously known from the Brazilian state of Bahia, about 800 km southwest of our new record (Oberthür 1881). The specimen representing the Bahia record was originally described as Ecpantheria bahiensis Oberthür, 1881, and later synonymized with Hypercompe mus by Vincent & Laguerre (2013), with the latter changed to Catenina mus by Laguerre (2023). Material collected at REBIO Guaribas therefore represent the first confirmed record of C. mus in Atlantic Forest north of São Francisco river, considerably extending the known range of the TROP. LEPID. RES., 35(2): 85-88, 2025TAVARES ET AL.: New Hypercompe 88 genus in northeastern Brazil. On the citizen science platform iNaturalist.org there are some reports of Hypercompe and related genera for the region. However, since the identification of moths in this genus requires closer examination of the specimens, the taxonomic identity of these observations remains uncertain. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Dr. Michel Laguerre for his assistance and insightful feedback on the early draft of this manuscript, as well as Dr. Jose Martinez and the reviewers for their constructive and critical comments. LITERATURE CITED Alvares, C. A., Stape, J. L., Sentelhas, P. C., Gonçalves, J. L. M., Sparovek, G. 2013. Köppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. Meteorologische Zeitschrift 22(6): 711-728. 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