Schinia rufocostulata Pogue and Harp

Pogue, Michael G. & Harp, And Charles E., 2005, Systematics of Schinia chrysellus (Grote) complex: Revised status of Schinia alencis (Harvey) with a description of two new species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 898, pp. 1-35 : 21-22

Schinia rufocostulata Pogue and Harp , new species

( Figs. 14–15 , 20 , 25 , 34–35 , 44–45 , 49 )

Diagnosis. Schinia rufocostulata is distinct from the other species in this group by possessing the bright rufous fascia and the more extensive rufous apical patch in the forewing. The black spots along the outer margin of the forewing are present in ciliata , but absent in rufocostulata . The underside of the forewing is mostly gray in ciliata and cream in rufocostulata . The labial palps are shorter than in ciliata .

Description. Male. Head: Frons cream, ventral lip produced ( Fig. 20 ); vertex rufous; labial palp short, barely extends beyond frons, cream; eyes large and globular. Thorax: Scales wide, rufous; forefemur cream, slightly dark at apex, long fringe white; tibia cream, largest spine on inner side slender, round, 2 very slender spines dorsal to it, outer side with 2 slender spines and 1–2 very slender spines that become progressively shorter proximally; tarsi pale cinnamon with white apical rings; middle femur pale cinnamon; tibia pale cinnamon with cream apical rings; tarsi slightly darker than tibia with cream apical rings; hind femur cream; tibia pale cream; tarsi pale cream; underside white. Forewing: Length 9.06–10.04, mean 9.56 + 0.58 mm (n=5). Ground color shiny white; basal patch cinnamon to rufous, usually a shade lighter than thorax; median band narrow with slightly curved margins, rufous; reniform spot round, concolorous with median band, narrowly contiguous with median band; terminal band white, with large rufous area encompassing apex and extending down costa almost to median band and down outer margin approximately 4/5 length, a distinct white apical spot, black spots at outer margin absent; short scales of fringe concolorous with rufous terminal patch, long hairs rufous at apex, rest white; underside cream with pale cinnamon along costa and near apex. Hindwing: Ground color shiny white; marginal band faint, pale cinnamon, widest at apex becoming absent toward anal angle; fringe white. Abdomen: Shiny tannish­white; scent pockets and hair pencils on second sternite absent. Genitalia ( Figs. 34–35 ): Uncus elongate, approximately 0.33 times length of valve, apex blunt with small hook; valve moderately elongate (length approximately 8.3 X width), costal margin gently curved, posterior margin angulate at 2/3 length, apex round; ampulla short (0.02 length of valve); corona with stout spines; sacculus with ventral margin produced; juxta rectangular, height greater than width, ventral margin Ushaped and more sclerotized than rest of juxta; saccus V­shaped; aedoeagus slightly curved, dorsodistal third with fine spines; vesica uninflated.

Female. As in male except forewing length 9.72–9.86, 9.79 + 0.10 mm (n=2). Genitalia ( Figs. 44–45 ): Papilla analis an elongate triangle, apex round; posterior apophysis approximately 0.78 X anterior apophysis; ductus bursae membranous, elongate; appendix bursae shorter than corpus bursae, with 2 1/2 coils; corpus bursae ovate; signa 4 scobinate bars.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Ψ, Texas, Brewster Co., Dugout Wells, Big Bend National Park, 27 Aug. 1965, A. & M. E. Blanchard, USNM ENT 0 0 220615, genitalia slide USNM 48031. Deposited in USNM.

Biology. Unknown.

Etymology: The specific epithet, rufocostulata , describes the unique character of the rufous terminal band extending down costa almost to the median band.

Distribution ( Fig. 49 ). Known only from the type locality in southwestern Texas.

Material Examined. All specimens are from the National Museum of Natural History ( USNM) collection except as noted. PARATYPES: Two males same locality and date as Holotype, ɗ genitalia slide USNM 48030, 7 Aug. 1964 (1ɗ), 13 Sep. 1971 (1ɗ), 13 Sep. 1971 (1ɗ), A. and M. E. Blanchard; 4 Sep. 1982 (1ɗ), 13 Sep. 1982 (1Ψ), E. C. Knudson (ECK).

Discussion. Schinia rufocostulata is known only from the type locality of Dugout Wells, in Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., Texas. The apical area of the forewing is distinct in rufocostulata by having the rufous color of the terminal band extending down costa almost to the median band. This character is lacking in ciliata . The specimens show no variation in the median band color as in ciliata .

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 15. Adults. 12, Schinia ciliata, female, Colorado, Baca Co., Picture Canyon, N of Picnic Area, sw of Campo, 4282 ft., USNMENT 00144376; 13, S. ciliata, male, Texas, Brewster Co., Alpine, Davis Mountains, USNMENT 00220233; 14, S. rufocostulata, male, Texas, Brewster Co., Dugout Wells, Big Bend National Park, USNMENT 00220618; 15, S. rufocostulata, male, Texas, Brewster Co., Dugout Wells, Big Bend National Park, USNMENT 0 0 220617.

FIGURES 16 – 20. Heads. 16, Schinia chrysellus; 17, S. chryselloides; 18, S. alencis; 19, S. ciliata; 20, S. rufocostulata.

FIGURES 21 – 25. Foretibia showing form and arrangement of claws. 21, Schinia chrysellus; 22, S. chryselloides; 23, S. alencis; 24, S. ciliata; 25, S. rufocostulata.

FIGURES 32 – 35. Male genitalia and aedoeagus. 32, Schinia ciliata; 33, S. ciliata, aedoeagus; 34, S. rufocostulata; 35, S. rufocostulata, aedoeagus.

FIGURES 42 – 45. Female genitalia and papillae analis. 42, Schinia ciliata; 43, S. ciliata, papillae analis; 44, S. rufocostulata; 45, S. rufocostulata, papillae analis.

FIGURE 48 – 49. 48, Collecting localities for Schinia alencis, shaded area is distribution of suspected host plant, Heterotheca canescens (Asteraceae); 49, Collecting localities for Schinia ciliata (closed circles), shaded area is distribution of host plant, Gutierrezia sarothrae (Asteraceae); S. rufocostulata (triangle).