Aethes triassumenta Pogue, 2019

Brown, John W., 2019, New genera, new species, and new combinations in New World Cochylina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae), Zootaxa 4671 (2), pp. 195-222 : 217-218

Aethes triassumenta Pogue , new species

Figs. 15, 16 , 31 , 45

Diagnosis. Adults of A. triassumenta ( Figs. 15, 16 ) are superficially extremely similar to those of A. bomonana ( Kearfott, 1907) and A. obliquana ( Kearfott, 1907) , with a slightly shiny, pale cream forewing ground color and illdefined, contrasting brown to red-brown markings, often with numerous tiny brown specks in the apical and subapical regions. The male genitalia of A. triassumenta ( Fig. 31 ) are distinguished from other congeners by the absence of the sickle-shaped processes of the socii and the attachment of the juxta to the valva in the male genitalia; and the extremely elongate, frail, membranous corpus bursae in the female genitalia ( Fig. 45 ). The shape of the valva is not particular divergent from that of other congeners, with a weakly concave outer margin and small lobe or spine near the apex of the costa. The suberect, elongate-triangular socii of A. triassumenta are nearly identical to those of A. tuxtlana , and likely are homologous with the sickle-shaped socii of other Aethes . The species is assigned to Aethes on the basis of the facies and DNA barcode data ( Brown et al. 2019).

Description. Head: Frons and vertex white to cream; labial palpus reddish brown on outer surface, white to cream on dorsal and inner surface. Thorax: Mesonotum and tegula white with variable cream scaling; posterior crest white; forewing length 8.9–9.1 mm (mean = 9.0 mm, n = 10); forewing ground color white; base of costa and small irregular patch above R vein reddish brown; an irregular horizontal patch extending from wing base to middle of discal cell, consisting of a posterior chestnut patch proximally contiguous with a larger anterior chestnut patch, with interior scaling shading to light cinnamon; two median patches at end of discal cell: anterior one chestnut, usually larger than posterior patch, posterior patch oblong with anterior 0.5 chestnut and posterior 0.5 buff yellow with a few tawny scales proximally; two buff-yellow patches: one from base of R vein to just before horizontal bar below Sc, second one less distinct, from base of R 1 to end of discal cell; both patches below costa; costa and hind margin with short brown striations, variable in number and intensity; subapical band from costa to hind margin white. Fringe white. Hindwing pale gray. Fringe white with basal band of ground color. Abdomen: Unmodified. White to cream with scattered pale-gray scales; genital tuft white. Male genitalia ( Fig. 31 ) with uncus absent; socius with basal 0.25 fused to tegumen, distal part free, narrow-triangular, with pointed apex, setose; transtilla broad at base, with pointed spines laterally, median projection elongate, attenuate distally, rounded apically; valva broad, length about 1.4 times maximum width, costa weakly concave mesially, apically produced into thumblike process with variably developed thorn, sacculus undifferentiated; vinculum arms free distally; juxta shieldlike with prominent lateral arms confluent with upper edge of sacculus. Phallus large, 1.2 times length of valva, ventral projection elongate, curved, pointed; vesica with a single large cornutus. Female genitalia ( Fig. 45 ) with papillae anales slender, lightly sclerotized; apophyses anteriores about 1.2 times length of apophyses posteriores; sterigma mostly membranous, lightly sclerotized around ositum bursae; lamella postvaginalis comprised of two semicircular plates joined mesially; colliculum sclerotized with a ventrally produced digitate process opposite of origin of accessory bursa, and second digitate process near anterior end of colliculum immediately anterad of cup-shaped concavity; ductus bursae elongate, membranous anterad of colliculum, gradually broadened, lacking distinct junction with corpus bursae; corpus bursae extremely elongate, slender, membranous, without spiculae or signum.

Types. Holotype ³, USA, Florida, Highlands Co., Archbold Biological Station , 25 Dec 1957, R. W. Pease, Jr. ( USNM) . Paratypes (47³, 3♀). USA: FLORIDA: Same locality as holotype, 23 Dec 1957, 26 Jan 1958, J. R. Mal- loch (4³) ( USNM) . Pinellas Co.: St. Petersburg , 31 Jan 1958, 11 Feb 1958, R. W. Pease (2³) ( USNM) . St Johns Co.: Hastings , [no date], [no collector] (2³) ( USNM) . Volusia Co.: Cassadaga , 19 Jan 1962 (1³), S. V. Fuller ( USNM) . Cassadaga , 24 Feb 1960 (1♀), S. W. Frost ( USNM) . NORTH CAROLINA: Brunswick Co.: Meyers Clemmins Tract, Green Swamp , 25 Mar 1994 (1³), Sullivan et al. ( USNM) . Green Swamp, Big Island Annex, 19 Sep 1994 (3³), Sullivan et al. ( USNM) . MOTSU, inter. firebreaks 32 & 34, 9 May 1994 (1³), 29 Aug 1994 (1³), Sullivan et al. ( USNM) . Carteret Co.: Willis Road Savannah , 18 Jul 1983, 24 Aug 1983, 27 Aug 1983, 9 Sep 1983, 20 Sep 1983, J. B. Sullivan (10³) ( USNM) . Craven Co.: Rd 122-2, powerline sav., Croatan National Forest , 7 Sep 1999 (1³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Croatan Road 147, 2 June 1997 (1♀), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . New Hanover Co.: MOTSU buffer, Peter’s Point , 27 Sep 1994 (1³), 29 Aug 1994 (1³), Sullivan et al. ( USNM) . Carteret Co.: Sam Hatcher Road, N34 44.719, W076 55.659, Croatan National Forest , 22 Jun 2008 (1³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Camp Sam Hatcher Road , 29 Mar 2002 (5³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Old landfill off Hobbs Road , 29 Mar 2002 (4³, 1♀), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Willis Savanna , 14 Mar 2002 (1³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . North of Millis Sa- vanna, Croatan National Forest , 14 Mar 2002 (3³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Jct state hiway 101 & 181, 8 Aug 1972 (1³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Onslow Co.: Camp Lejune Marine Base , 9 Apr 1999 (1³), J. B. Sullivan ( USNM) . Pender Co.: Holly shelter gamelands, 12 Apr 1995, 10 June 1995, J. B. Sullivan (3³, 1♀) ( USNM) .

Distribution and biology. Aethes triassumenta is apparently restricted to the southeastern U.S., ranging from Florida to North Carolina. Three specimens from Florida were misidentified by Kearfott (1907) and included in his type series of Aethes obliquana . Aethes triassumenta is recorded sporadically throughout the year with no conspicuous peak fight period(s). The early stages are unknown.

Remarks. Pogue’s (1986) manuscript name triassumenta was proposed as the type species of his manuscript genus Morta . However, because triassumenta appears to fit rather convincingly in Aethes based on facies and genital morphology, the nomen nudum Morta Pogue and Mickevitch, 1990 is placed under Aethes .

Figures

FIGURES 11–18. Adults of Cochylini genera. 11. Cochylichroa atricapitana, United Kingdom (USNM). 12. Monoceratuncus lantana, Falfurrias, Brooks Co., Texas (USNM). 13. Mimcochylis fulvotinctana, Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona (USNM). 14. Aethes ringsi, Highlands, Macon Co., North Carolina (USNM). 15. Aethes triassumenta, old landfill off Hibbs Road, Carteret Co., North Carolina (USNM). 16. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida (USNM). 17. Thyraylia wiscana, Bernhelm Forest, Bullitt Co. Kentucky (USNM). 18. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Menifee Co., Kentucky (USNM).

FIGURES 27–32. Male genitalia of Cochylini genera. 27. Cochylichroa atricapitana, Germany, USNM slide 152,637. 28. Monoceratuncus lantana, Falfurrias, Texas, USNM slide 23,055. 29. Mimcochylis fulvotinctana, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USNM slide 23,049. 30. Aethes ringsi, Highlands, North Carolina, USNM slide 153,612. 31. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida, USNM slide 23456. 32. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, USNM slide 145,219.

FIGURES 44–46. Female genitalia of Cochylini genera. 44. Aethes ringsi, Putnam Co., Illinois, USNM slide 23,338. 45. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida, USNM slide 23,738. 46. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, USNM slide 153,613.