Sympistis richersi 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 : 33-34

Sympistis richersi Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. D-15, M-8, S-1)

Diagnosis. Sympistis richersi is the smallest member of the S. riparia group (forewing length 13-14 mm vs. 15-19 mm in other members of the group). The forewing of S. richersi is dark gray, suffused with white scales, which produces a hoary appearance. The hindwing has a well defined, black terminal shade, a gray basal area heavily suffused with black scales and with veins and discal lunule strongly highlighted with black scales. The other members of the group have a paler grayish brown terminal band on the hindwing and the discal lunule and veins less heavily highlighted than in S. richersi .

Description. Antennae filiform; prothoracic collar gray with black basal and dark grayish brown terminal bands; head hoary gray; thorax and tegulae hoary gray; abdomen grayish brown. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 13-14 mm. Dorsal forewing dark gray to black ground color heavily suffused with white and light beige scales produces hoary appearance; antemedial and postmedial lines may be present as a series of black dots on veins; orbicular spot oval to ellipsoidal; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots delineated by thin black outer and white inner rows of scales; black basal dash; black dashes extent through each cell in subterminal portion of wing, meeting black terminal line; jagged white subterminal line present as slashes across these dashes; fringe black, checkered with white at vein tips. Dorsal hindwing with light gray basal area heavily suffused with black scales; well demarcated terminal shade black; discal lunule and veins highlighted with black scales; fringe white with black median band thin beige basal line. Male genitalia. (Fig.M-8) Valve shaped like the prow of a canoe with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper squat, bends posteriorly with terminal spine arcing upward from posterior margin. Vesica with two small basal diverticulae, bends slightly downward basally and bends a little upward about ½ of the way from apex; a ribbon of sparse cornuti extends laterally on left from base of vesica to apex; a second ribbon of longer, stouter cornuti extends dorsolaterally on right of apical ½ of vesica; a single spine and a tuft of longer cornuti extend from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. S-1) Ovipositor lobes rounded, apex with ring of long setae, corona of short setae mid way down -these setae produced at 90° to the abdomen; a ruff of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a small sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae elongate, widening slightly in anterior ½; appendix bursae elongate, gradually narrows toward ductus bursae, rounded at anterior end with ductus seminalis arising from right side of anterior end; corpus bursae about ½ as large as appendix bursae arises from left side of appendix bursae near ductus bursae, elongate signae on dorsal and ventral sides.

Type material. Holotype male: U.S.A., California, San Luis Obispo Co., Montana de Oro St. Park, 120’, 24 vii 2007, Kelly Richers, in the CNC . Paratypes: 10♂ 2♀, same data as holotype .

Etymology. The name honors Kelly Richers, who collected the type series.

Distribution. This species is known from San Luis Obispo Co., California.