Leucania championi Adams and McCabe, 2023

Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 5256 (3), pp. 250-266 : 258-265

Leucania championi Adams and McCabe new species

Figs. 10 (imago), 31 (valvae), 32 (endophallus), 44 (bursa copulatrix)

Leucania humidicola (not Guenée, 1852: 90). Troubridge, 2020: Fig. 102 [Misidentification].

Leucania februalis (not Hill, 1924: 186, Fig.17 ). Troubridge, 2020: Fig. 101 [Misidentification].

Mythimna solita (not Walker, 1856: 99). Hayes, 1975, page 168–169, Fig. 43 . [Misidentification].

Material examined. Dissections examined (7♁♁, 9♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. GUATEMALA: Fuentes Georginas , 14.748972, -91.480310, 2455m, 13–16 Feb 2007, 1♁, T. McCabe, dissection TLM♁6056 (deposited in NYSM) ; Paratypes. (21♁♁, 14♀♀). MEXICO: Chiapas; Tapilula, 21 May, 1969, A. Matuura, 1♁, dissection MSA♁CNC11 ( CNC) ; Durango; Pueblo Nuevo , 10 km W El Salto, 02 Aug 1969, J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 3907 ( CNC) ; Chiapas: San Cristóbal , 13 May 1969. J.E.H. Martin, 1♀, ( CNC) ; Oaxaca: Sola de Vega, Llano Verde , 16.5652,- 973639, 825m, 07 Jul 1977, J.E. Rawlins, 2♁♁, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 251 ( CMNH) ; 55 km N Putia , 1♁ ( CMNH); 15 Aug 1986, 1♁( CMHH) , Tlaxiaco , 3 mi N Tlaxiaco, 17.312765, -97.681532, 2438m, H. Romack, 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6065 ( TLM) ; Ixtia, Guelatao de Juárez , 18 Aug 1969, L.A. Kelton, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; Puebla: Puebla, no specific locality, 20 Jun 1920, C.C. Hoffmann, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; Michoacan: Chupicuara , 13 Jul 1977, J.E. Rawlins, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; San Luis Petosi, Querótaro , 24–25 Jul 1982, J.E. Rawlins, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; Baja California Sur: La Paz, Guaycura Hotel, 05 Dec 1961, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; Sierra Madre Oriental: nr. Bajan , 26.569722,- 101.221389, 960m, 16 Jul 1992, T. McCabe, 1♁ ( TLM) ; Cuatrocienagos, Dunes , 26.843333, -102.183889, 16 Jul 1992, T. McCabe, 1♁, dissection TLM♁5280 ( TLM) . COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa National Park , 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 10–12 Jul 1979, D. Janzen, 3♁♁, 1♀, dissections MSA♁297, MSA ♀ 296; 9-12 Aug 1977, 1♁, 1♀ dissections MSA ♁301, MSA ♀ 302; 14 Jan 1978, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 298, ( NYSM) , Guanacaste, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 1♁ 07-SRNP-102951, D. Janzen, dissection TLM ♁6028 ( USNM) , 1♀, 07-SRNP-104287, dissection TLM ♀ 6029 ( USNM) ; no locality or date specified, Cooper, 1♁ ( CMNH) . GUATEMALA: [Quetzaltenango]: Fuentes Georginas , 14.748972, -91.480310, 2455m, 13–16 Feb 2007, 1♁, T. McCabe ; Fuentes Georginas , 8 km SE Zunil, 14.748972, -91.479722, 2313m, 14–15 Feb 2007, M.S. Adams, 1♁ ( NYSM) ; 26 Feb 2007, 1♀ ( TLM) ; [Suchitepéquez: Paulul], Los Tarrales Natural Reserve , 14.522925, -91.136243, 1400m, 22 Jul 2009, T. McCabe 2♀ ( TLM) , 1♀ 11 Feb 2007 ( TLM) , 22 July 2009, 1♀ dissection TLM ♀ 6479 ; NICARAGUA: Matagalpa, Fuente Pura , 12 km N Matagalpa, 8–9 Jan 1994, E. van den Berghe, 1♁ ( CMNH) ; Selva Nigra , 29 Dec 1993, E. van den Berghe, 1♀ ( CMNH) ; ECUADOR: Imbabura, Valle de la Chota, 16 km W Ambuqui , 17 Nov 1987, R. Davidson, 1♀, dissection MSA ♀ 3903 ( CMNH) ; VENEZEULA: Aragua: Maracay , 5–11 Jul 1981, B. LaLanne-Cassou, 1♁, dissection MSA♁2027 ( NYSM) .

Diagnosis. Solely on the basis of habitus, it is probably impossible to distinguish L. championi from L. humidicola Guenée, 1852 ( Fig. 11 ) consistently. The forewing of L. championi is usually not as bright and contrasting as L. humidicola but otherwise similar. Males of both species have distinctive heavily tufted fore- and mid-tibia. The range of L. championi extends from Mexico to northwestern South America, and potentially overlaps L. humidicola in northern Mexico. The genitalia of both sexes are distinctive. In L. championi the extended basal sclerite of the clasper is attenuated into a sharp point, which reaches beyond the margin of the valva. In L. humidicola this structure is shorter and bluntly upturned to the mid-margin ( Fig. 29 ). In L. championi the everted endophallus initially is a simple tube but has an unadorned pyramid-shaped diverticulum at approximately one-third of its length from base, followed by a single row of robust retrorse cornuti, which extends to the gonopore. In L. humidicola the everted endophallus ( Fig. 30 ) is distinguished by a long narrow diverticulum, which arises near the base and ends in a long pointed cornutus. In both L. championi and L. humidicola ( Fig. 43 ) the appendix bursae arises near the ostium bursae, however the ductus bursae in L. championi is a short straight tube ending in a sac-like corpus bursae whereas in L. humidicola this structure is long and ends in a twisted loop before entering the corpus bursae.

Description. ( Fig. 10 ) Wingspan 35–38 mm. Male palpi with dark scales, female palpi tan without dark scales; frons light tan. Thorax tan with three patagia bands, first band with brown scales, middle band less distinct, posterior band with distinct black-tipped scales; tegula and thorax tan; scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Forewing ground light brown; cubital vein white scaled with brown shade for entire length; reniform reduced to a black dot at end of cell; p.m. line indicated by dots at veins, strongest at veins M1 and Cu2; veins white; terminal dots present. Hind wing of male pearly white, the female hind wing white, infuscated near margin. Ventral forewing light tan, darker in subcostal area. Ventral hind wing pearly white, costal margin tan. Abdomen light tan, shaggy; male basal abdominal eversible tubular structures present. Sexes similar, except female hind wing slightly darker near margin.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 31 & 32 ) Uncus, tegumen, and vinculum unmodified; cucullus short and rounded with a single row of fine non-deciduous setae in sockets on the lateral margin of both cucullus and valva; a large pore plate present at valvulus; ampulla thick and hook-like; digitus short and thick; editum inconspicuous; top of clasper sharp and hooked, whereas the basal sclerite produced into a long, straight, attenuated, sharp-pointed projection reaching or exceeding margin of valva; claval area of the sacculus with a slight prominence. Phallus long, thin and straight; everted endophallus with a short, pointed diverticulum at one-third length from base followed by a row of stout, retrorse cornuti, which extends to the gonopore.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 44 ) Ductus bursae basally short and thick. Sclerotized appendix bursae branching to left and becoming sac-like, ending in ductus seminalis; ductus bursae continuing beyond the origin of the appendix bursae with a short, straight portion before entering thin walled, sac-like corpus bursae.

Global distribution. Mexico, Guatemala (type locality), Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador including Galápagos Islands (vide Hayes, 1975, as Mythimna solita ) .

Food plant. Seaside Dropseed Sporobolus virginicus (Linnaeus) Kunth was reported as food plant of L. championi (as M. solita ) on the Galápagos Islands (vide Hayes, 1975). Seaside Dropseed is a perennial tussock grass of coastal marshes, dunes, and beaches of tropical and subtropical countries worldwide.

Larva. Hayes (1975) described the larva as follows: “Head gray with brown reticulation. Body reddish brown with darker markings and diffuse white lines.”

Etymology. The specific epithet “championi ” honors George Charles Champion FLS (b.1851–d.1927) who collected specimens in Guatemala in 1879 for the “Biologia Centrali-Americana” ( Selander & Vaurie, 1962). Today we are faced with increasingly limited access to collecting at a time of precipitous declines in biodiversity. We wish to call attention to the often overlooked contribution of collectors who document our natural heritage.

Remarks. We have not verified L. humidicola from Mexico, however as it occurs in California and Texas it undoubtedly also occurs in Mexico. We recognize two new junior synonyms of L. humidicola : Leucania februalis Hill, 1924 , New Synonym, and Leucania elephas Troubridge, 2020 , New Synonym. Leucania championi has been misidentified as L. humidicola in a recent publication ( Troubridge, 2020). We reiterate the necessity of examination of types of all available names. The practice of wantonly ignoring primary types and junior synonyms leads to the generation of more synonyms hindering biodiversity research.

Guatemala specimens of L. championi with Janzen codes 07-SRNP-102951 and 07-SRNP-10487 were sequenced in BOLD under the name Leucania februalis .

Figures

FIGURES 7–12. Imagos of male Leucania. 7. Leucania colorada, Paratype, 5 mi. S. Tliaxico, Oaxaca, 7,000’, Mexico (TLM ♁6361). 8. Leucania sororia, Paratype, 5 mi. S. Tliaxico, Oaxaca, 7,000’, Mexico (TLM ♁6067). 9. Leucania imperfecta, Cold Canyon, Napa County, 38°30’30”N, 122°05’49”W, 200 m, California, USA (TLM ♁2524). 10. Leucania championi, Holotype, Volcan Zunil, Fuentes Georginas, 14°45’00”N, 91°28’49”W, 2455 m, Guatemala (TLM ♁6056). 11. Leucania humidicola, Big Pine Key, Munroe Co., 24°40’48”N, 81°21’41”W, 2 m, Florida, USA. 12. Leucania dorsalis, Great Exuma, Simon’s Point, 23°31’50”N, 75°47’30”W, Bahamas (TLM ♁568).

FIGURES 17–20. Valvae and endophalli. 17–18. Leucania merga, Holotype, Quetzal Reserve, Alta Verapaz, 15°12’55”N, 90°13’09”W, 1700 m, Guatemala (TLM ♁4385). 19–20. Leucania dorsalis, Great Exuma, Simon’s Point, 23°31’50”N, 75°47’30”, Bahamas (TLM ♁568).

FIGURES 41–45. Bursa copulatrix. Ventral view except for Fig. 42. 41. Leucania imperfecta, Mt. Locke, Davis Mountains, Jefferson Davis Co., 6700’, Texas, USA (TLM ♀6324). 42. Lateral view, Leucania complicata, El Cayon Pass crest, San Diego Co., 2000’, California, USA reared ex ovo by J.G. Franclemont (TLM ♀6321). 43. Leucania humidicola, Great Exuma, Simon’s Point, 23°31’50”N, 75°47’30”W, Bahamas (TLM ♀4392). 44. Leucania championi, Paratype, Reserva Los Tarrales, Volcan Atitlan, 14°32’54”N, 91°09’40”W, 400 m, Guatemala (TLM ♀6479). 45. Leucania oaxacana, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1,000 Foot Falls, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♀6456) (with subgenital plate attached).

FIGURES 29–32. Valvae and endophalli. 29–30. Leucania humidicola, Big Pine Key, Munroe Co., 24°40’48”N, 81°21’41”W, 2 m, Florida, USA (TLM ♁3280). 31–32. Leucania championi, Holotype, Volcan Zunil, Fuentes Georginas, 14°45’00”N, 91°28’49”W, 2455 m, Guatemala (TLM ♁6056).