Charadra tapa Schmidt & Anweiler, 2010

Schmidt, Christian & Anweiler, Gary, 2010, The North American species of Charadra Walker, with a revision of the Charadra pata (Druce) group (Noctuidae, Pantheinae), ZooKeys 39 (39), pp. 161-181 : 172-173

Charadra tapa Schmidt & Anweiler , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:00370BBD-8B85-4AA1-A8AB-9AF7D6CB7FE2

Figs 8, 9, 24, 31

Type material. Holotype ♁ – UNITED STATES. “AZ; Cochise Co. / Huachuca Mts , 5354 Ash / Cyn [Canyon] Rd. 0.5miW [0.5 miles west of] Hwy [Highway] 92 / 15.IX.1992 5100’ / N. McFarland UV light”; “ HOLOTYPE / C haradra tapa / Schmidt & Anweiler” [red label]. Deposited in CNC . Paratypes – 21 ♁, 9 ♀ [ CNC, CUIC, USNM, UASM]. Same data as holotype (all reared ex ova on Quercus gambelii ), 5 Oct 1959 (1 ♁) ; 15 Aug 1965 (1 ♁) ; 27 Aug. 1965 (1 ♀); United States: Arizona: Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains , Ramsey Canyon. , R. F. Sternitzky, 2 Oct. 1967 (3 ♁, 1 ♀), 13 Sept. 1967 (1 ♁), 25 Sep 1967 (1 ♁), 29 Oct. 1967 (3 ♁, 1♀), 24 Sept. 1967 (1 ♀) ; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mountains, Carr Canyon. , R. F. Sternitzky, 28 Sep 1967, (1♀), 24 Sep 1967 (3 ♁), 28 Sep 1967 (2 ♁) ; Cochise Co., Sierra Vista, F. Sternitzky , 8 Sept. 1967, (1 ♁), 25 Sept. 1967 (1 ♁), 18 Sep 1966 (1 ♀) ; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mtns, Garden Cyn., F. Sternitzky, 9 Oct. 1967, (1 ♁) ; Cochise Co., Huachuca Mtns, 5354 Ash Canyon. Rd. 0.5 mi W Hwy. 92, 15 Sept. 1992, 5100’, N. McFarland, (1 ♁), 22 Sep 1992 (1 ♀), 24 Sep 1992 (1 ♁), 21 Sep 1992 (1 ♁) ; Cochise Co., Chiracahua Mtns, Southwestern Research Station , 21 May 1960, C.W. Kirkwood (1 ♀) ; Santa Cruz Co., Santa Rita Mtns, Madera Canyon , 4880’, 1 Oct. 1959, (1 ♀), 14 Aug 1965 (1 ♁), J.G. Franclemont .

Etymology. The name tapa is an anagram of pata .

Diagnosis. Most similar to C. franclemonti ; see diagnosis under that species.

Description. Sexes externally alike, except females slightly larger than males. FW length averages 18 mm in males, 19 mm in females. Head, thorax, abdomen – as for C. franclemonti , with following differences in wing markings: Forewings slightly paler grey overall, particularly distal third; medial dark area slightly paler; hindwing with slightly paler yellowish base, dark marginal band on average slightly wider than in C. franclemonti . Male genitalia (Fig. 24) – structurally very similar to that of C. franclemonti , with following differences: valve tip slightly more triangular (more squared in C. franclemonti ); base of vesica with two large, thorn-like cornuti positioned adjacent to each other on left-sublateral area. Female genitalia (Fig. 31) – as in C. franclemonti , with following differences: antevaginal plate with broad Ushaped medial notch and two short, broadly-rounded triangular lobes, not extending beyond margin of sternum; ductus bursae with a more pronounced ventral twist of right lateral margin.

Distribution and biology. The known distribution of C. tapa is limited to the Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona, although the species probably occurs in adjacent parts of Mexico. Th e main flight period is from September to October; a single specimen from early May indicates there may be spring flight. Larvae have been reared on Gambel Oak ( Quercus gambelii ).

Remarks. Although previously treated as such, neither C. tapa nor C. franclemonti is referable to C. pata , as pointed out in the ‘remarks’ section of C. pata .