Schinia deserticola Barnes and McDunnough

Pogue, Michael G. & Harp, Charles E., 2003, Systematics of Schinia cupes (Grote) complex: Revised status of Schinia crotchii (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 294, pp. 1-16 : 7-9

Schinia deserticola Barnes and McDunnough

( Figs. 5–6 , 9 , 14–15 , 18 , 21, 23 )

Schinia cupes deserticola Barnes and McDunnough 1916: 5 . — Smith 1891: 54. — Smith 1893: 280. — Dyar 1903:188. — Barnes and McDunnough 1917: 39. — Franclemont and Todd 1983: 159. — Poole 1989: 894. — Poole and Gentili 1996: 771.

Trichosellus cupes deserticola ; McDunnough 1938: 106.

Schinia deserticola ; Hardwick 1996: 91.

Diagnosis. The ground color in S. deserticola is a dirty white compared with light brown in both S. cupes and S. crotchii . The orbicular spot is distinct and more separated from the antemedial line in S. deserticola ( Figs. 5–6 ) than in S. cupes and S. crotchii ( Figs. 1–4 ). The hair pencils in the male abdomen are present in S. deserticola as they are in S. cupes . In the female genitalia the papillae anales have the ventral margin angulate in S. deserticola ( Fig. 21 ) and straight in S. cupes and S. crotchii ( Figs. 19–20 ).

Description. Male: Head: Frons cream with short narrow scales; vertex a mixture of white hairlike scales and tapered spatulate scales with brown apices. Labial palpus white with some light brown scales on middle and at apex of outer surface. Eyes large and globular. Thorax: Mixture of white hairlike and spatulate scales with tapered stalks, tapered scales white with brown apices. Foreleg femur and ventral fringe white; tibia white and light brown; largest and stoutest spine on inner side and closest to basitarsus; slender dorsal setae absent; outer side with three stout spines becoming shorter and less robust as they progress dorsally; tarsi light brown with white apical rings. Mid­ and hindlegs white with some light brown scales; tarsi light brown with white apical rings. Underside white. Forewing: Length 10.5–14.5 mm (n=10). Ground color light brown; antemedial line white and sinuate; claviform spot absent; orbicular spot ground colored, outlined with brown with a light brown center; reniform spot ground colored outlined with brown and with a large light brown center; postmedial line white and sinuate; subterminal line white and irregular with a series of brown arrowheads between veins; outer margin with elongate brown marks between veins; fringe mixed brown and white. Underside white with light brown orbicular and reniform spots; wide light brown postmedial band, variable in intensity, extends from costa to vein CuA2, in some specimens band extends to posterior margin. Hindwing: ground color white, discal spot and marginal band brown, a few white spots along margin; veins in white discal area highlighted with brown scales. Abdomen: White; hair pencils and associated scent pockets on second sternite present ( Fig. 9 ). Genitalia ( Figs 14–15 ): As in S. crotchii , but valve slightly narrower. Vesica with a basal diverticulum and 3 coils.

Female: As in male except forewing length 10.5–14.5 mm (n=10). Genitalia ( Figs 18, 21 ): Papillae anales lightly sclerotized, broad ventral margin angulate, apex narrowly rounded; anterior apophyses approximately 0.90 times to equal in length of posterior apophyses; ductus bursae widening beyond middle to less than twice width at ostium bursae.

Type material. Schinia cupes deserticola Barnes and McDunnough : Male lectotype designated by Hardwick (1996) is in the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Type locality: southern Arizona.

Biology. The life history and descriptions of the immature stages of deserticola are given by Hardwick (1996). The larval plant host is Camissonia claviformis (Torr. & Frem.) Raven (Onagraceae) .

Distribution ( Fig. 23 ). Southern California to southeastern Arizona and north to west central Utah and southeastern Oregon.

Material Examined. All specimens are from USNM, except as noted otherwise. 91 males and 104 females. U.S.A.: ARIZONA: southern, 1–15 Apr. (1ɗ), Barnes Collection. LA PAZ CO. Ehrenberg, 21 Mar. 1939 (1ɗ), F.H. Parker. MARICOPA CO. Wickenburg, 2000', 21 Mar. 1993 (1Ψ), D.F. & V. Hardwick ( CNC). MOHAVE CO. Kingman, 23 Apr. 1954 (1ɗ), G.W. Rawson (1Ψ), O. Buchholz; Pierce Ferry, 5–7 May 1967 (1Ψ), D. Davis. CALIFORNIA: [No specific locality] (1Ψ); Mohave Desert, 20 Apr. 1930 (1ɗ), J.A. Comstock. IMPERIAL CO. 1–15 Mar. 1922 (1Ψ), O.C. Poling, 15 Mar. (3ɗ 17Ψ), 15–30 Mar. 1922 (18ɗ 22Ψ), O.C. Poling; Dixieland, 1–15 Mar. 1922 (11ɗ 11Ψ), 15–30 Mar. 1922 (8ɗ 10Ψ), male genitalia slide USNM 47002, O.C. Poling; Foot of Fish Cr. Mtns., 600 ft., 6 Apr. 1992 (3ɗ), D.F. & V. Hardwick ( CNC). INYO CO. Mar. 1921 (1Ψ), 20 Mar. (1ɗ), 21 Mar. (1ɗ), McElvare Collection; Darwin, 27 Apr. 1940 (1Ψ). KERN CO. Baker, 6 Apr. 1935 (5ɗ 1Ψ), J.A. Comstock. RIVERSIDE CO. Blythe, 15 Mar. 1937 (1ɗ 3Ψ), McElvare Collection; Mecca, Mar. (4ɗ), K.R. Coolidge, 27 Mar. 1922 (2ɗ 1Ψ), E. Shoemaker; Mecca, Box Canyon, 300', 21 Mar. 1985 (1ɗ), D.F. & V. Hardwick ( CNC); Palm Springs, 16–23 Mar. (2ɗ 1Ψ), 18 Mar. (1Ψ), 12 Apr. 1932 (1Ψ), 14 Apr. 1932 (1Ψ), McElvare Collection; Palm Desert, 5 Mar. 1960 (2ɗ), R.H. Leuschner ( CH); Shaver’s Well, 1 Apr. 1935 (1ɗ), 1 May 1938 (1Ψ), J.A. Comstock. SAN BERNARDINO CO. Cajon Pass, 20 Apr. 1939 (1Ψ), Guedet Collection; 2 mi S Kelso, 2400', 2 Apr. 1987, D.F. Hardwick (1Ψ); Needles, 4 Apr. 1937 (2ɗ 2Ψ), L.M. Martin; Newberry Springs, 4 Apr. 1937 (8ɗ 16Ψ), male genitalia slides USNM 47006, 47013, female genitalia slide USNM 47003, D. Meadows; San Bernardino, 8–15 Apr. (1Ψ); nr. Yermo, 5 Apr. 1941 (1ɗ), R.R. McElvare; Yermo, 20 Mar. 1937 (1Ψ), J.A. Comstock, 9 Apr. 1939 (2ɗ), G. Beevor. SAN DIEGO CO. 3 mi SE Ocotillo Well’s, 17 Mar. 1978 (1ɗ), D.F. Hardwick ( CNC). San Felipe Wash, 4 Mar. 1937 (1ɗ 1Ψ), E. Shoemaker. OREGON: HARNEY CO. Cottonwood Cr., Pueblo Mts., 28 May 1960 (6ɗ), S.G. Jewett, Jr. ( OSUC). UTAH: EMERY CO. Goblin Valley State Park, 1 June 1997 (2Ψ), Opler & Buckner ( CSU).

Discussion. Barnes and McDunnough (1916) described S. deserticola as a subspecies of S. cupes . Schinia deserticola inhabits desert and other arid habitats. It is single brooded, flying from early March to early May, with a single record from early June. The peak flight period of S. deserticola is earlier than that of S. crotchii ( Fig. 24 ).

The host plant distribution of S. deserticola matches well with the adult distribution ( Fig. 23 ).

Figures

FIGURE 23. Collecting localites and shaded host plant distribution for Schinia deserticola, host plant Camissonia claviformis (Onagraceae).

FIGURE 24. Seasonal phenology of Schinia cupes, S. crotchii, and S. deserticola.

FIGURES 1 – 6. Adults. 1, Schinia cupes, male, Texas, Williamson Co. Georgetown, USNMENT 00145033; 2, S. cupes, female, Texas, USNMENT 00145030; 3, S. crotchii, male, California, southern, USNMENT 00145087; 4, S. crotchii, female, California, San Bernardino Co. Loma Linda, USNMENT 00145094; 5, S. deserticola, male, California, San Bernardino Co. Needles, USN­ MENT 00145165; 6, S. deserticola, female, California, San Bernardino Co. Needles, USNMENT 0 0 145167.

FIGURES 7 – 9. Second sternite of male abdomen. 7, Schinia cupes; 8, S. crotchii; 9, S. deserticola.

FIGURES 10 – 15. Male genitalia and aedoeagus. 10, Schinia cupes; 11, S. cupes, aedeagus; 12, S. crotchii; 13, S. crotchii, aedeagus; 14, S. deserticola; 9, 15, S. deserticola, aedeagus.

FIGURES 16 – 21. Female genitalia and papillae anales. 16, Schinia cupes; 17, S. crotchii; 18, S. deserticola; 19, S. cupes, papillae anlaes; 20, S. crotchii, papillae anales; 21, S. deserticola, papillae anales.