Lon Grishin 2019, new genus

Lon Grishin, new genus

http://zoobank.org/ 4CFECC3F-DEDA-4533-9F5C-4418BADA0ABB

Type species. Hesperia zabulon Boisduval and Le Conte, [1837].

Definition. A sister genus to Stinga Evans, 1955 (type species Pamphila morrisoni Edwards, 1878) combined with Poanes Scudder, 1872 (type species Hesperia massasoit Scudder, 1863) including its junior subjective synonym Phycanassa Scudder, 1872 (type species Hesperia viator Edwards, 1865) (Fig. 13). Species of this genus were formerly placed in Poanes, but are not monophyletic with it if Stinga is considered a valid genus, because Stinga is sister to Poanes with exclusion of this genus. This genus constitutes the “ordinary terrestrial species” subgroup of Burns (Burns 1992) who gave and illustrated diagnostic genitalic characters for it, in contrast to “marsh dwellers” that are the true Poanes. Most obvious diagnostic character is a very long (extending well beyond the body of aedeagus) and armed with spikes titillator in penis (in addition to two smaller ones), so prominent that it is even shown on Evans sketches (Evans 1955). Harpe upturned and touches ampulla, instead of being directed largely distad and leaving a gap between it at ampulla in Poanes. In DNA, a combination of the following base pairs is diagnostic: aly525.55.2:G476C, aly378.21.7:A1612G, aly84.28.1:A602G, aly 2631.4.13:T68A, aly85.22.2:T1259C.

Etymology. The name is a masculine noun in the nominative singular, and is formed from the last syllable of the type species name.

Species included. The type species, Hesperia hobomok T. Harris, 1862, Pamphila inimica Butler and Druce, 1872, Pamphila taxiles Edwards, 1881, Pamphila azin Godman, 1900, Poanes macneilli Burns, 1992, Hesperia ulphila Plötz, 1883, Atrytone monticola Godman, [1900], Pamphila niveolimbus Mabille, 1889, Hesperia melane Edwards, 1869.

Parent taxon. Subtribe Hesperiina Latreille, 1809.