Leucania mopan Adams and McCabe, 2023

Mccabe, Timothy L. & Adams, Morton S., 2023, Five new species of the genus Leucania Ochsenheimer in Central America (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Zootaxa 5256 (3), pp. 250-266 : 251-252

Leucania mopan Adams and McCabe new species

Figs. 2 (imago), 15 (valvae), 16 (endophallus), 35 (bursa copulatrix)

Material examined. Dissections examined (5♁♁, 2♀♀). Type material: Holotype male. BELIZE: Cayo: Mountain Pine Ridge, 1000’ Falls , 17.060529,- 88. 848458, 623m, 26–30 May 1990, L.C. Dow, dissection TLM♁6326 (deposited in NYSM) . Paratypes. (28♁♁, 8♀♀) BELIZE: Cayo: Mountain Pine Ridge, 1000’ Falls , 17.060529,- 88. 848458, 623m, 15 May 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, dissection MSA♁3406, 22–24 May 1990, L.C. Dow 10♁♁, 3♀♀, dissections MSA♁2408, MSA ♀ 2409, 26-30 May 1990, L.C. Dow, 3♁♁, 2♀♀, 13–16 Jun 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, 2-3 Jul 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♀, dissection TLM ♀ 6329 ( NYSM) ; Granite Cairn , 17.043169, -88.864088, 702m, 15 Jun 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, 1 Jul 1990 L.C. Dow, 3♁♁ ( NYSM) ; no specific locality, 16.956938, -88.979678, 625m, M.S. Adams 6♁♁, 1♀ ( NYSM) ; Stann Creek, Cockscomb Basin Sanctuary, Jaguar Reserve , 16.780801, -88.458902, 71m, 10–12 May 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, 1♀, 4-9 Jun 1990, L.C. Dow, 1♁, 18–19 Jun 1990, M.S. Adams, 1♁, dissection TLM♁6317 ( NYSM) . GUATEMALA: Alto Verapez, Chejel , 15.283333, -90.050000, 287m, 1♁, dissection MSA US♁180 ( USNM) .

Diagnosis. The Belizean endemic L. mopan bears a close resemblance to its sibling species, the widespread Central American L. albifasciata ( Hampson, 1905) ( Fig. 1 ), from which the habitus differs in having a generally paler rufous forewing. The hind wing of both sexes of L. mopan are infuscated with brown scales contrasting with the pure white hind wing of L. albifasciata . Both species have basal abdominal eversible tubular structures and a lappet ( Fig. 13 ) (an inflatable flap on the outside of the valva). The ornamentation of the everted endophallus separates L. mopan from L. albifasciata ( Fig. 14 ). Both species have a small cluster of short, stout cornuti at the proximal end of the endophallus, which is a simple straight tube bent medially at a right angle, at which point there are three long cornuti. Beyond this point, on L. mopan , the endophallus is unadorned except for an array of four or five retrorse cornuti proximal to the primary gonopore. In contrast, L. albifasciata has the endophallus adorned by a single, long row of cornuti, which continues to the primary gonopore. The appendix bursae of L. mopan is straight ( Fig. 35 ) whereas that of L. albifasciata has.a sharp angle at midpoint ( Fig. 36 ).

Description. ( Fig. 2 ) Wingspan 35–38 mm. Head, palpi, frons, and thorax pale rufous. Tegulae and patagia pale rufous with dusting of black scales. No scale tufts on male fore- and mid-tibiae. Abdomen paler ventrally with dusting of black scales. Forewing pale rufous with dusting of black scales. White-scaled cubital vein bisects forewing and broadens at distal end of cell where it curves around inferior distal margin of reniform (represented by black dot). Cubital vein a narrow white line subtended by dark shade along its entire length. Forewing with faint darker stripe adjacent to white-scaled second anal vein. Postmedial (p.m.) line a curving row of small black dots on veins. Pale oblique fascia subtended by dark wedge from vein M3 to wing apex. Forewing with row of fine black terminal points. Fringe dark. Hind wing off-white, infuscated with dark scales on veins and along costal margin. A field of black specks on sub-costal margin of underside of both fore and hind wing. Basal abdominal eversible tubular structures present.

Male genitalia. ( Figs. 15 & 16 ). Uncus slightly dilated, terminating in well-defined, claw-like tip; tegumen and vinculum unmodified; valva broad with few non-deciduous setae on margin and with an inflatable flap (lappet) on outside of valva; cucullus distinctively short and broad with non-deciduous setae on its outer margin; pore plate present at valvulus (base of cucullus); ampulla short and thin; editum conspicuous below ampulla; digitus short and sharp pointed; clasper an elongate, acutely curved projection, extending almost to shoulder of valva margin; claval area of sacculus smooth and unmodified; phallus a simple straight tube. Everted endophallus with small cluster of short, stout cornuti at proximal section followed by a simple straight tube bent medially at a right angle, three long cornuti near bend; distal portion of endophallus mostly unadorned except for an array of four or five retrorse cornuti at the primary gonopore.

Female genitalia. ( Fig. 35 ) Ductus bursae extending from ostium bursae as a straight tube until an angle at junction with appendix bursae. Appendix bursae sclerotized and extending beyond ductus bursae. Corpus bursae sac-like and thin-walled, arising at juncture of ductus bursae and appendix bursae.

Global Distribution. Belize (type locality), Guatemala.

Etymology. The specific epithet mopan is in recognition of the dialect of the Yucatanian Branch of the Mayan language.

Food plant. Unknown.

Larva. Unknown.

Remarks. Leucania mopan appears to be a narrow endemic to the pre-montane [650–700m] pine savanna of the Mountain Pine Ridge of Belize and Guatemala. This small (less than 3000 km 2) ecoregion is recognized by the World Wildlife Fund as Critical/Endangered (Dinerstein, et al., 1995). The principal physical factors of this habitat include xeric, acidic, nutrient-poor soil and periodic low intensity burns ( Johnson & Chaffey, 1973). The predominant tree is the endemic variety of Caribbean pine ( Pinus caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis (Sénéciauze) W.H. Barrett & Golfari ). Other characteristic plants include: Crescentia cujete L.(Calabash tree), Quercus spp. , Curatella americana L. (Chaparro), Byrsonima crassifolia H.B.K. (Manteco), and Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. & H. Wendl.) H. Wendl. ex Becc. (Paurotis palm) (Corrales, et al., 2015; Hampshire, 1988; Laughlin, 2002). The canopy is open with many low shrubs and open savanna areas with grasses, sedges and a variety of herbs.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Imagos of male Leucania. 1. Leucania albifasciata, Stann Creek, Cockscomb District, Belize (TLM ♁6317). 2. Leucania mopan, Holotype, Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♁6326) 3. Leucania oaxacana, Mountain Pine Ridge, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♁6319). 4. Leucania merga, Holotype, Quetzal Reserve, Alta Verapaz, 15°12’55”N, 90°13’09”W, 1700 m, Guatemala (TLM ♁4385). 5. Leucania complicata, El Cayon Pass crest, San Diego Co., 2000’, California, USA, reared ex ovo by J.G. Franclemont (TLM ♁6335). 6. Leucania complicata, Davis Mountains, Limpia Canyon, 30°26’24”N, 103.56°10”W, 1525 m, Texas (TLM ♁1558).

FIGURES 13–16. Valvae and endophalli. 13–14. Leucania albifasciata, Stann Creek, Cockscomb District, Belize (TLM ♁6317). 15–16. Leucania mopan, Holotype, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1,000 Foot Falls, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♁6326).

FIGURES 35–40. Bursa copulatrix. Ventral view except for Fig. 38. 35. Leucania mopan, Paratype, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1,000 Foot Falls, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♀6329). 36. Leucania albifasciata, Mountain Pine Ridge, 1,000 Foot Falls, Cayo District, Belize (TLM ♀6333). 37. Leucania merga, Paratype, Volcan Zunil, Fuentes Georginas, 14°45’00”N, 91°28’49”W, 2455 m, Guatemala (TLM ♀6484). 38. Leucania dorsalis, Volcan Atitlan, Reserva Los Tarrales, 14°31’57”N, 91°08’46”W, 995 m, Guatemala (TLM ♀4378, lateral view). 39. Leucania colorada, Holotype, 3 mi. N. Tliaxico, Oaxaca, 7,500’, Mexico (TLM ♀6362). 40. Leucania sororia, Holotype, 7 mi. S. of Miahuatian, Oaxaca, Mexico (TLM ♀6308).