Neocynorta venezuelensis (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov

(Figures 12 – 14, 19 (d,e), 20(b))

Cynortula venezuelensis Roewer 1915: 121, fig. 67

Cynortula venezuelensis – Roewer 1923: 326, fig. 365; Roewer 1928: 575; Mello-Leitão 1932: 58; Caporiacco 1951: 13; Roewer 1959: 84; Weidner 1959: 121; Moritz 1971: 213 ‘ Cynortula venezuelenesis’ [incorrect subsequent spelling]: González-Sponga (1992: 181, figs 213 – 219) Cynorta (Cynorta) dimorpha SØrensen 1932: 394, fig. 28 [junior subjective synonym of Cynortula venezuelensis Roewer, 1915 by González-Sponga (1992)] Cynortula dimorpha: Mello-Leitão 1933: 110 Cynorta levinseni González-Sponga 1992: 102, figs 93 – 98. syn. nov. Cynorta cristafemoris González-Sponga, 1992: 80, figs 56 – 61. syn. nov.

Type data

Cynortula venezuelensis: 21 ♂ ♀ syntypes, SMF RI, ZMHA, ZMH, of which 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (ZMB 11594), 2 unsexed specimens (ZMH, Roewer No. 1080) (examined by photographs) from VENEZUELA, Mérida, Mérida, 2000 m.

Cynorta dimorpha: 7 ♂ 8 ♀ syntypes, ZMUC (not examined), from VENEZUELA, Mérida, Mérida, 2000 m.

Cynorta levinseni: ♂ holotype, MAGS 602a; ♀ paratype, MAGS 602b; 5 ♂ 2 ♀ paratypes, MAGS (not examined), from VENEZUELA, Mérida, Sucre: between Chiguará and Santa Filomena, 1200 m.

Cynorta cristafemoris: ♂ holotype, MAGS 619a; ♀ paratype, MAGS 619b; 15 ♂ 13 ♀ paratypes, MAGS (not examined), from VENEZUELA, Mérida, Andrés Bello: between La Cuchilla and La Azulita, 2000 m.

Records

VENEZUELA, Mérida, Libertador: Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada, guardaparques La Mucuy; road Mérida-La Azulita, 1600 – 2000 m (González-Sponga 1992).

Doubtful records

COLOMBIA, Magdalena, Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha (Roewer 1928, which we find unlikely given the degree of endemism of the genus). ECUADOR, Pichincha, Chiriboga, 50 km W Quito, 2500 m (Roewer 1959, which we find unlikely). VENEZUELA, Distrito Federal, El Junquito (Caporiacco 1951, refuted by González- Sponga 1992).

Material examined

3 ♂ 2 ♀, MNRJ 2652, from VENEZUELA, Mérida, Andres Bello, via La Azulita, El Chorotal, sector El Frontino, 2200 m. 3 February 2017. O. Villarreal, A. Garcia and N. Sanchez.

Remarks

The presence of the VLP (Figure 5 (d – e)) is considered here a putative synapomorphy of Neocynorta; this character was illustrated by González-Sponga in all species described by him (including C. levinseni) and transferred here to Neocynorta. Nonetheless, in the specimen that we have examined and illustrated of N. venezuelensis (Figure 13 (a – d)), this process is not visible. That may be because it is masked by the growth of the caruncle, and is extremely reduced (or absent). We think that this could be considered a possible reversion, representing an apomorphic state, which does not prevent the inclusion of the species in the genus.