Sympistis dischorda 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 : 53-54

Sympistis dischorda Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. F-18, F-19, O-7, T-11)

Diagnosis. Sympistis dischorda most closely resembles S. sokar and females may be difficult to separate. Internally, the species are quite similar; however, the vesica of S. sokar is more robust than that of S. dischorda and the unsclerotized portion of the ductus bursae of S. dischorda is about the same length as the sclerotized posterior section –that of S. sokar is about twice as long as the sclerotized section. Sympistis sokar flies in xeric canyons, usually with basalt rimrock and lithosol substrate. It can also occur along basalt cliffs at mid-elevations in the Cascades. Sympistis dischorda occurs in dry mid-elevation forests, not in desert canyons. Sympistis sokar differs from S. dischorda by the dorsal hindwing of the male, where the terminal shade forms a broad, dark grayish brown band, but in S. dischorda the terminal shade is significantly reduced. Throughout most of its range, the terminal shade of S. dischorda is reduced to scattered dark scales on and around the terminus of the veins, but in the mountains of southwestern California the terminal shade is often broader, approaching that of S. sokar . On the forewing, the antemedial and postmedial lines of S. dischorda are finer than those of S. sokar and the antemedial line is straighter than that of S. sokar .

Description. Antennae filiform, head white with distinct black band across vertex, prothoracic collar, thorax and abdomen light gray. Small, vestigial pockets present on male abdomen but levers and hair pencils absent. Forewing length 14-16 mm. Dorsal forewing grayish brown, postmedial line bordered distally with light gray scales, subterminal and postmedial area between these grayish brown scales and terminal line dark grayish brown. Orbicular and reniform spots absent or nearly so; antemedial, postmedial, and basal lines black; antemedial line more-or-less straight; median line faint or absent, but black dot normally present on costa when median line absent; subterminal line absent; thin terminal line black; fringe dark grayish brown with off-white basal line. Dorsal hindwing pale gray with broad terminal shade in females, white in males, with narrow terminal shade or more often, terminal shade reduced to scattered gray scales in subterminal area; veins highlighted with scattered light gray scales; terminal line black; postmedial line often present as a series of dark gray dots on veins; fringe white with gray median line in male, gray with darker gray median line in female. Male genitalia. (Fig. O-7) Valve shaped like prow of canoe, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper bends posteriorly and narrows to form terminal spine. Vesica arcs downward 90° with dorsal, subbasal patch of spine-like cornuti; a narrow ribbon of cornuti lies flat against left side of posterior ½ of vesica; a broad ribbon of erect cornuti extends dorsally along middle portion of vesica; a bundle of two long cornuti above a single stout cornutus extend from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. T-11) Ovipositor lobes rounded, with fine setae and collar of long setae at the base; ductus bursae with triangular sclerotized ventral plate on posterior ½, meets appendix bursae, which arises from right side of ductus bursae and corpus bursae on left; appendix bursae parallel sided, bends to the left and slightly backward in mid-section, and then narrows quickly to anterior diverticulum which bends slightly to the anterior before narrowing to ductus seminalis at apex, corpus bursae with two elongate signa, about same size as appendix bursae, with central bulge and narrowing to rounded anterior apex.

Type material. Holotype male: California, Jackson Cr., Plumas Co., 5400’, 39° 51' N, 120° 39' W, 30 viii 2002, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 19♂ 7♀: California: same data as holotype , 5♂ 1♀; Jackson Cr., Plumas Co., 5400’, 39° 51' N, 120° 39' W, 28 viii 2000, J. Troubridge , 3♂ 1♀; Pine Mt. Ventura Co., 6320’, 34.642° N, 119.341° W, 27 vii 2003, Tom Dimock , 6♂ 5♀. Oregon: Bolan Mt. , Josephine Co., 42° 01' N, 123° 27' W, 27 vii 2001, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Eight Dollar Mt. Rd. , 42° 14' N, 123° 41' W, 29 viii 2002, J. Troubridge , 1♂. Washington: Bear Cyn. , Yakima Co., 2400’, 46° 42' N, 120° 53' W, 15 viii 1998, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Bethel Ridge , Yakima Co., 25 viii 1996, J. Troubridge , 2♂.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the relationship between this species and S. chorda .

Distribution. Sympistis dischorda has been collected in the Cascades of southern Washington, the Siskiyou Mts of southwestern Oregon, and in the mountains of Ventura Co., California.