Manduca exiguus (Gehlen, 1942): a valid species from southern and south-eastern Brazil, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

Abstract

Manduca exiguus (Gehlen, 1942) stat. n. was first described as a subspecies of Manduca lucetius (Cramer, 1780), but later considered as a junior synonym of Manduca contracta (Butler, 1875). Here, we compare the two taxa and demonstrate the validity of M. exiguus as a species on the basis of a distinctive habitus and differences in the male genitalia, together with corroborating evidence from DNA barcodes. The distribution of M. exiguus is detailed.