Perlesta lagoi Stark / P. nitida Banks .

The descriptions and illustrations provided by Stark (1989) and Grubbs & Stark (2001) appear identical, suggesting there is one widespread species ranging from Mississippi northeast to Connecticut. Settling this taxonomic question will require specimens from several locations throughout this region and from the type localities of each species. We are currently examining the species boundaries of all Perlesta in the Midwest using both morphological and molecular characters. DeWalt et al. (2001), using the name P. lagoi, found this species to be widespread across Illinois. Grubbs & Stark (2001) presented a record for Ohio using P. nitida and Grubbs (2004) reported P. nitida from three Indiana counties.

We present several new records that are identified as either P. lagoi or P. nitida . IL, Cook Co., Chicago, [41.8500, - 87.6500], 7/1903, W.J. Gerhard, ♂ (FMNH); [DesPlaines River], River Grove (a.k.a. Glendon Park), [41.92925, -87.84516], 6/21/1903, W.J. Gerhard, ♂ (FMNH) ; IN, Brown Co., Yellowwood Lake, [39.18118, -86.35254], 6/25/1946, E. Mockford, 2♂, ♀ (CNC) ; Dearborn Co., West Fork Tanner Creek, 4 km W Guilford, 6/6/2009, S.A. Grubbs, 4♂, 4♀ (WKU) ; Decatur Co., Clifty Creek, CR 100N, Milford, 6/6/2009, S.A. Grubbs, 3♂, 1♀ (WKU) ; Dubois Co., Southern Indiana-Purdue Agricultural Center, [38.45634, -86.68852], 6/11/1959, ♂ (PERC) ; LaPorte Co., Trail Creek, Michigan City, [41.7237, -86.8719], 6/21/1957, J. Lowe, ♂ (CNC) ; Lawrence Co., 6/19/1937, ♂ (PERC); Bedford, [38.8611, -86.487722], 7/6/1928, L.F. Steiner, ♂, ♀ (PERC); Martin Co., East Fork White River, Shoals, [38.6673, -86.7926], 7/2/1974, A.V. Provonsha, L. Dersch, M. Lick, 2♂ (PERC) ; Monroe Co., Bloomington, [39.16528, - 86.52639], 6/20/1944, Naugle, ♂ (CNC) ; Montgomery Co., Waveland, [39.88092, -87.04536], 6/10/1959, N. Wilson, R. Mumford, ♂ (PERC) ; Newton Co., Conrad Savanna, [0.8 km NE Conrad], [41.1073, -87.4373], 7/8/1998, E. Metzler, Black Light, 10♂, 14♀ (OBS) ; Owen Co., Raccoon Creek, 3 km NW Freeman, Green’s Bluff Nature Preserve, 6/8-11/2006, S.A. Grubbs, 2♂, 3♀, 8N (reared) (WKU) ; Pulaski Co., 7/16/1947, ♀ (PERC); Tippecanoe Co., Wildcat Creek nr Lafayette, [40.45403, -86.85168], at light, 7/21/1976, M. Minno, ♀ (PERC) ; Washington Co., Middle Fork Blue River, 4 mi S. Salem at Hwy 135, 6/21/1972, W.P. McCafferty, A.V. Provonsha, E. Levine, M. Minno, ♂ (PERC) .