Lepidoneiva erubescens was first described by Butler, 1986 (https://archive.org/details/journaloflinnean121876linn/page/389/mode/1up?view=theater) as Cosmossoma erubescens. Travassos, 1940 established the genus Lepidoneiva based on this species, which then became known as Lepidoneiva erubescens. Despite this, the species was often considered a subspecies of Cosmossoma teuthras and the genus Lepidoneiva was long ignored as a valid genus (Laguerre, 2022). Laguerre, 2022 reviewed the genus using modern systematic techniques such as barcoding and dissection of the reproductive system. It was concluded that several species were distantly grouped from the other Cosmossoma species and therefore could be considered as their own genus. Among the species in this group was the taxon Cosmossoma teuthras erubescens, Michel Laguerre then recognized the validity of the genus Lepidoneiva created by Lauro Travassos. Thus, Lepidoneiva erubescens was reinstated and recognized as a different species from the now renamed Lepidoneiva teuthras.
Both Butler, 1986 and Laguerre, 2022 separate Lepidoneiva erubescens and Lepidoneiva teuthras similarly: L. erubescens is a smaller species; the red stripe on the inner margin of the forewing extends to the anal angle; L. teuthras has red scales at the base of the wing that are absent in L. erubescens. In addition to these characteristics, I noted that the dorsal part of the thorax often has a brown stripe in L. erubescens, it was not clear whether due to shedding of red scales or if they are indeed short brown scales.
With this information, I conducted a search on the Inaturalist website looking for photographs of specimens of this species. The search was restricted to adult specimens identified at least in the subfamily Arctiinae in South American countries, excluding the Andean countries and the far north.
I found 198 observations corresponding to the species L. erubescens, bringing the total observations from 98 to 217. The specimens were found in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Bahia, Ceará, and also in the Federal District, in the Argentine provinces of Corrientes and Jujuy, and in the countries Paraguay and Bolivia. Observations were most frequent between October and March, with a peak in January.
In addition to the locations found in this study, other locations also had the species recorded. Laguerre, 2022 found the species in the Argentine province of Formosa and in Peru, while Ferro, 2007 recorded the species in the Brazilian states of Pará, Tocantins, and Maranhão.
L. erubescens exhibits clustering behavior, which was photographed for the first time by Kozue Kawakami (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189686067) and subsequently by Agnaldo Correa de Assis (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/199742549). This behavior was also documented in writing by Rogerio Dias (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195313536) and the user agujaceratops (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/194062907). The records occurred in October, December, and February, suggesting they do not occur on a specific date. The locations were also distinct, with the phenomenon occurring in Bolivia and the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.
Bibliography:
Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi. Diversidade de mariposas Arctiidae (Lepidoptera) do cerrado. 2007. Tese (doutorado) - Curso de ecologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2007.
Laguerre, M. 2022. Revision of the genus Lepidoneiva Travassos, 1940: ressurection of several species. Antenor 9 (4): 143-160.
Travassos, L. 1940. Lepidoneiva, novo gênero da família Euchromiidae (Lepidoptera). Revista de entomologia 11 (1-2): 477-487.
