Trichocerapoda harbisoni Mustelin

Mustelin, Tomas, 2006, Taxonomy of southern California Erebidae and Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) with descriptions of twenty one new species, Zootaxa 1278, pp. 1-47 : 39-40

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.273509

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6261570

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A287F8-FFC9-0867-450E-F99D65A8FB05

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Trichocerapoda harbisoni Mustelin
status

sp. nov.

Trichocerapoda harbisoni Mustelin View in CoL , NEW SPECIES

Figs. 20 View FIGURES 1 – 21 , 60 View FIGURES 40 – 63 a, and 60b

Type material. Holotype: Male, Silver Strand, San Diego, California, 25 September 1952, C. F. Harbison. Paratypes: 5 males. San Diego County: Same data as holotype (4 males); Imperial Beach, 19 October 1933, C. F. Harbison (1 male). Holotype and genitalic slide #108/TM deposited in SDNHM, paratypes in SDNHM and the author's collection.

Etymology. I name this species for Charles F. Harbison, who collected all six specimens of the type series.

Diagnosis. A small, pale gray noctuid, quite similar to Trichocerapoda comstocki Benj., 1932 , but differs by having a shorter and rounder forewing ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 1 – 21 a), more dark in the subterminal area ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 1 – 21 b), a smaller reniform spot with more dark filling ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 1 – 21 c), less prominent orbicular and claviform spots, and a considerably darker hindwing ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 1 – 21 d). The male genitalia ( Fig. 60 View FIGURES 40 – 63 a and 60b) are distinct, but structurally quite similar to those of T. comstocki ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 40 – 63 ).

Description. Eye hairy. Male antenna finely ciliate. Head and thorax covered in pale gray hairlike scales. Forewing length 12mm, ground color pale ash gray, basal half with more dark scales, am and pm lines missing, veins dark in outer half of forewing, subterminal area with dark filling between veins, terminal line black between veins, fringe checkered in pale and dark gray. Orbicular spot elongated, inwards pointed, outlined in thin black, filled with slightly paler than ground color. Claviform spot missing or very faint. Reniform spot sharply outlined in black outwards, basal side diffuse, outer half of spot filled with ground color, basal half filled with dark. Hindwing basally paler gray than forewing, with broad diffuse marginal shade in dark brown gray, inner half of fringe gray, outer half white. Male genitalia ( Figs. 60 View FIGURES 40 – 63 a and 60b): Valve length 3.2 mm, width at middle 0.85 mm, S­curved, cucullus width 0.55 mm, rounded; digitus 1.0 mm long, Sshaped, parallel with valve; Aedeagus length 2.8 mm, width basally 0.8 mm, tapering to 0.5 mm distally; Everted vesica length approximately twice as long as aedeagus, curved and twirling, width 0.5 mm basally, 0.8 mm at middle and tapering to 0.2 mm distally. Female genitalia: unknown (no females have been collected).

Distribution and habitat. Trichocerapoda harbisoni has been collected in late September and October on the sandy beaches of southernmost San Diego and the El Segundo Dunes in Los Angeles County.

SDNHM

San Diego Natural History Museum

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Noctuidae

Genus

Trichocerapoda

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