Lophomyra tacita Schaus, 1911

Goldstein, Paul Z., Janzen, Daniel H., Proshek, Benjamin, Dapkey, Tanya & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2018, Review of Lophomyra Schaus, 1911 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a new combination and re-descriptions of species newly associated with ferns (Polypodiaceae), ZooKeys 788, pp. 135-165 : 140-146

Lophomyra tacita Schaus, 1911 Figs 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40; Male genitalia: Figs 65-68, 73-76, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97; Female genitalia: Figs 88-90; Larvae: Figs 108-115; Pupae: Figs 116, 117-118

Lophomyra tacita Schaus, 1911 Type locality: Costa Rica.

Material examined.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♀: Mar, Sixola Riv CR, Type No. 17334 U.S.N.M., Lophomyra tacita Type Schs, USNMENT00973292, USNM Dissection 148201. Types at USNM.

Other material examined.

(22♂, 30♀) VENEZUELA (2♂,1♀): VENEZUELA: Aragua Rancho Grande 1100m 1-3 IV 1978 blacklight, cloud forest, J. B. Heppner, USNM Dissection 148083, USNMENT01437226 [♂]; VENEZUELA: Ar. Rancho Grande July1-7 1967 RW Poole 1100m, USNMENT01370311 [♂]; Ibid July 15-21, USNM Dissection 148084, USNMENT01370316 [♀].

COSTA RICA (19♂, 29♀): ♂Juan Vinas CR, June, Lophomyra tacita Schs, gen & sp nov Xylomyges group USNMENT01370323; Turrialba Costa Rica 10 II 1973 V.O. Becker, col. Becker 33420, Lophomyra tacita Schs, 1911, USNM Dissection 148143, USNMENT01370321; Ibid, USNM Dissection 148081, USNMENT01438834.

The following label data precede SRNP identifier codes on all reared and light-trapped specimens examined (16♂, 29♀): Voucher: D.H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs DB: http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, COSTA RICA. Except for those denoted “Alajuela”, all localities are within Guanacaste Province.

Males (16): Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/29/2009, ecl. 01/05/2010, Dinia Martinez, collector, 09-SRNP-73925, USNMENT01370314, USNM Dissection 148052; Sector Pitilla: Quebradona, 10.99102, -85.39539, el. 475m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/10/2010, ecl. 03/02/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70181, USNMENT01437251, USNM Dissection 148188; Sector Pitilla: Quebradona, 10.99102, -85.39539, el. 475m: larva on Pleopeltis polypodioides : 05/03/2011, ecl. 05/29/2011, Petrona Rios, collector, 11-SRNP-70989, USNMENT01370310; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Niphidium oblanceolatum : 11 /21/2010, ecl. 12/28/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73286, USNMENT01370301; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/21/2010, ecl., Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73135, USNMENT01438813; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/21/2010, ecl., Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70435, USNMENT01437276, USNM Dissection 148202; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/29/2009, ecl. 01/01/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 09-SRNP-73965, USNMENT01438858; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 02/09/2010, ecl. 03/20/2010, Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-70707, USNMENT01370287; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 01/29/2010, ecl. 03/11/2010, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-70571, USNMENT01437222; Sector Pitilla: Calma, 11.00987, -85.39214, el. 412m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/29/2010, ecl. 03/13/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70569, USNMENT01437252; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/21/2010, ecl. 11/20/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73128, USNMENT01370305; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 02/01/2010, ecl. 03/10/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70597, USNMENT01438869; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 02/08/2010, ecl. 03/13/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70719, USNMENT01438854; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 01/26/2010, ecl. 03/02/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70530, USNMENT01438809; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 11/26/2010, ecl. 12/03/2010, Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-73310, USNMENT01437265, USNM Dissection 148099; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/30/2010, ecl., Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-73207, USNMENT01370315.

Females (29): ♀ Costa Rica. Juan Vinas. 2500 ft. June Wm Schaus 1911 -32, Loxodes tacita Schs, NHMUK01606199; Alajuela: Sector San Cristobal: Finca San Gabriel, 10.87766, -85.39343, el. 645m: larva on Campyloneurum gracile : 03/19/2012, ecl. 04/20/2012, Elda Araya, collector, 12-SRNP-1080, USNMENT01370309; Alajuela: Sector San Cristobal: Estacion San Gerardo, 10.88009, -85.38887, el. 575m: 11/21/2006, F.Quesada&H.Cambronero, collector, 06-SRNP-109388, USNMENT01437195; Alajuela: Sector San Cristobal: Estacion San Gerardo, 10.88009, -85.38887, el. 575m: 05/04/2011, R.Franco&S.Rios, collector, 11-SRNP-103237, USNMENT01437212; Alajuela: Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, el. 461m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/11/2011, ecl. 02/09/2011, Edwin Apu, collector, 11-SRNP-69085, USNMENT01437180; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/19/2010, ecl. 02/23/2010, Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-70396, USNMENT01437191, USNM Dissection 148181; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 02/02/2010, ecl. 03/04/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70590, USNMENT01370320, USNM Dissection148189; Sector Pitilla: Coneja, 11.01525, -85.39766, el. 415m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 06/24/2010, ecl. 07/29/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-71914, USNMENT01370306; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 02/09/2010, ecl. 03/17/2010, Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-70706, USNMENT01370302; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/30/2010, ecl., Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-73205, USNMENT01437237; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 08/17/2010, ecl. 09/24/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-72638, USNMENT01370313, USNM Dissection 148145; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 03/26/2011, ecl. 04/26/2011, Dinia Martinez, collector, 10-SRNP-70741, USNMENT01437210, USNM Dissection 148144; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Niphidium oblanceolatum : 10/21/2010, ecl. 11/30/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73136, USNMENT01437215; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/23/2010, ecl. 03/06/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70437, USNMENT01437235; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/03/2010, ecl., Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73225, USNMENT01370322; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 02/26/2010, ecl. 04/01/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70954, USNMENT01437190; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/19/2010, ecl. 02/23/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70395, USNMENT01437256; Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/26/2010, ecl. 03/15/2010, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-70493, USNMENT01438828; Sector Cacao: Roca Verde, 10.89354, -85.43603, el. 835m: 08/12/2007, R.Franco&F.Quesada, collector, 07-SRNP-108035, USNMENT01437232; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/27/2013, ecl. 01/05/2014, Ricardo Calero, collector, 13-SRNP-71895, USNMENT01370324; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 10/08/2013, ecl. 11/11/2013, Ricardo Calero, collector, 13-SRNP-71692, USNMENT01437185; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 12/04/2010, ecl. 01/17/2011, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-73361, USNMENT01437205; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/07/2009, ecl. 12/10/2009, Dinia Martinez, collector, 09-SRNP-73662, USNMENT01437270; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/06/2010, ecl. 02/19/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70072, USN MENT 01370280; Sector Pitilla: Calma, 11.00987, -85.39214, el. 412m: larva on Niphidium oblanceolatum : 02/22/2011, ecl. 04/11/2011, Ricardo Calero, collector, 11-SRNP-70494, USNMENT01370312; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Polypodium fraxinifolium : 01/26/2010, ecl. 03/05/2010, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-70496, USNMENT01370308; Sector Pitilla: Amonias, 11.04249, -85.40339, el. 390m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 08/21/2010, ecl. 09/19/2010, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-31891, USNMENT01438853; Sector Pitilla: Coneja, 11.01525, -85.39766, el. 415m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 01/23/2010, ecl. 03/03/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-70460, USNMENT01437275, USNM Dissection 148053; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 11/27/2013, ecl. 01/05/2014, Ricardo Calero, collector, 13-SRNP-71894, USNMENT01438803, USNM Dissection 148105; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99697, -85.39666, el. 470m: larva on Microgramma percussa : 07/02/2010, ecl. 08/07/2010, Ricardo Calero, collector, 10-SRNP-71962, USNMENT01437216.

Diagnosis.

Readily distinguished from L. commixta as both larva and adult; adult more similar to that of L. santista (below) but can be distinguished by white costal frosting on distal half of forewing, the interruption of the U-shaped stigma by a thin longitudinal white streak which partially encircles a black dot at the base of the reniform, and a variable diffuse gray patch between the dash and a more expansive gray-green patch along the inner margin near the base of the wing. Females lack the appendicular lobe on the ductus bursae, present in both the other species.

Re-description.

Head. Labial palpus with 2nd segment>2 × combined length of first and third combined; all segments scaled with a mixture of whitish, black, brown and green. Proboscis with paired lateral rows of ~28 small protuberances at terminus. Eyes smooth. Antennae filiform, dorsally with fine white scales; frons, vertex, and palpi (all segments) with a mix of white and green scales.

Thorax. Thoracic vestiture a mix of green, white, black, and light brown scales. Wings. Forewing length 13.3 mm (holotype, female), average 12.7 mm (males, n = 9), 13.2 mm (females, n = 11). Forewing patterned with gray, white, black and moss-green scaling, the last predominantly in the subcostal, outer medial, and subterminal areas and along inner margin; basal line confined to a black subcostal spot or (in females) a pair of black subcostal spots; the most extensive green scaling forming a uniform green basal patch along the inner margin between CuA2 and the postmedial line; short, black basal dash black along inner edge of M, forming the leading edge of a purplish-gray wedge; an outer medial wedge, predominantly moss green, between CuA1 and M2, the latter of which is also edged in purplish gray, overlaps with the fusion of the reniform and orbicular spots; subterminal line wavy, shadowed by white scaling and punctuated by black dots at the intersections of each vein; orbicular spot elongate, lime green, outlined in gold scaling, converging below the M vein with dumbbell-shaped, moss-green reniform spot, outlined with lime-green scaling, forming a deformed U-shape; white subcostal frosting along distal half of wing; a pale, washed-out patch in the ventro-posterior part of the wing, most conspicuous in males. Hind wing uniformly gray in females, pale basally in males, with discal spot faint but present in both. Underside of forewing terminal area with noticeably green shading; inner margin pale; center of wing gray, paler towards inner margin. Pattern elements on underside less conspicuous in males than females, visible primarily in the terminal area of the forewing and the costal margin of the hind wing, where the discal spot is likewise faint, if present in males, and the postmedial line wavy, brown, outwardly white in costal part and increasingly diffuse towards the inner margin. Legs. Scales primarily a mixture of green and white; tibial spurs and rows of tibial spines as for genus.

Abdomen. Tan above; abdominal segments with medio-dorsal tufts of tan spatulate scales, tipped brown on A1 and A2, A2 the most prominent, decreasing in size from A3-5; each abdominal segment ringed with an apical ring of elongate, strap-like scales and a basal ring of hairs; medial paired medial tufts of green scales ventrally; terminal tufts elaborate, one pair of lateral tufts arcing medially over uncus, when exposed; recurved, tufted apices of dorsal process of cucullus may direct outwardly when viewed in situ (Figs 93, 96, 97).

Male genitalia. Uncus, tegumen, vinculum, and saccus as for genus. Juxta U-shaped, the medio-lateral edges jagged. Sacculus (1) finger-like. Clasper (2) pronouncedly sickle-like and concave. Cucullus (3) especially robust, heavily setose, club-like and recurved apically. Ampulla-like structure (4) embedded within sacculus anterior to a prominent patch of medially directed spines. Vesica with bilobate diverticulum encircling its base.

Female genitalia. Appendicular lobe absent from ductus bursae, which is elongate,>⅓ the length of the corpus bursae; antrum wide and well developed.

Immature stages. Larvae known from images (Figs 108-115). Overall coloration orange and black, Cephalic spots larger and somatic chalazae more developed and sharper than in L. commixta , the latter black throughout and bearing two setae apiece. Head capsule orange with five black spots on each side: dorsal/vertical, posterio-dorsal, anterior, lateral, and substemmatal (genal). Frons black; antennae orange at base, otherwise black. Dorsum tapers downward from A1 to T3 as in L. commixta . Chalazae black, raised, the dorsal pairs forming robust bisetose spines most prominent on the thoracic and anterior abdominal segments. Integument orange, dorsum spotted black thoracically, thereafter a combination of linear black dashes and black stripes originating dorsally on either side of the orange mid-dorsal line at the caudal end of each segment, giving rise to a striped “herring-bone” pattern and rendering the appearance of bifurcating orange stripes extending forward and down to form a series of slanting alternating black and orange stripes; the orange subspiracular line becoming cantaloupe orange and broader in later instars.

Biology.

Larvae found feeding on leaves of Microgramma percussa , Niphidium oblanceolatum , Polypodium fraxinifolium , Pleopeltis polypodioides , Campyloneurum gracile (all Polypodiaceae ) in ACG rainforest. Thirty-five individuals (11 males, 24 females) took an average of 25 days between the observed onset of the prepupal stage and adult eclosion, with ranges of 21-31 days for males and 19-29 days for females. These data are all from their ACG rain forest habitat. Almost all ACG specimens were reared from wild-caught caterpillars and only three light trapped despite massive ACG-wide light trapping, and all have the same DNA COI barcode and BIN (BOLD:AAJ2401). No barcodes were available for other specimens of L. tacita .

Distribution.

Costa Rica, Venezuela.