Aprica patula (Druce, 1898) Druce, 1898

Goldstein, Paul Z., Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2019, Aprica: a new genus and life history for the pteridivore Xanthia patula Druce, 1898 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), ZooKeys 866, pp. 127-145 : 130-137

Aprica patula (Druce, 1898) comb. nov. Figs 1-10 , 11-20 , 21 , 22, 23 , 24-27 , 28-29 , 30-37 , 38-45 , 46-53

Xanthia patula Druce, 1898 in Godman and Salvin 1898: 486, pl. 94, fig. 14; Hampson, 1908: 597, pl. 121, fig. 23; Ferguson, 1997: 348.

Bagisara patula : Poole, 1989: 154.

Holotype locality.

Costa Rica, Santa Clara Valley [BMNH].

Material examined.

38♂, 16♀ COSTA RICA (34♂, 15♀): The following label data precede individual unique voucher codes of the format yy-SRNP-xxxxxx (SRNP = Santa Rosa National Park, a unique identifier coined when the inventory was confined to Sector Santa Rosa of ACG in the early 1980's) on all reared and light-trapped specimens from ACG (24♂, 9♀): Voucher: D.H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs DB: http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, COSTA RICA.

All records of “on” a given plant species refer definitively to "feeding on." Specimens lacking food plant records were light trapped in the forest and have a 6-digit suffix in their SRNP codes, while reared specimens have a 1-5-digit suffix.

Alajuela Province: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (9♂, 4♀): Males: Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Estacion Caribe (melina), 10.8956, -85.29558, el. 391m: 11/09/2007, F. Quesada & R. Franco, collector, 07-SRNP-110152, USNMENT01463558; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Estacion Caribe (melina), 10.8956, -85.29558, el. 391m: 11/10/2007, F. Quesada & R. Franco, collector, 07-SRNP-110402, USNMENT01463615; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Jabalina, Manta Pizote, 10.97325, -85.31542, el. 288m: 09/30/2008, S. Rios & H. Cambronero, collector, 08-SRNP-107404, USNMENT01463664; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, el. 461m: larva on Salpichlaena volubilis : 06/16/2014, ecl. 07/19/2014, Edwin Apu, collector, 14-SRNP-80751, USNMENT01463658; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Manta Hugo, 10.8811, -85.2677, el. 491m: 03/14/2009, H. Cambronero & R. Franco, collector, 10-SRNP-107506, USNMENT01463699; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Protrero Chaves, 10.93868, -85.32167, el. 433m: 8/19/2009, F. Quesada & H. Cambronero, collector, 09-SRNP-107666, Dissection 148312, USNMENT01441902; Quebrada Bambu, 10.9301, -85.25205, el. 109m: larva on Lomariopsis vestita : 09/18/2012, ecl. 10/13/2012, Cirilo Umaña, collector, 12-SRNP-76932, USNMENT01463565; Sector San Cristobal: Estacion San Gerardo, 10.88009, -85.38887, el. 575m: 04/29/2006, H. Cambronero & S. Rios, collector, 06-SRNP-103767, USNMENT01463650; Sendero Carmona, 10.87621, -85.38632, el. 670m: larva on Thelypteris nicaraguensis : 05/16/2005, ecl. 06/07/2005, Gloria Sihezar, collector, 05-SRNP-2726, USNMENT01463665. Females: Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Sendero Rincon, 10.8962, -85.27769, el. 430m: larva on Salpichlaena volubilis : 03/23/2011, ecl. 04/23/2011, Jose Perez, collector, 11-SRNP-41357, USNMENT01463594; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: San Lucas, 10.91847, -85.30338, el. 320m: larva on Thelypteris nicaraguensis : 6/8/2011, ecl. 6/27/2011, Jorge Hernandez, collector, 11-SRNP-42773, Dissection 148174, USNMENT01463999; Quebrada Escondida, 10.89928, -85.27486, el. 420m: larva on Thelypteris nicaraguensis : 11/16/2010, ecl. 12/16/2010, Anabelle Cordoba, collector, 10-SRNP-44267, USNMENT01463798; Sector San Cristobal: Estacion San Gerardo, 10.88009, -85.38887, el. 575m: 04/30/2006, S. Rios & F. Quesada, collector, 06-SRNP-103899, USNMENT01463696. Guanacaste Province: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (15♂, 7♀): Males: Sector Cacao: Cuesta Caimito, 10.8908, -85.47192, el. 640m: larva on Pteris plumula : 11/13/2007, ecl. 12/07/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-47084, USNMENT01463600; Sector Cacao: Estacion Gongora, 10.88449, -85.47306, el. 557m: 09/12/2007, R. Franco & S. Rios, collector, 07-SRNP-111179, USNMENT01463585; Sector Cacao: Estacion Gongora, 10.88449, -85.47306, el. 557m: 09/12/2007, R. Franco & S. Rios, collector, 07-SRNP-111178, USNMENT01463617; Sector Cacao: Gongora Bananal, 10.88919, -85.47609, el. 600m: larva on Pteris plumula : 10/25/2005, ecl. 11/19/2005, Manuel Pereira, collector, 05-SRNP-48763, USNMENT01463599; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 09/17/2007, ecl. 10/11/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-46183, USNMENT01463543; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 09/17/2007, ecl. 10/08/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-46186, USNMENT01463693; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 09/17/2007, ecl. 10/07/2007, Dunia Garcia, collector, 07-SRNP-46181; Sector Cacao: Toma de Agua, 10.92956, -85.46512, el. 1160m: 08/09/2010, S. Rios & R. Franco, collector, 10-SRNP-112086, USNMENT01463590; Sector Pailas: Canopy Tours, 10.81262, -85.40248, el. 700m: 9/30/2016, H.Cambronero&R.Franco, collector, 16-SRNP-106142, USNMENT01464165; Sector Pailas: Canopy Tours, 10.81262, -85.40248, el. 700m: 06/11/2008, H. Cambronero & F. Quesada, collector, 08-SRNP-103411, USNMENT01463691; Sector Pitilla: Colocho, 11.0256, -85.41224, el. 390m: 03/19/2007, H. Cambronero & F. Quesada, collector, 07-SRNP-102458, USNMENT01463603; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m: 03/01/2006, S. Rios & R. Franco, collector, 06-SRNP-102362, USNMENT01463573; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m: 03/02/2006, R. Franco & F. Quesada, collector, 06-SRNP-102550, Dissection 148362, USNMENT01463556; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99679, -85.39695, el. 487m: 08/29/2008, S. Rios & R. Franco, collector, 08-SRNP-105409, USNMENT01463651; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Quica, 10.99679, -85.39695, el. 487m: 08/29/2008, S. Rios & R. Franco, collector, 08-SRNP-105410, USNMENT01463621. Females: Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 09/17/2007, ecl. 10/08/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-46187, USNMENT01463536; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 9/17/2007, ecl. 10/8/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-46182, USNMENT01463895; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 09/17/2007, ecl. 10/11/2007, Manuel Pereira, collector, 07-SRNP-46185; Sector Cacao: Quebrada Otilio, 10.88996, -85.47966, el. 550m: larva on Pteris plumula : 9/17/2007, ecl. 10/12/2007, Dunia Garcia, collector, 07-SRNP-46180, Dissection 148173, USNMENT01463897; Sector Cacao: Roca Verde, 10.89354, -85.43603, el. 835m: 08/12/2007, R. Franco & F. Quesada, collector, 07-SRNP-108036, USNMENT01463587; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m: 02/28/2006, S. Rios & H. Cambronero, collector, 06-SRNP-101627, USNMENT01463623; Sector Pitilla: Pasmompa, 11.02666, -85.41026, el. 400m: 07/31/2008, R. Franco & S. Rios, collector, 08-SRNP-104889, USNMENT01463671. Other (10♂,4♀): Males: COSTA RICA: Juan Vinas, Schaus & Barnes, coll., USNMENT01463893; COSTA RICA: Cartago, Orosi Estacion Tapanti Parque, 9 456' N, -83 471' W, 4062", July 7-9 2008, 1275m, J. Bolling Sullivan, collector, Dissection 148364, USNMENT01463654; same data, USNMENT01463683; same data, USNMENT01463630; COSTA RICA: Cartago, Orosi Estacion, Tapanti Parque, LN-559900-194000, 1275 m, February 12-17, 2005, J. Bolling Sullivan, collector, USNMENT01463894; COSTA RICA: Cartago, Orosi Estaction, Tapani Parque, LN-559900-194000, 1275 m, February 12-17, 2005, J. Bolling Sullivan, collector, Dissection 148371, USNMENT01463577; same data, USNMENT01463681; COSTA RICA: Tuis, May 28-June 4, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, Collection WmSchaus, USNMENT01463564; COSTA RICA: Tuis, June, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, USNMENT01463648; COSTA RICA: San Jose 4000ft, Nov 06, Collection WmSchaus, USNMENT01463535. Females: COSTA RICA: Cartago, Orosi Estaction, Tapani Parque, LN-559900-194000, 1275 m, February 12-17, 2005, J. Bolling Sullivan, collector, USNMENT01463571; same data, USNMENT01463641; same data, USNMENT01463568; COSTA RICA: Carillo, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, USNMENT01463572. GUATEMALA (3♂,1♀): Males: GUATEMALA: Cayuga, May, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, USNMENT01463555; GUATEMALA: Cayuga, Sept, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, Dognin Collection, USNMENT01463529; GUATEMALA: Cayuga, Schaus and Barnes, collectors, Aug., Photo Noc.22, USNMENT01463672. Female: GUATEMALA: Retalhuleu, from L Thiel, S Sebastian, USNMENT01463544. MEXICO (1♂): Zacualpan [Veracruz] T21, USNM slide # 59037, USNMENT01463653.

Diagnosis.

The apposition of the forewing and hind wing colors differentiates this species from several unrelated New World species (both tropical and extra-tropical) that share superficially similar orange forewing coloration. None of these has a deep reddish hind wing or the laterally bisected contrast in body coloration between thorax and abdomen. The combination of the expressed M2 on the hind wing, the absence of abdominal coremata, and the configuration of the male and female genitalia are summarized in the generic diagnosis supra vide as distinct from Eriopinae and other pteridivorous Noctuidae .

Description.

Head. Eyes smooth; labial palpi upturned, apex level with antennal base; antennae setose, bifasciculate in males; frons and vertex mix of golden yellow and reddish-orange scales concolorous with those of forewings and thorax.

Thorax. Prothoracic vestiture as described for genus. Wings. Forewing length, males, 12.1 mm– 15.0 mm (males, n = 34, x̄ = 13.5 mm, M = 13.2 mm); females, 12.1 mm– 16.1 mm (n = 17, x̄ = 14.2 mm, M = 14.3 mm). FW not broadly rounded, outer margin convex; FW scaling golden yellow, suffused with reddish-orange scales, some lilacine at costa; postmedial area less heavily suffused with reddish-orange than antemedial or subterminal areas; antemedial, medial, and postmedial lines distinct and unbroken, the medial line ~2 × as thick as others; baso-posterior russet patch; reniform spot constricted to form two white stigmata, the antero-costal stigma round and smaller than the other, j-shaped stigma; HW near-uniformly russet-orange, yellowish-orange terminal line unbroken. FW underside russet in center, bounded by paler shading along the costal and posterior margin below the anal vein; pm line jagged, dark gray, fading gradually from costal fascia to the anal vein. HW underside with discal spot present, pm line visible as a series of dark gray spots where it meets the veins; medial lines of both wings diffuse. Legs. As above, for genus. Scales the same mix of golden orange and reddish as on the head and thorax, but more uniformly reddish on the fore-femora.

Abdomen. As above, for genus. Vestiture paler than on thorax and concolorous with hind wing.

Male genitalia. As above, for genus. Phallus not uniformly sclerotized, weakly so towards the vesica; vesica without cornuti, with a complex of four bubble-like sub-basal diverticula and one larger basal diverticulum; vesica distended baso-medially, recurved clockwise over the phallus before narrowing and everting in a counter-clockwise twist ( Figs 24-27 ).

Female genitalia. As above, for genus.

Immature stages.

Known only from images of living larvae. Larvae are cylindrical, not tapered posteriorly, exhibiting green-brown polymorphism (in some cases the penultimate instar green, ultimate instar brown), and both bear false eyespots on the first abdominal segment; the spot is white postero-ventrally, the front half black with a white dot. In the brown form, the head bears a calico pattern, while in the green form the head is more uniformly green; both forms bear a lateral genal stripe. The brown form is predominantly rusty orange, a pair of subdorsal stripes formed by paler orange wedges. Larvae curl their heads under their abdomens when disturbed, emphasizing their false eyespots. This recall’s Yen and Wu’s (2009) remarks on the eriopine genus Callopistria which "when threatened...bend their abdominal segments A1 and A2 upwards," as do caterpillars in many families. The subdorsal lines in the green larval form comprise a series of irregularly shaped segmental yellow blotches through A6, beneath which runs a series of supra-spiracular spots; a small supra-spiracular black dash may is visible on A4 and A7 as well. The posterior segments, beginning with A7, bear scattered yellow markings.

Biology.

Larvae collected in March, May, June, September, October, and November, with adults eclosing in each of the corresponding subsequent months. Recorded times from the onset of pre-pupa to eclosion 15-17 days. Pupation within a cocoon of leaves lightly silked together. Larvae have been collected feeding on the following ferns: Pteris plumula Desv. (= Pteris quadriaurita Retz., Pteridaceae ), Pteridium caudatum (L.) ( Dennstaedtiaceae ), Thelypteris nicaraguensis (E. Fourn.) C.V. Morton ( Thelypteridaceae ), Salpichlaena volubilis (Kauf.) J. Sm. ( Blechnaceae ), Lomariopsis vestita E. Fourn. ( Lomariopsidaceae ), and Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott ( Davailleaceae ). Recorded hymeopteran parasitoids at ACG include Enicospilus maculipennis (Cameron, 1886) ( Ichneumonidae : Ophioninae) and at least one undescribed ichneumonid (cocoon, Fig. 50 ). False eyespots on the first abdominal segment appear well developed by the third instar and conspicuous in the green fourth instar as well as the brown last instars. It may be no more than coincidence that all the brown last instars turned out to be males when reared, while all the green penultimate instars turned out to be females when reared.

Distribution.

Mid-elevation rainforest Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica.

Figures

Figure 21. Forewing, hind wing. male, USNMENT 01463577, Dissection 148371.

Figures 1 - 10. Dorsal habitus of Aprica patula, males (left, 1 - 5) and females (right, 6 - 10). 1 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 2 USNMENT 01463665, 05 - SRNP- 2726 3 USNMENT 01463894 4 USNMENT 01463893 5 USNMENT 01463658, 14 - SRNP- 80751 6 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 7 USNMENT 01463999, 11 - SRNP- 42773 8 USNMENT 01463895, 07 - SRNP- 46182 9 USNMENT 01463671, 08 - SRNP- 104889 10 USNMENT 01463571.

Figures 11 - 20. Ventral habitus of Aprica patula, males (left, 11 - 15) and females (right, 16 - 20). 11 USNMENT 01463599 05 - SRNP- 48763 12 USNMENT 01463665 05 - SRNP- 2726 13 USNMENT 01463894 14 USNMENT 01463893 15 USNMENT 01463658 14 - SRNP- 80751 16 USNMENT 01463798 10 - SRNP- 44267 17 USNMENT 01463999 11 - SRNP- 42773 18 USNMENT 01463895 07 - SRNP- 46182 19 USNMENT 01463671 08 - SRNP- 104889 20 USNMENT 01463571.

Figures 22, 23. Male genitalia. 22 Valvae, USNMENT 01463556, 06 - SRNP- 102550, Dissection 148362 23 Valvae (ink) USNMENT 01441902, 09 - SRNP- 107666, Dissection 148312.

Figures 24 - 27. Male genitalia. 24 - 26 Vesica, from 3 angles, USNMENT 01463556, 06 - SRNP- 102550, Dissection 148362 27 Vesica (ink), USNMENT 01441902, 09 - SRNP- 107666, Dissection 148312.

Figures 28 - 29. Female genitalia. 29 USNMENT 01463999, 11 - SRNP- 42773, Dissection 148174 (ink) 30 USNMENT 01463999, 10 - SRNP- 46180, Dissection 148173.

Figures 30 - 37. Larvae, brown, last instar. 31 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408116 32 SNMENT 01463665 05 - SRNP- 2726 ♂ DHJ 402483 33 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408117 34 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408121 35 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408123 36 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408124 37 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408125 38 USNMENT 01463599, 05 - SRNP- 48763 ♂ DHJ 408126.

Figures 38 - 45. Larvae, green, penultimate instar. 39 05 - SRNP- 48764 DHJ 408129 40 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 ♀ DHJ 478607 41 05 - SRNP- 48764 DHJ 408127 42 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 ♀ DHJ 478603 43 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 ♀ DHJ 478606 44 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 ♀ DHJ 478605 45 USNMENT 01463798, 10 - SRNP- 44267 ♀ DHJ 478608 46 05 - SRNP- 48764 DHJ 408128.

Figures 46 - 53. Young larvae, cocoon and pupa 46 - 49, 51 - 53 14 - SRNP- 71583 46 DHJ 723850 47 DHJ 723852 48 DHJ 723855 49 DHJ 723892 50 Ichneumonid cocoon, 11 - SRNP- 69437, DHJ 804089 51 DHJ 723898 52 DHJ 723899 53 DHJ 723901.