Antiblemma perva Troubridge

Troubridge, J. T., 2020, A new genus and 37 new noctuoid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), Insecta Mundi 2020 (789), pp. 1-56 : 25-26

Antiblemma perva Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 38a, 38b , 70 , 128 )

BIN: BOLD:AAC2502

Diagnosis. In Florida, A. perva is similar to A. carolae new species, described below, and A. filaria (Smith) , but is easily distinguished from them by the bifid uncus of A. carolae and A. filaria , which is entire in A. perva . In Central America A. perva and A. concinnula (Walker) (BIN: BOLD:AAC3668) can be distinguished by the wings of A. perva , which are light brown, heavily suffused with dark-brown scales that give the wing a darker brown appearance than in A. concinnula , which lacks the heavy suffusion of dark-brown scales.

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen brown. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 10–11 mm. Ground color brown; antemedial line dark brown, bordered basally with ochre dots

on the cubital vein and vein 1A+2A; postmedial line, bordered outwardly with ochre dots on veins and scalloped outwardly between veins; submarginal line a series of diffuse dark-brown spots between veins; orbicular spot absent; reniform spot shaped like a figure “8” delineated by brown scales slightly darker than ground color; terminal line a series of black crescents between veins; fringe brown; antemedial and postmedial lines with bold white spots on costa in some specimens. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color brown, heavily suffused with darkbrown scales; discal spot usually split into upper and lower black dots; postmedial line dark brown, bordered outwardly with ochre dots, extends noticeably outward over cubital veins; obscure row of submarginal brown spots; terminal line a series of black crescents between veins; fringe brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 70 ). Valve weakly sclerotized except along costal margin, widens in middle before narrowing to the more heavily-sclerotized costa; costa extends beyond lower section of valve to bluntly-pointed apex; a fleshy flap narrower than the valve terminates just short of terminal costal extension lies against outer side of valve, this flap covered with small spicules; uncus long, very thin, curved downward at pointed tip; aedeagus with two apical, dorsal sclerites with scale-like inner surface and an elongate sclerite on left side; elongate anterior extension of aedeagus basal to gonopore narrower than terminal section; vesica sac-like extends to left with two apical diverticula and elongate diverticulum on left terminating at ductus seminalis. Female genitalia ( Fig. 128 ). Ovipositor lobes setose, relatively short; ostium bursae membranous, widens to membranous ductus bursae; long ductus bursae terminates at slightly swollen appendix bursae where ductus seminalis arises from ventral pouch; corpus bursae without signa, narrows to posterior appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Sarasota Co.: North Port , 27° 02.5′N, 82° 05′W, 7.Nov.2012, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 25♂, 33♀: Alachua Co.: Gainesville , 2832 NW 41st Place, 29.692°N, 82.365°W, UV light, 28–29.Apr.2020, 11–12.Jun.2020, 21.Jun.2020, J.Hayden, 2♂, 1♀ ( FSCA) ; Charlotte Co.: Port Charlotte , 27.024°N, 82.062°W, 4.Jul.2013, J. Troubridge, 1♂ ; Collier Co.: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park , 25.98°N, 81.39°W, 27.Mar.2017, 1♀ ; 25.Feb.2015, 2♀, all J. Troubridge ; Desoto Co.: Peace River nr. Nocatee, 27° 10.07′N, 81° 54.63′W, J. Troubridge, 1♂, 2♀ ; Hernando Co.: Brooksville , Chinsegut Hill, 20.Oct.1987, W. Lee Adair, 1♀ ; same data, 11.Oct.1989, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Marion Co.: Hopkins Prairie , 29.277°N, 81.692°W, 27.Mar.2017, J. Troubridge, 1♀ ; Okeechobee Co.: Kissimmee Prairie , 27.584°N, 81.044°W, 17.Mar.2013, J. Troubridge, 4♀ ; Orange Co.: Moss Park , 16.Aug.1986, L.C. Dow, 1♂, 1♀ ( FSCA) ; Sarasota Co.: North Port , 27° 02.5′N, 82° 05.0′W, 7.Nov.2012, 4♂, 6♀ ; 28.Nov.2012, 3♂, 3♀ ; 29.Nov. 2012, 3♀; 17.Nov.2012, 1♀; 15.Nov.2017, 2♀; 29.Mar.2012, 2♀; 28.Mar.2012, 2♀; 12.Mar.2012, 1♂; 7.Feb.2010, 1♀; 4.Dec.2012, 1♂; 13.Dec.2011, 1♂; 6.Dec.2017, 1♂; 9.Dec.2011, 1♂, all J. Troubridge ; Siesta Key , 1.May.1953, C.P. Kimball, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Seminole Co.: Sanford , Hidden Lake Villas, 15.Feb.1988, R. Gillmore, 1♂ ( MGCL) ; W. of Sanford , 5724 Michelle Ln., 21.May.1991, R. Gillmore, 1♂ ( MGCL) .

Etymology. The specific epithet perva is simply a contraction of the Latin word “ pervagatus,” which means widespread and common. This is the most widespread and common Antiblemma Hübner in Florida.

Distribution. This species occurs in the Florida Keys and peninsular Florida, as well as in Costa Rica. The extent of its range in the Antilles is unknown.

Remarks. The DNA analysis of the 658 COI base pairs of neotropical Antiblemma species splits Costa Rican specimens presently listed as Antiblemma concinnula (Walker) into two distinct species with a 14.4% difference between them. All specimens of the first species in the BOLD database are from Costa Rica and the second species contains specimens from both Costa Rica and Florida. Subsequent to the examination of the Capnodes concinnula type from Brazil, housed in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford, England, it was determined that this first species matches the A. concinnula holotype, leaving the second species, which includes the Florida “ concinnula ,” undescribed until now.

Figures

Figures 35–48.Adults. 35) Athyrma fakahatchee ♀, paratype, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, FL.36) Athyrma ganglio ♀, North Port, FL. 37a) Antiblemma carolae ♀, paratype, Florida City, FL. 37b) Antiblemma carolae ♀, paratype, Florida City, FL. 38a) Antiblemma perva ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 38b) Antiblemma perva ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 39a) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♂, Bahia Honda, FL. 39b) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♀, Key Largo, FL. 39c) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♀, Port Charlotte, FL. 40) Hemeroplanis scopulepes ♂, Highlands County, FL. 41) Litoprosopus linea ♀, paratype, Port Charlotte, FL. 42) Neogalea caracara ♂, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 43) Neogalea sunia ♂, Lake Placid, FL. 44a) Catabenoides insularis ♂, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 44b) Catabenoides insularis ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 45) Condica collaris ♂, holotype, Bahia Honda, FL. 46) Condica concisa ♂, North Port, FL. 47) Diastema leo ♂, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 48) Diastema tigris ♂, Sinton, TX.

Figures 67–73. Male genitalia. 67) Metalectra dixoni, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 68) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 69) Athyrma fakahatchee, paratype, Collier County, FL. 70) Antiblemma perva, paratype, North Port, FL. 71) Toxonprucha killamae, paratype, Islamorada, FL. 72) Antiblemma carolae, Holotype, Florida City, FL. 73) Litoprosopus linea, holotype, Port Charlotte, FL.

Figures 123–131. Female genitalia. 123) Toxonprucha killamae paratype, Islamorada, FL. 124) Zale lafontainei, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 125) Zale vargoi, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 126) Zale clandestina, paratype, Citrus County, FL. 127) Athyrma fakahatchee, paratype, Collier County, FL. 128) Antiblemma perva, paratype, Collier County, FL. 129) Antiblemma carolae, paratype, Florida City, FL. 130) Paectes hercules, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 131) Meganola georgei, paratype, Highlands County, FL.