Amorbimorpha spadicea (Walsingham), new combination

Figs. 6, 14

Epagoge spadicea Walsingham 1913: 212, pl. 6, fig 6; Kruse and Powell 2009: 65.

Sparganothoides spadicea; Powell 1986: 376; Powell et al. 1995: 150; Brown 2005: 564.

Diagnosis. Amorbimorpha spadicea is assigned to the genus on the basis of the unique socii/gnathos complex and the bifurcate uncus. It can be distinguished from its congeners by its massive bilobed (bone shaped) sterigma. Among unidentified material are individuals that may be conspecific with the holotype, but more collections are necessary to convincingly confirm their identity.

Description. Male. Unknown. Presumably brownish orange with a prominent, forked uncus as others in the species group.

Female. Head, Thorax: Frons and vertex tawny reddish; antennae fulvous; labial palpus tawny reddish, ca. 3 times diameter of compound eye. Thorax: Reddish brown. Forewing length 13.0 mm; n = 1. Ground color brick reddish brown, pattern elements well defined but not strongly contrasting with ground color; hindwing shining straw white. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 14; slide #4729; BMNH; Mexico, Guerrero, Omilteme, 8000’, viii, H. H. Smith; n = 1) with papillae anales parallel-sided, broadly rounded posteriorly and anteriorly; sterigma plate broad, posterior and anterior surfaces gently concave, heavily sclerotized; ductus bursae moderate in length, widened anteriorly; corpus bursae large, rounded; signum long, narrow, acutely pointed at each end, about three fourths width of corpus bursae.

Type material. Holotype: Female: MEXICO: GUERRERO: Omilteme, 8000’, viii, H.H. Smith (BMNH).

Biology. This species is recorded from August at high elevations in southwestern Mexico.

Remarks. Specimens in the BMNH were not examined by the author, and the diagnosis and re-description are based on the original description and on photographs and extensive notes taken by J.A. Powell. An additional female determined by Meyrick as Sparganothis spadicea (BM 11311, #4729) is in too poor of condition to provide an adequate comparison.