Paectes hercules Troubridge

Troubridge, J. T., 2020, A new genus and 37 new noctuoid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), Insecta Mundi 2020 (789), pp. 1-56 : 27-28

Paectes hercules Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 24 , 130 )

BIN: BOLD:AAX1890

Diagnosis. The closest relative to P. hercules is P. lunodes (Guenée) ( Fig. 25 ) (BIN: BOLD:AAC2512), (syntypes from Brazil, French Guiana, and Honduras). Externally, P. hercules can be distinguished from P. lunodes as follows: the reniform spot of P. lunodes is reasonably well demarcated, whereas that of P. hercules is smudged; the medial area of the forewing of P. lunodes is bright gray and contrasts with the ordinary lines and post-basal area, whereas the entire forewing of P. hercules is dull gray brown, the lines less contrasting, and the forewing of P. lunodes is broader than that of P. hercules .

Description. Female antennae filiform; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen light gray; first two abdominal segments with cream-colored scales edged on posterior margin with dark gray; a single row of black scales between head and thoracic collar. Dorsal forewing (female). Forewing length 11–12 mm. Ground color gray brown; narrow, black postmedial line, double below vein M2, single above M2, bends toward outer margin at cell R5 and then bends abruptly back and toward costa; basal spot distinct, ovate, light beige; antemedial line thin, black, extends from posterior margin, bends toward thorax, and abruptly turns outward forming ventral border to basal spot; reniform and orbicular spots obscure, outlined with a few pinkish scales; medial line faint, zigzag, located below reniform spot; submarginal area with black dashes through cells R4 and R5; apex with light-gray disk; submarginal line a series of black crescents between veins; fringe medium gray with darker gray checkering at tips of veins. Dorsal hindwing. Basal area light gray, darker gray toward margin; anal fold with a white and dark-gray striped pattern, all veins highlighted with dark gray; fringe white, checkered with dark gray at tips of veins. Male genitalia. Unknown. Female genitalia ( Fig. 130 ). Ovipositor lobes with scattered setae; ostium bursae wide; ductus bursae with posterior part well sclerotized, narrowing toward membranous section; ductus bursae splits posteriorly into elongate, globular corpus bursae on left, and narrow, somewhat coiled appendix bursae on right, then bending back before splitting a second time with small, ventral, globular appendix bursae and dorsal ductus seminalis.

Type material. Holotype female: USA: Florida, Monroe Co.: Dagny Johnson St. Pk., 25.185°N, 80.362°W, 17.Jul.2012, BOLD sample ID: CNCLEP 94152, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 1♀: Monroe Co.: Upper Key Largo [Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge], 25.265°N, 80.310°W, 16.Jul.2018, J. Troubridge.

Etymology. From Latin, hercules refers to the now-abandoned Nike Hercules missile base on Upper Key Largo, where the type specimen was collected. Noun in apposition.

Distribution. Thus far, this species is known from the Florida Keys and adjacent mainland. The extent of its range in the Antilles is unknown.

Remarks. The DNA of the holotype was analyzed, and the 658 COI base pairs compared with those of specimens of P. lunodes . The results showed a 3.9% difference between P. hercules and P. lunodes , its nearest relative. I have not seen specimens identified as P. lunodes from southern Florida or Cuba, and whether these specimens represent true P. lunodes or P. hercules remains an open question. A long series of Paectes Hübner from the Bahamas in the McGuire Center, Gainesville, FL, did not contain P. lunodes or P. hercules . Presently I have only female specimens of P. hercules and male specimens of P. lunodes , so I am unable to discuss genital differences.

Nolidae : Nolinae

Figures

Figures 13–25. Adults. 13a) Sigela sordes ♀, Highlands County, FL. 13b) Sigela sordes ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 14) Sigela rosea ♀, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 15) Sigela basipunctaria ♀, North Port, FL. 16) Sigela lynx ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 17) Sigela subincisa ♂, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 18) Sigela incisa ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 19) Sigela minuta ♀, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL.20) Tripudia calusa♂, paratype, Bahia Honda, FL.21) Meganola georgei ♂, paratype, North Port, FL.22) Meganola phylla ♀, Lambton Shores, ON. 23) Dyspyralis ocala ♂, holotype, Marion County, FL. 24) Paectes hercules ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 25) Paectes lunodes ♂, San Cristobal, MX.

Figures 123–131. Female genitalia. 123) Toxonprucha killamae paratype, Islamorada, FL. 124) Zale lafontainei, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 125) Zale vargoi, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 126) Zale clandestina, paratype, Citrus County, FL. 127) Athyrma fakahatchee, paratype, Collier County, FL. 128) Antiblemma perva, paratype, Collier County, FL. 129) Antiblemma carolae, paratype, Florida City, FL. 130) Paectes hercules, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 131) Meganola georgei, paratype, Highlands County, FL.