Bleptina extincta 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 : 3-4

Bleptina extincta Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 5a, 5b , 58 , 106 )

Diagnosis. Bleptina extincta is most closely related to Bleptina araealis (Hampson) (BIN: BOLD:ADP0536) ( Fig. 6 ), described from Nassau, Bahamas. Externally they are similar in size but the postmedial line of B. araealis is wide, black, and extends through the reniform spot. Internally, the male valve of B. araealis has a stout, dorsal subapical claw and a minute clasper ( Fig. 59 ), whereas that of B. extincta has three apical claws and no clasper ( Fig. 58 ).

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen dark brown with scattered black and chestnut-brown scales; terminal segment of labial palps with tuft of black scales. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 5 mm. Ground color light gray with scattered rust brown and black scales; basal line black with scattered rust scales; wide, black antemedial line with scattered rust scaled extending through orbicular spot; very faint medial line slightly darker than ground color; postmedial line light gray, bordered basally and distally with rust scales; jagged light gray submarginal line edged basally and distally with black scales; veins in submargin highlighted with scattered rust scales in some specimens; terminal line a series of black dots between veins; fringe gray between veins, light gray at tips of veins; orbicular spot yellow; reniform spot yellow with black dot on lower margin. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color light gray with slightly darker medial and postmedial bands; terminal line with a series of dark gray dots between veins; fringe light gray. Male genitalia ( Fig. 58 ). Valves symmetrical, long, and relatively narrow, apex with three claw-like spines, shorter one directed ventrally, two longer ones arise dorsally from a single stalk, the valve otherwise unarmed. Uncus with short recurved neck, swollen in mid section with pointed tip. Female genitalia ( Fig. 106 ). Ovipositor lobes setose, slightly pointed at apex; short, membranous ductus bursae terminates at bulbous appendix bursae from which a coiled diverticulum narrows to ductus seminalis; posterior section of corpus bursae a long, narrow tube with grooved sclerite extending its entire length, terminating in a concave, scobinate disc on ventral side of bulbous, anterior corpus bursae; anterior section of corpus bursae encircled by narrow sclerites on dorsal, ventral, and the insect’s left side, from which several short, knife-like cornuti extend into the corpus bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Miami-Dade Co.: Biscayne Trail , 25.342°N, 80.412°W, 11.Mar.2018, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 8♂, 1♀: Miami-Dade Co.: Biscayne Trail , 25.342°N, 80.412°W, 16 Jul. 2016, 1♂, J. Hayden et al., slides MGCL 3005 , 3006 ( FSCA) ; 11.Mar.2018, J. Troubridge, 1♂ 1♀; Monroe Co.: Sugarloaf Key , 22–23.Jun.1975, 1♂, R. H. Leuschner, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Key Largo , 10 mi. N. Key Largo City, 17 Jan. 1974, J.B. Heppner, 2♂ ( FSCA) ; Key Largo , 24 Jun. 1975, R. Leuschner, 2♂ ( FSCA, MGCL) .

Etymology. The name refers to fact that this species was once common on Key Largo but collecting throughout the Florida Keys has failed to find B. extincta in recent years.

Distribution. This species is known from the Florida Keys and adjacent mainland.

Figures

Figures 1–12. Adults. 1a) Bleptina biformata ♂, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 1b) Bleptina biformata ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 1c) Bleptina biformata ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 2a) Bleptina flavivena ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 2b) Bleptina flavivena ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 3) Bleptina caradrinalis ♂, Ocala, FL. 4a) Bleptina verticalis ♂, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 4b) Bleptina verticalis ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 5a) Bleptina extincta ♂, paratype, Monroe County, FL.5b) Bleptina extincta ♀, paratype, Monroe County, FL.6) Bleptina araealis ♂, Andros, Bahamas. 7a–c) Toxonprucha killamae ♀ variation, paratypes, Bahia Honda, FL. 8a) Lascoria coma ♂, paratype, North Port, FL. 8b) Lascoria coma ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 9) Lascoria orneodalis ♂, Key Largo, FL. 10) Metalectra dixoni ♂, paratype, Florida City, FL. 11) Metalectra nigrior ♂, paratype, North Port, FL. 12a) Janzena pyraliformis ♂, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. 12b) Janzena pyraliformis, Mayagüez, PR, showing hood.

Figures 55–60. Male genitalia. 55) Bleptina flavivena, paratype, North Port, FL. 56) Bleptina caradrinalis, North Port, FL. 57) Bleptina biformata, paratype, Bahia Honda, FL. 58) Bleptina extincta, holotype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 59) Bleptina araealis, Andros, Bahamas. 60) Bleptina verticalis, paratype, Key Largo, FL.

Figures 105–113. Female genitalia. 105) Bleptina biformata, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 106) Bleptina extincta, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 107) Bleptina flavivena, paratype, Collier County, FL. 108) Bleptina verticalis, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 109) Janzena pyraliformis, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. 110) Lascoria coma, paratype, North Port, FL. 111) Lascoria orneodalis, Key Largo, FL. 112) Lascoria ambigualis, Highlands County, FL. 113) Lascoria alucitalis, Key Largo, FL.