Lasionycta carolynae Crabo, 2009

Crabo, Lars & Lafontaine, Donald, 2009, A Revision of Lasionycta Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for North America and notes on Eurasian species, with descriptions of 17 new species, 6 new subspecies, a new genus, and two new species of Tricholita Grote, ZooKeys 30 (30), pp. 1-156 : 64-65

Lasionycta carolynae Crabo , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E1A181E-5A9F-4B90-9725-4BBD4E3AE748

Figs 59, 169, 225. Map 14

Type material. Holotype ♁: Canada, Yukon, Ogilvie Mts, Windy Pass [km 153 Dempster Highway], 65.022° N 138.248° W, 1350 m., 30 June 2009, L. Crabo and G. Morrell. CNC . Paratypes 11 ♁, 2 ♀. Canada. Yukon. Same data as holotype (1 ♁) ; same locality and collectors as holotype, 1 July 2009 (8 ♁, 2 ♀) ; Richardson Mts, km 413 Dempster Hwy , 66.630° N 136.275° W, 840 m., 2–3 July 2009, L. G. Crabo and G. Morrell (1 ♁), 5 July 2009 (1 ♁). CNC, LGC, personal collection of Glenn Morrell, Maine, USA .

Etymology. I take great pleasure in naming this species after my wife Carolyn Coughlin.

Diagnosis. Lasionycta carolynae is the only species of Lasionycta with a uniform slate-gray forewing lacking any hint of dark lines or spots. It is most likely to be confused with L. lagganata or dark specimens of L. quadrilunata yukona . Lasionycta carolynae differs from both of these species in having a narrow discal spot on the dorsal and ventral hindwing and by lacking any trace of forewing markings. Th e discal spots of both of the other species are wide, appearing quadrate. Th e apex of the forewing is more pointed in L. carolynae than in L. lagganata . Th e male antenna of L. carolynae is more strongly biserrate than in the other species (2.0× the shaft in L. carolynae ; less than 1.6× shaft in the other species). Th e male genitalia are most similar to those of L. lagganata , but the clasper is wider, the digitus is wider and usually has a blunt apex, and the cucullus is smaller; they also differ from those of L. lagganata and all other species in the L. staudingeri sub-group in having a corona at the apex of the valve consisting of a single row of setae. Th e female genitalia are similar to those L. lagganata .

Th e CO1 sequence of L. carolynae is unknown.

Description. Head – Antenna of male deeply biserrate and fasciculate, 2.0– 2.1× as wide as central shaft. Antenna of female filiform and ciliate. Dorsal segments covered with shiny slate-gray scales, some specimens with a few light browngray scales near base. Scape a mixture of slate-gray and light brown-gray scales. Eye reduced, ellipsoid, weakly hairy. Palpus covered with short light brown-gray scales and long hair-like dark brown-gray scales. Frons and top of head covered with medium-gray and slate-gray scales. Thorax – Vestiture entirely dark-gray and light gray-tipped and dark-gray hair-like scales, appearing slate gray. Legs slate gray; hindtibia with scattered medium-gray scales. Tarsal segments slate gray ringed distally with medium-gray scales. Wings – Forewing length: male 13–14 mm (expanse 30–32 mm); female 15 mm (expanse 33 mm). Forewing covered with uniform slate-gray scales, appearing glossy slate gray. All lines and spots absent. Fringe same color as remainder of forewing. Ventral forewing whitish gray with dark-gray shading on basal area, discal spot, costa, outer and posterior margins, and on veins. Postmedial line absent. Fringe dark gray basally, medium gray to dark gray distally. Dorsal hindwing ground color white, suffused with a few slate-gray scales; wing base and posterior margin heavily suffused with blackish gray. Veins medium gray. Discal spot blackish gray, thin, chevron shaped. Postmedial line absent. Marginal dark blackish-gray band sharply demarcated on outer ¼–⅓ of wing. Fringe dark gray basally, light, medium or dark gray distally. Ventral hindwing ground color white, lightly suffused with medium-gray scales; basal wing and area medial to cell nearly uniform medium gray. Veins medium gray. Discal spot dark gray, thin, comma shaped. Postmedial line absent. Marginal band dark gray, on outer ¼–⅓ of wing. Fringe dark gray basally, white, medium gray, or dark gray distally. Abdomen – Mainly covered with slate gray scales; longer brownish-gray scales covering male genitalia. Male genitalia – Similar to those of L. lagganata in most features including relatively broad uncus and broad flat juxta. Differing from those of L. lagganata in broader clasper; broader digitus (more apically blunt in two of four males examined), and in corona consisting of a single row of setae. Female genitalia – Similar to those of L. lagganata .

Distribution and biology. Lasionycta carolynae is found in the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains, Yukon, where it flies over shale scree slopes. Adults are diurnal and feed at Dryas octopetala L. ( Rosaceae ) and Silene acaulis in the Ogilvie Mountains and a Saxifraga species in the Richardson Mountains. Th e type series, the only known specimens of this species, was collected in late June and early July.

Remarks. Lasionycta carolynae is unique among species in the L. staudingeri sub-group in having a single row of setae in the corona on the male valve, compared to 2–4 rows in other species in the sub-group. In this character it resembles species in other sub-groups, especially those in the L. leucocycla sub-group. It is included in the L. staudingeri sub-group because other characters, such as bursa shape, lack of a postmedial line in the hindwing, and the habitus and genital similarities to L. lagganata .