Cicinnus chambersi, Laurent & Reeves & Kawahara, 2020

Laurent, Ryan A. St, Reeves, Lawrence E. & Kawahara, Akito Y., 2020, Cicinnus chambersi: a new species of sack-bearer moth (Lepidoptera, Mimallonidae, Cicinninae) from southeastern Arizona, USA, ZooKeys 931, pp. 49-71 : 49

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.931.50203

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD4C339A-2A5A-49D4-8877-ECC4C511B795

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/39AED117-04A1-434F-B3B8-5AD826A3D52E

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:39AED117-04A1-434F-B3B8-5AD826A3D52E

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Cicinnus chambersi
status

sp. nov.

Cicinnus chambersi sp. nov. Figures 2 View Figures 2–5 , 3 View Figures 2–5 , 6 View Figures 6–9 , 7 View Figures 6–9 , 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figures 11–14 , 15 View Figures 15, 16 , 16 View Figures 15, 16 , 21 View Figures 21–23

Type material.

Holotype. United States of America - Arizona • Arizona: Santa Cruz. Co., Peña Blanca Lake, Pajarito Mtns., Coronado NF; 750 W MV, 1000W MH, 31.402057, -111.084236, 21.VII.2015; leg. L.E. Reeves/ St Laurent dissection 2-20-17:1 Cicinnus sp./ St Laurent barcode 2-20-17:1 [barcode unsuccessful]/ St Laurent BC 5-6-19:1 [second barcode attempt]/ Holotype ♂ Cicinnus chambersi St Laurent, Reeves, Kawahara, 2020 [red label]/ (MGCL).

Paratypes. (3 ♂, 2 ♀ total) United States of America - Arizona - Cochise County • 1 ♀; Copper Canyon, Huachuca Mts; 31.363, -110.300; 6,000 ft [1,828 m]; 4.VII.2018; C.W. Melton [leg.]; photo ID no. 18070692, St Laurent dissection: 5-9-19:1; (MGCL). - Santa Cruz County • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; California Gulch, Pajarito Mountains; 31.422N, 111.245W; 3800 ft [1,158 m]; 27.VII.2017; J.B. Walsh leg.; MV/UV; (BWC) • 1 ♂; Peña Blanca Lake/ Ruby Rd area; 31°23'16"-24'N, 111°05'25"-07'W; 2-4.VIII.2017; James Adams & Lance Durden; light traps, LEP-58833 [MGCLAHE voucher number and St Laurent dissection number], St Laurent BC 5-6-19:2 [barcode]; (MGCL) • 1 ♂; Peña Blanca Canyon; 31.3844N, 111.0935W; 3.VIII.2017; P. Dennehy leg.; (PJD). Paratypes with the following yellow label: Paratype ♂/ ♀ Cicinnus chambersi St Laurent & Reeves, 2020.

Additional specimens

[not included in type series]. United States of America - Arizona - Santa Cruz County • 2 ♂, 1 ♀; California Gulch; 31°25'18.33"N, 111°14'40.02"W; 3,790 ft [1,155 m]; 23.VII.2015 [2 ♂], 21.VII.2017 [1 ♀]; E. Rand leg. (Coll. E. Rand, Arizona) • 1 ♂; Peña Blanca Canyon; 31°23'18.38"N, 111°5'33.00"W; 3895 ft [1,187 m]; 17.VII.2009; E. Rand leg. (Coll. E. Rand, Arizona) • 1 ♂; Jct. FR 49 & FR 812; 31°27'54.88"N, 110°43'9.94"W; 4960' [1,512 m]; 8.VII.2010; E. Rand leg. (Coll. E. Rand, Arizona).

Photographed individual

[not collected and not included in type series]. United States of America - Arizona - Pima County • 1 ♀; Box Canyon; 31.799198, -110.798744; photographed by Salvador Vitanza, Entomologist (Identifier) at APHIS-PPQ, Arizona (Fig. 10 View Figure 10 ).

Diagnosis.

In southern Arizona, there are no other moths with which this species could be confused, the only other congener found in the United States, C. melsheimeri , has not been found to be sympatric with C. chambersi , but occurs farther north in mountainous northern Arizona, north of the Mogollon Rim, and northeast into central and northern New Mexico. Because C. chambersi and C. melsheimeri are both found in Arizona, we compare them here, although they are not each other’s closest relatives within Cicinnus (see remarks later).

Cicinnus melsheimeri is a somewhat variable species, usually with brown shaded regions along the wing margins, in comparison, C. chambersi is more consistently uniformly pink in coloration with a homogenous ground color. The apex of the forewing of C. chambersi is much sharper than in C. melsheimeri , and the postmedial line of the forewing more distinctly forms a right or acute angle near the apex of the forewing, whereas this same angle is more obtuse in C. melsheimeri (see Figs 2-5 View Figures 2–5 , where males are shown, the same distinction is observed in females as well. Line thickness and development of discal spots are rather variable characteristics in both species).

Genitalia of the two species of Cicinnus in Arizona are structurally very distinct, although they both have the characteristics deemed apomorphic of Cicinnus sensu stricto as defined by St Laurent and Kawahara (2019). Fundamental differences in male genitalia of the two species in question are: C. melsheimeri bears elongated vincular arms (Fig. 17 View Figures 17–20 ) which are naturally held along a ventral channel on the valvae, C. chambersi and all other Cicinnus lack vincular arms; the valvae of both C. melsheimeri and C. chambersi are mostly membranous, but in C. melsheimeri they are even more so and are dorso-ventrally wider than laterally, whereas in C. chambersi the valvae are squarer with a more substantially sclerotized costal half; the juxtal complex in C. chambersi is bifurcated on either side of the phallus but ends in a singular upward curling terminus on either side of the phallus in C. melsheimeri . Female genitalia of C. chambersi are typical of Cicinnus , differing from those of C. melsheimeri by the narrower dorsal projection of the VIII segment, more well-developed anterior and posterior apophyses, a ductus bursae that is at least five times longer in length, and an elongated corpus bursae that is roughly four times the length of that of C. melsheimeri (compare Figs 21 View Figures 21–23 , 23 View Figures 21–23 ).

The differences between C. chambersi and the other Mexican Cicinnus species are less obvious. The only names currently applied to similar Mexican species are C. chabaudi Dyar, 1914 (Figs 9 View Figures 6–9 , 18 View Figures 17–20 ), and C. mexicana (Figs 14 View Figures 11–14 , 20 View Figures 17–20 ), the latter which includes at least two cryptic species (see remarks and additional discussion below). Cicinnus chabaudi is restricted to arid south-central Mexico in the vicinity of the Distrito Federal, this species is more darkly maculated than C. chambersi with deep reddish-brown anal areas of the hindwings. Cicinnus mexicana is a variable species, often with deep reddish-brown submarginal areas of the forewings and straighter wing margins (all previously discussed Cicinnus species have convex forewing margins), but some populations are lighter with more convex forewing margins. The male genitalia of these various Mexican Cicinnus are quite similar with only minor differences from species to species with the most useful characters in this particular group (valvae shape and juxtal complex) displaying intraspecific variation (compare C. chambersi to the others: Figs 15 View Figures 15, 16 , 16 View Figures 15, 16 to 18-20; and the two C. chambersi specimens figured in Figs 15 View Figures 15, 16 , 16 View Figures 15, 16 to each other). Cicinnus chambersi however, can be recognized by the squarer shape of the valvae, which are generally more rounded and splayed upward in other Mexican Cicinnus . The intricacies of the taxonomy of Cicinnus in Mexico is discussed below in the remarks and further discussion sections.

Description.

Male. Head: Coloration pinkish beige with an ample speckling of dark brown petiolate scales. Antennae pale yellow with a covering of beige scales, occasionally speckled with darker brown scales, bipectinate to tip, distal quarter of pectinations dramatically shorter than basal three quarters of pectinations. Eyes very large, comprising more than two thirds area of head. Labial palpus exceedingly short, not extending beyond frons, coloration as for head though with darker gray scales dorsally; labial palpus apparently three-segmented though distalmost segment miniscule. Thorax: Dorsally light beige with profuse speckling of dark brown petiolate scales, prothorax lighter in color, pinker, ventrally thorax as above. Legs: Coloration mostly as for thorax. Tibial spurs small, about as long as one quarter length of first tarsomere. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 20-22 mm, avg.: 21 mm; wingspan: 39-45 mm, N = 3. Triangular, apex sharply falcate, outer margin mostly convex except for concavity below apex and slight tornal concavity. Ground color same light beige as thorax, with underlying pink hue throughout, profusely speckled with dark brown petiolate scales which are less densely distributed submarginally. Antemedial line very faint, usually nonexistent but if present diffuse and wavy. Postmedial line fine, almost always nearly straight, well-defined, dark brown, perpendicularly angled toward costa after passing Rs4, line thickness variable but comparatively thicker near costa. Entire wing nearly concolorous except for postmedial line and discal spot though coloration grayer rather than pink along costa, especially apically. Discal spot variably developed ranging from faint comma-like mark to well-developed gray-brown oval situated at distal margin of discal cell. Fringe darker brown than ground color of wing. Forewing ventrum: Ground color similar to dorsum but suffused with bright orange-red especially medially and along veins, basally wing much pinker than dorsally. Bright orange-red patch of scales present submarginally between Rs3-M3. Postmedial line weakly defined, consisting of dentate, convex line that is neither straight nor distinctly angled toward costa. Discal spot may be more well-defined than on dorsum. Hindwing dorsum: Rounded, coloration and patterning as for forewing dorsum, but antemedial line absent, postmedial line outwardly convex, discal spot less defined. Hindwing ventrum: Follows similar pattern as forewing ventrum, postmedial line convex and more interrupted by veins than on dorsum, discal spot weakly developed. Abdomen: Robust, extending beyond anal angle of hindwing, coloration mostly as for thorax. Sternite of VIII anteriorly and posteriorly concave, with pair of short protuberances, one on either side of posterior concavity. Genitalia: (Figs 15 View Figures 15, 16 , 16 View Figures 15, 16 ) N = 2. Complex, though typical of Cicinnus . Vinculum rectangular with pair of ventral apodemes. Tegumen triangular but not particularly distinct from uncus. Uncus simple, triangular, ventrally with blunt apex, but appearing sharp laterally due to distal flattening. Gnathos originating from between base of uncus and dorsal junction of valvae with vinculum, gnathos swoops downward from origination point to central location below uncus, distally gnathos extends as pair of fingerlike projections. Valvae mostly membranous with sclerotization restricted to upper region of valvae, particularly along mesal bar that extends outward along length of valvae, valvae rectangular in shape, small relative to remainder of genitalia. Juxta fused to phallus, extending laterally on either side of phallus with pair of sclerotized projections curling upward. Phallus cylindrical, mostly membranous. Vesica bag-like. Base of vinculum extends outward as two heavily sclerotized arms ending in bilobed, thin, sclerotized structure which is naturally curled upward covering genitalia, within which densely packed setae stored (Fig. 15a View Figures 15, 16 ). Female. Head: As for male in coloration but antennae appearing longer, comparatively thinner due to much shorter pectinations along length, pectinations gradually decrease in length from base to tip of antenna. Thorax: As for male. Legs: As for male but tibial spines much longer, at least double length of those of male. Forewing dorsum: Forewing length: 28 mm; wingspan: 60 mm, N = 1. As for male but wing shape slightly wider and more elongated, hue of wing lighter than in male. Forewing ventrum: Similar to dorsum, lacking any deep orange-red coloration of male. Antemedial line absent, postmedial line weakly defined, consisting of dentate, convex line. Discal spot about as well-defined as on dorsum. Hindwing dorsum: As for male, coloration barely lighter. Hindwing ventrum: Follows similar pattern as forewing ventrum, postmedial line convex, discal spot nearly absent. Abdomen: As for male, but more robust, coloration mostly as for thorax. Genitalia: (Fig. 21 View Figures 21–23 ) N =1. Tergite VIII forms smooth, heavily sclerotized, posteriorly directed tongue-like extension which nearly reaches distalmost apex of papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores roughly one third length of apophyses posteriores, much thicker, stouter. Lamella antevaginalis weakly sclerotized and split mesally, lamella postvaginalis a more heavily sclerotized band but not as wide as lamella postvaginalis. Ductus bursae very long, narrow, about twice length of remainder of genitalia. Corpus bursae narrow, tubular, longer than ductus bursae; ductus and corpus bursae together about as long as entire abdomen. Papillae anales widest mesally, distally pinched together and somewhat projected upward, overall densely covered in elongate setae.

Biology.

The life history of C. chambersi is unknown, but we expect the larvae feed on oaks ( Quercus spp. Linnaeus) as do all Mimallonidae in Canada and the United States for which larval hosts are known. Cicinnus chambersi appears to be a denizen of mid-elevation oak-dominated habitats of the Sky Island Region. The type series and other examined specimens were collected at elevations ranging from 1,155 m to 1,828 m, all within the oak belt of sky island mountain ranges ( Baynham 2012). This narrow elevation range suggests possible specialization on certain oak species that are also restricted in elevation, as is seen in other oak-feeding, elevation-restricted Lepidoptera in the region (C. Schmidt pers. comm.). Habitats at these localities vary somewhat and include Madrean oak woodland and oak grasslands. We are unaware of collections of this moth in higher elevation oak-pine woodland habitats. Cicinnus chambersi is a typical summer monsoon moth, flying from early July to early August. Mimallonid larvae take several months to mature in North America, therefore those interested in locating the larvae should look for mature larvae on oaks in the autumn.

Distribution.

Cicinnus chambersi is known only from sky island mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona (Figs 24 View Figure 24 , 25 View Figure 25 ). The type series is restricted to Arizona material, but undoubtedly C. chambersi occurs in mountain ranges with similar oak-dominated habitats in northwestern Mexico. See below for a more in-depth discussion of additional specimens from Mexico. Cicinnus chambersi has been collected in the Huachuca, Pajarito, Patagonia, and Santa Rita Mountains, with the northernmost observation being Box Canyon on the northern edge of the Santa Rita Mountains (Pima County).

Etymology.

This new species is named for Aaron Chambers of Tucson, Arizona, a desert dweller and dear friend of the authors, in recognition of his support of native biodiversity and for imparting his expansive ecological knowledge of the Sonoran Desert to us every monsoon season.

Remarks.

It is surprising that C. chambersi has been overlooked in North America due to the distinct morphological differences between C. chambersi from Arizona and the common C. melsheimeri with which the new species has been confused. However, C. chambersi appears to be a rarely collected moth considering the few specimens known to us and the intensity at which insect collecting occurs in southern Arizona, and this could be the reason C. chambersi has not yet been described. To our knowledge, no specimens of C. chambersi were available to Franclemont at the time of his 1973 revision (St Laurent pers. obs. of the Cornell University Insect Collection). In fact, we are not aware of any specimens collected in the United States prior to 2009. Therefore, it is also possible that C. chambersi is a relatively recent establishment from Mexico in southern Arizona.

Apart from the differences between C. chambersi and C. melsheimeri revealed by genitalia dissections, ongoing phylogenomic work using anchored hybrid enrichment ( Lemmon et al. 2012), in which hundreds of conserved loci have been sequenced for nearly all described genera of Mimallonidae , have shed light on the relative relationships of species within Cicinnus . Cicinnus melsheimeri , C. chambersi and its putative sister species, C. cf. mexicana , have been included in the phylogenomic work of St Laurent et al. (2020). In these authors’ study (see their fig. 2), C. melsheimeri is sister to the remainder of Cicinnus , with C. cf. orthane (type species of Cicinnus ) sister to C. chambersi + C. cf. mexicana (all relationships with 100% support). This topology is supported by our morphological study, in that C. melsheimeri is the most distinct Cicinnus species and is the only one to bear vincular arms (Fig. 17 View Figures 17–20 ), with all other known Cicinnus species lacking them. Our barcoding efforts carried out for the present study have revealed what are essentially identical topological relationships (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) as in St Laurent et al. (2020), albeit with lower UFBoot support than in the phylogenomic work which utilizes much more substantial, genomic, datasets. Regardless, important takeaways are illustrated by the COIML tree here, which recovers C. melsheimeri sister to all other Cicinnus ; with the cicinnine Gonogramma hanseni (Herbin & Monzón, 2015) used to root this tree. The holotype and a paratype of C. chambersi have been barcoded and are presented in the tree in Fig. 1 View Figure 1 in this work; and form a clade sister to two other Central American Cicinnus : C. melgibsoni Herbin & Monzón, 2015 and C. cf. solvens Dyar, 1914. This clade together is sister to a densely sampled C. mexicana sensu lato clade which also includes the Central American C. tuisana Schaus, 1910, a species remarkably similar in external appearance to C. mexicana . We recognize that two distinct entities exist under the name C. mexicana (which together are not monophyletic), with the clade containing topotypical C. mexicana from Veracruz, Mexico being here considered C. mexicana sensu stricto. True C. mexicana , therefore, is sister to C. tuisana , a similar species found in Costa Rica and Panama, in our COIML analysis. The other clade is unnamed at this time pending ongoing taxonomic work of the genus; but it suffices to say that morphology, phylogenomic, and mitochondrial evidence all support a closer relationship between the newly described C. chambersi and Central American Cicinnus species, than to the unique, largely North American C. melsheimeri .

Cicinnus in Mexico, further discussion

In describing C. chambersi , it is necessary to go into some additional depth in discussing the Cicinnus of Mexico in order to couch the new species within the broader context of its conspecifics in the region, where several described and undescribed taxa are found. The common North American C. melsheimeri , discussed above in the diagnosis of C. chambersi and in the phylogenetic justification for the validity of the new species, also appears to be found in Mexico. Cicinnus melsheimeri is found throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, with sparse records in the Rocky Mountains and the western United States (Colorado, Utah, northern Arizona, central and northern New Mexico, and the Big Bend Region of western Texas, and southern Texas) (St Laurent unpublished). Additional populations of a taxon near C. melsheimeri are known from throughout the mountainous regions of Mexico (in Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Hidalgo and Nuevo Leon) as well, these specimens display the typical genitalia of C. melsheimeri complete with the vincular arms (NHMUK dissection NHMUK010402293 of a specimen from Hidalgo, examined). The degree of cryptic diversity included under the name C. melsheimeri is yet to be fully resolved, though this will be a worthy area of research. It is clear however, that true C. melsheimeri (type locality, Pennsylvania, USA), which we here consider to include all populations morphologically most similar to the eastern USA species, as well as those in Mexico, can be readily differentiated from the remainder of Cicinnus (including C. chambersi ) by the vincular arms that are present in the male genitalia. Cicinnus melsheimeri has been shown to represent a distinct lineage of Cicinnus sister to the remainder of the genus within a phylogenomic ( St Laurent et al. 2020) and mitochondrial barcoding context (this paper).

Other Cicinnus populations in Mexico, including C. chambersi which ranges as far north as southern Arizona, belong to the more typical, primarily tropical American group of Cicinnus that always lack vincular arms in the male genitalia. This putative species-group contains all Cicinnus sensu stricto (sensu St Laurent and Kawahara 2019) except C. melsheimeri . In Mexico, only three named species are known: C. chabaudi (Figs 9 View Figures 6–9 , 18 View Figures 17–20 ), C. melgibsoni , and C. mexicana (Figs 14 View Figures 11–14 , 20 View Figures 17–20 ). Cicinnus chabaudi is restricted to arid south-central Mexico in the vicinity of Distrito Federal (extending at least to northwestern Oaxaca as per a specimen in CRAS). Cicinnus melgibsoni was described from Guatemala but is also found in southern Mexico ( Herbin and Monzón 2015). The widespread C. mexicana was described from Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. The first author has examined numerous C. mexicana from near the type locality of this species as well as throughout Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. Preliminary morphological studies and barcoding conducted herein suggest that there are at least two putative species under the name C. mexicana , but they do not form a monophyletic group. One putative species, C. mexicana sensu stricto, is found in eastern and southern Mexico, on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental into central Guatemala (Baja Verapaz); and a second, undescribed, species occurs in southern Mexico (Chiapas and Oaxaca) and southern Guatemala. We do not describe the southern populations as a new taxon here, pending ongoing studies of Cicinnus , as it will be necessary to include additional populations. For example, the Costa Rican species C. tuisana also falls into this broader C. mexicana sensu lato clade (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) introducing additional uncertainty about the identity of these taxa. Despite these issues however, C. chambersi is morphologically, genetically, and biogeographically distinct from any of these other taxa.

In northwestern Mexico there exists no name to adequately refer to Cicinnus species there, except for specimens clearly more allied to C. melsheimeri as discussed previously. Therefore, C. chambersi is the first named species belonging to the typical Neotropical Cicinnus species-group described from the arid southwestern United States and (likely) northwestern Mexico. We are aware of five specimens of Cicinnus from northwestern Mexico that are morphologically similar to C. chambersi but are from scattered localities with inadequate numbers of specimens from each location to allow for a convincing determination as C. chambersi . These specimens were also not barcoded. Therefore, none of these specimens are included in the type series of C. chambersi in order to conservatively restrict the type series to specimens collected at and around the type locality in southern Arizona. Each of the five northwestern Mexican specimens will be discussed below in order to bring attention to them in hopes that additional material will be discovered or collected to better determine their identities. Complete collecting data, including institutional depositions, for these specimens can be found in the supplemental appendix (Suppl. material 3: File S1).

One male specimen from the AMNH bears a label reading “Horcasitas.” We believe this refers to San Miguel de Horcasitas in Sonora, though admittedly the data are poorly documented. Externally this specimen resembles C. chambersi but has straighter forewing margins and is in otherwise poor condition. The genitalia differ from C. chambersi with the valvae of the Horcasitas specimen more rounded and curved upwards, which is more typical of C. mexicana .

In the BME there are two apparently conspecific male specimens from Chihuahua, one from Temoris and another from Cuiteco, and a putatively conspecific female from Choix, Sinaloa. While these Chihuahuan males are externally very similar to C. chambersi from Arizona, and inhabit comparable habitats, the female from nearby Choix displays a postmedial line angled differently from any examined female C. chambersi , and thus makes the determination of the Chihuahuan males as C. chambersi inconclusive (if the two males and the female are regarded as conspecific).

A single large male from the AMNH with the following data is also worth discussing: Mexico, Sonora, Mile 6.2, Colonia Mesa Tres Ríos to Huachinera. This specimen is larger and paler than any examined C. chambersi , and from farther east than any other putative Mexican C. chambersi .

Finally, a single male from Minatitlán, Colima (in VOB) and a single female from nearby Michoacán (Barcode of Life Datasystems, BC-Her2624) are known, which are morphologically more similar to C. chambersi than C. mexicana and may represent another undescribed species near C. chambersi or the southern extent of the distribution of this species. We were unable to examine the genitalia of this population, though a barcode of the Michoacán specimen places it sister to C. chambersi (see Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) in our analysis, supporting the hypothesis that they are closely related or perhaps even conspecific with C. chambersi . We hope that additional collecting in these regions will help elucidate the distribution of C. chambersi in Mexico, as well as to clarify the specific identities of the abovementioned specimens from Chihuahua, Colima, Michoacán, Sonora, and Sinaloa.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Mimallonidae

Genus

Cicinnus