Tetracis montanaria Ferris

Ferris, Clifford D. & Schmidt, Christian, 2010, Revision of the North American Genera Tetracis Guenée and Synonymization of Synaxis Hulst with Descriptions of Three New Species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), Zootaxa 2347, pp. 1-36 : 19-21

Tetracis montanaria Ferris , New Species

( Figs. 10 , 54–58 , 96 , 111 , 127–128 , 139 )

Diagnosis: Geography alone separates this species, since no other Tetracis species are known from the mountains of SE Arizona. The two similar species, T. j. jubararia and T. pallulata do not have a PM line that breaks sharply basad at M3 and manifests a flattened “S-shape” overall.

Description: Adults ( Figs. 10 , 54–58 ): FWL: 22–25 mm. Antenna pale ochreous to whitish dorsally, nearly filiform, ventrally densely setose with gaps between segments (laminate), narrower in female. Palpi moderately broad, porrect or slightly upcurved, about 1.8x eye width, dark ochreous with dark brown tips. Head, thorax, abdomen, legs ochreous, varying in hue across individuals. Legs and ventral abdomen flecked with scattered brown scales. Wings: Base color generally ochreous orange-brown. FW apex weakly falcate. AM and PM lines brown; PM line narrow, flattened “S-shape”, with very narrow pale outer edge, bending sharply basad at vein M3; MB slightly darker then rest of wing. DHW with poorly-developed median line that fades out toward upper margin. Dark discal spots on FW and HW. Ventrally paler with dorsal markings repeated lightly. Male genitalia ( Figs. 96 , 111 ): Uncus of medium width, slightly decurved, tapering to bluntly pointed tip. Dorso-caudal margin of gnathos concave and irregular, with a robust narrow tapering upcurved spine at either side. Stubby furca (ca. 0.5x width of valve base) from middle of anellus tapers to pointed apex. Valve moderately broad with even margins, tapering to rounded apex with a well-developed triangular apical projection at the dorsal margin. Aedeagus with an incomplete ring of slender spinules at posterior end at base of vesica; everted vesica with patch of scattered sclerotized nodules on dome. Female genitalia ( Fig. 127 ): A/ P = 0.6. Long unsclerotized tubular ductus bursae expanding very slightly at junction with corpus bursae, obscuring junction (ca. 1.7x length of corpus bursae). Corpus bursae ovoid with oval dentate signum located at middle.

Type material. Holotype ♂. UNITED STATES: ARIZONA, Graham Co., Mt. Graham, 8880’ (2708m), 32° 40.73’N, 109° 53.62’W, Cunningham Campground, 1 October, 2006, C. D. Ferris. [ AMNH]. Paratypes: Same locality as holotype, 1.x.2006 (25 ♂, 1 ♀), 9.x.2007 (6♂), 1.x.2008 (3♂); ARIZONA, Pima Co., Bear Wallow Rd., Santa Catalina Mts. , 8000’ (2440m), 6.x.2002, J. B. walsh (1♂). Paratypes in CNC, CDF, and JBW. Two female specimens ( Figs. 57-58 ) from Apache Co., Arizona [Greer, 8 October, 2005, J. Vargo] are not included in the type series because of their very different color. Their correct placement can not be established until males are available for study. Their genitalia ( Fig. 128 ), however, are consistent with T. montanaria , as are the shapes of the AM and PM lines.

Etymology. Adjective, “of the mountains.”

Material examined: No additional specimens beyond those mentioned above were examined; 8 dissections were made.

Biology: Unknown. Habitat is aspen-coniferous forest. Adults in early October (and possibly late September).

Distribution ( Fig. 139 ): Southeastern Arizona, Graham Co., Mt. Graham and Pima Co., Santa Catalina Mts. from 8000–8900’ (2440–2715m);?Apache Co., White Mts.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 11. Type specimens: 3, Tetracis j. jubararia [CM photo]; 4. Synaxis jubararia sericeata [AMNH photo]; 5. Synaxis pallulata [AMNH photo]; 6. Synaxis hirsutaria (syntype) [author photo]; 7. Metanema cervinaria dorsal (D) & ventral (V) [composite of MCZ photos, used by permission]; 8 Metanema aurantiacaria dorsal (D) & ventral (V) [composite of MCZ photos, used by permission]; 9. Tetracis australis; 10. Tetracis montanaria; 11. Tetracis pallidata.

FIGURES 42 – 56. Tetracis adults: 42 – 45. T. j. jubararia, 42. Marin Co., CA, 43. Elmore Co., ID, 44. Boise Co., CA, 45. Monterey Co., CA; 46 – 53. T. j. sericeata, Albany Co., WY; 54 – 56. T. montanaria, Graham Co., AZ, paratypes.

FIGURES 57 – 71. Tetracis adults: 57 – 58. T. montanaria, Apache Co., AZ; 59 – 62. T. barnesii, 59, 62. Mesa Co., CO; 60. Emery Co., UT, 61. Yavapai Co., AZ; 63 – 69. T. formosa, 63, 65. Albany Co., WY, 64. Grand Co., CO, 66, 68. Los Angeles Co., CA, 67. Washakie Co., WY. 69 – 71. T. hirsutaria, 69. Los Angeles Co., CA (reared), 70 – 71. Riverside Co., CA.

FIGURES 95 – 101. Tetracis male genitalia with aedeagus removed and aedeagus with vesica everted. 95. T. j. sericeata. 96. T. montanaria. 97. T. barnesii. 98. T. formosa. 99. T. hirsutaria (arrow points to deciduous setae). 100 – 101. T. pallidata. Aedeagus enlarged relative to remaining structures.

FIGURES 102 – 117. Tetracis male genitalia, domes of everted vesica. 102. T. crocallata. 103. T. cachexiata. 104. T. cervinaria. 105. T. australis. 106. T. fuscata. 107. T. pallulata. 108. T. mosesiani. 109. T. j. jubararia. 110. T. j. sericeata. 111. T. montanaria. 112. T. barnesii. 113. T. formosa. 114 – 115. T. hirsutaria. 116 – 117. T. pallidata.

FIGURES 125 – 132. Female genitalia with enlarged view of signa. 125. T. j. jubararia. 126. T. j. sericeata. 127. T. montanaria. 128.? T. montanaria, Apache Co., AZ. 129. T. barnesii. 130. T. formosa. 131. T. hirsutaria (2 preparations) 132. T. pallidata.

FIGURES 137 – 139. Tetracis distribution maps. 137. T. fuscata. 138. T. pallulata. 139. T. montanaria.