Metalectra richardsi Brower, 1941

Pogue, Michael G., 2012, The Aventiinae, Boletobiinae, Eublemminae, Pangraptinae, Phytometrinae, and Scolecocampinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Erebidae) of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, U. S. A., Zootaxa 3153, pp. 1-31 : 10-11

4. Metalectra richardsi Brower, 1941 Richards’ Fungus Moth

( Figs. 6–7 , Map 5)

Identification. Forewing length 7.0–9.0 mm. Metalectra richardsi is the smallest species of this genus in the Park. The forewing ground color is reddish brown with a broad, black medial line from costa to posterior margin. Antemedial line is a thin, white crenulate band that is bordered distally by a broken line of black scales. Postmedial line is a jagged, slightly sinuate line of black scales. Subterminal line is a thin, white, S-shaped band from costa to middle of forewing. Terminal line is a series of fairly prominent black triangles that are connected giving a wavy appearance to the line. Hind wing is dissimilar to forewing. Ground color is gray with a black discal bar, short white bar in anal area, and wavy black terminal line. Fringe is reddish brown with some black spots, especially in middle of wing. The small size, reddish-brown forewing color, and the hind wing being dissimilar in pattern to forewing will distinguish M. richardsi from other Metalectra species in the Park.

Flight period. Mid May to mid August.

Collected localities. North Carolina: Swain Co.: Big Cove Rd., site b, site p, site w; 0.5 km from mouth of Chambers Creek 300 feet up hillside on NW side; 0.7 km up creek from mouth of Goldmine Creek; 300 feet above lake on Welch Ridge. Tennessee: Blount Co.: Cades Cove Ranger Station; Foothills Parkway West at E end; Cocke Co.: Cosby Ranger Station; Foothills Parkway, south overlook; Foothills Parkway, at I-40; Foothills Parkway East; Foothills Parkway East, 1.3 mi N of 321. (26 specimens)

Elevation range. 1001–2400 ft. (305–732 m)

General distribution. This is an eastern species distributed from Massachusetts, south to Florida, and west to Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Larval hosts. Unknown, but probably fungi ( Covell 1984).

MAP 5. Collecting localities of Metalectra richardsi .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 32. Adults. 1, Oruza albocostaliata, m, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Aquasco, 12 June 1997, J. Glaser; 2, Metalectra discalis, m, Tennessee, Blount Co., Ace Gap Trailhead, GSMNP, 24 July 2000, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00154045; 3, Metalectra discalis, m, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Adelphi, 17 Aug. 1969, D. C. Ferguson; 4, Metalectra quadrisignata, m, North Carolina, Jackson Co., Balsam, 3200 ft., 21 June 1974, D. C. Ferguson; 5, Metalectra quadrisignata, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Violette’s Lock, 29 July 1975, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Metalectra richardsi, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 11 Aug. 1980, D. C. Ferguson; 7, Metalectra richardsi, m, South Carolina, Charleston Co., McClellanville, Wedge Plantation; 1 May 1972, D. C. Ferguson; 8, Metalectra tantillus, m, South Carolina, Charleston Co., McClellanville, Wedge Plantation; 23 Apr. 1974, D. C. Ferguson; 9, Metalectra tantillus, m, Florida, Putnam Co., Welaka, University Reserve, 7 Apr. 1971, D. C. Ferguson; 10, Dyspyralis illocata, f, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Kajimukujik, 20 July 1957, D. C. Ferguson; 11, Dyspyralis illocata, m, Canada, Nova Scotia, Queens Co., Lake Kajimukujik, 21 July 1957, D. C. Ferguson; 12, Dyspyralis nigellus, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 8 July 1986, D. C. Ferguson; 13, Dyspyralis nigellus, m, Maryland, Baltimore Co., Soldiers Delight, 17 July 1993, J. Glaser; 14, Dyspyralis puncticosta, m, New Hampshire, Winnipesaukee, Long Island, 4 Aug. 1972, E. Jäckh; 15 Dyspyralis puncticosta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co., Devil’s Den State Park, 7 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 16, Eublemma minima, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., Foothills Parkway, GSMNP, 17 Sep. 2001, J. Brown, USN- MENT 00152848; 17, Eublemma minima, m, Texas, Cameron Co., Brownsville, 9 Nov. 1969, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 18, Ledaea perditalis, m, Florida, Collier Co., Big Cypress Swamp Preserve, Turner Rd., 1.5 mi US Hwy 41, 18 Mar. 1997, M. G. Pogue; 19, Ledaea perditalis, m, Florida, Putnam Co., Welaka, University of Florida Preserve, 26 Mar. 1987, D. C. Ferguson; 20, Pangrapta decoralis, m, North Carolina, Swain Co., 8.3 mi NE GSMNP ent. on 441, Kephart Prong trail, 2825 ft., 10 June 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155798; 21, Pangrapta decoralis, m, Tennessee, Cocke Co., 2.6 mi from St. Rt. 321, Greenbrier entrance, 1620 ft., 27 July 2007, M. Pogue, D. Adamski, M. Metz, GSMNP 1209; 22, Pangrapta decoralis, f, North Carolina, Swain Co., 13.5 mi NE GSMNP ent. on 441, Thomas Divide trail, 4634 ft., 8 June 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00155702; 23, Pangrapta decoralis, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., Jake’s Creek trail, near Campsite # 27, GSMNP, 22 July 2004, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00221776; 24, Pangrapta decoralis, f, Tennessee, Sevier Co., 1.3 mi W of Jct. 441 & Clingmans Dome Rd., Road Prong trail, 5260 ft., 28 July 2003, M. G. Pogue, USNMENT 00156584; 25, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Florida, Highlands Co., Lake Placid, Archbold Biological Station, 19 Feb. 1985, D. C. Ferguson; 26, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Oklahoma, Murray Co., Arbuckle Mts., 1 km W Turner Falls, 19 – 30 July 1984, Don & Mignon Davis; 27, Hemeroplanis habitalis, m, Florida, Hillsborough Co., Lutz, 10 May 1916; 28, Hemeroplanis obliqualis, m, Oklahoma, Sequoyah Co., Tenkiller Lake, 3 mi W Blackgum, 6 – 9 July 1979, D. & M. Davis; 29, Spargaloma sexpunctata, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 8 Aug. 1984, D. C. Ferguson; 30, Spargaloma sexpunctata, f, Maryland, Montgomery Co., Colesville, 6 Aug. 1984, D. C. Ferguson; 31, Hyperstrotia pervertens, m, Maryland, Dorchester Co., 3 mi E Hurlock, 17 May 2004, J. Glaser; 32, Hyperstrotia pervertens, f, New York, Erie Co., Sardinia, Richmond Gulf, 25 July 1940, L. R. Rupert.