Grammia ornata, (PACKARD)

Schmidt, B. Christian, 2009, Taxonomic revision of the genus Grammia Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Arctiinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3), pp. 507-597 : 562-564

GRAMMIA ORNATA (PACKARD) ( FIGS 36, 69 , 93 , 128 )

Callarctia ornata, 1864 ; Proc. ent. Soc. Philad. 3: 115

Arctia achaia Grote & Robinson, 1868 ; Trans. Am. ent. Soc., 1: 334

Apantesis ornata ab. ochracea Stretch, 1872 ; Illust. Zygaenidae Bombycidae N. Am. 1: 125, pl. 5, f. 21

Arctia simplicior Butler, 1881 ; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) 8: 311

Arctia achaia var. barda Hy. Edwards, 1881 ; Papilio 1: 39

Euprepia (Cymbalophora) blakei var. perpicta Dyar, 1893 ; Psyche 6: 381

Arctia achaia var. maculosa Stretch, 1906 J. N.Y. Ent. Soc 120 pl. 6 figs. 3, 4

Arctia achaia var. rivulosa Stretch, 1906 J. N.Y. Ent. Soc 121 pl. 6 figs. 8, 9

Arctia achaia var. ochracea-rivulosa Stretch, 1906 J. N.Y. Ent. Soc 121 pl. 6 fig. 10 [Note: this name should be emended to ochracearivulosa in accordance with Article 45.6 of the code ( ICZN, 1999)]

Apantesis californica Cassino, 1917 . Lepidopterist 1:100; plate opposite p. 102

Apantesis ornata ab. sulphuricella Strand, 1919; Lepidopterorum Catalogus, 22: 416

Apantesis ornata (Packard) ; Franclemont, 1983: 117.

Grammia ornata (Packard) ; Ferguson & Opler, 2006: 10.

Type material: Callarctia ornata : described from an unstated number of males; according to Smith (1938a), a male holotype and paratype are in the MCZ [not examined]. The type locality is San Mateo [San Mateo Co.], Cal [ifornia, USA] .

Arctia achaia : described from a male and female syntype, the female syntype, from the Sierra Nevada, CA, is in the AMNH according to Smith (1938a) [not examined] .

Apantesis ornata ab. ochracea: Described from an unstated number of specimens; type material lost or destroyed. The type locality is not explicitly stated, although Stretch (1872) describes it as being ‘widely distributed over California .’

Arctia simplicior : holotype female in the BMNH according to Smith (1938a) [not examined]. The type locality is Jacksonville [Tuolumne Co.], CA, [ USA] .

Arctia achaia var. barda: Described from two syntypes, one from North[ern] Calif[ornia] and [The] Dalles, OR, in the AMNH according to Smith (1938a) [not examined].

Euprepia blakei var. perpicta : female holotype in USNM according to Smith (1938a) [not examined]. The type locality is Yosemite [Mariposa Co.], CA, [ USA].

Arctia achaia var. maculosa , rivulosa, ochracearivulosa: Based on the illustrations given in the original description. No written description or indication of the type material or locality is provided. Types presumed lost.

Apantesis californica : female holotype from Eldredge [= Eldridge, Sonoma Co.?], CA, [ USA] in the USNM according to Smith (1938a) [not examined] .

Apantesis ornata ab. sulphuricella: based on an aberrant specimen, and is therefore an unavailable infrasubspecific name.

Diagnosis: The lined forewing veins and large size will distinguish most specimens of G. ornata from most other western Grammia , with the exception of the much smaller G. edwardsii , distinguished by the pale basal 1/3 of the antennae (dark in ornata ) and additional characters given in the G. edwardsii account. Grammia hewletti is most similar to G. ornata , but is restricted to southernmost CA; diagnostic characters segregating these two species are given in the G. hewletti diagnosis.

Forms of G. ornata with unlined forewings are common in many populations, and these can be distinguished from most other G. nevadensis group species by the presence of antemedial hindwing spots, yellow to scarlet hindwing colour (never pinkish), entirely pale vertex of the head (very rarely with black, almost always black with pale in other species), broader wing shape and spring flight season. Throughout most of its range, G. ornata is the only Grammia that flies in spring. Internally, most male G. ornata can be distinguished by the well-defined triangular or elongate clasper, which is weakly defined or absent in other Grammia .

Description: Head – vestiture of palps black, frons and vertex entirely pale to yellowish or pinkish buff, vertex very rarely black centrally; eyes well developed mean maximum diameter 9.2 ¥ 10 - 1 mm (N = 6 males); male antennae strongly bipectinate, rami averaging 5.5 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, 3.1¥ longer than intersegmental distance (N = 6); dorsal scales of antenna black, occasionally with scattered pale buff scales; female antennae strongly biserrate to slightly bipectinate. Thorax – Vestiture of vertex, patagia, and tegulae black with broad, pale, yellowish or pinkish buff borders; patagia occasionally entirely pale, black thorax form absent; black ventrally, central tuft yellow, sides black; legs predominantly black, tibia pale buff laterally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour yellow to orange-yellow, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black, medial band relatively broad; pale whitish-buff ventrally, lateral black markings well developed but not confluent in males; females usually entirely black dorsally. Forewing – Mean forewing length 18.6 mm (N = 6 males); ground colour black; banding pattern pale, yellowish or pinkish buff, variably developed; basal band usually reduced to costal wedge; antemedial band usually present, often broader than other bands; medial band well developed; postmedial band well developed, generally not curving but with distinct angle at M 3; vein lines variably developed, extending to distal margin or absent entirely; fringe entirely pale buff; costa entirely pale, or pale areas restricted to where bands meet costa; anal margin pale-lined; ventrally with colours paler, and more yellowish cast; sexes similar. Hindwing – Ground colour pale to bright yellow, orange or scarlet; markings well developed, black; antemedial spots discrete, streaked basad or completely confluent basally with black basal markings; medial spots usually well developed, posterior medial spot sometimes suffused basally; postmedial and subterminal spots prominent, confluent in northern populations; ventrally with similar pattern and duller ground colour; sexes similar. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve gradually tapering, apex slightly curved ventrocaudally; clasper strongly to moderately developed, median ridge moderately developed; uncus broad-based, process evenly tapered to point; juxta two¥ wider than long; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; vesica with relatively small basal chamber, length twice that of medial chamber width, scobinate, spinules relatively large; medial chamber finely scobinate. Female genitalia – Ductus bursae unsclerotized; basal half of ductus bursae widened, 1/3 diameter of corpus bursae; corpus bursae pear-shaped, relatively large, four¥ width of ostium bursae; signa round to slightly oblong, approximately equal in size (3.00 ¥ 10 - 1 mm); signa coarsely scobinate; appendix bursae evenly coiled; posterior apophysis slightly longer than length of papillae anales.

Biology: Grammia ornata is one of the few species of the genus that fly in spring, and most adult collection dates are from mid May to late June. Two examined specimens, one each from August and September (central and northern WA) may indicate a partial second generation. Both sexes come to light, although females are rarely collected. This species inhabits a relatively wide range of habitats, but prefers open woodland, and is absent from the drier, low elevations of the Great Basin.

Distribution: Southern BC south through the Pacific Northwest to southern CA, northern UT, and western WY/MT ( Fig. 128 ).

Molecular variation: Grammia ornata , like G. nevadensis , exhibits large intraspecific sequence divergences and is paraphyletic with respect to other species in the nevadensis group. Nine specimens from eight localities all represented unique haplotypes, with a maximum of 4.0% intraspecific divergence ( Table 2). Three clusters were evident, largely corresponding to geographical regions. The first cluster consisted of southern OR samples, both coastal and south-western (OR2,3,4; Fig. 134 ); the second lineage consisted of north-eastern CA and south-eastern BC samples, and also included one south-western OR sample (OR5,6,7,8; Fig. 134 ). Two southern BC samples (CP1, OR1) grouped with G. complicata , and haplotype CP1 was shared amongst G. ornata , G. complicata , and G. elongata ( Fig. 134 ), originating from south-western BC (Appendix S1).

Remarks: Grammia ornata is the most variable Grammia in terms of forewing pattern and hindwing colour, and the large number of synonyms is testament to this. Specimens from the northern parts of the range (southern BC, northern ID and WA) are smaller with more extensive hindwing dark markings compared to those from northern CA and southern OR, and are also most variable in development of the forewing vein lines. Of about 80 BC specimens, 50% have fully developed vein lines and 50% have vein lines partially developed or absent. Specimens from Great Basin populations are usually of the lined form, whereas those from the Siskiyou Mountains and adjacent regions (Josephine County, OR; Trinity, Siskiyou, Modoc, Mendocino Counties, CA) usually lack vein lines and are larger and brighter overall.

The taxa G. hewletti and G. complicata have both been treated as species separate from G. ornata or as subspecies, but as discussed under G. hewletti and G. complicata , I retain both as separate species.

GRAMMIA HEWLETTI (BARNES & MCDUNNOUGH) STAT. REV. ( FIGS 37, 71 , 94 , 130 )

Apantesis ornata hewletti Barnes & McDunnough, 1918 pl. 13, figs 3, 4

Apantesis hewletti (Barnes & McDunnough) ; Franclemont, 1983: 117.

Grammia ornata (= hewletti Barnes & McDunnough ); Ferguson & Opler, 2006: 10.

Type material: Described from an unstated number of specimens, consisting of at least one male and one female syntype; the male syntype matching the photo in the original description is in the USNM [examined], labelled ‘ A. ornata / v. hewletti/ Type ♂ / B and McD’, ‘ Nellie / S. Bern. Co.,/ Calif.’ [S. Bern. Co. crossed out], ‘ Photograph / Pl. 13 No. 3’, ‘ ♂ genit./ on slide/ Aug. 31, 1937 / M.E.S. #1501’.

Diagnosis: Grammia hewletti is slightly larger and more brightly coloured than G. ornata , and nearly always has the forewing basal band well developed (rare in G. ornata , absent in G. complicata ). The hindwing spots are smaller, never confluent as in G. complicata and northern G. ornata . Internally, the base of the uncus has two broad, flat and rounded lateral flanges, a character unique amongst Grammia . The distal portion of valve is broad and rounded, not tapering gradually, and the saccullus is more pronounced than in most other Grammia . See also ‘Remarks’ below.

Description: Head – Vestiture of palps black, frons and vertex entirely pale to yellowish buff, vertex very rarely black centrally; eyes well developed, mean maximum diameter 1.10 mm (N = 4 males); male antennae strongly bipectinate, rami averaging 7.6 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, 4.3¥ longer than intersegmental distance (N = 4); dorsal scales of antenna black, occasionally with scattered pale buff scales; female antennae strongly biserrate. Thorax – Vestiture of vertex, patagia, and tegulae black with broad, pale, yellowish or pinkish buff borders; patagia occasionally entirely pale, black thorax form absent; black ventrally, central tuft yellow, sides black; legs predominantly black, tibia pale buff laterally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour yellow to orange-yellow, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black, medial band relatively broad; pale whitish-buff ventrally, lateral black markings well developed but not confluent in males; females usually entirely black dorsally. Forewing – Mean forewing length 20.0 mm (N = 2 males); ground colour black; banding pattern pale, yellowish or pinkish buff, variably developed; basal band usually extending to postcubital; antemedial band often broader than other bands; medial band well developed; postmedial band well developed, generally not curving but with distinct angle at M 3; vein lines variably developed, extending to distal margin or absent entirely; fringe entirely pale buff; costa entirely pale, or pale areas restricted to where bands meet costa; anal margin pale-lined; ventrally with colours paler, and more yellowish cast; sexes similar. Hindwing – Ground colour usually bright yellow, varying to orange or scarlet; markings well developed, black; antemedial spots discrete, often reduced; medial spots usually well developed, posterior medial spot sometimes suffused basally; postmedial and subterminal spots prominent; ventrally with similar pattern and duller ground colour; sexes similar. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve broad, not tapered, apex broad and rounded; clasper strongly developed, median ridge moderately developed; uncus broadbased, process evenly tapered to point, base of uncus with broad, rounded flanges; juxta two¥ wider than long; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; distal chamber twice length of medial chamber width, scobinate, spinules relatively large; medial chamber finely scobinate. Female genitalia – Ductus bursae unsclerotized; basal half of ductus bursae widened, 1/3 diameter of corpus bursae; corpus bursae pear-shaped, relatively large, four¥ width of ostium bursae; signa round to slightly oblong, relatively small; signa coarsely scobinate; appendix bursae evenly coiled; posterior apophysis slightly longer than length of papillae anales.

Biology: Adult capture dates are for May. Nothing is known of the immature stages, although Barnes & McDunnough (1918) remarked that the larvae match those of G. ornata .

Figures

Figure 134. Neighbour-joining tree of Western lineage haplotypes of Grammia species. Multiple symbols per row indicate multiple species and/or samples for a given haplotype. Squares indicate species with haplotype complements primarily or exclusively in the Western lineage, circles indicate predominantly Eastern lineage species. Grammia virgo haplotype VI15 (triangle) is the sole G. virgo haplotype outside of the Virgo lineage.

Figures 69–71. Genitalia of male Grammia, ventral aspect of valve and right lateral aspect of aedeagus (scale bar = 1 mm). 69, Grammia ornata (Pack.). 70, Grammia complicata (Walker). 71, Grammia hewletti (B. & McD.).

Figures 87–95. Genitalia of female Grammia, ventral aspect (scale bar = 1 mm). 87, Grammia nevadensis (G. & R.). 88, Grammia behrii (Stretch). 89, Grammia williamsii (Dodge). 90, Grammia elongata (Stretch). 91, Grammia blakei (Grt.). 92, Grammia fergusoni Schmidt. 93, Grammia ornata (Pack.). 94, Grammia hewletti (B. & McD.). 95, Grammia complicata (Walker).

Figures 126–131. Distribution of examined specimens of Grammia.