Amyna axis (Guenée), Guenee

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Zootaxa 2499, pp. 1-20 : 8

1. Amyna axis (Guenée) , Eight-spot

( Figs. 13–15 , Map 7)

Identification: Forewing length 10.0-12.0 mm. Amyna axis has a brown to reddish-brown forewing. The male has a round, white reniform spot. In the female the reniform spot is either absent or is cream colored to cream colored mixed with reddish-brown scales and is never bright white as in the male. There are five white dashes along the costa from the reniform spot to apex. Most of the forewing markings are obscure. The faint postmedial line is crenulate, dark brown with some white scales distally, and may be absent in worn specimens. Hind wing is dark gray. Amyna axis is a synonym of Amyna octo (Guenée) . See Edwards (1996) for an explanation of the synonymy.

MAP 7. Collecting localities of Amyna axis .

Flight period: Mid October.

Collected Localities: Tennessee: Cocke Co.: Cosby, ATBI house. (1 specimen)

Elevation range: 1760 ft. (536 m)

General distribution: This is a tropical species distributed from the Caribbean and Mexico, south throughout Central America and South America to Brazil. It migrates northward each year, becoming common in the southern U.S., but more rare in the north. Recorded from Maine, south to Florida and west to Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, and eastern Texas.

Larval hosts: Known from Chenopodium spp. ( Chenopodiaceae ) ( Covell 1984).

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 16. Adults. 3, Ponometia candefacta, m, Oklahoma, Cimarron Co., Black Mesa State Park, east end of primitive area, nr. Lake Elling, 4281 ft., 36 o 50.783 ’ N, 102 o 52.583 ’ W, 24 Aug. 2004, M. G. Pogue; 4, Ponometia candefacta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 12 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 5, Ponometia erastrioides, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co.: Colesville, 29 Aug. 1978, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Ponometia erastrioides, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 25 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 7, Spragueia apicalis, m, Texas, Montgomery Co., Camp Strake 9 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 8, Spragueia apicalis, f, Texas, Tyler Co., Town Bluff (Dam B) 15 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 9, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Dorchester Co., Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, 7 Aug. 1999, J. Glaser; 10, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Spice Creek Marsh, 17 Aug. 2003, J. Glaser; 11, Spragueia leo, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co.: Oxon Hill, 11 July 1972, G. F. Hevel; 12, Spragueia leo, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 3 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 13, Amyna axis, m, Texas, Tarrant Co., Fort Worth, 14 Sep. 1962, E. Jackh Jr.; 14, Amyna axis, f, Texas, Cameron Co.: Brownsville, 27 Oct. 1970, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 15, Amyna axis, f, Texas, La Salle Co.: Artesia Wells, 11 Nov. 1971, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 16, Argillophora furcilla, m, Florida, Alachua Co.: Gainesville, hardwood hammock, 25 May 1972, E. C. Knudson.