Grammia favorita, (NEUMOGEN)

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 : 556-557

GRAMMIA FAVORITA (NEUMÖGEN) ( FIGS 29, 65 , 124 )

Arctia favorita Neumögen, 1890b: 173 .

Apantesis favorita (Neumögen) ; Franclemont, 1983: 117.

Grammia favorita (Neumögen) ; Ferguson & Opler, 2006: 11.

Type material: Arctia favorita : described from two male syntypes from Idaho Springs, CO [ USA]; in order to stabilize the name, the male syntype with the following labels is hereby designated as lectotype [ USNM, examined]: ‘Colo./ Bruce.’, Col./ B. Neumögen.’, ‘ Arctia / favorita-/ Type. Neumgn.’, ‘TYPICUM/ SPECIMEN’, Lectotype No./ 33676/ U.S. N.M.’, ‘ Arctiidae / genitalia slide/ No. AW1008’, ‘ LECTOTYPE / Arctia / favorita Neumgn. / B.C. Schmidt, 2009’. Although the specimen bears a previous lectotype catalogue number, there are no previous published lectotype designations.

Diagnosis: Grammia favorita can resemble a brightly marked, unlined form of G. phyllira , but the presence of an antemedial band, the extension of all or most of the transverse bands past the anal margin of the postcubital stripe, and the narrower wing shape will distinguish G. favorita . The hindwing is brighter pink in G. favorita than G. phyllira , and it lacks the distinct pink cast of the ventral wing surface of G. phyllira . Variants of G. williamsii with reduced markings on a saturated pink hindwing come close in appearance, but the wide forewing bands, including an antemedial, are diagnostic of G. favorita . This species is known only from the central Great Plains where it occurs in sandy prairie habitat together with G. williamsii .

Description: Head – Palps black; frons and vertex pinkish buff, vertex black centrally; male antennae strongly bipectinate, rami averaging 5.81 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, (N = 2); dorsal scales dark brown to black; eyes well developed, mean diameter 1.02 mm (N = 2). Thorax – Vestiture black with pinkish to creamy buff borders on vertex, patagia, and tegulae; sides of thorax dark brown ventrally, with extensive pink vestiture at base of coxae; legs buff-coloured with extensive black markings. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour deep pinkish red, apex not noticeably paler; medial and lateral markings black; pale buff ventrally, lateral black spots relatively large but not confluent. Forewing – Relatively narrow, in shape more similar to nevadensis group than G. phyllira ; male forewing length averaging 17.7 mm (N = 2 males); dark brown to black dorsally, vein lines absent, except occasionally at base of anal vein; bands rich creamy buff to pinkish buff; antemedial, medial, postmedial, subterminal bands, and postcubital stripe generally well developed, often broad and with irregular margins; antemedial sometimes fragmentary; transverse bands extending at least slightly beyond postcubital stripe; fringe entirely cream, costa variably cream and dark; anal margin with relatively broad cream line; ventral markings similar, but dark colours slightly paler and with a slight yellowish cast basally. Hindwing – Ground colour deep pinkish red; black markings reduced to moderately developed, postmedial spots discrete; subterminal band irregular, broadest at distal apex and generally absent in anal angle; antemedial spots absent or reduced, medial discal spot variable, from well defined to absent; fringe pink and pale buff; ventral dark markings slightly paler but otherwise similar to dorsum. Female not examined. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve with tapered to broadly rounded apex; clasper poorly developed, median ridge moderately developed; uncus broadbased, process evenly tapered to point, 1.5–2¥ as long as width of base; juxta 1.5¥ wider than long, dorsal margin with shallow, broad u-shaped concavity; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; vesica with basal and medial chamber approximately equal in length and width, not scobinate; distal chamber relatively small, slightly longer than width of medial chamber, kidney-shaped, coarsely scobinate; vesica slightly longer than aedeagus. Female genitalia – Not examined.

Biology: Adult collection dates for G. favorita range from mid May to mid June. G. favorita occurs in prairie sand dunes of the central Great Plains. I have not seen female G. favorita specimens, and like most nevadensis group species, these may not come to light or may be unable to fly when gravid.

Distribution: Grammia favorita appears to have a very limited distribution, occurring only in sand hill prairie. I have seen specimens only from the Nebraska Sand Hills, NE and north-eastern CO ( Fig. 124 ).

Molecular variation: Only one specimen of favorita was available for analysis, and exhibited an Eastern lineage haplotype ( EA 33), differing by only one or two base pairs from several G. virguncula and one G. williamsii haplotype ( Fig. 135).

Remarks: Although previously associated with G. phyllira , the forewing pattern, lack of the ventral forewing pink cast, coarsely scobinate male vesica and mtDNA haplotype suggest favorita is more closely related to G. williamsii and the nevadensis group than G. phyllira .

GRAMMIA ELONGATA (STRETCH) ( FIGS 34, 63 , 90 , 122 )

Arctia elongata Stretch, 1885: 105

Arctia dieckii Neumögen, 1890a: 62

Apantesis elongata (Stretch) ; Franclemont, 1983: 117. Grammia elongata (Stretch) ; Ferguson & Opler, 2006: 10.

Type material: Arctia elongata : described from a female holotype [lost?]. Smith (1938a) states the holotype is in the USNM (type # 33680), but I was unable to locate it there in 2005. The type locality is Spokane Falls, Washington, USA .

Arctia dieckii : based on one male specimen, USNM type no. 33677 [examined]. The type locality is Spence’s Bridge, British Columbia, [ Canada] .

Diagnosis: Similar to G. williamsii . However, nearly all specimens of elongata can be distinguished by the presence of a pale-lined forewing cubital vein (not lined in williamsii ), hindwing anal dash (rare in williamsii ), curved postmedial forewing band, and more elongate wing shape compared to G. williamsii . The hindwing ground colour is pale yellowish, never with orange or pink colours as in most G. williamsii . Eye size is also reduced in elongata (<0.60 mm diameter,> 0.60 mm in G. williamsii ). Grammia elongata is restricted to subalpine meadows, flying above 6000′ elevation, whereas G. williamsii occurs in lower elevation dry grassland habitats, although the two species can occur together in the southern AB foothills.

Description: Head – Vestiture of palpi, frons, and vertex variable in colour, ranging from entirely black to entirely pale buff; palps, frons, and vertex black, pale bordered; eyes reduced, lateral margins of eyes with exposed gena, mean maximum eye diameter 5.68 ¥ 10 - 1 mm (N = 6 males); male antennae moderately bipectinate, rami averaging 4.17 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, 2.6¥ longer than intersegmental distance (N = 6); dorsal antennal scales variable in colour, dark brown or pale buff; female antennae biserrate to slightly bipectinate. Thorax – Vestiture dark brown to black with broad, pale buff borders on vertex, patagia, and tegulae; pale buff ventrally, central tuft yellowish buff, dark brown to black laterally; legs predominantly pale buff with segments black basally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour pale yellowish buff, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black, medial line relatively wide; occasionally entirely black in females; pale buff ventrally, black markings consisting of two rows of broad spots, these confluent in females resulting in entirely black or black, buff bordered abdominal segments. Forewing – Mean forewing length 14.9 mm (N = 6); ground colour brownish black, discal cell area often with slightly darker streak; banding pattern reduced, basal band absent, antemedial absent, reduced to costal spot; medial band usually present, extending to and occasionally slightly beyond postcubital stripe; postmedial band curved slightly basad near costa; band colour pale whitish buff; fringe usually entirely or predominantly whitish buff, occasionally dark near wing apices; basal 2/3 of costa pale, anal margin finely lined in pale; anal dash usually present; basal half of cubital vein usually pale-lined; underside similar to upperside, but bands less contrasting and colours paler; sexes similar. Hindwing – Ground colour pale yellowish white in males, females yellow, rarely entirely black; markings dark brown to black, well developed, postmedial and subterminal markings usually confluent; antemedial markings well developed, often expanded to broad band along anal margin confluent with distal margin band; female markings usually discrete, not forming confluent bands; ventrally with similar pattern and duller ground colour. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve gradually tapering to slightly pointed apex, apex directed somewhat caudoventrally; clasper poorly developed, median ridge poorly developed; uncus broad-based, process evenly tapered to point; juxta two¥ wider than long; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; distal chamber of vesica nearly globose, scobinate, spinules relatively large; medial chamber roughly as wide as distal chamber; most similar to G. williamsii . Female genitalia – Ductus bursae unsclerotized; corpus bursae pear-shaped to globose and relatively small, three¥ width of ostium bursae; signa rounded or slightly oblong, relatively small (2.3 ¥ 10 - 1 mm); posterior apophysis 1.5¥ longer than length of papillae anales. Immature stages: the following is based on the brief description given by Kimmich (1966). Egg spherical, pale yellow; mature larva with black head and integument, tubercles black, finely spotted with white; setae short, black dorsally, maroon laterally; dorsal line continuous, dotted or absent, ranging in colour from white to ochre or brown; pupa pruinose, head bristled.

Biology: Adult collection dates range from mid May to late August, peaking in mid to late July. This rarely collected species inhabits dry, montane, and subalpine meadows, most commonly occurring near or above treeline. Most specimens have been collected by day, but they are also attracted to light. Males fly in late afternoon (L. Crabo, pers. comm.). The only recorded larval host is Claytonia lanceolata Pursh (Portulacaceae) ( Kimmich, 1966), although the larvae undoubtedly feed on other plants as well. Eggs are laid loosely in batches of up to about 200 ( Kimmich, 1966).

Figures

Figures 64–68. Genitalia of male Grammia, ventral aspect of valve and right lateral aspect of aedeagus (scale bar = 1 mm). 64, Grammia yavapai Schmidt. 65, Grammia favorita (Neum.). 66, Grammia blakei (Grt.). 67, Grammia cervinoides (Stkr.). 68, Grammia fergusoni Schmidt.

Figures 120–125. Distribution of examined specimens of Grammia.

Figures 58–63. Genitalia of male Grammia, ventral aspect of valve and right lateral aspect of aedeagus (scale bar = 1 mm). 58, Grammia behrii (Stretch). 59, Grammia eureka Ferguson & Schmidt. 60, Grammia brillians Schmidt. 61, Grammia bowmani Ferguson & Schmidt. 62, Grammia williamsii (Dodge). 63, Grammia elongata (Stretch).

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).