Nota Lepi. 43 2020: 301-309 | DOI 10.3897/nl.43.54177 Research Article

A new Species and a new record of Pero Herrich-Schaffer, 1855
(Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the Andes of southern Peru

CARLOS PALACIOS!, JACKIE FARFAN!?, JOSE CERDENA!”,
ANA LAzo-Rivera', Luis E. PARRA?, HECTOR A. VARGAS?

1 Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa, Escuela Profesional de Biologia, Av. Alcides Carrion s/n, Arequipa,
Peru; cpalaciosc@unsa.edu.pe; jjackie4u@gmail.com; cerdenajoseal@yahoo.es; alazor@unsa.edu.pe

2 PPG Biologia Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociéncias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do
Sul, Av. Bento Gongalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil

3 Departamento de Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanogrdficas, Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla
160-C, Concepcion, Chile; luparra@udec.cl

4 Departamento de Recursos Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Agronémicas, Universidad de Tarapacd, Casilla 6-D,

Arica, Chile; lepvargas@gmail.com

http://zoobank. org/96 12ED3A-2BEC-48B9-B325-2909F015B2BA

Received 12 May 2020; accepted 4 August 2020; published: 6 October 2020
Subject Editor: Axel Hausmann.

Abstract. Two species of the moth genus Pero Herrich-Schaffer, 1855 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae,
Odontoperini) are added to the fauna of the Andes of southern Peru in the Arequipa Department. Pero lopezi
Vargas & Palacios sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on male adults collected in Pocsi, at 2900 m
elevation. Pero atridisca Dognin, 1906, previously known from Angasmarca (La Libertad), 1s recorded for the
first time in Arequipa, significantly expanding its distribution range.

Introduction

The genus Pero Herrich-Schaffer, 1855 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae, Odontoperini) is rep-
resented by 313 described species, 294 in the Neotropics and 19 in the Nearctic region (Poole 1987;
Herbulot 2002; Pitkin 2002; Ferris 2003; Lévéque 2006, 2007, 2010; Brown 2007; Vargas 2007). The
list includes the two species previously ascribed to the Neotropical Nepitia Walker, 1866, a genus
recently synonymized with Pero based on a molecular phylogenetic study that also provided support
for the synonymy of Azelinini with Odontoperini (Brehm et al. 2019). South American species of Pero
are mostly associated with Andean habitats, from mid-elevation eastern wet forest to xerophytic scrub-
land of western slopes, and with southeastern Brazilian habitats (Poole 1987; Lévéque 2007; Vargas
2007; Cerdefia et al. 2019). Faunistic studies have revealed high diversity of Pero in moist forest of
the Andes (Brehm et al. 2016). Almost all of the currently recognized species of Pero distributed in
Peru come from the northern and central Andes (Poole 1987; Herbulot 2002; Lévéque 2007, 2010).

The genus Pero is well diversified in the Andes but only one species has been recently reported
from Andean environments of southwestern Peru (Cerdefia et al. 2019). However, a few discover-
ies dealing with this genus and other representatives of Geometridae in similar arid environments
suggest that this poor representation is due more to a lack of data from low collection effort than to
low diversity in this geographic area (Vargas and Hausmann 2008; Vargas et al. 2020).

302 Carvos Pavacios et al.: Additions to Pero in Arequipa

The aims of this study are to further update the records of Pero species recently collected 1n the
Department of Arequipa and to describe formally a new species of Pero, based on male specimens
collected in the locality of Pocsi, at 2900 m elevation.

Material and methods

The specimens examined in this study were collected in different sites between about 2200 and
4100 m elevation in the Andes of the Arequipa Department, southern Peru, between September,
2017 and September, 2019, using two light traps, one with 250 watt mercury vapor mixed light and
other with one LepiLed UV lamp (Brehm 2017). The collected specimens were mounted following
standard procedures. Male genitalia were removed from abdomens and soaked in 10% KOH solu-
tion for ten minutes. Subsequently, abdomens were preliminarily cleaned of soft tissue in water in
order to expose the genital parts, then stained in Eosin Y to identify genital parts. Dissected genita-
lia were cleaned of water using ethanol 90% and 95% solutions, and mounted in Euparal. Genitalic
terminology follows Poole (1987). Length measurements are in metric units and were made from
photographs of specimens taken next to a scale and magnified on a computer screen. Photographs
of adults were taken with a Nikon D610 digital camera through a Nikkor 105 mm f/2.8G AF-S VR
Micro lens; photographs of genitalia structures were taken with SMZ25 Nikon stereomicroscope.
Images were assembled and edited in Photoshop CS5.1.

Abbreviations of institutional collections
MUSA _ Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa, Peru.

Results

Pero lopezi Vargas & Palacios, sp. nov.
http://zoobank.org/43228DBB-7A 87-4767-9A4C-442F0ED7F 164
Figs 1, 2

Type material. Holotype, male: Peru. Peru, AR[equipa], Pocsi, Carretera Mollebaya-Pocsi, 16°30’56”S, 71°25’52”W, 2900 m,
17—24.111.2018, Leg. S. Ramos, M. Condori, M. Arivilca, L. Olivera (MUSA). BOLD specimen page BC ZSM Lep add 300.

Paratypes, PERu, eight males. One male, same data as holotype, genitalia slide GeoAr01 (MUSA); six males, same data
as holotype, but 03.11.2018, genitalia slide GeoAR13 (MUSA); one male Peru, AR[equipa], Chiguata, Bosque Polylepis
sp., 16°23’33”S, 71°19°07”"W, 4090 m, 17—23.111.2018, Leg. L. Pinto, G. Aliaga, Y. Aguilar, G. Rodriguez, genitalia slide
GeoArl1 (MUSA).

Type locality. Peru, Arequipa Department, Pocsi, 16°30’S, 71°25’ W, 2900 m.

Diagnosis. Pero lopezi is recognized by the slightly dentate postmedial line with outwardly
rounded teeth on upperside of forewing (Fig. 1A), parallel-sided uncus with round apex and nar-
row longitudinal subscaphium (Fig. 2A) and phallus with a serrated carina near apex (Fig. 2C).
The morphology of the male genitalia of P. /opezi allows it to be assigned to Group 15 sensu Poole
(1987), among which this is remarkably similar to that of Pero acopa Poole, 1987. However,
P. lopezi is easily separable from the species in this group, including P. acopa, due to the slightly
dentate postmedial line with outwardly rounded teeth on upperside of forewing, narrow longitudi-

Nota Lepi. 43: 301-309 303

Figure 1. Adult stage of Pero /opezi Vargas & Palacios, sp. nov. A. Holotype male in dorsal view; B. Holotype
male in ventral view. Scale bar: 1 cm.

304 Carvos Patacios ef al.: Additions to Pero in Arequipa

phallus
removed; B. Phallus in lateral view; C. Detail of serrated carina of phallus close to apex. Scale bar: 1 mm.

nal subscaphium and phallus with a serrated carina near the apex. Moreover, the antennae of the
male in P. acopa are pectinate, but not in P. Jopezi.

Male. (Fig. 1) Forewing length 17-18 mm (n= 9)

Head. Mostly greyish brown, some scales slightly darker or lighter subapically. Vertex with
narrow, slightly elongated scales. Frons appressedly scaled. Antenna filiform, about 2/3 forewing
length, dorsally with whitish brown scales, ventrally shortly ciliated. Labial palp greyish brown;
first segment with narrow, elongated scales anteroventrally projected partially concealing the base
of second segment; second segment with shorter scales; third segment appressedly scaled.

Thorax. Mostly with narrow, elongated greyish brown scales dorsally, mostly with long, hair-
like whitish greyish brown scales laterally. Legs mostly greyish brown with a few lighter and dark-
er scales scattered. Forewing mostly greyish brown with dark brown scales scattered; antemedial
line dark brown, mostly sinuate, sharply angled outward near costal margin; discal dot blackish
brown, as a short transverse stripe near distal margin of cell; postmedial line broad, dark brown
outwardly, lighter inwardly, slightly dentate with outwardly rounded teeth, a larger tooth near pos-
terior margin; five small circular creamy white spots forming a line close to distal margin, each
spot with a narrow dark brown stripe proximally. Hindwing mostly whitish brown basally, greyish
brown distally, darker scales scattered; discal dot dark brown, circular; postmedial line slightly
dentate, dark brown, lighter near anterior margin.

Nota Lepi. 43: 301-309 305

Abdomen. Greyish brown with lighter and darker scales scattered. Segment VIII slightly scle-
rotized, anterior margin broadly concave, lateral margin broadly convex, distal margin rounded.

Male genitalia (Fig. 2). Tegumen narrow, anterior margin sharply cleft, posterior margin
concave. Saccus narrow, U-shaped. Socius membranous with a few hair-like setae. Uncus main-
ly parallel-sided, lightly wider basally, apex rounded. Subscaphium as a narrow, longitudinal
rectangular sclerite. Gnathos Y-shaped; ventral arm about 2/3 the length of lateral arm, slightly
curved posteriorly. Juxta in two parts, triangular basally, semicircular dorsally, lateral incision
near middle, dorsal part slightly asymmetric, left apex narrower than right apex, dorsal margin
slightly concave. Transtilla narrow near middle. Valvae symmetrical, somewhat rectangular,
slightly wider basally, dorsal margin about a half of ventral margin; costa well-sclerotized until
about 3/4 length of dorsal margin, about a third the height of valva, distal part suddenly nar-
rowed; distal part of valva mainly membranous, costal fold with abundant hair-like setae; me-
dian process well-developed, sculptured; distal half of sacculus as a narrow, longitudinal lobe
with hair-like setae; a diagonal, slightly curved furrow from near middle of sacculus to near
apex of costa. Phallus sub-cylindrical (Fig. 2B), similar in length to dorsal margin of valva,
distal third suddenly excavated dorsally, a well-developed serrated carina ventrally near apex
(Fig. 2C); vesica with a narrow, slightly sinuous cornutus basally and two groups of spine-like
cornuti, one at middle, another at apex.

Female. Unknown.

Geographic distribution. (Fig. 4). Pero /opezi is only known from the type locality, Pocsi, in
Arequipa Department, and surroundings, between 2900 and 4090 m elevation.

Etymology. This new species is dedicated to Dr. Evaristo Luciano Lopez Tejeda, Director of
Museo de Historia Natural Universidad Nacional de San Agutin de Arequipa (MUSA), in recogni-
tion of his invaluable work on the fauna of the Department of Arequipa and southern Peru.

Host plant. Unknown.

Remarks. Although identification of species of the genus Pero is mainly based on morphology
of the male genitalia (Poole 1987), it has been suggested that structures of the female genitalia also
provide useful characters for identifications of the species of this genus, including those of Group
15 (Lévéque 2006, 2007; Dias 2008; Vargas 2019). Females of P. /opezi were searched for, without
success, in the type locality after we recognized the males as representatives of an undescribed
species. Accordingly, further sampling will be needed to know this species better.

Pero atridisca Dognin, 1906
Fig. 3A, B

Material examined. PERU. Two males: Peru, AR[equipa], Valle Colca, Via Cabanaconde — Yaguar, 15°35’22”S,
72°00°06”W, 2200 m, 05.1x.2019, Leg. M. Condori, M. Arivilca, C. Palacios (MUSA).

Remarks. Pero atridisca was described from Angasmarca, La Libertad Department, Peru. The
discovery of this species in Arequipa expands its range south in the Andes more than 1000 km
(Fig. 4). Adult and male genitalia were illustrated by Poole (1987). The species identity awaits
further study and confirmation by molecular data (DNA barcoding).

306 Carvos Patacios et al.: Additions to Pero in Arequipa

— B

Figure 3. Adults (dorsal view) and male genitalia. A, B. Pero atridisca Dognin, 1906. Scale bar: 1 cm (A.);
1 mm (B.).

Nota Lepi. 43: 301-309 307

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Figure 4. Geographic distribution of Pero Jopezi Vargas & Palacios, sp. nov. (white stars) and Pero atridisca
Dognin, 1906 (squares) in Peru. Symbols: black square (locality type), white square (new record).

Discussion

The discovery of these two species of Pero confirm the importance of the arid environments of the
Andes for the representatives of Group 15 of this genus, already highlighted by Poole (1987). The
number of species of Pero of the Arequipa Department increases to three, as only one was recorded
previously (Cerdefia et al. 2019). It is expect that additional species will be discovered with further
sampling. As the Neotropical species of Pero appear to be highly specialized in host plant use

308 Carvos Pavacios et al.: Additions to Pero in Arequipa

(Poole 1987; Vargas 2011), future surveys should be undertaken using light traps in underexplored
habitats harboring different native plants to enhance the probability to collect more species of the
genus with a better representation of the native flora in different sampling sites.

Despite the importance of the knowledge of immature stages and natural history to the under-
standing of ecology and systematics of Lepidoptera, these aspects remain poorly studied for the
Neotropical representatives of Pero (Vargas et al. 2017). In order to gain insights in this regard,
surveys for immature stages on native plants should be implemented, as detailed knowledge of
geographic distribution and host plant use of these moths and other Lepidoptera (Farfan et al.
2020a, b) could be a useful tool to plan further studies dealing with conservation biology in the
amazing arid environments of the Andes of southern Peru.

Acknowledgements

We thank Adriana Chalup, Antoine Lévéque, Axel Hausmann and Gunnar Brehm for kind comments on a
previous version of the manuscript, Lafayette Eaton for checking the English. The first author would like to
thank the Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa for financial support through contract number
TP-25-2019-UNSA.

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