Leucosigma albimixta (Schaus, 1911) Schaus, 1911

Goldstein, Paul Z., Janzen, Daniel H., Proshek, Benjamin, Dapkey, Tanya & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2018, A review of Leucosigma Druce, 1908: a newly discovered case of fern-feeding and descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), ZooKeys 788, pp. 87-133 : 95-96

Leucosigma albimixta (Schaus, 1911) comb. n. Figs 39, 40, 49, 50; Male genitalia: Figs 66-68, 85-87; Female genitalia: Fig. 106; Larvae: Figs 131-134

Chytonidia albimixta Schaus, 1911 Type locality: Costa Rica.

Material examined.

Type material. Holotype ♀: Miselia sp. not in USNM, Miselia albimixta type Schs, Type No. 17326 [526?] USNM, Juan Vinas CR, May, USNM Dissection 148184, USNMENT01370283. Type at USNM.

Other material examined

(5♂, 1♀). COSTA RICA (4♂): Alajuela (2♂): Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Albergue Oscar, Casa, 10.86627, -85.32605, el. 725m, 01/15/2010, F. Quesada & S. Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-104564, USNM Dissection 148,305, USNMENT01370298; Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Manta Hugo, 10.8811, -85.2677, el. 491m, 03/15/2009, H. Cambronero & F. Quesada, collector, 10-RNSP-107587, USNM Dissection 148069, USNMENT01437230. Guanacaste (2♂): Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m, larva on Elaphoglossum doanense : 02/14/2011, ecl. 03/29/2011, Manuel Rios, collector, 11-SRNP-30511, USNM Dissection 148085, USNM 00105321; Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m, 03/18/2007, H. Cambronero & S. Rios, collector, 07-SRNP-102199, USNM Dissection 148068, USNMENT01437365 GUATEMALA (1♂, 1♀): Chejel Guat, Aug, Schaus and Barnes coll., ♂ genitalia on slide Aug 1953 E.L.T. #138, ♂ USNM Dissection 50,548, USNMENT01437345; Chejel Guat, Aug, Schaus and Barnes coll., ♀ genitalia on slide Aug 1953 E.L.T. #139, ♀ USNM Dissection 50,549, USNMENT01370282.

Diagnosis.

Largest Leucosigma species, forewing approaching 1.5cm on average (see below), and the only species with most of the medial area of the forewing upperside dominated by green; the terminal area also with green scaling, the components of the fused reniform-orbicular swollen and outlined in white, appearing more bulbous than in any other species except the much smaller L. viridipicta , with which L. albimixta is not likely confused; terminal area well defined on hind wing underside, more extensively shaded in green than in other species; clasper swollen, fan-like and concave medially with short acutely recurved apical hook. Ductus bursae narrow as in L. poolei but point of attachment to corpus bursae dorsad; colliculum diminutive as in L. uncifera and L. poolei .

Re-description.

Head. Antennae setose-ciliate, bifasciculate in males, scaled above with alternating tan and brown bands of spatulate scales. Scaling on frons, vertex, and labial palpi predominantly brown, interspersed with black and white. Labial palpus with third segment relatively longer than in congeners, almost half the length of the second segment. Eyes sparsely hairy, with a post-ocular ring of dark-purplish hair-like scales.

Thorax. Collar green scaled; a sublabial green beard-like tuft observed in one male specimen (USNM 00105321). Wings. Forewing length 14.9 mm (holotype, female), average 14.4 mm (males, n = 5), 14.8 mm (females, n = 2). Medial and terminal areas of forewing dominated by green, especially so the distended “U” comprising the fused reniform-orbicular complex; basal and postmedial areas dominated by brownish-gray scaling; underside patterning concentrated in costal and terminal areas, with neither a discal spot nor robust antemedial or postmedial lines apparent excepting a partial postmedial on the forewing. Legs. Green scale tufts on inner mid- and hind-femora, the remaining femoral scales white, brown, and black, and the tibial scaling primarily green and white; a single pair of striped mid-tibial spurs, two pairs on hind-tibiae; three rows of tibial spines on all legs.

Abdomen. Uniform grayish tan above; underside a mix of white and light/dark brown with medial patches of green.

Male genitalia. Uncus elongate, upwardly curved with a small apical point and bearing ventral setal crest. Tegumen ∩-shaped. Vinculum widely V-shapped. Saccus squared off. Juxta dihedral, subquadrate with the dorsal and ventral edges deformed in parallel (the dorsal invaginated and the ventral evaginated); annellar arms fused, hoop-like. Sacculus (1) simple, tapered; cucullus (2) curved outward apically before recurving to a fine point, supapical setal fan prominent; dorsal process (3) elongate, gently tapered, setose throughout; clasper (4) upturned, apex foot-shaped. Aedeagus with a sclerotized band of raised granules and a more distal patch of spinules. Vesica without cornuti; subbasal diverticulum bulbous; medial diverticulum an enlarged simple torsion.

Female genitalia. Posterior apophyses nearly twice as long as anterior apophyses. Lamella antevaginalis deeply invaginated posteriorly. Ostium narrow. Colliculum reduced. Ductus elongate, narrow,>0.5 × length of corpus bursae, itself elongate, obliquely shaped; appendix bursae bulbous.

Immature stages. Known only from images (Figs 131-134). The larva of L. albimixta is predominantly light green with a fine, pale ramifying pattern and a series of raised, rust-colored lateral spiracular patches; a broken white supra-spiracular line encloses the antero-ventral half of a small dark spot above each spiracle; dorsal pinacula raised; head capsule yellow with scattered red markings; dorsum of metathoracic segment tapers downward from anterior part of A1 at 45° angle.

Biology.

Caterpillar found feeding on foliage of Elaphoglossum doanense ( Dryopteridaceae ) in ACG rain forest. In the reared male specimen for which data are available (11-SRNP-30511; Figs 66, 85, 131-134), 26 days elapsed between the prepupal stage and adult eclosion. Other ACG specimens were light-trapped.

Distribution.

Costa Rica, Guatemala.