Sympistis septu 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 : 38-39

Sympistis septu Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. E-13, N-2, S-6)

Diagnosis. Sympistis hathor and S. septu are separated from the other species in the S. homogena group by the ground color of the forewing, which is brown to yellowish brown, not gray or grayish brown as in the other species. Sympistis hathor and S. septu are distinguished from each other by the dorsal forewing, which in S. hathor is heavily suffused with black scales except within the orbicular and reniform spots, which stand out as being paler than the surrounding area. In S. septu , the wing is yellowish brown with scattered black scales and the orbicular and reniform spots are only faintly discernable.

Description. Antennae filiform, head, prothoracic collar, and thorax yellowish brown with scattered black scales; abdomen light grayish brown. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 14-16 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color yellowish brown with thinly scattered black scales black scales; dark grayish brown subterminal band about as wide as that of hindwing —faint or obscure, yellowish brown subterminal line extends through middle of this band. Antemedial and basal lines black; postmedial line faint or obscure, usually present as a black dot on costa; area between dark subterminal band postmedial line less heavily suffused with black scales than remainder of wing; orbicular and reniform spots slightly paler than remainder of forewing, only faintly discernable; terminal line, if present, a series of dark grayish brown spots between veins, faintly outlined with lighter scales; fringe yellowish brown, checkered with darker grayish brown between veins. Dorsal hindwing basal area with white scales under long brown hairs giving a dirty off-white appearance; veins with scattered grayish brown scales; discal lunule faint; sharply defined terminal band dark grayish brown; fringe cream colored distally, light yellowish brown basally, checkered with a medial line of brown dots between veins. Male genitalia. (Fig. N-2) Valve shaped like the prow of canoe, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper widens slightly toward terminal spine; terminal spine arcing from posterior margin; clavus well-developed, about as tall as wide. Vesica with small basal, ventral diverticulum bends slightly to the right; a patch of short, sparse cornuti on left near base and second patch of much longer cornuti on right at base; a ribbon of long cornuti extends along ventral margin of apical ¾ of vesica; a second ribbon of longer, stouter cornuti extends along apical ½ of vesica, nearly to apex, where vesica narrows and bends downward toward patch of long cornuti and single apical spine. Female genitalia. (Fig. S-6) Ovipositor lobes rounded, apex with long, fine setae, corona of short setae mid way down -these setae arc anteriorly; a ruff of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a Y-shaped sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae about as long as length of corpus bursae, widens with diverticulum on dorsal side ½ way between ostium bursae and appendix bursae; appendix bursae sac-like, narrowing to ductus seminalis at anterior end, low diverticulum on left, meeting ductus bursae on right side of posterior end; corpus bursae ellipsoidal, about ¾ as large as appendix bursae, arises via narrow duct from left side of appendix bursae near ductus bursae, elongate signae on dorsal and ventral sides.

Type material. Holotype female: USA, Colorado, Moffat Co., Dinosaur National Monument, Plug Hat Butte Picnic Area , T4 N, R103 W, S28, 7000’, 10 ix 1994, Terhune S. Dickel, in the CNC . Paratypes: 2♂ 7♀: Colorado: Moffat Co., Dinosaur National Monument, Plughat Butte Picnic Area , 9 ix 1999, Opler / Buckner , 2♀; Moffat Co., Dinosaur National Monument , Canyon Overlook PG, 9 ix 1999, Opler / Buckner , 2♀; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, Saddlehorn CG, 25 ix 1997, Rodgers family , 2♀; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, Junction Red and Columbus Cyns. , 7-8 x 1999, F. Larsen / J. Moore , 1♂ 1♀. Utah: Garfield Co., Red Canyon , 12 mi. SE Panguitch, 1 viii 1965, 7200’, F. P. and M. Rindge , 1♂.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Septu was a god of war. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species has been collected in canyons in eastern Utah and western Colorado.