Amorbimorpha schausiana (Walsingham) Walsingham, 2012

Kruse, James J., 2012, Description of Amorbimorpha Kruse, new genus, from Mexico and the southern United States (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Sparganothini), Zootaxa 3177, pp. 33-42 : 40

Amorbimorpha schausiana (Walsingham) , new combination

Figs. 5, 9 , 12, 13

Epagoge schausiana Walsingham 1913: 211 ; Kruse and Powell 2009: 65.

Sparganothoides schausiana ; Powell 1986: 376; Powell et al. 1995: 150; Brown 2005: 564.

Diagnosis. Amorbimorpha schausiana is distinctive in that it is the only known species in the genus with predominantly gray forewings. It is also among the largest species in the genus. Some undescribed species possess similar genitalia but have yellow or brown forewing ground color.

Description. Male. Head: Vertex and frons gray; antennae biciliate 4–5 tufts per segment, yellowish brown; labial palpus hoary gray, speckled with fuscous, length ca. 2 times diameter of compound eye, mostly porrect, segment III slightly drooping; ocelli reduced. Thorax: Hoary grayish with some black scaling. Forewing length 14.2–16.8 mm = 15.7; n = 7). Costa evenly arched near base, termen oblique not sinuate; forewing ground color hoary gray; dark gray with black scaling on subbasal, median, and subterminal fasciae in fresh specimens, all fasciae extending to near dorsum; dark gray subterminal and terminal transverse strigulae present; worn specimens appear blotchy. Fringe hoary grayish. Hindwing shining white; uniformly and gradually becoming brownish gray toward distal regions. Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 9 ; slide #AB. 9MAY1929; NMNH; Mexico, Veracruz, Las Vigas, 8000’, 1887, W. Schaus; n = 5) with uncus long, prominent, from tall, broad, ovate base, narrowed at middle, forked in apical third, each branch long, slender, hairy, divergent from the other; tegumen broad, raised, rounded, pedunculi long; socius long, broad at middle, narrowed and pointed anteriorly, tapered and pointed distally; gnathos arms long, slender, angled near middle, subapically widened and hairy, apices tapered to naked, slender lobes; transtilla sclerotized, slightly incurved at basal third of posterior margin, strongly extended at middle of anterior margin into a pointed process, central area covered with spines; valva elongate, subrectangular, broad at base, broadly incurved at basal fourth along anterior margin, curved posteriorly beyond middle, rounded at apex; costa slightly concave, broad, sclerotized to near apex of valva; sacculus long, sclerotized over entire length, ending ca. two-fifths distance from base to apex; phallus pistol-shaped, distal portion moderately long, slightly curved at middle, about equal in length to phallobase, attenuate apically, attached to juxta by a strong, tapered process; cornuti deciduous (none of five males examined retained cornuti in vesica); juxta large, broadly rounded at base.

Female. Head, Thorax: Essentially as described for male, except forewing markings generally less distinct than in male. Forewing length 14.0 mm (n = 1). Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 12 ; slide #JJK301; NMNH; Mexico, La Marquesa N.P., Las Cruces, 5–9.vii.1965, Flint & Ortiz. Fig. 13 ; slide #4728 BMNH; Mexico, Veracruz, Las Vigas, 8000’, 1887, W. Schaus; BMNH; n = 2) with papillae anales parallel-sided, broadly rounded posteriorly and anteriorly; sterigma plate broad, lobed laterally, heavily sclerotized; ductus bursae moderate in length, widening anteriorly; corpus bursae large, rounded; signum a long, narrow, boomerang-shaped, arcuate band, acutely narrowed at each end, length about half width of corpus bursae.

Type material. Holotype: male: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: Las Vigas, 8000’, 1887, W. Schaus ( BMNH).

Paratypes: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: Las Vigas, 8000’, 1887, W. Schaus (13, 1Ƥ) ( BMNH); “co-type” same data (23) ( NMNH).

Additional specimens examined: MEXICO: MEXICO: La Marquesa N.P., Las Cruces, 5–9.vii.1965, Flint & Ortiz (23, 1Ƥ) ( NMNH); MORELOS: Zempoala, 10–11.vii.1965, Flint & Ortiz (13) ( NMNH); VERACRUZ: Cofre de Perote, 3300 m, 4.vi.1997, V.O. Becker (23) ( INBio).

Biology. Capture records are from early-June through mid-July at high elevations in southeastern Mexico.

Remarks. Specimens in the BMNH were not examined by the author, and the diagnosis and re-description are based on the original description along with photographs and extensive notes taken by R.L. Lambert and J.A. Powell.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 9. Adults and male genitalia of Amorbimorpha. 1 – 6. Adults. 1. A. powelliana, holotype male. 2. A. powelliana, paratype female. 3. A. mackayiana, paratype male. 4. A. mackayiana, paratype female. 5. A. schausiana, male (Mexico, Veracruz, Cofre de Perote, 3300 m, 04. vi. 1997, V. O. Becker, INBio). 6. A. spadicea, holotype female. 7 – 8. Male genitalia. 7. Amorbimorpha powelliana, holotype. 8. A. mackayiana, paratype. 8 A. Aedeagus of A. mackayiana, paratype. 9. A. schausiana, paratype.

FIGURE 10 – 14. Female genitalia of Amorbimorpha. 10. Female genitalia of A. powelliana, paratype. 11. Female genitalia of A. mackayiana, paratype. 12. Female genitalia of A. schausiana. 13. Female genitalia of A. schausiana, paratype (photograph by Jerry Powell). 14. Female genitalia of A. spadicea, holotype (photograph by Jerry Powell).