Symmerista Huebner

Chacon, Isidro A., Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2014, Four new species of Symmerista Huebner, 1816 (Notodontidae, Nystaleinae) from Costa Rica, ZooKeys 421, pp. 39-63 : 41

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Notodontidae

Symmerista Huebner

Symmerista Hübner, 1821. Verz. bekannt. Schmett.: 248.

Type-species.

Noctua albicosta Hübner, 1809, Samml. eur. Schmett. 4: pl. 93, fig. 440. By subsequent designation by, Kirby, 1892, Syn. Cat. Lepid. Het. Het. 1: 572.

Type specimens.

Type(s), [North America]: Mistakenly included by Hübner as a European species; Noctua albicosta occurs in Canada and the US.

Notes.

Nye (1975) stated: Symmerista was originally proposed in the Noctuidae .

Watson et al. (1980) stated: Noctua albicosta is a form of Phalaena albifrons Smith, 1797, in Smith & Abbot, Nat. Hist. rarer lepid. Insects Georgia 2: 159, pl. 80.

Diagnosis.

Adults - Medium-sized notodontid moth, FW = 16-22 mm, females larger than males; male antenna pectinate nearly to apex, terminal 10-12 annulations simple or antenna bipectinate, six terminal flagellomeres without rami; antennae of female simple; labial palpus porrect; haustellum reduced to two small lobes, completely hidden by labial palpi; ocelli absent; eye smooth, round; thorax generally dark brown with beige tegula; all scales of thorax long and forked; scales of patagium and prothorax beige and cream colored. FW with the costa straight, apex marked, the outer margin evenly rounded; accessory cell present, narrow; R2-5, stalked, R5 arising beyond R2, M1 from apex of accessory cell or nearly so. Male genitalia - ST8 with a wide, deep emargination; valva membranous, finely pubescent, costulae absent; tegumen narrowed dorsally; uncus concave, the socii subquadrate and lobed or long, wide, pubescent at bases, narrow and flattened at apices; vinculum slightly sclerotized; manica membranous, fused to juxta; ventral process of phallus long and forked, its tip well beyond the tip of the medial, dorsal process; vesica bulbous with a scobinate patch.

Female genitalia - Papillae anales membranous, covered with short, scattered setae; posterior apophyses long and slender; DB sclerotized for approximately two-thirds of its length; CB rounded; anterior vaginal plate asymmetrical, slightly swollen and inflated in middle.

The genus Symmerista is characterized by: haustellum reduced to two small lobes, completely hidden by labial palpi; valva membranous; costulae absent; uncus concave; manica membranous, fused to juxta and ductus bursae sclerotized for approximately two-thirds of its length. Symmerista differs of the genera Elasmia and Elymiotis by the following characteristics: Elasmia has a well-developed haustellum, sacculus pleated and saccular scent organ present, manica sclerotized, deciduous cornuti, costulae present, costal margin sclerotized, ST8 with long and curvy lateral sclerotized projections like forceps, midplate with tiny pleats and membranous; uncus elongate, setose, with two dorsal protuberances and two tiny spines at the apex. Elymiotis has the haustellum well developed, sacculus pleated, deciduous cornuti, costal margin sclerotized, St8 posterior margin irregularly sclerotized and convex with tiny lateral proyections, uncus thin and long with apex acute and setose. All of these characterisctics are absent in Symmerista .