Aseptis serrula (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918)

Mustelin, Tomas & Crabo, Lars G., 2015, Revision of the genus Aseptis McDunnough (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Xylenini) with a description of two new genera, Paraseptis and Viridiseptis, ZooKeys 527, pp. 57-102 : 73

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Aseptis serrula (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918) Figs 37, 38, 68, 85

Trachea serrula Barnes & McDunnough, 1918: 104.

Type material.

Holotype male [USNM, examined]. Type locality: Palm Springs, Riverside County, California.

Diagnosis.

This below-average-sized Aseptis , wingspan 31.7 ± 1.2 mm (n=19; range 29-34), is the only one with a serrate male antenna. The forewing is relatively narrow, powdery gray, with the pointed black claviform spot as the most prominent mark. The dark reniform and orbicular spots are less prominent, the basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines are faint or absent, and the subterminal line is often evident as a pale W-mark on veins M3 and CuA1. The postreniform patch is relatively small, and the medial area is often lighter than the ground color near the claviform spot. The hindwing is off-white with dark veins and terminal area in males and darker gray with light base and dark veins in females.

The male uncus is unique in that the subbasal segment is expanded and dorsoventrally flattened to an elongate rhomboid shape with a slight constriction at the end of the swollen segment. The valve is most similar to those of Aseptis catalina and Aseptis torreyana , with a gently-curving S-shape, a curved ampulla of the clasper that is directed distally, a narrow pointed digitus, and a slightly pointed cucullus. The vesica is like that of Aseptis binotata . In the female, the papillae anales are unique in being covered dorsally by short scales with a rugose medial margin. The bursa copulatrix is nearly round with strong signa and the appendix bursae is as long as the corpus bursae and curved leftward and dorsad from its origin.

Males of Aseptis serrula are distinguished easily by the serrate antenna, filiform in other Aseptis . Females are readily identified by their unique papillae anales. Many gray desert noctuids resemble Aseptis serrula , including several species of Hadenini with which it is often confused. Differences between Aseptis and hadenines are described under Aseptis catalina .

Distribution and biology.

This is a species of the lower mountain-desert transition zone and high desert and has been collected in the Mojave, Colorado, and Sonora deserts of southeastern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California. It flies during the desert spring, between March and early May depending on winter rainfall. Its host plants and immature stages are unknown.