Schinia maculata Pogue, 2006

Pogue, Michael G., 2006, Nomenclatural validation of three North American species of Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the adult description of Heliolonche joaquinensis Hardwick, Zootaxa 1283 (1283), pp. 25-36 : 31-32

Schinia maculata Pogue , new species

( Figs. 3, 10–11, 16–17)

Schinia blanca Hardwick 1996: 185 , nomen nudum.

Diagnosis. Schinia maculata is one of the “white” species of Schinia . It looks similar to S. unimacula Smith , but the reniform spot is much larger in S. maculata than in S. unimacula . The known distributions of these two species are not even close to one another. Schinia maculata is known from the Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, San Patricio County, and 10 mi S of Falfurrias, Brooks Coounty, in southeastern Texas; S. unimacula is distributed from the panhandle of Oklahoma west to California, south to central New Mexico and Arizona, and north to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho ( Pogue and Harp 2003a). The only “white” species that is sympatric with S. maculata is S. chrysellus (Grote) . The distinct reniform spot in S. maculata easily distinguishes it from the smaller reniform spot that is coalesced with the median band in S. chrysellus . The forewing color is shiny white in S. chrysellus and not shiny in S. maculata . Another species with which S. maculata could be confused is S. nundina (Drury) . Schinia nundina has an almost identical reniform spot, but the rest of the forewing has many more tan maculations than S. maculata .

Description. Male: Head: Vertex white with brown­tipped scales, frons bulbous, ventral lip not produced, cream. Labial palp short, barely extending past frons, white. Antenna filiform, scape and dorsal scales white. Eyes globular. Thorax: Patagium, tegula, meso­ and metathorax with flat scales white, fewer white hair­like scales intermixed. Venter white. Foreleg with inside of femur brown and outside white; tibia length equal to basitarsus, cream, inner side with 1 robust, flat spine and 3 smaller spines, outer side with 4 flat spines that become smaller from base to apex; tarsi darker cream than tibia with white apical rings. Middle and hind legs with white femur, cream tibia, and slightly darker cream tarsi with white apical rings, hind leg tends to be overall paler than middle leg. Forewing: Male length 13.0–13.8 mm (n = 5). Ground color white; basal area concolorous with ground color; antemedial line faint, consists of a few brown and pale rufous scales medially; orbicular spot absent; reniform spot black, centered with white; postmedial line sinuate, white, bordered with cream scales and a few brown scales proximally and with a broad band of cream scales and more patches of brown scales distally; subapical spot distinct, black; small black spots between veins along outer margin; fringe white. Underside ground color white; reniform spot dark gray to black; subterminal band from costa to posterior margin, dark brown at costa becoming fainter and lighter in color toward posterior margin. Hindwing: Ground color white; discal spot a faint bar, gray; marginal band brown interrupted by white medially; fringe white. Abdomen: White with underlying gray scales, genital tuft cream.

Genitalia ( Figs. 10–11): Uncus elongate (0.43 X valve length). Valve wide (length 5.5 X width), costal margin slightly curved; ampulla large (0.13 X valve length); corona present; sacculus well developed and greatly produced; posterior margin evenly curved. Juxta quadrate, distal margin heavily sclerotized, forming a distinct bar along margin. Saccus a narrow V­shape. Aedoeagus slightly curved, dorsal patch of dense minute spicules; vesica with 2 coils and minute spicules.

Female. As in male except forewing length 13–15 mm (n = 3). Genitalia ( Figs. 16–17): Papillae anales knife­like, apex pointed. Ovipositor non­telescopic. Anterior and posterior apophyses wide and robust. Eighth segment with fine spicules; distal margin elongate, stout setae. Ostium bursae lightly sclerotized, minute spicules present. Ductus bursae narrow, approximately 0.15 X length. Appendix bursae with 3 coils. Corpus bursae ovate; signa composed of 4 scobinate bars.

Holotype ♂, in USNM, with the following labels: 1) Sinton, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Texas, 10­X­64, A & ME Blanchard; 2) USNM ENT 00144152 [bar code label]; 3 ) Holotype ♂, Schinia maculata Pogue.

Paratypes. 4 ♂, 3 ♀. Same data as holotype except, 9 Oct. 1964 (1♂), 10 Oct. 1964 (1♂), 11 Oct. 1964 (1♂, 1♀) , ♂ genitalia slide USNM 49592 , ♀ genitalia slide USNM 49630 , 12 Oct. 1964 (1♂, 2♀); Brooks Co., 10 mi. S of Falfurrias, U.S. 281 rest area, 28 Oct. 2002 (1♂), Bordelon and Knudson ( ECK) .

Flight period. Mid­October.

Distribution. Known only from southeastern Texas.

Discussion. Hardwick (1996) created a nomen nudum by not describing S. blanca using descriptive words, simply stating “... as illustrated in figure ...” The sexes are similar and there seems to be little individual variation.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the distinct reniform spot on the forewing.