DISTRIBUTION:

Nyceryx brevis (approximate wingspan: mm // fwl: 20-22mm) flies in cerrado habitat in
Brazil: HT Bahia: Morro do Chapeu, 1400 m, 23-24.IV.1991; Minas Gerais, Serra do Cipo and Belo Horizonte, [Retiro das Pedras], 1300 m.

This species if similar to continua continua but N. brevis is much smaller, and perhaps that is why it was named brevis.

I suspect it also flies in cerrado biome in Pernambuco, Piaui and Tocantins, but have no confirmed reports for those states. Haxaire & Mielke, 2019, suggest it may be limited to Minas Gerais and Bahia.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Moths are probably on the wing in just about every month with confirmed reports for January and April. However, in drier habitatit may be limited to rainier season.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose, usually within three to five weeks from pupation date.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with a pheromone released from a gland at the tip of the abdomen.

Females are active just after midnight with males beginning night flight around 1:00 am.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE:

Larvae possibly feed on Pentagonia donnell-smithii, and Chimarrhis parviflora, but neither food plant has been confirmed. Inga species should also be explored.

Isuspect the species name, fernandezi, is honourific for Fernandez.

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Part of original description by V. O . Becker: "Head, thorax, fore wings and abdomen covered with brown, whitish-tipped scales. Head with a dark brown band dorsally, which continues to mid thorax; palpi brown, 2nd segment with a conspicuous silvery-white dot distally. Thorax and base of abdomen dark brown subdorsally; tegulae dark brown, edged white posteriorly; tibiae and tarsi white dorsaly. Fore wings with irregular, oblique, subrectangular patch from below cell to mid dorsum, connected to mid costa by a double fascia; a pair of dots at end of cell: a lower, proximal, large, and a distal, small at upper end ofcell; three parallel, sinuous lines beyond dots and before postmedial fascia, from costa to dorsum; postmedial fascia dark brown, forming an even arch from apex to tomus; cilia concolorous, pale basally. Hind wings ochreous, tinged reddish brown; termen darkening gradually towards tomus; double graysh, arched, bands near tomus; dorsum ochreous, tinged reddish brown. Underside of both wings reddish brown; three ill-defined, sinuous lines beyond distal 3rd; graysh towards termen."

Part of original description by V. O . Becker: "Holotype male. BRAZIL, Bahia: Morro do Chapeu, 1400 m, 23-24.IV.1991, Beckerleg. [78175]. Paratypes. I male, same data as holotype; I male, Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, [Retiro das Pedras], 1300 m, 2.I.I976, Becker, leg. [18273]. Remarks. This is the smallest species in the genus. Its pattern resembles that of N continuus (Walker, 1856), but is easily distinguished by its small size, less than two-thirds the size ofthe former.

"This is either a very rare species or it is not readily attracted to light. After 30 years of intensive collecting in Central Brazil, only the three specimens listed above were collected. Both collecting localities, despite being much appart, are similar: both are located on top of rocky elevations covered with scattered low savanna trees, and bushes."

Nyceryx brevis Original description with pictures.