Epimartyria bimaculella, Davis, Donald R. & Landry, Jean-Francois, 2012

Davis, Donald R. & Landry, Jean-Francois, 2012, A review of the North American genus Epimartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) with a discussion of the larval plastron, ZooKeys 183, pp. 37-83 : 54-58

Epimartyria bimaculella sp. n. Figs 26 –7113281– 87

Diagnosis.

Adultsof Epimartyria bimaculella most resemble those of Epimartyria pardella in possessing dark fuscous forewings marked by pale golden spots. A total of two yellowish spots occur in bimaculella, with only a single large costal spot present beyond the middle of the forewing. Four spots are present on the forewing of pardella, with two of these located across the distal third of the wing on the costal and dorsal margins respectively.

Adult

(Figs 2, 6-7). Head: Vestiture similar to Epimartyria auricrinella , light orange brown. Antenna with vestiture of scape and pedicel concolorous with head; scales of flagellum mostly pale golden brown, becoming darker, more fuscous over distal third. Labial palpus cream.

Thorax: Dark fuscous with coppery to purplish luster. Tegula concolorous with head. Forewing mostly dark fuscous with coppery to purplish luster dorsally, marked with two pale yellowish spots; the largest, irregularly oval to rectangular spot extends from the costa approximately halfway across the distal third of wing; a second smaller, more slender spot extends diagonally from about midway along dorsal margin to midway on discal cell; a slight suffusion of pale yellowish scales may be sometimes evident at the base of the forewing, but only seldom does this occur; forewing less iridescent ventrally; fringe pale yellow along termen, fuscous along dorsal margin. Forewing length: 4.6-5.3 mm. Hindwing mostly gray, becoming darker and slightly iridescent toward apex; fringe gray. Legs medium to dark brown dorsally with a slight purplish luster, light brown to cream ventrally; epiphysis absent.

Abdomen: Piliform scales dark brown dorsally, paler brown ventrally.

Male genitalia (Figs 81-85): Tergum X similar to Epimartyria auricrinella , broadly bilobed. Caudal apex of sternum X deeply divided, with apex of lobes acute, only slightly curved; a pair of short, lateral lobes present near base. Valva moderately long, ventral length ~ half the maximum length of segment IX; apex subacute and bearing a short, slender, recurved spine similar to Epimartyria auricrinella ; a short but broader and more triangular, rounded process arising midway from mesal surface; elongate basal process ~ 4/5 the length of valva; distal margin of valva variable within populations from slightly convex to ~ straight. Dorsal branch of phallus cylindrical and smooth.

Female genitalia (Figs 86-87): As described for genus. Caudal end of genital sclerite moderately furcate as in Epimartyria auricrinella ; length of furcations ~ 0.3 that of moderately long, undivided base.

Larva and pupa.

Unknown.

Biology

(Figs 6-7, 11). At the type locality, specimens were captured by sweeping low lying vegetation or during diurnal flight along a shaded seepage in a Douglas Fir–Western Red Cedar forest where leafy liverworts grew. Adults were also observed perching on lower parts of plants such as Salmonberry ( Rubus spectabilis Pursh) no more than approximately 25 metres from the liverwort habitat (D.G. Holden, pers. comm.). In different parts of the range, specimens were collected from late April to mid August, with most records in June. Late records (July and August) are from higher elevations.

Holotype.

♂, CANADA: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Belcarra, 49°17'59.11"N, 122°55'30.88"W, Alt. 25 m., 8 Jun 2008, visual sweep, Dave G. Holden, specimen # CNCLEP00067716, CNC slide MIC5768, Barcode of Life Project, leg removed, DNA extracted, digital image captured, (CNC).

Paratypes.

CANADA: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Belcarra Park, 49.3107°N, 122.9263°W, alt. 13 m: 2 ♂, 24 May 2009, day sweep, Dave G. Holden, specimen # CNCLEP00076632-00076633 [both DNA barcoded] (CNC); 13 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 Jun 2009, day sweep, Dave G. Holden, specimens # CNCLEP00076634-00076639, 00077846-00077853, CNC slides MIC5765, MIC5767, MIC5766, MIC5570, MIC5571 [all DNA barcoded] (CNC); 2 ♂, 2 Jun 2009, day sweep, Dave G. Holden, specimens # CNCLEP00076640-00076641 [both DNA barcoded] (CNC). Maple Ridge, Univ. of British Columbia Research Forest, 49.277679°N, 122.553870°W, 259 m: 1 ♂, 1 Jun 2011, visual sweep, Dave G.Holden (CNC). Fraser Mills: 6 ♂, 7 ♀, 11 June 1921, L. E. Marmont, SEM slide USNM 18431, slides USNM 33919, 98001, 98002, 98004; 27 ♂, 7 ♀, 15 Jun 1922, E. H. Blackmore collector, slides USNM 17503, 18410-18411, 34282, 91785, 97991, 98000, 98003, 98005, 98009-98017 (BMNH, CNC, USNM). Squamish, Diamond Head Trail: 1 ♂, 12 Aug 1963; 2 ♂, 14 Aug 1963, W.R.M. Mason, specimens # CNCLEP00077292-00077294, CNC slide MIC1826 (CNC). Mt Seymour, 49.337368°N, 122.957695°W, 292 m: 1 ♂, 21 Jun 2011, visual sweep, Dave G.Holden (CNC). Glacier National Park, Loop Trail, 1140 m, 51.254°N, 117.538°W, 1 ♀, 16 Jul 2010, malaise trap, specimen #10BBCLP-2914 [DNA barcoded], CNC slide MIC5769 (BIO). UNITED STATES: Washington: Clallam Co: Olympic National Park, sweeping on Soleduck Trail to Deer Lake, 1000 m: 3 ♂, 15 Jul 1998, D. R. Davis, slide USNM 34302 (USNM). Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles, 245m, 48, 07924°N, 123,42990°W ± 50m: 3 ♂, 1 ♀, 20 Jun 2010; 1 ♂, 20.6.2010, 15:45h, Hausenblas and Zeller-Lukashort (ONPS). Olympic Peninsula, Sol Duc Hot Springs Rd, 390m, 48.06385°N, 123.99565°W ± 50m: 1 ♂, 21 Jun 2010, 13:00h, Hausenblas and Zeller-Lukashort, slide AP-Nr 42/2010 Christof Zeller (ONPS). Olympic Peninsula, Kalaloch, 10m 47.61131°N, 124.37588°W ± 50m: 1 ♂, 23 Jun 2010, 17:00h, Hausenblas and Zeller-Lukashort (ONPS). Olympic Peninsula, Hoh Rainforest Rd, 130m 47.81641°N, 124.05161°W ± 50m: 21 ♂, 3 ♀, 22 Jun 2010, 16:15h, Hausenblas and Zeller-Lukashort (CZC). Grays Harbor Co: Elma: 46.9738°N, 123.2945°W, yel st trp, 1 ♀, 27 Jun 2011, G. Kohler, WSDA 978-1008A (WSCAD). King Co: Asahel Curtis picnic area: 47.3951°N, 121.4677°W, 1 ♂, 27 Jul 2011, hand col, C. Looney, WSDA W666-1129A, B (WSCAD, USNM). Stevens Pass, Hwy 2, 14.5 km E Skykomish, 645 m., 47.7143°N, 121.1722°W: 1 ♂, 8 Jul 2010, afternoon sweep, J.-F. Landry and D.G. Holden, specimen #CNCLEP00082605, CNC slide MIC5739 [DNA barcoded] (CNC). Mason Co: Skokomish River Rd: 47.3019°N, 123.1858°W, 4 ♂, 2 ♀, 17 Jun 2011, hand col, C. Looney, WSDA W666-1131A-E (WSCAD, USNM). Pierce Co: Fort Lewis: 1 ♂, 29 May 1951, R. Schuster, Essig Museum slide 0152, (UCB). Snohomish Co: East Arlington Co. Park: 1 ♂, 29 Apr 1979, L. Massell, e. Lepidozia liverwort, slide USNM 98006 (USNM). 6 mi. E of Verlot: 1 ♂, collected 26 Mar 1979, emerged 2 May 1979, reared from liverwort, "Jungermannia obovata" L. Russell (USNM). Thurston Co: Evergreen State College, 47.0791 °N, 122.9750°W, 2 ♂, 25 Jun 2011, hand col, C. Looney & E. Lagasa, WSDA 666-1130A, B (WSCAD, USNM).

Additional specimen examined, excluded from type material: CANADA: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Glacier National Park, Loop Trail, 1140 m, 51.254°N, 117.538°W, 1 ♀, 16 Jul 2010, malaise trap, specimen #10BBCLP-2914 [DNA barcoded] (BIO).

Distribution

(Fig. 32). Epimartyria bimaculella is known from northwestern Washington and southern British Columbia. Most British Columbia records are from the southwesternmost corner in the periphery of the Vancouver area, reflecting a more intense collecting effort in that region. One record from the Rocky Mountains of Glacier National Park, BC suggests a significantly broader distribution.

Etymology.

The species nameis derived from the Latin bi; (two, double) and maculella (little spot) in reference to the two, small, pale yellowish spots present on the forewings.