Nudorthodes variabilis (Barnes & McDunnough, 1912) Barnes & McDunnough, 1912

Lafontaine, J. Donald, Walsh, J. Bruce & Ferris, Clifford D., 2014, A revision of the genus Protorthodes McDunnough with descriptions of a new genus and four new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini), ZooKeys 421, pp. 139-179 : 160-162

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Nudorthodes variabilis (Barnes & McDunnough, 1912) comb. n. Figs 50, 51, 71, 88; Map 15

Namangana variabilis Barnes & McDunnough, 1912b: 21.

Type material.

Namangana variabilis : syntypes, USNM, examined. Type locality: USA, California, San Diego.

Diagnosis.

Nudorthodes variabilis is a rarely collected species confined to coastal southern California. Adults are most likely to be confused with those of Nudorthodes texana , but average larger (forewing length: 13 to 14 mm). In Nudorthodes variabilis , the medial line usually is prominent, extending obliquely from the costa to the reniform spot and as a straight line from there to the hind margin of the forewing, and the lower third of the reniform spot is filled with a well-defined dark blue-gray patch. In Nudorthodes texana the medial line is absent or barely traceable, and the lower third of the reniform spot has diffuse dark shading. In southern California where the ranges of the two species overlap, the forewing ground color in Nudorthodes variabilis is an even gray brown, sometimes with a slight reddish tint; whereas in Nudorthodes texana the ground color is pale buff and powdery in appearance. In the male genitalia the dorsal lobe on the sacculus of Nudorthodes variabilis is produced posteriorly towards the top, giving it a slight mushroom shape, whereas the posterior margin of the lobe in Nudorthodes texana is straight and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sacculus. The female genitalia of the two species appear to be indistinguishable.

Distribution and biology.

Nudorthodes variabilis occurs along the coast of southern California from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County. Adults were been collected from late August until mid-September. The immature stages are unknown.