Sympistis lachrymosa Troubridge, 2008

Troubridge, J. T., 2008, A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with description of a new genus and 50 new species, Zootaxa 1903 (1), pp. 1-95 : 12

Sympistis lachrymosa Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. B-15, K-8, P-8)

Diagnosis. The only species with which S. lachrymosa could be confused is Sympistis simplex (Smith) comb. n. (Fig. B-14). Both species have a brown forewing, dark hindwing terminal shade, and teardrop shaped orbicular spots. In S. simplex , the hindwing terminal shade reaches the anal angle but falls short in S. lachrymosa males. In S. lachrymosa , the forewing has a black dash that extends from the reniform spot to the subterminal line and a second black dash that extends from the claviform spot to the base of the forewing, both of which are absent in S. simplex .

Description. Antennae filiform; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen brown. Prothoracic collar tan with subterminal and subbasal black lines. Tegulae tan with subterminal black line. Forewing length 17-18 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color tan to grayish brown; black undulating antemedial line and postmedial lines thinly bordered with off-white scales; off-white subterminal line irregular, bordered basally with narrow black chevrons between veins -chevrons tipped distally with off-white scales; terminal line consists of a series of small black chevrons between veins; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots well demarcated with thin black outer and off-white inner lines; black basal dash reaches claviform spot; fringe brown, with off-white at tips of veins. Dorsal hindwing white with minute black discal dot; dark grayish brown terminal shade complete and sharply defined in females, narrower and incomplete in males, extending from veins Sc+R1 to CuA2; fringe grayish brown basally, white distally. Male genitalia. (Fig. K-8) Valve resembles prow of canoe, widest just beyond clasper, then gently tapered to cucullus; ampulla of clasper extends dorsally at right angles to ventral margin of valve, tapers evenly to apex near dorsal margin of valve. Vesica sweeps 90° ventrally with a small basal diverticulum; a ribbon of cornuti extends from dorsal surface at diverticulum along posterior surface to tip, and then back on the left side toward base; a second ribbon of long, dense cornuti located on right side of vesica; single apical cornutus and small bundle at apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. P-8) Ovipositor lobes rounded with scattered setae; a corona of short setae surrounds the ovipositor lobes about 0.1 mm from tip, these setae are produced at 90° to the abdomen; a sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae otherwise not heavily sclerotized; appendix bursae 2x as long as wide, with ductus seminalis at anterior end; corpus bursae with two elongate signae extends from left of appendix bursae and is slightly larger than appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: New Mexico, Socorro Co., mi. 91-93 Hwy. 60, vic. VLA site, sandy soil, 25 ix 2003, George J. Balogh, in the CNC . Paratypes: 12♂ 9♀: New Mexico, same data as holotype , 1♂ 1♀; Sierra Co., Elephant Butte , 17 x 2001, George J. Balogh , 1♀; Chaves Co., North Mescalero Dunes, BLM Recreation Area , 18 x 2001, George J. Balogh , 2♂ 1♀; Luna Co., Deming , 10 x 1999, H. Rietz , 2♂ 3♀; Luna Co., Deming , 8 x 1999, H. Rietz , 1♂. Texas: El Paso Co., El Paso, West Montana Hwy. , 29 x 1994, E. C. Knudson , 3 ♂ 1♀; El Paso Co., El Paso, 21 x 1990, E. C. Knudson , 1 ♂ 1♀; El Paso Co., El Paso, East Montana Hwy. , 7-9 x 1993, E. C. Knudson , 2♂ 1♀.

Etymology. From Latin, lachrymosa means tears, which refers to the distinctive teardrop shape of the orbicular spot.

Distribution. This species is known from sandy habitats in western Texas and New Mexico.