Sympistis pachet Troubridge, 2008

Troubridge, J. T., 2008, A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with description of a new genus and 50 new species, Zootaxa 1903 (1), pp. 1-95 : 44-45

Sympistis pachet Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. E-5, N-8, T-5)

Diagnosis. Sympistis pachet is most closely related and most similar to Sympistis obscurata (Barnes and McDunnough) comb. n.. They are distinguished from each other by the darker forewing of S. obscurata (Fig. E-6). The hindwing of S. pachet is white in males with a dark terminal band the discal lunule is not high- lighted, but in S. obscurata , the hindwing is duskier, especially in females, and dark gray scales are present on the veins and discal lunule. The head, thoracic collar and thorax of S. obscurata has a mix of brown and black scales but that of S. pachet is a mix of off-white and black scales. Internally, the unsclerotized portion of the ductus bursae of S. pachet is longer than the sclerite on the ventral side of the ductus bursae without an anterior swelling, but that of S. obscurata is shorter than the sclerite and is swollen on the right adjacent to the appendix bursae. Sympistis obscurata occurs in eastern Arizona and New Mexico, east of S. pachet .

Description. Antennae filiform, head and thorax with a mix of black and off-white scales, producing a light gray appearance; abdomen light grayish brown; prothoracic collar light gray with black basal line edged with off-white. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 13-15 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color white with scattered black scales giving light gray appearance; basal, antemedial, postmedial, and subterminal lines absent; postmedial area heavily suffused with black scales appears dark gray; orbicular and claviform spots elongate, white with scattered black scales in center; orbicular spot filling cell basal to, narrowing towards, and touching or joining reniform spot. Chevron-shaped reniform spot white with black and bluish scales in center; claviform spot extends from base of wing to a point below distal end of orbicular spot. Veins basal to postmedial area white and lack black scales, those through postmedial area black, without white scales. Subterminal black dashes, some of which are edged with scattered white scales, occur in center of cells. Terminal line black. Fringe gray with off-white basal line. Dorsal hindwing basal area white; veins highlighted with scattered light gray scales in female, fewer or no scales on veins of male; terminal shade dark gray; fringe white with scattered gray scales in basal half. Male genitalia. (Fig. N-8) Valve shaped like the prow of canoe, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper arises at about 30° to lower margin of valve, more-or-less parallel sided in basal ½, then dorsal margin evenly tapering towards long terminal spine that reaches base of cucullus. Vesica bends abruptly downward and then arcs dorsally with small, ventral, sub-basal diverticulum; a ribbon of cornuti extends from dorsal base of vesica around to the left to the ventral side through vesica’s downward bend and then to apex; a second ribbon of dense cornuti extends dorsally along distal half of vesica, almost to apex; a tuft of cornuti and a single heavy spine occur at apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. T-5) Ovipositor lobes rounded, corona of stout setae near apex and ruff of very long setae at base; a broad sclerite about 2x as long as width at ostium bursae occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae, this sclerite with V-shaped notch at ostium bursae; a second sclerite occurs dorsally above ventral plate and is tapered to anterior point; unsclerotized anterior portion of ductus bursae slightly longer than sclerotized portion and without significant swelling before junction of appendix bursae; appendix bursae shaped more-or-less like a yam, narrowing in anterior ½ to ductus seminalis; corpus bursae with elongate dorsal and ventral signae, attached to left side of appendix bursae via narrow duct; volume of corpus bursae about 1/5 that of appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype female: USA, Nevada, Coyote Summit , 6 mi. SSW of Tempiute, 5600’, 26 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick, in the CNC . Paratypes: 6♂ 15♀: Nevada: same data as holotype , 1♀ 2 mi. SE of Austin , 7600’, 13 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 1♂ 4 mi. SSE of Alamo , 3600’, 27 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 2♂ 12 mi. WNW of Preston , 6600’, 8 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 1♀ 5 mi. SW of Ely , 7400’, 6 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 1♂ 7 mi. N of Charleston Park , 6800’, 29 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 1♀ 3 mi. E of Mount Montgomery , 6500’, 23 ix 1969, D. F. Hardwick , 1♂ 8♀. Utah: Washington Co. , 1.5 mi. S of Shivwits Ind. Res., 27 ix 2000, G. Balogh , 1♂ 1♀; Washington Co., S. Beaver Dam Mts. , 25 ix 2000, G. Balogh , 1♀. California: 38 mi. E of Baker , 10 ix 1934, J. A Comstock , 1♀. Arizona: Mojave Co., Beaver Dam Canyon , 26 ix 2000, G. Balogh , 1♀.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Pachet is a goddess of the desert. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species has been collected in southwestern Utah, northeastern Arizona, southern Nevada and southeastern California.