Doryodes spadaria Guenee , 1857

Lafontaine, J. Donald & Sullivan, J. Bolling, 2015, A revision of the genus Doryodes Guenee, 1857, with descriptions of six new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Catocalinae, Euclidiini), ZooKeys 527, pp. 3-30 : 11-12

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Erebidae

Doryodes spadaria Guenee, 1857 Figs 6-8, 9, 37, 38, 44

Doryodes spadaria Guenée, 1857: 234.

Themma divisa Walker, 1863: 186.

Tunza promptella Walker, 1863: 196.

Doryodes spadaria race grandipennis Barnes & McDunnough, 1918: 117; pl. 17, figs 1, 2, syn. rev.

Type material.

Doryodes spadaria : type lost. It is impossible to identify this species from the description given by Guenée, but the type, listed as being from Florida, would most likely be from the East Coast, which would mean it represented the species now known either as Doryodes bistrialis , Doryodes fusselli or Doryodes spadaria . In order to maintain the longstanding identity of this species as the widespread species in salt marshes of the Atlantic Coast, we designate the lectotype of Themma divisa Walker as neotype of Doryodes spadaria , an action that will ensure the current identity and synonymy. The data are given under Themma divisa . Themma divisa : lectotype ♂, here designated, BMNH, examined; male in good condition except right antenna and tip of left antenna missing; forewing length 18.1 mm; data "E. Doubleday, St John’s Bluff, E Florida/ Themma divisa/ syn-type [blue circle]/ 40-1-14-84/ S.O. 153." Tunza promptella : holotype ♂, no locality, BMNH, examined. Doryodes spadaria race grandipennis: syntypes ♂, ♀, USNM, examined.

Other material examined and distribution.

Canada: Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island. USA: Maine, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida.

Diagnosis.

External structural characters as described for genus. Doryodes spadaria is the most widespread and common species in the genus, and except for Doryodes fusselli in coastal North Carolina, all specimens of Doryodes from salt marshes along the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the United States that we have seen are Doryodes spadaria . Adults are relatively larger (forewing length: ♂ 13-20 mm, most commonly 16-18 mm; ♀ 18-21 mm, most commonly 19 mm) than those of Doryodes bistrialis (forewing length: ♂, 13.5-15.5 mm, ♀ 14.5-16.0 mm), the species most likely to be confused with it in southeastern United States outside of North Carolina where the smaller Doryodes fusselli also occurs in salt marshes. The forewing ground color in males varies from whitish buff to yellow buff with gray streaks; the longitudinal dark stripe is dark brown and conspicuously wider than in Doryodes bistrialis ; the ground color in females averages paler than that of males and the wings and dark longitudinal stripe are narrower. In the male genitalia, most structural characters are as described for the genus; the sclerotized costal margin of the valve is more heavily sclerotized apically and extends farther beyond the central membranous part of the valve than in most other species; the sclerotized ventral margin of the valve ends in a blunt point before the end of the central part of the valve. Two examples of the genitalia are illustrated, one to show the typical orientation of the vesica in comparison with other species (Fig. 37), and a ventral orientation of the vesica (Fig. 38) to illustrate the shape and positions of the two preapical diverticula and their cornuti. The vesica is slightly shorter than the aedeagus; the basal, swollen part of the vesica is armed with two thorn-like cornuti on sclerotized plates; the left preapical diverticulum (# 5) is tapered to a large triangular cornutus, whereas the right preapical diverticulum (# 4) has a bulge in the middle and a smaller cornutus. In the female genitalia the corpus bursae is elongated with the part anterior to the opening of the ductus bursae swollen laterally and with longitudinal “ribbons” of sclerotization. The appendix bursae is lightly sclerotized and slightly bilobed posteriorly. The ductus bursae is almost as long as the corpus bursae, and is heavily sclerotized dorsally and ventrally with the plates slightly narrower mesially and expanded laterally and more heavily sclerotized at their junction with the corpus bursae; the ventral plate at the end of the ductus bursae is extended posteriorly as a quadrangular plate that projects over the opening to the ductus with the posterior margin of the plate concave. The anterior and posterior apophyses are similar in length (posterior slightly longer), about half the length of the ductus. The anal papillae are lightly sclerotized, produced ventrally anteriorly, rounded posteriorly, with the surface setose.

Distribution and biology.

Doryodes spadaria is widely distributed in coastal salt marshes on the Atlantic Coast of Canada and the United States from eastern Quebec to southern Florida. A few inland records in southern Florida (e.g., Kissimmee Prairie) are anomalous, unless there is brackish water in these areas. Adults occur in Canada and northeastern United States from June to August. In southeastern United States there are spring and summer generations and at least three generations in Florida.