Schinia cupes (Grote)

Pogue, Michael G. & Harp, Charles E., 2003, Systematics of Schinia cupes (Grote) complex: Revised status of Schinia crotchii (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 294, pp. 1-16 : 2-5

Schinia cupes (Grote)

( Figs.1–2 , 7 , 10–11 , 16 , 19, 22 )

Heliothis cupes Grote 1875: 113 . — Grote 1882: 36. — Grote 1883: 152.

Trichosellus cupes ; Grote 1890: 36. — Grote 1895: 69. — McDunnough 1938: 106.

Schinia cupes ; Smith 1883: 232. — Smith 1891: 54. — Smith 1893: 280. — Dyar 1903:188. — Barnes and McDunnough 1917: 39. — Franclemont and Todd 1983:159. — Poole 1989: 894. — Poole and Gentili 1996: 771.— Hardwick 1996: 89.

Schinia navarra Dyar 1914: 162 . — Barnes and McDunnough 1917: 39. — Franclemont and Todd 1983: 159. — Poole 1989: 894. — Poole and Gentili 1996: 771. — Hardwick 1996: 89.

Trichosellus navarra ; McDunnough 1938: 106.

Diagnosis. There are no differences in maculation between S. cupes and S. crotchii . They are separable by distribution with S. cupes occuring from Colorado and New Mexico, east to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas and S. crotchii from Arizona and Utah, west to California and Washington. The second abdominal sternite in the male of S. cupes bears a pair of hair pencils ( Fig. 7 ), which are absent in S. crotchii ( Fig. 8 ). In the male aedoeagus, the vesica has 4 coils in S. cupes ( Fig. 11 ) and 3 coils in S. crotchii ( Fig. 13 ). In the female genitalia the papillae anales are more pointed in S. cupes ( Fig. 19 ) and more broadly rounded in S. crotchii ( Fig. 20 ). The ductus bursae is narrower at the base of the ostium bursae in S. cupes ( Fig. 16 ) and wider in S. crotchii ( Fig. 17 ).

Description. Male: Head: Cream mixed with some black scales; short scales on frons and long hairlike scales on vertex. Labial palpus white basally with remainder brown mixed with a few white scales. Eyes large and globular. Thorax: Mixture of white hairlike and spatulate scales with a tapered stalk, tapered scales white with brown apices. Foreleg femur with ventral fringe and inner surface light brown, outer surface white with some brown scales; tibia white and light brown, largest and stoutest spine on inner side and closest to basitarsus, two slender spines dorsal to it, outer side with four stout spines becoming shorter and less robust dorsally; tarsi brown with white apical rings. Mid­ and hindlegs white and brown; tarsi white and brown with white apical rings. Underside white. Forewing: Length 12.0–14.5 mm (n=10).Ground color light brown; antemedial line white and sinuate; claviform spot light brown outlined in brown; orbicular spot outlined with brown and with a small central white dash; reniform spot outlined with brown and with a small central white angulate dash; postmedial line white and sinuate; subterminal line a series of white arrowheads between veins and with a brown spot at their tips; outer margin with elongate brown marks between veins; fringe brown mixed with white. Underside white with orbicular and reniform spots; postmedial band brown. Hindwing: Ground color white with a brown discal spot and marginal band, with a few white spots along margin; veins in white discal area highlighted with brown scales. Abdomen: Dorsum white mixed with brown, venter mostly white mixed with some brown scales; hair pencils and associated scent pockets on second sternite present ( Fig. 7 ). Genitalia ( Figs. 10–11 ): Uncus elongate, approximately 0.3 X length of valve, apex blunt. Valve elongate (length greater than 7 X width), costal margin distinctly curved at 4/5 length, posterior margin gently curved to a truncate apex; ampulla elongate; sacculus with ventral margin produced. Juxta quadrate with a curved dorsal margin. Saccus V­shaped. Aedoeagus slightly curved; vesica with a basal diverticulum and 4 coils.

Female: As in male except forewing length 14.0–15.0 mm (n=10). Genitalia ( Figs. 16, 19 ): Papillae anales lightly sclerotized, broadly triangulate, apex narrowly rounded; anterior apophyses approximately 0.95 times length of posterior apophyses; ductus bursae narrow widening beyond middle to more than twice width at ostium bursae, elongate (approximately 1.8 times length of corpus bursae); appendix bursae longer than corpus bursae, with 3 coils; corpus bursae ovate; signa consists of 4 scobinate bars.

Type material. Heliothis cupes Grote : Male holotype is in The Natural History Museum, London. Type locality: Texas.

Schinia navarra Dyar : Male holotype is in the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Type locality: Cotulla, Texas (type no. 19076).

Biology. Schinia cupes is associated with sandy plains, and with Calylophus berlandiera Spach var. berlandiera (Onagraceae) , although its life history is unknown. This plant overlaps the distribution of S. cupes and is found at many of its collection localities. Harp observed two males resting on Berlandier’s sundrops ( C. berlandiera ) at Big Springs, TX (Howard Co.) in April 2003. He further observed that adults fly in and around the proximity of their hostplants during the early morning. In addition, males can also be seen on gravelly/sandy openings until late morning awaiting receptive females. As temperatures rise during late morning, adults disappear to shady areas where they presumably “rest.” Adults were attracted to lights in suitable habitat.

Schinia cupes has two broods with the first flying from late­March to mid­June and a second smaller brood flying in late­July to September ( Fig. 24 ). The earliest and latest flights are in the southern part of its range, and in the northern part, a compressed single brood flies in June.

Across much of its range, S. cupes flies with S. simplex Smith , S. citrinella (Grote and Robinson) , S. roseitincta (Harvey) , and S. errans Smith during the first brood, and flies with S. saturata (Grote) , S. nubila (Strecker) , S. coercita (Grote) , S. citrinella , S. mortua (Grote) , and S. bicuspida Smith during the second brood.

Distribution ( Fig. 22 ). Texas, west to New Mexico, and north to Kansas and Colorado.

Material Examined. All specimens are from USNM, except as noted otherwise. U.S.A.: COLORADO: CHAFFEE CO. Salida ( AMNH). PROWERS CO. Holly, downtown gas station along Hwy. 50, 9 June 2001 (2ɗ), C.E. Harp ( CH). PUEBLO CO. Pueblo, north end, off Hwy 1­25 at mkr. #102, 4705', 20 June 1999 (1ɗ), C.E. Harp ( CH). WELD CO. 1 mi W of Roggen, frontage road along Hwy I­76, 4702', 26 June 2002 (1ɗ), C.E. Harp ( CH). KANSAS: FINNEY CO. Garden City, 10 June 1935 (1ɗ), H.H. Walkden. NEW MEXICO: COLFAX CO. 6 mi S of Maxwell, Hwy. I­25 at mkr. #420, 6040', 8 Aug. 2002 (1ɗ 1Ψ), C.E. Harp ( CH). LUNA CO. Deming, 1– 7 Sep. (2Ψ), Barnes Collection; OTERO CO. High Rolls, Sep. (1ɗ), Barnes Collection. UNION CO. Clayton, SE edge of town along Hwy. #87, 5067', 16 May 2000 (1Ψ), C.E. Harp ( CH). OKLA­ HOMA: CARTER CO. Springer, 26 May 1986, J.K. Adams (JKA). KIOWA CO. Lugert, 1350', 11 June 1937 (1ɗ), Standish & Kaiser (OKS). PAYNE CO. Stillwater, 21 Apr. 1940 (1ɗ), V.T. Nailon (OKS). ROGER MILLS CO. Cheyenne, 7 June 1937 (2ɗ 1Ψ), Standish & Kaiser (OKS). TEXAS: [No specific locality], 21 May 1925 (1Ψ), Barnes Collection; BEXAR CO. San Antonio (1Ψ), J. Jermy; San Antonio, 8 mi SE of Hwy. I­410 off Hwy. I­ 37 at exit 125, 26 May 1987, J.K. Adams (JKA). BLANCO CO. Davis Ranch, 1300', 2 Apr. 1959 (1Ψ), J.F. McAlpine ( CNC). BRAZOS CO. College Station, 24 Mar. 1936 (1ɗ), J. Jermy, 20 May (1ɗ 1Ψ), 14 June (1ɗ), P.O. Glick. BREWSTER CO. Alpine, 1–7 Apr. 1926 (2ɗ 1Ψ), 8–14 Apr. 1926 (11ɗ 8Ψ), 15–21 Apr. 1926 (5ɗ 1Ψ), 22–30 Apr. 1926 (2ɗ 1Ψ), 1–7 May 1926 (1Ψ), 1–7 Sep. 1926 (1ɗ), O.C. Poling; 6.5 mi S. Alpine, 9 Aug. 1991 (1ɗ) E.H. Metzler (EHM); Alpine, Davis Mts., 26 May 1981 (1Ψ), E.C. Knudson, 11 Sep.

1958 (1ɗ 1Ψ), 12 Sep 1958 (5ɗ 1Ψ), R.R. McElvare. BRISCOE CO. Caprock Canyons State Park, 10 May 1996 (1ɗ), C. Bordelon ( CH). BROWN CO. Lake Brownwood State Park (TLA). CAMERON CO. Brownsville, 16–23 Mar. (1ɗ). COLEMAN CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). COTTLE CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). CROCKETT CO. [no specific locality] (RL). CULBERSON CO. Guadelupe Mtn. Nat. Park, Lamar Canyon, 24 Aug. 1996, C. Bordelon (TLA). DALLAS CO. Dallas, 21 Apr. (1Ψ). EL PASO CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). FREESTONE CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). GARZA CO. Post, gas station, Hwy #380 nr. jct. of Hwy. #84, 2616', 24 Apr. 2002 (1ɗ), C. Harp ( CH). HIDALGO CO. Pharr ( AMNH). HOWARD CO. 2 mi E of Big Spring, S of refinery, I­20 at mkr. #180, 24 Apr. 2002 (1ɗ), C. Harp ( CH); 2 mi S of Big Spring, gas station, roadside along Hwy. #87, 2667', 23 Apr. 2002 (4Ψ) C. Harp ( CH); 2 mi W of Big Spring, gas station, I­20 at mkr. #174, 2470', 24 Apr. 2002 (7ɗ 3Ψ), C. Harp ( CH). JEFF DAVIS CO. Fort Davis, Fort Davis Motor Inn, 8 Sep. 1996, J.K. Adams (JKA). Limpia Canyon, Davis Mts., 8 Aug. 1991 (4ɗ 9Ψ) E.H. Metzler (EHM). KERR CO. Kerrville, May 1900 (1ɗ), 6 Apr. 1959 (1ɗ 1Ψ), 7 Apr. 1959 (1ɗ), 19 Apr. 1959 (2ɗ), R.H. Whitmore ( CNC). LA SALLE CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). LLANO CO. Llano, 14 Mar. 1906 (1Ψ), F.C. Pratt. MARTIN CO. Stanton, gas station off Hwy. I­20, 2660 ', 24 Apr. 2002 (2ɗ), C. Harp ( CH). MAVERICK CO. [no specific locality] (TLA) ( AMNH). PECOS CO. [no specific locality] (TLA) (RL). RANDALL CO. Palo Duro State Park (RL). REAL CO. Rio Frio, 11 May 1910 (2Ψ), F.C. Pratt. SAN PATRICIO CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). STARR CO. Falcon State Park, 11 Apr. 1988, E. Knudson (ECK). TARRANT CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). TERRELL CO. Sanderson, 6 Sep. 1996, J.K. Adams (JKA). TRAVIS CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). UVALDE CO. Concan, 30 Apr. 1992, R. Leuschner (RL). Sabinal, Apr. 1910 (2Ψ), 26 May 1910 (1Ψ), F.C. Pratt; Concan, Neal’s Lodges, 1300', 19 Apr. 1990 (1Ψ), N. McFarland ( CNC). VAL VERDE CO. [no specific locality] (TLA). Del Rio, 1 Apr. 1922 (1Ψ), 25 Apr. 1959 (1ɗ 1Ψ), M.R. MacKay ( CNC). VICTORIA CO. Victoria, 4 Apr. (1ɗ). WEBB CO. Laredo, 26 Sep. 1951 (1ɗ), male genitalia slide USNM 47000, A.B. Gurney. WILLIAMSON CO. Georgetown, 10 Apr. 1937 (1Ψ), 14 Apr. 1937 (1Ψ), female genitalia slide USNM 47001, 16 Apr. 1937 (1ɗ), L.J. Milne.

Discussion. Grote (1875) placed S. cupes in Heliothis where it remained until he transferred it to Trichosellus ( Grote 1890). In McDunnough’s (1938) checklist, S. cupes was retained in Grote’s genus Trichosellus, and S. crotchii was treated as a synonym. Smith (1883) correctly placed S. cupes in Schinia .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Collecting localites for Schinia cupes (circles) and S. crotchii (squares), shaded area is distribution of host plant Castilleja exserta exserta (Onagraceae).

FIGURE 24. Seasonal phenology of Schinia cupes, S. crotchii, and S. deserticola.

FIGURES 1 – 6. Adults. 1, Schinia cupes, male, Texas, Williamson Co. Georgetown, USNMENT 00145033; 2, S. cupes, female, Texas, USNMENT 00145030; 3, S. crotchii, male, California, southern, USNMENT 00145087; 4, S. crotchii, female, California, San Bernardino Co. Loma Linda, USNMENT 00145094; 5, S. deserticola, male, California, San Bernardino Co. Needles, USN­ MENT 00145165; 6, S. deserticola, female, California, San Bernardino Co. Needles, USNMENT 0 0 145167.

FIGURES 7 – 9. Second sternite of male abdomen. 7, Schinia cupes; 8, S. crotchii; 9, S. deserticola.

FIGURES 10 – 15. Male genitalia and aedoeagus. 10, Schinia cupes; 11, S. cupes, aedeagus; 12, S. crotchii; 13, S. crotchii, aedeagus; 14, S. deserticola; 9, 15, S. deserticola, aedeagus.

FIGURES 16 – 21. Female genitalia and papillae anales. 16, Schinia cupes; 17, S. crotchii; 18, S. deserticola; 19, S. cupes, papillae anlaes; 20, S. crotchii, papillae anales; 21, S. deserticola, papillae anales.