Sigela rosea 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 : 11-12

Sigela rosea Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 14 , 87 , 116 )

BIN: BOLD:AAC6450

Diagnosis. Sigela rosea , S. lynx , (described below) ( Fig. 16 ) and S. basipunctaria (Walker) (BIN: BOLD:AAE9652) ( Fig. 15 ) are three closely related species that occur in Florida and are easily distinguished by the forewing markings. In S. basipunctaria , the forewing is pink with scattered black specks in the submarginal area, the orbicular spot is present as a distinct black dot, and the costa is pink with small black spots along margin. In S. rosea , the forewing is roughly similar to that of S. basipunctaria except that there are submarginal splotches of dark gray and black scales, and the costa is gray (rather than pink), with larger black spots than those of S. basipunctaria . In S. lynx , the forewing is a pinkish beige color with many diffuse black lines and spots, and the costa is pink or pinkish beige with black spots that are about the same size as those of S. rosea . Sigela eoides (Barnes and McDunnough) flies with the basipunctaria group in Florida. Although not closely related, it could be confused with members of this group due to its pinkish coloration. It is easily separated from them by the presence of a distinct, smudged, black reniform spot, absent in the members of the basipunctaria group. Internally, S. basipunctaria has ca. five long teeth ca. 0.2 mm in length internally surrounding the entrance to the corpus bursae, in that of S. lynx and S. rosea , these teeth are ca. 0.1 mm in length. The male valve of S. basipunctaria has a ventral, subapical thumb-like process that bends medially. The apex of the valve of S. rosea is rounded, with the cucullus extending ventrally to form a low hump. That of S. lynx is more or less like that of S. basipunctaria , except that the ventral process is shorter and wider at its base.

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, and labial palps light gray; thorax, and abdomen light pink; thorax with three black dots and each abdominal segment with a black dorsal dot. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 4–6 mm. Ground color light pink; basal line reduced to black dots on vein 1A+2A and costa; antemedial line reduced to black dots on cubital vein and costa; postmedial line reduced to a series of 2–3 black dots on veins and on costa; discal dots black; diffuse submarginal line undulates with splotches of dark-gray scales in cell CuA2 and M2; terminal line a series of black dots between veins; fringe pink. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color light pink; basal line reduced to scattered black scales near posterior margin; discal dot black; diffuse submarginal line undulates with splotches of dark-gray scales; terminal line a series of black dots between veins; fringe pink. Male genitalia ( Fig. 87 ). Valve long with even sides, flat across tip and bulging ventrally at apex, the entire valve otherwise unarmed; uncus talon-like, pointed, and downturned at tip. Female genitalia ( Fig. 116 ). Ovipositor lobes short, setose, and more or less flattened at tip; ostium bursae lightly sclerotized; ductus bursae membranous, gradually widening toward appendix bursae; appendix bursae with small diverticulum on left, narrowing toward ductus seminalis; appendix bursae constricted anteriorly before widening to oval corpus bursae; corpus bursae encircled by a row of cornuti that turn inward as short spines.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Monroe Co.: No Name Key , 24.695°N, 81.328° W, 15.Feb.2018, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 23♂, 17♀: Alachua Co.: Gainesville , 28.Dec.1981, E.C. Knudson, 1♂ ( MGCL) ; Highlands Co.: Archbold Biological Station , 27.188°N, 81.336°W, 30.Mar.2017, J. Troubridge, 1♂ ; Levy Co.: Goethe State Forest , 29.155°N, 82.699°W, 21.Dec.2013, 4♂, 2♀ ; 11.Jan.2018, 2♀ ; 12.Apr.2014, J. Troubridge, 1♂; Goethe State Forest , 29.161°N, 82.598°W, 4.May.2012, J. Hayden and A. Jansen, slide MGCL 5102 , 2♂ ( FSCA) ; Marion Co.: Ocala National Forest , near Hopkin’s Prairie, 11–18.May.1979, leg. Fairchild and Weems, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Miami-Dade Co.: Florida City , 25° 24.89′N, 80° 26.40′W, 30.Jan.2013, 1♂, 1♀ ; 2.Mar.2014, 2♀ ; 27.Jan.2014, 2♂, 2♀; 29.Jan.2015, 2♀, all J. Troubridge; Monroe Co.: same data as holotype, 1♂ ; Big Pine Key , 12.Jan.1988, J.B. Heppner, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Big Pine Key , 24.706°N, 81.379°W, 25.Feb.2012, J. Troubridge, 4♂, 5♀ ; Putnam Co.: Welaka Forest Cons. Sta., 17–21.Mar.1986, J.B. Heppner, 2♂, 1♀ ( FSCA) ; Sarasota Co.: Siesta Key , 24.Feb.1970, C.P. Kimball, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Volusia Co.: Cassadaga , 21.Nov.1962, S. V. Fuller, 1♂ ( FSCA) .

Etymology. From Latin, rosea refers to the pink color of the wings.

Distribution. Sigela rosea has been collected from the lower Florida Keys throughout peninsular Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, usually in pine flatwoods.

Figures

Figures 13–25. Adults. 13a) Sigela sordes ♀, Highlands County, FL. 13b) Sigela sordes ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 14) Sigela rosea ♀, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 15) Sigela basipunctaria ♀, North Port, FL. 16) Sigela lynx ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 17) Sigela subincisa ♂, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 18) Sigela incisa ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 19) Sigela minuta ♀, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL.20) Tripudia calusa♂, paratype, Bahia Honda, FL.21) Meganola georgei ♂, paratype, North Port, FL.22) Meganola phylla ♀, Lambton Shores, ON. 23) Dyspyralis ocala ♂, holotype, Marion County, FL. 24) Paectes hercules ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 25) Paectes lunodes ♂, San Cristobal, MX.

Figures 85–92. Male genitalia. 85) Sigela sordes, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 86) Sigela lynx, paratype, North Port, FL. 87) Sigela rosea, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 88) Sigela incisa, paratype, Collier County, FL. 89) Sigela subincisa, holotype, No Name Key, FL. 90) Sigela minuta, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 91) Dyspyralis ocala, paratype, Gainesville, FL. 92) Meganola georgei, paratype, North Port, FL.

Figures 114–122. Female genitalia. 114) Sigela sordes, paratype, Collier County, FL. 115) Sigela lynx, paratype, North Port, FL. 116) Sigela rosea, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 117) Sigela incisa, paratype, Collier County, FL. 118) Sigela minuta, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL. 119) Dyspyralis ocala, paratype, Gainesville, FL. 120) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 121) Metalectra dixoni, paratype, Florida City, FL. 122) Melipotis florida, paratype, Florida City, FL.