Meskea dyspteraria Grote, 1877

Queiroz-Santos, Luziany, Casagrande, Mirna Martins & Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the monotypic genera of Siculodini (Lepidoptera, Thyridoidea, Thyrididae, Siculodinae), Zootaxa 4920 (2), pp. 235-253 : 244-250

Meskea dyspteraria Grote, 1877

( Figs 4 , 8 , 12 , 15 )

Meskea dyspteraria Grote, 1877 . The Canadian Entomologist, 9: 115; 1 female [holo] type, Bastrop, Texas, [ USA], Heiligbrodt leg., Meske collection, Albany [ USA].— Hampson, 1897. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1897 (1): 632, fig. 24 (male d).— Dalla Torre, 1914. Lepidopterorum Catalogus 20: 43.— Gaede, 1936, in Seitz. Die Gross - Schmetterlinge des Amerikanischen Faunengebietes. Die amerikanischen Spinner und Schwärmer 6: 1211, fig. 175h (d).— Whalley, 1964. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, (13) 7 (74): 122.— Whalley & Heppner, 1995, Thyridoidea, in Becker et al. Checklist: Part 2, Hyblaeoidea–Pyraloidea–Tortricoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 3: 31.

Meskea horror Dyar, 1913 . Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 44: 317; [holo] type 1 male, Jalapa, Mexico, V-1908, R. M̹ller leg., N° 13370, USNM.— Gaede, 1936, in Seitz. Die Gross -Schmetterlinge des Amerikanischen Faunengebietes. Die amerikanischen Spinner und Schwärmer 6: 1211.— Whalley & Heppner, 1995, Thyridoidea, in Becker et al. Checklist: Part 2, Hyblaeoidea–Pyraloidea–Tortricoidea, in Heppner (ed.). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera 3: 31.— Day et al., 1997. Entomophaga, 42 (3): 393. Syn. nov.

Taxonomic history. Meskea dyspteraria was described without illustration, based on a female [holo] type from Bastrop , Texas, USA .

Meskea horror was described without illustration, based on a male [holo]type from Jalapa, Mexico, May, 1908, R. M̹ller leg, nº 13370 and four paratypes: one male from Córdoba, Mexico, W. Schaus leg. and three females from Cuernavaca, [Morelos], Mexico, June and July, 1906, W. Schaus leg., USNM .

Taxonomic comments. Dyar (1913) noted that M. horror is distinguished from M. dyspteraria by the apex of the hindwing being more tapered and the outer margin more emarginate. After examining the [holo]type of M. dyspteraria , the [holo]type and the paratypes of M. horro r, genitalia, wing morphology and geographic distribution of males and females, we concluded that the hindwing differences described by Dyar (1913) represent variations of the same species. Thus, M. horror is considered a new junior synonym (syn. nov.) of M. dyspteraria .

Type material. Meskea dyspteraria: The female [holo] type was found in the USNM, with the author’s original labels, which correspond with the information provided in the original description. [Holo] type having the following labels: / Meskea dyspteraria ♀ Grote Type / Tex / 230 / Collection O. Meske / Type N° 339 U.S. N.M. /. Mistakenly, Whalley (1964) mentioned that the [holo] type is a male deposited in the NHMUK.

Meskea horror: The male [holo]type and the four paratypes were found in the USNM, with the author’s original labels corresponding to the original description. [Holo]type with the following labels: / Jalapa Mex / May 08 / R Muller Collector / 1723 / Meskea horror Type Dyar / Type N° 13370 U.S. N.M. / Ƌ genitalia Slide, 18 Oct. ’32 C.H. #2 / Genitalia Slide By ME Ƌ USNM 110, 112 /, and the following labels are added: / HOLOTYPE / HOLOTYPE Meskea horror Dyar, 1913 /. The four paratypes are labeled similarly to the [holo]type. The paratype from Córdoba, Mexico listed as male, is actually a female.

Redescription. As for genus.

Geographic distribution ( Fig. 15 ). USA: Arizona: Pima, Baboquivari Peak Wilderness ; Alabama: Mobile; Mississippi: Harrison, Handsboro; Hanckock, Diamondhead; Florida: Washington, Chipley, Rock Hill Prsv.; Liberty, Torreya State Park; Leon, Tallahassee; Escambia, Pensacola, Miami-Dade, Baía de Biscayne, Paradise Key; Texas: Brown, Lake Brownwood State Park, San Jacinto, Coldspring, San Houston National Forest; Kimble, Junction; Burnet, Shovel Mountain; Montgomery, Conroe; Bastrop, Bastrop; Harris, Crosby; Chambers, Wallisville, Lake Charlotte; Uvalde, ConCan, Rio Frio; Bexar, San Antonio; Bexar, Ebony Hill Res Station (EHRS); San Patricio, Sinton, Welder National Wildlife Refuge; Hidalgo, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge; Pharr, Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park; Mercedes; Cameron, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Brownsville. MEXICO: Sinaloa: Venadio; Durango; San Luis Potosí: Tamazunchale; Yucatán: Cansahcab; Veracruz: Jalapa; Cardel; Veracruz; Córdoba; Orizaba; Presidio; Catemaco; Colima: Comala; Morelos: Cuernavaca; Estado de México: Zacualpan; Puebla: Tehuacán; Chiapas: La Polka, S. of Tonala; Mapastepec. GUA-TEMALA: Retalhuleu: San Sebastian; Guatemala: Ciudad de Guatemala, Río Platanos. EL SALVADOR: San Salvador. COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Santa Rosa National Park; Area de Conservación Guanacaste; Puntarenas: Aranjuez; San José; Cartago: Cachi. PANAMA: Panamá: La Cabima. VENEZUELA: Guárico: Hato Masaguaral, 45 km S Calabozo. PERU: Lima: San Isidro.

Natural history. Immature induces galls in Sida acuta Burman, 1768 and Sida rhombifolia Linnaeus, 1753 (Malvaceae) . Females oviposit on the abaxial side of the host plant leaf. Larvae form a gall on the stem which increases with larval size. An opening is made at the base to allow adult emergence. Larval development lasts approximately 192 days ( Day et al. 1997). The species occurs in forests and open areas, and adults were caught throughout the year other than December.

Examined material (103 Ƌ, 176 ♀ total).

USA: Arizona: Pima, Baboquivari Peak Wilderness , 1 ♀, 2 Ƌ, 1 – 15.VII.1923, 1 Ƌ, 15 – 30.VII.1923, 1 Ƌ, 15 – 30.VIII.1923, 2 ♀, 15 – 30.VI.1924, 1 ♀, 15 – 30.VII.1924, 3 ♀, 15 – 30.VIII.1924, C. Poling leg. ( USNM) , 1 ♀, 1 – 15.VIII.1923, 1 ♀, 1 – 15.VII.1924, C. Poling leg., 1 ♀, 16.VI.1967, J. H. Hessel leg. ( AMNH) ; Alabama: Mobile , 1 ♀, 5.V.1921, C. Dukes leg., 1 Ƌ, 20.III.1922, 1 ♀, 25.IV.1923 ( USNM) ; Mississippi: Harrison, Handsboro , 1 ♀, 30.IV.1967, R. & B. Taylor leg. ( AMNH) ; Hanckock, Diamondhead , 1 ♀, 10.V.1991, H. Xeroobien leg. ( USNM) ; Florida: Washington, Chipley, Rock Hill Prsv. , 1 ♀, 28.IV.2017, J. Hayden leg. ( MGCL) ; Liberty, Torreya State Park , 1 ♀, 16.V.1968, H. V. Weems Jr. leg., 1 ♀, 15.V.1970, H. Greenbaum leg., 1 ♀, 21 – 24.V.1987, H. O. Baggett leg., 1 ♀, 22.V.1987, Charles Stevens leg. ( MGCL) ; Leon, Tallahassee , 1 ♀, NHMUK 10921563 ( NHMUK) ; Escambia, Pensacola , 1 ♀, 13.V.1941, Shirley Hills leg. ( MGCL) , Miami-Dade, Baía de Biscayne , 1 ♀ ( AMNH) , Paradise Key , 1 ♀, 1.III.1910, 1 ♀, III.1910, 1 ♀, II.1927 ( USNM) ; Texas: 2 ♀, 4 Ƌ, 13.IV.1924, 2 ♀, 21.IV.1924, 7 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 28.IV.1924, 1 ♀, 29.IV.1924, L. J. Bottimer leg., 1 ♀, H. C. Hanson leg., 1 ♀, Friedrich leg. ( MfN) , 1 Ƌ (USNM); Brown, Lake Brownwood State Park , 1 ♀, 8.V.1964, A. & M. E. Blanchard leg. ( USNM) ; San Jacinto, Coldspring, San Houston National Forest , 1 ♀, 8.V.1988, E. C. Knudson leg., 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 2.V.1990, Linwood C. Dow leg. ( MGCL) ; Kimble, Junction , 4 ♀, 20.V.1966, A. & M. E. Blanchard leg. ( USNM) ; Burnet, Shovel Mountain , 1 ♀ ( USNM) ; Montgomery, Conroe , 1 ♀, 11.V.1969, A & M. E. Blanchard leg. ( USNM) ; Bastrop, Bastrop, 1 ♀ ([Holo] type of Meskea dyspteraria ); Harris , Crosby , 1 Ƌ, 4 – 10.V.1919 ( AMNH) , 4 ♀, 5 Ƌ, 4 – 10.V.1919, 1 ♀, 14.IV.1919, H. C. Hanson leg. ( USNM) ; Chambers, Wallisville , 1 Ƌ, 12.V.1919, ( AMNH) , 3 Ƌ, 9.V.1919, 1 Ƌ, 9 – 19.V.1919, C. P. Heinrich leg., 3 Ƌ, 1 ♀, 12.V.1919, 1 ♀, 3 Ƌ, 12 – 15.V.1919, 2 Ƌ, 12 – 19.V.1919, A. Busck leg. ( NMHN) , Lake Charlotte , 1 Ƌ, 11.IV.1923, 1 Ƌ, 17.IV.1923, 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 19.IV.1923, 1 ♀, 25.IV.1923 ( AMNH) , 1 ♀, 6 Ƌ, 17.IV.1923, 3 ♀, 18.IV.1923, 1 Ƌ, 19.IV.1923, 1 ♀, 3 Ƌ, 20.IV.1923, 6 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 23.IV.1923, 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 25.IV.1923, 2 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 26.IV.1923, L. J. Bottimer leg. ( NMHN) ; Uvalde, ConCan , 1 ♀, 1.V.1992, 1 ♀, 2.V.1992, C. Bordelon leg., 1 ♀, 1 – 2.V.1992, E. C. Knudson leg., 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 6 – 7.V.2005, Bordelon & Knudson leg. ( MGCL) , Rio Frio , 1 Ƌ, 30.IV – 2.V.1992, Ron Leuschner leg., 1 ♀, 9.V.1994, Kurt Leuschner leg. ( USNM) ; Bexar , 2 Ƌ, 28.IV.1928, H. B. Parks leg. ( USNM) , San Antonio , 1 ♀, 16.V.1976, E. C. Knudson leg., 1 Ƌ, 17.V.1977, William W. & Nadine M. leg. ( MGCL) ; Bexar, Camp Bullis Road x Loop 1604, 1 ♀, 1.IV.1977, William W. & Nadine M. leg. ( MGCL) ; Bexar, Ebony Hill Res Station ( EHRS) , 1 Ƌ, 25.IV.1985, Roy O. Kendall & C. A. Kendall leg. ( MGCL) ; San Patricio, Sinton, Welder National Wildlife Refuge , 3 ♀, 20.IV.1963, 1 ♀, 12.V.1963, 1 ♀, 22.IV.1964, 1 ♀, 19.V.1965, A. & M. E. Blanchard leg. ( USNM) ; Hidalgo, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge , 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 7.IV.1972, A. & M. E. Blanchard leg. ( USNM) ; Pharr , 8 ♀ ( AMNH) , Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park , 1 Ƌ, 1.XI.1974, B. C. Knudson leg. ( MGCL) ; Mercedes , 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 30.IV.1959, 1 ♀, 7.V.1959, 1 ♀, 24.VIII.1958, 3 Ƌ, 1 ♀, 31.VIII.1958, 2 ♀, 14.IX.1958, 1 ♀, 21.IX.1958, H. Smalzried leg. ( AMNH) ; Cameron, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge , 1 Ƌ, IV.1973, A. & M. E. Blanchard leg., 1 ♀, 25.IV.1995, Don Bowman leg. ( USNM) , Sabal Palm Sanctuary , 1 ♀, 19 – 20.VI.1998, E. C. Knudson leg. ( MGCL) , Brownsville , 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 7.IV.1919, 1 ♀, 17.IV.1919, 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 21.IV.1919, 1 ♀, 23.IV.1919, 1 ♀, 27.IV.1919, 1 ♀, V.1919, 1 Ƌ, 5.V.1919, 1 ♀, 14.V.1919, 1 Ƌ, 22.V.1919, H. C. Hanson leg. ( USNM) .

MEXICO: Sinaloa: 4 ♀ ( USNM) , Venadio , 1 Ƌ, USNM 110.114 ( USNM) , 1 ♀, 1919, NHMUK 10921555 ( NHMUK) ; Durango: 3 Ƌ, VI.1933, Macias leg. ( AMNH) ; San Luis Potosí: Tamazunchale , 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 9.IX.1947, P. & C. Vaurie leg., 1 ♀, 20.V.1952, M. Cazier, W. Gertsch & R. Schrammel leg. ( AMNH) ; Yucatán: Cansahcab , 1 Ƌ, 17.VI.1988, R. Segura & Brown leg. ( USNM) ; Veracruz: Jalapa, 1 Ƌ ([ Holo ]type of Meskea horror ), V.1908, R. Muller leg. ( USNM) ; Cardel , 1 Ƌ, 4.VI.1940, 2 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 14.VI.1940, J. Camelo G. leg. ( USNM) ; Veracruz, 1 Ƌ, 14.III.1986, John D. Gillett leg. ( USNM) ; Córdoba , 1 ♀ (Paratype of Meskea horror ) ( USNM) ; Orizaba , 1 Ƌ, I.1945 ( USNM) ; Presidio , 4 ♀, X.1939, C. C. Hoffmann leg. ( AMNH) ; Catemaco , 1 ♀, 29.V.1964, John Pallister leg. ( AMNH) ; Colima: Comala , 2 ♀, 2 Ƌ, 3 – 11.VI.2000, 1600m, 19°27’N 103°42’W, V. O. Becker leg., MVOB 121627 ( MVOB) ; Morelos: Cuernavaca , 2 ♀ (Paratypes of Meskea horror ), VI.1906, 1 ♀ (Paratype of Meskea horror ), VII.1906 ( USNM) , 1 Ƌ, VI.1926, Dr. C. Mayer leg. ( ZSM) ; Estado de México: Zacualpan , 2 ♀, VI.1915, C. C. Hoffmann leg. ( AMNH) ; Puebla: Tehuacán , 1 Ƌ, 27.V.1937, C. C. Hoffmann leg. ( AMNH) ; Chiapas: La Polka, S. of Tonala , 1 ♀, 26.IX.1986, S. J. Weller & M. J. Ryan leg. ( AMNH) ; Mapastepec , 2 ♀, 27.V.1933, 6 Ƌ, 29.V.1933, 1 ♀, 30.V.1933, 2 ♀, 2 Ƌ, 31.V.1933, Escalante leg. ( USNM) .

GUATEMALA: 1 ♀, B. Brückner S. G. leg. ( MfN) ; Retalhuleu: San Sebastian (L Thiel ), 5 ♀ ( USNM) ; Guatemala: Ciudad de Guatemala, Río Platanos , 1 ♀, 29.X. 1973, 750m, 14°48’N 90°15’W, Erwin & Hevel leg. ( USNM) . EL SALVADOR: San Salvador , 1 Ƌ, 1 ♀, 4.V.1930, Calderon leg. ( USNM) , 1 Ƌ, 1951, 1 Ƌ, 2.II.1951, 3 ♀, 5.V.1951, 1 ♀, 16.VII.1951, 1 Ƌ, 3.IX.1951, 1 ♀, 4.IX.1951, 1 ♀ , 7.IX.1951, 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 9.IX.1951, 1 Ƌ, 17.IX.1951, 1 Ƌ, 25.IX.1951, 1 ♀, 2.X.1951, 1 Ƌ, 5.X.1951, 1 ♀, 7.X.1951, Dr. A. Zilch S. leg., 1 ♀, 18.V.1956, Dr. E. Möhn leg. ( MSFR) , 1 ♀, 5.VII.1957, Pab leg. ( AMNH) , 1 Ƌ, 1.V.1960, 1 ♀, 15.V. 1960, 600m, B. Bechyné leg. ( ZSM) .

COSTA RICA: 1 ♀, 2 Ƌ, P. Biolley leg. ( USNM), 1 Ƌ, Brade leg. ( NHMV); 1 Ƌ, NHMUK 010921502 ( NHMUK); Guanacaste: Santa Rosa National Park , 1 ♀, 13 – 15.VI.1979, NHMUK 010921616 , 1 Ƌ, 20 – 22.V.1980, NHMUK 010921531 , 1 ♀, 23 – 25.V.1980, NHMUK 010921530 , 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ, 5 – 7.VI.1980, NHMUK 010921550 , NHMUK 010921587 , 1 Ƌ, 11 – 13.VI.1980, NHMUK 010921588 , 1 ♀, 22 – 27.VI.1981, NHMUK 010921534 , D. H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs leg. ( NHMUK); Area de Conservación Guanacaste , 1 ♀, 6.IV. 1989, 160m, 1 ♀, 15.VI. 2010, 295m, D. H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs leg. ( USNM); Puntarenas: Aranjuez , 1 ♀, IX. 1987, 100m, J. M. Garua leg., NHMUK 010921533 ( NHMUK); San José : 1 ♀, 1 Ƌ ( MNHN); Cartago: Cachi , 2 ♀, NHMUK 010921568 , NHMUK 010921569 ( NHMUK) , 1 ♀, 15.VII.1917, NHMUK 10921514 ( NHMUK) .

PANAMA: Panamá: La Cabima , 1 ♀, 16 – 30.V.1911, August Busck leg. ( USNM) . VENEZUELA: 1 ♀ ( MNHN); Guárico: Hato Masaguaral , 45 km S Calabozo , 1 ♀, 3 – 5.VI.1988, 1 ♀, 8.VI.1988, 1 ♀, 16 – 18.IX. 1990, 75m, 8.57N 67.58W, M. Epstein leg., 1 ♀, 20 – 21.IX. 1990, 75m, 8.57N 67.58W, M. Epstein

& J. Wilterding leg. ( USNM). PERU: Lima: San Isidro , 1 ♀, 24.IV.1957 , Salazar leg. ( AMNH) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Meskea dyspteraria from Costa Rica, Guanacaste (Santa Rosa National Park) (NHMUK 010921587) (valva and fultura inferior distorted due to preparation technique). A) ventral view. B) dorsal view of tegumen and uncus. C) lateral view of aedeagus. Scale bar 1mm.

FIGURE 15. Geographic distribution of Hepialodes and Meskea species in North, Central and South America.

FIGURES 3–4. Loxiorhiza and Meskea species in dorsal (A and C) and ventral (B and D) views. 3. L. cervinalis, A–B: male from Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Buenavista (NHMUK 010921576); C–D: female from Brazil, Goiás, Leopoldo Bulhıes (NHMUK 010921560). 4. M. dyspteraria, A–B: male from USA, Texas, Hidalgo, Pharr (Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park) (MGCL); C–D: female from El Salvador, San Salvador (ZSM). Scale bar 1cm.

FIGURES 9–12. Female genitalia of Hepialodes, Iza, Loxiorhiza and Meskea species in lateral view. 9. H. follicula from Brazil, Goiás, Campinaçu (Barra Mansa farm) (DZ 39.216). 10. I. nubecula from Brazil, S„o Paulo, Salesópolis (Boraceia) (DZ 39.288). 11. L. cervinalis from Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Buenavista (NHMUK 010921618). 12. M. dyspteraria from El Salvador, San Salvador (MSFR). Scale bar 1mm.