Aseptis pseudolichena Mustelin & Leuschner, 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 : 70-71

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Aseptis pseudolichena Mustelin & Leuschner, 2000 Figs 21-24, 56, 82

Aseptis pseudolichena Mustelin & Leuschner, 2000. In Mustelin et al. 2000: 10.

Type material.

Holotype male [LACM, examined]. Type locality: East Fork of Woodwardia Camp, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California.

Diagnosis.

Aseptis pseudolichena is similar in size or slightly smaller than Aseptis lichena , wingspan 33.8 ± 1.4 mm (n=25; range 30.5-36.0 mm) and resembles it closely. Aseptis pseudolichena is more yellowish as a result of a mixture of pale tan or yellowish scales and scattered tan, olive, and black scales. Some specimens are very pale yellow, others pale tan, and some olive tan. The antemedial and postmedial lines are serrate, and the postmedial line is followed by white and black dots on the veins. A pale subterminal line is usually visible. The orbicular spot is round and filled with ground color, whereas the reniform spot is large, outlined in black and filled with dark scales. A faint pale postreniform patch is present. Males have a pale streak between hindwing veins M1 and M3.

Most Aseptis pseudolichena can be separated readily from Aseptis lichena by their pale-yellowish to olive-tan color, which is darker olive tan in Aseptis lichena ; however, dark specimens of Aseptis pseudolichena may not be distinguishable without dissection. The male genitalia are similar to those of Aseptis lichena , but differ in that the valves are angled ventrad at mid-length and the cucullus is smaller. Most specimens can be assigned to a species based on locality as described under Aseptis lichena .

Distribution and biology.

Aseptis pseudolichena is endemic to southern California with records from San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Tuolumne counties. It may overlap with Aseptis lichena in Kern and Tuolumne counties. Aseptis pseudolichena is found in open pine and oak forest, open areas with grass and scrub, and foothill chaparral. It seems to be most common on the desert side of the mountain peaks, and can be locally abundant. It flies from June to August depending on elevation. A number of specimens in the Los Angeles County Museum were raised from larva on Ribes malvaceum Sm. ( Grossulariaceae ). The pupa was described and figured by Comstock (1955) under the name Andropolia lichena .