Lacinipolia dimocki Schmidt

Schmidt, B. Christian, 2015, Revision of the Lacinipoliavicina (Grote) complex (Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini), ZooKeys 527, pp. 103-126 : 113-117

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Noctuidae

Lacinipolia dimocki Schmidt sp. n. Figs 16-21, 60, 68, 74

Type material.

Holotype ♂. California: Ventura Co., Cuyama Valley, Apache Canyon, 0.6 mi E of Hwy. 33, 34.751193°N, 119.399772°W, 3497', 19.Jun.2009, T. E. Dimock [CNC]. Paratypes 17♂ 18♀. Same data as holotype, 2♂ 7♀; California: Ventura Co., Pine Mountain, Pine Mountain campground, 6620', 21.Aug.2000, T. E. Dimock, 1♂ 1♀, 27.Jun.2000, 2♀; Ventura Co., Sespe Creek at Derrydale Creek, 34.583992°N, 119.262757°W, 15.Jul.2009, T. E. Dimock, 2♂ 2♀; Ventura Co., Sespe Creek at Tule Creek, 34.561350°N, 119.264780°W, 1♂; Ventura Co., Upper Ojai Valley, 34.451°N, 119.121°W, 2120', 31.May.2003, T. E. Dimock, 1♂; Ventura Co., Cuyama Valley, 34.695°N, 119.398°W, 3540', 14.Jun.2005, T. E. Dimock, 3♂; San Diego Co., Laguna Mountains, Pine Creek Road, 5500', 1.Jul.2000, T. Mustelin, 2♂; same data, DNA barcode vouchers # CNCNoctuoidea7969 and CNC LEP00053134, 2♂; same locality, 29.Aug.2000, 1♀; San Diego Co., Laguna Mountains, Desertview Overlook, 5800', 29.Aug.2000, T. Mustelin, 1♂ 1♀; San Diego Co., Laguna Mountains, Kitchen Creek Road, 5500', 29.Aug.2000, T. Mustelin, 1♂ 1♀; San Bernardino Co., San Bernardino Mountains, Cactus Flats, 34°18.32' N 116°47.99' W, 6100', 25.May.2006, T. Mustelin, 1♀; San Bernardino Co., San Ber nardino Mountains, Onyx Summit, 34°11.50' N 116°43.06' W, 8500', 25.May.2006, T. Mustelin, 1♀; 1.Aug.2006, 1♀; Riverside Co., Pinyon Crest, 33.614N 116.446 W 4200', 29.Sep.2001, R. Leuschner, 1♂. CNC, USNM. The type material is restricted to specimens from southern California.

Etymology.

This species is named in honour of Thomas E. Dimock for his contributions to the knowledge of southern California moths. His efforts to collect research specimens provided most of the type series of Lacinipolia dimocki .

Diagnosis.

This western species was previously included with Lacinipolia sareta ( Lacinipolia vicina of authors), but it is a cryptic, mostly parapatric species that replaces Lacinipolia sareta from the Washington coast ranges southward through California. The two occur sympatrically in south-central Washington, and possibly elsewhere along the interface of the Great Basin–Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada. Externally Lacinipolia dimocki is larger with an overall paler, less contrasting forewing pattern and usually a lighter, more pearly-white hindwing. The male genitalia differ in having a sinuate, tine-like clasper rather than the flattened, two-lobed clasper of Lacinipolia sareta ; also the ventral swelling of the phallus is much more pronounced in Lacinipolia dimocki . Females can be difficult to separate from those of Lacinipolia sareta ; in addition to the forewing characters mentioned above, Lacinipolia dimocki is generally larger overall and with a less sinuous, less dorsoventrally flattened ductus bursae and a relatively larger corpus bursae.

Description.

Head. Antenna of male appearing filiform, but slightly serrate under magnification; antenna of female filiform; dorsal scaling grey; scape, and vertex with a mix of dull-white and dark-grey scales, these spatulate and bifid apically; frons with thin white, strap-like scales, bordered by transverse band of dark-grey scales at dorsal margin; labial palpi with mix of dull-white and dark-grey scales; 3rd segment 0.4 × length of 2nd segment. Thorax. Vestiture of light-grey scales tipped with dark-grey apex; tegula and patagium with subterminal border of black scales, border of the tegula diffuse, but that of patagium forming distinct black prothoracic line; caudal margin with slight tuft; legs with mix of light- and dark-grey scales, tarsi with slight banding pattern formed by border of lighter scales along distal margin of each tarsal segment. Wings. Average forewing length of males 15.0 mm (n = 9, range 14.2-15.8 mm), females 15.1 mm (n = 9, range 13.8-16.9 mm); forewing ground colour pale grey, medial area pale grey brown; antemedial and postmedial line incomplete or absent, when present then best developed toward anal margin and fading out towards costa, antemedial line double, sometimes with slightly paler grey infill; postmedial line double, often forming pale, indistinct crescent opposite claviform spot; subterminal area with diffuse dark shading in subapical and anal areas, latter sometimes with a small white crescent; basal dash black and crisp; orbicular spot slightly oblong to slightly kidney shaped, with incomplete, thin black border and interior slightly paler than ground colour; reniform spot with incomplete thin black border, interior slightly paler than ground, with indistinct, darker inner ring; claviform usually distinct, forming a thin black, open V; fringe dark grey, pale grey at vein terminus resulting in indistinct striping; male hindwing bright, slightly pearlescent white with terminal third of veins, and thin diffuse margin fuscous; female hindwing duller white overall with more extensive fuscous shading on veins and marginal area. Abdomen. Vestiture light grey, first four segments with slight dorsal tufts of darker grey scales; tuft of 4th segment most prominent. Male genitalia. Uncus slender, 10 –11× longer than wide, evenly tapered from base to apex, with sparse long setae directed basad; valve with extreme subapical constriction forming a narrow neck, such that apex consists of strongly spatulate cucullus; valve abruptly angled caudoventrally beyond apical third; cucullus anvil shaped, interior surface densely covered with fine long hairs; corona consisting of a single row of flattened marginal spines, and a cluster of spines in tip of caudoventral lobe; sacullus with membranous, rectangular flap (possibly a modified editum), which is densely covered in long setae; clasper forming a long, simple sinuate tine, extending to, or slightly beyond, costa; digitus a simple flattened lobe, 2 × longer than wide; juxta with two lateral, rounded triangular plates flanking phallus, these with short, straight dorsally directed spines on inner surface; phallus with ventral swelling 2/3 from base; apical third curving ventrad slightly; phallus with small, broad-based, thorn-like dorsal cornutus at apical ¾; vesica directed left-ventrad, then coiling dorsad and forming extended spiral through one rotation; vesica with small medial patch of spinules, and larger preapical patch extending slightly along axis of vesica. Female genitalia. Bursa copulatrix unisaccate; ductus bursae moderately sclerotized and dorsoventrally flattened, 5 × longer than wide; corpus bursae globose, membranous and slightly corrugated, lacking signa; appendix bursae slightly coiled, with ductus seminalis situated preapically; ostium bursae extending caudad as an invaginated slit; prevaginal margin convex and slightly rounded-conical; terminal segments telescopic, with posterior apophysis twice as long as anterior apophysis; papillae small, narrow and lobe-like, membranous and moderately setose.

Distribution and biology.

The early stages and larval food plants are unknown, but like other species in the group, larvae of Lacinipolia dimocki probably are ground-dwelling and polyphagous on herbaceous plants. It occurs from the east slope of the Washington Coast Ranges to southern California.