Oxyptilus eleanerae Matthews

Matthews, Deborah L., 2017, A new species of Oxyptilus Zeller from the southwestern United States (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae), ZooKeys 698, pp. 75-93 : 77-84

Oxyptilus eleanerae Matthews sp. n. Figs 1-9, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22-24, 29, 30

Type material.

HOLOTYPE. ♀ - with the following labels: 'U.S.A. NM: Sandoval Co. │ 1.1 mi NE jct. 10 & 266 │ on 266, 7319 ft. │ 35.70860° N 106.61876° W │27 July 2013 MA Solis΄ [white printed]; 'HOLOTYPE ♀ │ Oxyptilus │ eleanerae │ D. Matthews΄ [red printed]; 'USNMENT │ 01338013' [white thermal printed with data matrix code]. PARATYPES. 13 ♂, 20 ♀ as follows: 4 ♂ - USA: ARIZONA: Apache Co.: White Mts., 7200 ft, 1 - 15 Aug 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338024, 01338029 [slide DM 1822], 01338031, 01338033; 2 ♀ - same data, USNMENT01338022, 01338032 [slide DM 1835]; 2 ♂ - same data except, 1-15 Sep 1925, USNMENT01338015 [slide DM 1817], USNMENT01338026; 1 ♀ - same data, USNMENT01338027; 1 ♂ - White Mts., near McNary P.O., 15 - 30 Aug 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338028; 1 ♀ - same data, USNMENT01338030; 1 ♀ - White Mts., near Rice, 7000 ft, 15 - 30 Jul 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338025 [slide DM 1831]; 1 ♀ - Coconino Co.: Chiricahua Mts., Herb Martyr forest camp, 5840 ft, 7 Aug 1966, Robert G. Beard, at UV light, Barcode of Life DNA voucher specimen, SmplID CCDB-20275-B04, BOLD Proc. ID LNAUS2296-13, USNMENT00869147; 1 ♂ - Clover Springs, 25 Aug 1978 R. Wielgus, CUVBL, Barcode of Life DNA voucher specimen, SmplID CCDB-20275-B05, BOLD Proc. ID LNAUS2297-13, USNMENT00869148; 1 ♂ - Fort Valley, 7 ½ mi. NW Flagstaff, 7350 ft, 16 Aug 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338020; 1 ♀ - Hochderffer Hill, 12 ½ mi. NNW Flagstaff, 8500 ft, 4 Aug 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338017; 1 ♀ - Kehl Spring Forest Camp, 7450 ft, 30 Jul 2014, R.S. Wielgus, 15 watt UV light trap, USNM [no number]; 1 ♂ - West Fork, 16 mi. SW Flagstaff, 6500 ft, 13 Jul 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338016 [slide USNM PYR. 93 / RWH USNM 63,602]; 1 ♀ - same data except 13 Aug 1961, USNMENT01338023; 2 ♀ - same data except 20 Aug 1961, USNMENT01338019, 01338021; 1 ♀ - County unspecified [locality near Santa Cruz/Pima border]: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mtns., 4880 ft, 29 Jul 1959, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338018; 1 ♂ - NEW MEXICO: Sandoval Co.: Valles Caldera National Preserve, 0.5 mi. past jct. VC033 & VC06 on VC06, 9610 ft, 35.8994°N, 106.5670°W, 24 Aug 2010, M. Pogue & M. Metz, collected in MV light trap 3, USNMENT01338014 [slide DM 1829]; 1 ♂ - TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co.: Davis Mtns. Resort, 5800 ft, 29 Sep 1994 D.G. Marqua, Acc. No. 2009-30, MGCL 100049 [slide DM 1823]; 1 ♀ - same data except 21 Jul 2004, MGCL 168736 [slide DM 1812]; 1 ♀ - Davis Mts. Pres., Madera Canyon 5800' 12,13 Sep 2001 B/K [Bordelon/Knudson] (MGCL); 1 ♂ - Davis Mts. State Park 27 Jun - 1 Jul 1987 J.B. Heppner, MGCL 168735 (FSCA) [slide DM 1613]; 3 ♀ - same location, 22,23 Aug 1995, E. Knudson (MGCL); 1 ♀ - same location 3 Oct 1999 ECK [Knudson] (MGCL); 1 ♀ - Ft. Davis, 19 Aug 1984 E. Knudson (MGCL); 1 ♀ - 18.5 road mi. NW of Fort Davis, along St. Hwy. 118, 10-11 Aug 2005 James & Eleaner Adams, light trap, MGCL 168734.

Deposition of types.

The holotype and 23 paratypes are property of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. (USNM). In addition, ten paratypes are deposited at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity (MGCL), one of which [MGCL 168735] is the property of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) housed within the McGuire Center.

Additional material.

1 ♂ - USA: Arizona: Pima Co. Santa Rita Mts., Madera Canyon 17 Aug 1949 C.W. Kirkwood, CPK collection, slide DM 634 (MCZ). This specimen is identified as O. eleanerae based on images of the genitalia slide. The specimen was previously examined by the author and returned to MCZ identified as O. delawaricus . This specimen is excluded from the type series as it was not on hand at the time of preparation of the present description.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinguished from the only other nearctic Oxyptilus , O. delawaricus , by the drab or grayish ground color as opposed to ochraceous-tawny in O. delawaricus . It is further distinguished by having white as opposed to ochraceous-tawny or clay colored apices on both ventral forewing lobes. The anterior dorsal forewing lobe has two transverse white bands, with the more basal band distinctly wider as opposed to similar widths in O. delawaricus . The hindwing second lobe has a distinct patch of white linear fringe scales two-thirds from the wing base along the anal margin which only appears as a trace in some O. delawaricus . In O. eleanerae , the ventral surface of the abdomen has a strong mesal band, about twice the width of that in O. delawaricus . Key differences in the male genitalia include distinctly shorter tegumen lobes in males of O. eleanerae and the bilobed process of sternite VIII with triangular as opposed to finger-shaped lobes. Females of O. eleanerae have proportionally larger and robust signa and simple cup-shaped antrum without a dorsal bilobed marginal lip.

Description

(male, female). Based on the holotype (female) and 33 paratypes (13 males, 20 females). HEAD (Figs 13-14) with labial palpi slender, length 1.5 × eye diameter. Second segment with ventral scale tuft reaching one-third to half of third (distal) segment. Palpi white and drab or chestnut-brown with middle segment white with drab lateral stripe; distal segment usually white dorsally, drab ventrally. Frons and vertex drab with scattered white scales, front with narrow white band just anterad of antennae and another narrow white band along anterior margin. Eye bordered by narrow ring of white appressed scales. Occipital fringe scales bifid or trifid, mixed drab and white, mostly white dorsally, drab and longer laterally, white ventrally close to eye. Antenna with scape and pedicel with three white and three chestnut-brown or drab alternating stripes; flagellum drab or chestnut-brown dorsally, dotted with white scales; drab or chestnut-brown, minutely ciliate ventrally. THORAX with anterior half of tegulae and mesoscutum covered with mixture of drab and cream, drab-tipped scales. Posterior half of tegulae, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum white to cream colored; metascutum with weak medial and subdorsal patch of buff scales flanked by white stripes. Foreleg (Fig. 2) chestnut-brown and white striped except coxa proximally white, distal surface solid drab or chestnut-brown; tibia with variably white and chestnut-brown scaled tuft at epiphysis; tarsomeres variable, mostly drab or chestnut-brown dorsally, pale drab ventrally, distal ends of each segment somewhat darker. Midleg coxa striped with buff and cream colored scales; femur and tibia chestnut-brown and white striped, venter mostly white, tibial spurs subequal, dorsally white, ventrally chestnut-brown, scale tuft laterally white, proximally chestnut-brown, tarsomeres as on foreleg. Hindleg coxa as on midleg, femur with double chestnut-brown stripe laterally, tibia mostly white with a narrow oblique chestnut-brown stripe and solid band preceding spurs. Spurs equal, white dorsally, chestnut-brown ventrally, length just less than that of first tarsomere. Tarsomeres strongly banded with distal part of each chestnut-brown. FOREWING (Figs 1-2, 4-5, 7-8) length, males xˉ = 10.35 mm ± 0.59 (n = 13), females, xˉ = 10.30 mm ± 0.76 (n = 15), holotype 10.50 mm. Cleft origin 0.49 –0.53× wing length from base, lobe apices acute, second lobe with concave termen. Dorsal ground color appearing drab to grayish-olive at a distance, composed of mixed drab and pale orange-yellow to light orange-yellow scales. Costal margin drab mixed with chestnut-brown. Discal cell with small central chestnut-brown spot. Area between veins 1A and 2A with diffuse elongate patch of chestnut-brown scales near wing base surrounded by white scales. Cleft base marked with white crescent-shaped patch subtended basally at M2 by small chestnut-brown spot. First lobe transected in thirds by two oblique white bands, basal band distinctly wider and projecting at a more acute angle from the long axis of the wing than distal band. White scaling of bands extending to costa, interrupting darker scales of costal margin. Second lobe similarly transected by white bands except basal band diffuse. Cleft margins of both lobes bordered by chestnut-brown to fuscous-black scales. Fringes mixed white, pale orange-yellow, and drab with a few spatulate scales of cleft margin overlapping linear fringe scales. Forewing anal margin with terminal and subterminal groups of drab linear fringe scales, the subterminal patch (between terminus of Cu1 and Cu2) larger and flanked by white patches of linear scales. Subterminal patch with scattered overlapping white and pale orange-yellow scales. Fringes at basal third of second lobe with small patch of 2-4 spatulate fuscous-black scales. Fringes of anal margin basad of cleft mostly drab, with distinct patch of white overlapping elongate spatulate white scales just basad of cleft. Ventral forewing drab except for white or cream colored border along costa, diffuse oblique white band across basal third of first lobe, and white scaling covering distal third of both lobes. HINDWING (Figs 1-2, 4-5, 7-8) first and second lobes dorsally uniform drab or chocolate brown with drab fringe except for patch of white linear fringe scales two-thirds from wing base along second lobe anal margin. Third lobe white or cream colored with row of drab scales along anterior margin and few scattered drab or fuscous-black scales along anal margin. Distal third of lobe with distinct patch of spatulate fuscous-black scales extending into fringes along anterior margin with scattered white scales. Third lobe anal margin with small patch of 4 or 5 drab or fuscous-black spatulate scales in fringes at apex and second larger patch of 10-20 fuscous-black spatulate and elongate scales at 0.23 × from apex. A similar sized patch of white scales present just basad of the latter patch and including some white linear fringe scales. White linear fringe also present at lobe apex. Remaining linear fringe scales uniformly drab. Ventral hindwing with first lobe white except for drab or mixed drab and pale orange-yellow band covering central 0.2 × of part of lobe beyond cleft. Area near and basad of cleft mixed white, drab, and pale orange-yellow. Fringes of first lobe mostly white, mixed with some drab linear scales distally. Second lobe drab with some scattered white scales near apex; fringes drab except for white patch along anal margin as on dorsum. Venous scales antique brown. Third lobe venter entirely white or white with drab margins on distal part near scale tooth. Third lobe fringes as on dorsum. ABDOMEN dorsum mottled drab and white, with white dorsal line diverging laterad toward posterior margin of segments A2-A6. Two broken, narrow white lines laterally on A2-A7. Abdomen venter with strong mesal white band, flanked posteriorly by white domed spots on A3-A6 and contiguous white band on A7-A8.

Male genitalia (Figs 19, 20) (n=6). Uncus bilobed, weakly sclerotized, mesally articulated with tegumen, longer than and extending distad of tegumen for most of length. Tegumen bilobed, lobes equal or shorter than valvular lobes, basally widened, distally rounded. Valvae symmetrical, with terminal membranous valvular lobe accounting for 0.25 - 0.40 × entire length of valve. Valvular lobe bearing deciduous scale tuft and short setae, basal connection only slightly constricted. Sacculus well developed, distinctly wider in basal half. Juxta a short curved sclerotized fulcrum lacking anellus arms and fused with membranous sheath of phallobase. Phallus very large, length about 1.5 × that of valvae, width at base equal or slightly greater than that of valvae, with slight bend at middle near connection point of juxta, dividing phallobase and aedeagus. Vesica tubular, without cornuti, preceded at tip of phallus by dense concentric arrangement of spiculae. Inception of bulbus ejaculatorius at about 0.5 × length of phallobase. Sternite VIII produced as bilobed structure medially supported by the saccus, overall length similar to that of tegumen lobes, notch between lobes reaching about 0.3 × distance to base. Lobes widened basally, appearing triangular.

Female genitalia (Figs 22-24) (n=3). Apophyses posteriores about 3.6 × length of papillae anales, moderately sclerotized, anterior ends simple. Apophyses anteriores absent or represented by small laterally curved sclerotized area at anterolateral margin of tergite VIII. Sternite VII overriding VIII and forming recessed elongate irregularly shaped pocket in which ostium is centrally placed. Ostium a circular moderately sclerotized rim on simple cup-shaped antrum extending anterad of sternite pocket. Antrum length similar to ostial diameter. Ductus bursae and corpus bursae similar in length. Width of ductus bursae about 0.5 × ostium diameter. Width of ductus seminalis similar or just less than ductus bursae, inception point with corpus bursae directly adjacent to that of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae ovoid, with paired oblong signa. Signa with central ridge and equal or just exceeding ostium diameter in length.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor and memory of Eleaner Ruth Adams who together with her son James, collected one of the paratypes in the Davis Mountains of Texas. Eleaner is fondly remembered for her sense of adventure and passion for natu ral history which she passed on to her sons and grandchildren. The epithet is a noun in the genitive case reflecting the meaning of the common name Eleaner’s Oxyptilus .

Larval hostplants and habits.

Unknown. Other species in the genus feed on Hieracium . Seven native species of Hieracium are known to occur within parts of the range of O. eleanerae . Of particular interest as a potential host is Hieracium carneum Green (Huachuca hawkweed) which has a similar range to O. eleanerae , restricted to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas ( USDA 2017) and also extends into Chihuahua, Mexico.

Distribution and phenology.

The holotype was collected in Sandoval County New Mexico, within the Santa Fe National Forest southeast of Jemez Springs and just east of Paliza Canyon. The area is dominated by ponderosa pine with some Douglas fir, oak brush, and nearby pinyon-juniper woodland. The habitat where the holotype was collected (based on an image provided by M.A. Solis) was a canopy gap adjacent to Highway 266. This opening was surrounded by Pinus ponderosa , a few Populus tremuloides , and shrub oaks. Ground cover included Ericameria (rabbit brush) in bloom and sparse grasses. Low groundcover also included some rosette leaf clusters which could be Hieracium as well as Antennaria but these cannot be identified with certainty from the photo. The altitude of the type locality is 2231 meters (7319 feet).

The known distribution (Fig. 31) covers parts of three states: New Mexico, Arizona, and a small area of western Texas restricted to the Davis Mountains. Locality elevations range from 1585 to 2929 meters (5,200 to 9,610 feet). These "sky island" habitats, with pine-oak woodlands and ponderosa pine, are isolated by surrounding desert. Populations of O. eleanerae are likely to be present further south in other Madrean Sky Islands of northwestern Mexico. Collection dates range from 27 June to 3 October with no detectable flight patterns based on material available. Interestingly, significantly more females have been collected than males and in most cases, samples are indicated as coming from light traps. No explanation for this imbalance is apparent.