Hypotrix lactomellis Wikle & Crabo

Crabo, Lars G., Hammond, Paul C., Mustelin, Tomas & Wikle, David L., 2018, Six new species and one new subspecies of noctuid moths from western United States of America and Mexico (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), ZooKeys 788, pp. 201-239 : 223-226

Hypotrix lactomellis Wikle & Crabo sp. n. Figs 41, 42, 44, 46, 49

Type locality.

USA, Arizona, Apache County, White Mountains, Whiting Knoll, FR117, 2766 m.

Type specimens.

Holotype, male. USA, Arizona, Apache County, White Mts, Whiting Knoll, FR117, 34°9.580'N, 109°34.516'W, elev. 9075' [2766 m], 6 VII 2007, MV, leg. D.L. Wikle. CNC. Paratypes: 47 males, 12 females. Mexico: Coah[uila]: nr. Jame, 33 mi [53.1 km] S.E. Saltillo, 7500' [2286 m], 18 VII [19]63, H. and A. Howden / Database # CNC LEP 00094171 / Genitalia CNC slide 16649 male (1 m); USA: Arizona: Apache County: Eagar, 6.9 mi [11.1 km] W, South Fork Rd @ Little Colorado [River], 34°05'19.5"N, - 109°24'48.76"W, 22-23 VII [20]12, Leg. M. L. Raschko. Light trap (2 m, 1 f); Greer, 20 VI 1986, R. & J, Robertson / Database # CNC LEP 00031876 / Genitalia CNC slide # 16650 male (1 m); Greer, 33°59'50.88"N 109°27'50.73"W, elev. 8450' [2576 m], 3 VII 2013, Leg E. Rand (1 f); same locality & collector, 18 VII 2013 (2 m); White Mts., South Fork Rd., 34°5.371'N, - 109°24.599'W, elev 7370' [2246 m], 22 VII 2012, to B[lack]L[ight], M. Raschko leg. (12 m 4 f); same locality, date, & collector, DLWC11043 PARATYPE female / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00113790 / Barcodes of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted / Genitalia CNC slide # 17432 female (1 f); same locality, date, & collector / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00140416 / Genitalia CNC slide 17433 female (1 f); same locality, date, & collector, DLWC11038 PARATYPE male / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00140415 (1 m); same locality, date, & collector, DLWC 11043 PARATYPE female / Database # CNCLEP 00113790 / Barcodes of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted / Genitalia CNC slide # 17805 female (1 f); Little Colo[rado] R[iver], South Fork Rd, 34°5.371'N, 109°24.599'W, elev. 7370' [2246 m], 25 VII 2013, to BL, leg. D.L. Wikle (1m 2f); South Fork of Little Colorado River, 34°05'19.82"N, 109°24'39.43"W, elev. 7360' [2243 m], 19 VII 2013, Leg E. Rand (2 m); same locality & collector, 28 VI 2014 (4m 1f); Same data as holotype (3 m); White Mts, 3 mi [4.8 km] S Water Cyn, 34°3.976'N, 109°17.571'W, elev. 7500' [2286 m], BL, 22 VII 2012, leg. M. Raschko (1 m); Benny Creek, 34°02'27.16"N, 109°27'25.69"W, elev. 8250' [2515 m], 21 VI 2017, Leg E. Rand (20 m); New Mexico: Catron County: Quemado, 8 mi. [12.9 km] S., 27 VI 1987, elev. 7200' [2195 m], Acc. #1117, P.M. Jump (1 m). CNC, DLW, ERLGC, MLR.

Differential diagnosis.

Hypotrix lactomellis sp. n. (Figs 41, 42) is a distinctive moth. No other species in the tribe Eriopygini has a similar olive and pure white forewing. It is more likely be confused with a Schinia Hübner ( Heliothinae ), such as the silver and olive-gray species allied to Schinia cumatilis (Grote), or a species of Acontiinae . The eye of Hypotrix is hairy, lacking hairs in these look-alikes.

Structurally, H. lactomellis is most similar to Hypotrix hueco (Figs 43, 45, 47). Despite the close relationship suggested by the genitalia, these moths could not be more un-alike in appearance. Hypotrix hueco is mottled red brown like many moths from pine forest habitats.

The barcode of H. lactomellis (BOLD:ACO7143) is most similar to that of H. hueco (BOLD:AAI8440), differing by 4.5 %.

Description.

Adults. Males and females similar in habitus. Head. Male antenna filiform, ventral surface densely setose; female antenna with fewer setae; dorsal scales off-white, light gray basally. Scape white. Eye normal size, interfacetal setae short, adjacent scales light gray, few hair-like black. Labial palpus scales white, gray, darkest distally, flat on sides, hair-like anteriorly. Haustellum normal. Frons rounded, scales off-white. Dorsal head scales hair-like, white. Thorax. Scales mixed hair-like and thin bifurcate; patagium olive off-white; tegula white, a few scales on central portion olive-tipped; central dorsum light olive; metathoracic tuft white, weak. Legs: Lateral tibiae lacking spines or other modifications. Tarsal segments except apical segment with 3 irregular rows of ventral spiniform setae. Wings: Forewing 12.0-13.0 mm (males), 12.5-13.0 mm (females), length 2.3 × width, apex pointed, outer margin nearly straight from apex to CuA2, then curved basad; dorsal scales mixed white, olive off-white, and olive; appearing uniform greenish olive patterned with white, transverse lines and spots contributing pattern borders but not discernable otherwise; three white areas: 1) Cell except fused olive orbicular and reniform stigmata, white extending to base as line on R; 2) Oblique even-width band from apex toward mid-posterior margin, ending at fold, white extending into postmedial area as lines on M2, M3, CuA1, CuA2; 3) Medial area posterior to fold, extending to base and into subterminal area on 1A+2A; claviform stigma absent; orbicular and reniform stigmas olive green, fused; orbicular stigma small, oval; reniform stigma elongate, weakly S-shaped, oblique, tilted and extended toward apex; fringe olive. Hindwing: Dorsum light tan gray, gradually darker gray to outer margin; veins and terminal line thin, gray; discal spot absent; fringe white, base light yellow. Abdomen. Scales mostly light tan flat or hairlike, weak white median tuft on dorsal segment A1. Male lacking coremata, pockets, brushes. Male genitalia: Uncus base cylindrical, apex flattened to blunt rhomboid tip, 1.67 × basal width, with slight dorsal median crest, distal half with long hair-like setae, shortest beneath tip. Juxta elongate shield shape, height 1.5 × width. Valve length 3.4 × basal width, tapered from base to apex, elongate triangular pointed cucullus demarcated by triangular notch in ventral valve margin, medial surface with numerous hair-like setae, corona and spine absent; sacculus 0.6 × valve length, mesial surface flaplike, overlapping clasper base; clasper base long, sclerotized, lacking defined dorsal and ventral divisions, ampulla oriented distad and slightly ventral to valve axis from origin just past mid-valve, horn shaped, curved to overlap digitus base to end at cucullus base; digitus directed ventrad from origin posterior to proximal ampulla, semicircular, extending just ventral to valve. Phallus length 3.8 × width, tubular, bent 30° ventrad, apex expanded slightly, ventral apex with patch of ~ 10 variable-length short spikes, dorsal apex crenulated. Vesica ~ 2.5 × phallus length, widened slightly at base, then tubular, coiled counter-clockwise slightly over 720°. Female genitalia: Papilla analis base dorsoventrally asymmetrical, ventral aspect extending proximal to dorsolateral attachment of apophysis, lateral base bulging laterally, distal ⅔ of papilla tapered evenly to rounded point, ventral surface and entire apex with multiple similar-length hair-like setae. Segment A8 length 1 × width, glabrous. Posterior apophysis 1.75 × segment A8; anterior apophysis 0.7 × posterior apophysis. Ostium bursae lightly sclerotized, funnel-shaped, slightly wider than posterior ductus bursae. Ductus bursae straight, length 1.5 × segment A8, posterior ½ leathery, 2 × width of anterior ½, tapered from ostium bursae to mid-ductus, anterior ½ sclerotized, tubular. Corpus bursae anterior and ventral to ductus bursae, membranous, globose, length and width 1.2 × ductus bursae length; appendix bursae directed ventrad from ductus bursae origin, moderately sclerotized, smooth, coiled 360° clockwise, coil strongest at base, ductus seminalis at tip.

Etymology.

The species name is from Latin lacteus, meaning of milk, and mellis, honey. Milk and honey are suggested by the colors of the moth.

Distribution and ecology.

Hypotrix lactomellis (Fig. 49) occurs in central eastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico in the United States, with the majority of examined specimens from Arizona near the Little Colorado River. A single specimen at the CNC from the Sierra Madre Oriental in northeastern Mexico indicates that it is much more widespread than suggested by the United States records. It is a seldom-collected moth but can be common when encountered.

The flight period is late July. The early stages are unknown. Like other species in the genus, H. lactomellis is nocturnal and comes to light.

Discussion.

The bicolored olive and white habitus of this moth is unusual. Although Hypotrix is highly diverse in color and pattern, illustrated in Lafontaine et al. (2010), this species is unlike any other in the genus. Although eye-catching in a museum specimen, the color and pattern might be cryptic against a plant with lacy silver green foliage, such as sage ( Artemisia spp., Asteraceae ).