Sympistis sorapis Troubridge, 2008

Troubridge, J. T., 2008, A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with description of a new genus and 50 new species, Zootaxa 1903 (1), pp. 1-95 : 46

Sympistis sorapis Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. A-10, N-9, T-6)

Diagnosis. Sympistis sorapis is most closely related and most similar to Sympistis perscripta (Guenée) comb. n. and Sympistis behrensi (Grote) comb. n.. It is distinguished from S. behrensi by forewing color –light gray in S. sorapis , darker grayish brown in S. behrensi (Fig. A-12). Separating S. sorapis from S. perscripta is more difficult. The hindwing of male S. sorapis is white with a narrow marginal shade, that of S. perscripta (Fig. A- 11) is duskier with a wider marginal shade. On the forewing costa of S. sorapis there are black spots at the terminus of the antemedial, median, and postmedal lines –these same dots are present in S. perscripta ; however, a fourth black dot is present above the reniform spot, which seems to be the easiest way to separate females. Internally, a number of differences can be found, e.g., the sclerite on the ventral surface of the ductus bursae of S. perscripta is roughly rectangular in shape and the corona is absent from the ovipositor lobes –in S. sorapis this sclerite is wider at the ostium than at the anterior end and the ovipositor lobes have a weak corona of setae near the apex; in the male, the valve of S. sorapis is considerably shorter than that of S. perscripta .

Description. Antennae filiform, head, prothoracic collar, and thorax light gray with scattered black and brown scales; abdomen light grayish brown. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 13-15 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color light gray with scattered black scales on veins; basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines black; scattered brown scales border antemedial line; median line present as scattered black scales; obscure subterminal line white; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots encircled by thin, black outer and thin white inner rows of scales. Brown subterminal dashes occur in center of cells. Terminal line black, bordered basally with single row of white scales. Fringe gray. Dorsal hindwing basal area white in male, light grayish brown in female; veins highlighted with a few scattered gray scales; thin terminal shade gray, complete at wing margin but quickly fading to white in male, slightly wider and fading to lighter gray in female, faint postmedial line often present; fringe white with gray median line, off-white at base. Male genitalia. (Fig. N-9) Valve with upturned, rounded tip and distinct corona; ampulla of clasper arises at about 90° to lower margin of valve, more-or-less parallel sided in basal ½, then bends backward in apical ½ and evenly tapering towards terminal spine. Vesica with small, ventral, sub-basal diverticulum; a ribbon of cornuti extends from left base of vesica around to the right side, terminating at the apex; a second patch of cornuti extends along left side of basal ½ of vesica; a single heavy spine occurs at apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. T-6) Ovipositor lobes rounded, corona of stout setae absent; a broad sclerite about as long as width at ostium bursae occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae, this sclerite tapers anteriorly, rounded at anterior end; a second sclerite occurs dorsally above ventral sclerite and is tapered to anterior point; unsclerotized anterior portion of ductus bursae almost 2X as long as sclerotized portion, expands on left slightly anterior to ventral sclerite; tubular appendix bursae arises at 90° to ductus bursae and bends anteriorly towards anterior ductus seminalis; corpus bursae with elongate dorsal and ventral signae, arises via tube resembling extension of ductus bursae; anterior terminus of corpus bursae and appendix bursae about equal.

Type material. Holotype male: USA, Arizona, Oracle Junction , 3300’, 15 iv 1964, F. C. Cook, in the CNC . Paratypes: 12♂ 6♀: Arizona: Cochise Co., Paradise : 1-7 iv , 2♂; “ Oct. ” , 1♀; “ Aug. ” , 1♀; Mojave Co., 1-7 ix , 1♂. New Mexico: Grant Co., Mangas Springs , 4850’, 28-29 iii 2000 , 1♂. Texas: The Basin, Big Bend Nat’l Park , 11 v 1959 , M. R. MacKay, 2♂ 1♀; Presidio Co., Shafter , 18 x 1968 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 1♂; Presidio Co., Shafter , 16 x 1973 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 1♀; Guadalupe Mts., Bear Canyon , 4 ix 1969 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 1♂; Junction , Kimble Co., 26 x 1973 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 2♂; Jeff Davis Co., Fort Davis , 23 ix 1965 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 1♀; Culberson Co., Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area , 24 ix 1967 , A. and M. E. Blanchard, 1♀; Brewster Co., Chisos Basin, Big Bend Nat. Park , 15 x 1986 , 1♂. Mexico: Lomas , [Distrito Federal], 2 xi 1935 , 1♂.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Sorapis is lord of the underworld. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species has been collected from southwestern Texas to eastern Arizona and in Mexico.