Aseptis murina Mustelin, 2000

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 : 66-67

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Aseptis murina Mustelin, 2000 Figs 9, 10, 61, 78

Aseptis murina Mustelin, 2000. In: Mustelin et al. 2000: 8.

Type material.

Holotype male [SDNHM, examined]. Type locality: Inaja Picnic Ground, San Diego County, California.

Diagnosis.

This is a large species with perhaps the broadest forewing in the group, wingspan 40.0 ± 1.0 mm (n=12; range 39-42 mm). The forewing is smooth gray with a slightly bluish sheen when fresh, a diffuse and faint dark reniform spot, postmedial line of black dots, and a pale-cream costa in fresh specimens. The hindwing is barely a shade paler than the forewing.

This species can be identified by the combination of large size, smooth gray forewing with pale costa, and southern California distribution. It is most likely to be confused with Aseptis ethnica , especially when worn.

Distribution and biology.

Aseptis murina is known only from southern California where it occurs in coastal chaparral, foothills, mountain brush land and oak forest, and in the mountain-desert transition zone from sea level to 2000 m. It can be found with all other species of the species group. Localities for it include the Cuyamaca, Laguna, and San Gabriel Mountains, Pinyon Crest, and San Marcus Pass in Santa Barbara County. The flight period is from early May to July. The early stages are unknown.

Discussion.

The name murina is Latin and means mouse-like to denote the smooth murine appearance of the moth.