Bryotropha branella ( Busck, 1908 )

Rutten, Twan & Karsholt, Ole, 2004, (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 740, pp. 1-42 : 18-20

Bryotropha branella ( Busck, 1908)

(figs. 15, 16, 32, 33, 42, 49, 67–70, 79)

Gelechia branella Busck, 1908: 87 . Lectotype ♂ (here published): Plummers, I Aug 1903 Md; Aug Busck Collector; Gelechia branella Busck, Cotype ; USNM, ENT 00420345; Lectotype, Bryotropha branella ( Busck 1908) , A.L.M. Rutten design. 2004 (USNM).

Diagnosis. Small ochreous­brown species with small but rather distinct wing markings.

Description. Adult (figs. 16, 17). Wingspan 11–13 mm. Labial palpus creamy ochreous to ochreous suffused with fuscous on inner side, heavily suffused fuscous on the outer side, segment 3 darker than segment 2. Antenna fuscous ringed with ochre. Head with frons pale ochreous; vertex often darker. Thorax ochreous brown to dark brown, tegula lighter than thorax. Forewing ochreous to dark ochreous gray with costal edge fuscous and with distinct blackish basal spots at costa and tornus; plical and discal stigmata distinct, first discal beyond second plical; costal and tornal patches ochreous and indistinct, fused to form an outwardly curved fascia; subapical area slightly suffused with darker scales; termen with a distinct lining of blackish scales; cilia ochreous with one to several ciliary lines and yellowish tips. Hindwing pale ochreous gray, darker toward apex, cilia concolorous.

Variation. The stigmata can be followed by streaks of pale ochreous scales, producing very vividly marked specimens. The head may be ochreous all over.

Similar species. Specimens with an ochreous gray forewing superficially resemble plantariella but can be distinguished by the presence of three equally strong roundish stigmata; in plantariella the second discal is more prominent than the other stigmata, which are often absent or elongate in shape. B. hodgesi q.v., B. altitudophila q.v.

Male genitalia (figs. 32, 33, 42, 67–70). Uncus rather broad subrectangular. Socius with 3–4 setae. Gnathos slender and long with a rather gradual 120 degree bend about halfway. Thornshield triangular with up to 50, usually small, spikes. Margin of vinculum bent near 1/3 (fig. 42). Aedeagus long and slender. Variation is only slight.

The genitalia of B. branella are slightly more robust than those of the very similar B. altitudophila . In B. branella less then half the gnathos is involved in a gradual bend of approximately 120º; in B. altitudophila the larger part of the gnathos is involved in a gradual bend of at least 120º. In laterally mounted genitalia the shape of the gnathos easily separates B. branella (bend at half­way, height 300–350 µm) from B. hodgesi (bend in first third, height less than 250 µm). In unrolled genitalia this feature may be less clear due to distortions. Here the shape of the uncus is most useful. In B. branella and B. altitudophila the uncus is distinctly broader (160–190 µm) than in B. hodgesi (90–130 µm). As a consequence, in B. branella and B. altitudophila the width of the uncus is only marginally less then the distance socius to socius, whereas in B. hodgesi the width of the uncus is much less then the distance socius to socius (compare figs. 41, 42 and 43).

Female genitalia (fig. 49). Segment VIII with crescent­shaped lamella postvaginalis and microtrichia. Distal end of the ventral groove marked by a small sclerotized extension. Ventral side of segment VIII weakly invaginated, dorsal side without a median tongue. Signum complex, consisting of an elongate to oval weakly sclerotized middle part, set with microtrichia at proximal and distal ends. Laterally the middle part is flanked by a broad, heavily sclerotized and finely grooved, serrate rim. Two semicircular membranes, set with short blunt spikes, connect the signum to the corpus bursae. This last character of the signum is not as evident as in B. altitudophila . Separated from other species by the shape of the signum.

Biology. Early stages unknown. Adults were collected from late June to mid­August with a single specimen in mid­September, probably in one generation. All records are from lowland localities.

Distribution (fig. 79). Restricted to northeastern USA and adjoining southeastern Canada. Locally common.

Remarks. B. branella was described from an unstated number of specimens from Plummers Island, Maryland. We studied one of the syntypes kept in the USNM. In order to serve stability of nomenclature this specimen is here published as lectotype (see above).

Material examined: 34ɗ, 9Ψ. — CANADA, Nova Scotia: 1 ɗ: Ottawa House, Parrsboro, 3.vii.1944, J. McDunnough, gen. slide AR 0 650 (CNC); 1 Ψ: Armdale, Halifax Co., 9.viii.1967, D.C. Ferguson, gen. slide AR 0 651 (USNM). — Ontario: 1 Ψ: Manitoulin I., Hwy 6, S of 542 jnct, 26.vii.1990, J.K. Morton, gen. slide AR0584 (MOR); 2 ɗ: ibid., 4.viii.1990, Rockville radio mast, gen. slide AR0568; 2 ɗ: ibid., Mud Creek, Lake Kagewong, 21.6.1991; 1 ɗ: ibid., 3 mls due S of Billings, 24.vi.1991, gen. slide AR 0570; 1 ɗ: ibid., 3 mls due S of Billings, 27.6.1991; 1 ɗ: ibid., New England rd. N end, 14.viii.1992; 1 ɗ: ibid., 2 mls inland Burnt I. Hbr, 15.ix.1992, gen. slide AR 0571; 3 ɗ: ibid., S side of Mud L., Mindemoya, 27.vii.1993, gen. slide AR 0 588, AR 0589; 1 ɗ: ibid., Sheshegwaning rd at Silver Ck, 29.vii.1993; 1 Ψ: ibid., track to NW side of Silver Lake, 29.vii.1993, gen. slide AR 0581; 3 ɗ, 1 Ψ: ibid., Silver Water Ranger Station, 29.vii.1993, gen. slides ɗ: AR 0 558, AR 0 572, Ψ: AR 0573; 3 ɗ, 1 Ψ: ibid., Hwy 540, NE of Silverlake, 29.vii.1993, gen. slides ɗ: AR 0 586, Ψ: AR 0587; 3 Ψ: ibid., Shesheg Waning Rd at Silver Lake, 29.vii.1993, gen. slide AR 0569; 1 ɗ: ibid., W end Greenbush rd., Howland Twp., 16.vii.1994; 1 ɗ: ibid., Escarpment S of 10 Mile Pt., 15.vii.1999, gen. slide AR 0549; 2 ɗ: ibid., Beatty Bay, Clapperton I., 1.viii.1990, gen. slide AR 0 583. — Québec: 1ɗ: Lac Mondor, Ste. Flore P.Q., 21.vii.1951, E.G. Munroe, gen. slide AR 0 541 (CNC). — USA, Maine: 1 ɗ: Lincoln, 10.vii, gen. slide AR 0 682 (USNM). — Michigan: 1 ɗ: Oceana Co, Little Point Sable, Lighthouse dunes, 26.vii.1997, George J. Balogh, gen. slide AR 0 715 (BAL); 1 ɗ: Oceana Co, T23N R19W S36, oak pine woods and wetlands, 26.vii.1997, George J. Balogh, gen. slide AR 0 714 (BAL). — New York: 1 Ψ: Six Mile Creek, Ithaca, 25.vii.1957, J.G. Franclemont, gen. slide AR 0 655 (USNM); 1 ɗ: Cornell Campus Ithaca, 27.vii.1959, D.R. Davis, gen. slide USNM 13,560 (USNM); 1 ɗ: ibid., 22.vi.1959, gen.

slide AR 0706; 1 ɗ: Ithaca, 9.vii, Cornell U., Exp. 1030, Traplight 1924 (CUIC); 1 ɗ: ibid., 21.vii; 1 ɗ: ibid., 30.vii, Gelechia branella , wing slide 20.ii.1925; 1 ɗ: E. Aurora, 15.vii.1915, W. Wild (CUIC). — Virginia: 1 ɗ: Mountain L., 17.vii.1938 GRENN, L.J. & M.J. Milne, gen. slide AR 0 724 (CNC).