Mimogonodes Warren, 1895

Ferris, Clifford D., 2010, A revision of the genus Antepione Packard with description of the new genus Pionenta Ferris (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae), ZooKeys 71, pp. 49-70 : 51-52

Mimogonodes Warren, 1895

Type species:

Mimogonodes constricta Warren, 1895 [BMNH].

Diagnosis.

Adults. Medium sized (FWL 13-21 mm) basically ochreous-colored moths with variable markings on DFW. DFW outer margin angulate at vein M3. Separation from similar genera is by the combination of characters: filiform antennae; male genitalia with stout tapered decurved uncus, valvae with even outer margins lacking projections, absence of furca; female genitalia without colliculum and signum.

Description.

Adults. Sexually dimorphic and sexes polyphenic; FWL 13-21 mm. Antenna simple, more slender in females. Head - Dark ochreous speckled with darker scales, concolorous collar; labial palpi broad, barely extending beyond frons, ochreous speckled with darker scales. Thorax, abdomen, legs - Ochreous or pale tan as in wings with widely scattered small brown scales. Wings - FW outer margin arcuate at vein M3 and HW; DFW apex acute to falcate. Usually obscure narrow dark DFW submarginal band; small dark discal spots both wings. Males. Dorsal color varies from gray, medium ochreous to medium brown. DFW AML and PML variable from pronounced and dark to broken and indistinct; medial band concolorous with remainder of wing, or paler and yellowish; a dark triangular patch with blunted or acute apex, with or without pale oblong spot, located along costa distad of PML. DHW with dark narrow medial band varying individually from dark to indistinct. Ventrally paler with dorsal maculation repeated, usually with less intensity. Females. Dorsal color varies from yellow through pale ochreous to medium ochreous and gray. Crosslines usually indistinct. DFW triangular patch as in males, PML above inner margin expanded into two large oblong brown spots. Ventrally paler with dorsal maculation repeated, usually with less intensity. Male genitalia - Uncus stout, slightly decurved, tapering to a rounded tip; medial gnathos with a few small teeth; valva rounded at apex; anellus with small spines; aedeagus truncate with one large oblong cornutus near base of vesica. Female genitalia - Apophyses long, slender; posterior apophyses ca. 1.8 × anterior apophyses; colliculum absent; ductus bursae ridged, short, partially sclerotized at posterior end; corpus bursae without signum, oblong with membranous anterior sac; ductus seminalis originates at top of ductus bursae.

Remarks.

McDunnough (1938) treated Epione depontanata and Heterolocha sulphurata Packard, 1876 as synonyms of Hyperythra arcasaria Walker, 1860. Forbes (1948: 108) placed Hyperythra arcasaria as a synonym of Heterolocha thisoaria ( Guenée, 1858), which he then placed as Sabulodes thisoaria , and lumped several genera, including Antepione , under Sabulodes Guenée (1858). Subsequent authors ( Ferguson 1983; Covell 1984; McGuffin 1987) restored Antepione as a separate genus. Ferguson recognized the species: comstocki Sperry; hewesata Sperry; imitata, H. Edwards.; indiscretata, (H. Edwards); ochreata (Hulst); thisoaria ( Guenée); tiselaaria (Dyar). The geographic range of the genus includes eastern North America, the southwestern United States, portions of Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala.