Antiblemma carolae 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 : 26-27

Antiblemma carolae Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 37a, 37b , 72 , 129 )

BIN: BOLD:ACD8952

Diagnosis. Antiblemma carolae is most similar to A. perva but is easily distinguished from it by the antemedial and postmedial lines of the forewing, which are gently curving in A. carolae , whereas they are more erratic and slightly scalloped between the veins in A. perva . In addition, the upper wing surface of A. carolae has a purple

sheen which is much reduced or absent in A. perva . Internally, the uncus of A. carolae is bifid, that of A. perva entire. The only other Antiblemma found in Florida with a bifid uncus is A. filaria , which lacks ochre scales of the hindwing postmedial line, and the valve is much narrower than that of A. carolae .

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen brown. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 10–11 mm. Ground color brown with purple sheen; antemedial line brown, bordered outwardly with ochre, bows evenly outward below cubital vein; postmedial line, bordered outwardly with ochre, mainly straight below reniform spot, bending around reniform to costa; reniform and orbicular spots obscure, delineated by brown scales slightly darker than ground color, orbicular spot shaped like a figure “8;” obscure row of submarginal brown spots surrounded by mauve scales; terminal line a series of black crescents surrounded by mauve scales; fringe brown. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color brown with purple sheen; discal lunule dark brown; postmedial line bordered outwardly with ochre, slightly convex around cubital veins but otherwise reasonably straight obscure row of submarginal brown spots surrounded by mauve scales; terminal line a series of black crescents surrounded by mauve scales; fringe brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 72 ). Valve weakly sclerotized except along costal margin, widens in middle before narrowing to bluntly pointed apex; a fleshy flap approximately same size as valve on outer side of valve, this flap covered with small spicules; uncus long, thin, curved downward and bifid at tip. Female genitalia ( Fig. 129 ). Ovipositor lobes setose, relatively short; ostium bursae membranous, widens to membranous ductus bursae; ductus bursae terminates at slightly swollen appendix bursae where ductus seminalis arises from ventral side; corpus bursae without signa, shaped like an avocado, narrowing to posterior appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Miami-Dade Co.: Florida City , 25° 24.89′N, 80° 26.40′W, 29.Jan.2015, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 4♂, 5♀: Miami-Dade Co.: Florida City , 25° 24.89′N, 80° 26.40′W, 27.Jan.2014, 1♂, 2♀ ; 2.Mar.2014, 1♂, 1♀ ; 30.Jan.2013, 1♂, 1♀; Miami-Dade Co., Florida City , 25.40°N, 80.65°W, 3.Feb.2016, 1♂, 1♀, all J. Troubridge .

Etymology. I take pleasure in naming this species in honor of my good friend, Carol Wolf, who first alerted me to the presence of this species in southern Florida.

Distribution. Antiblemma carolae has been collected in hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods in extreme southern Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba. The extent of its range in the Antilles is unknown.

Remarks. Although A. carolae most closely approaches A. perva in external appearance in south Florida, it is more closely related to A. uncinata (Felder and Rogenhofer) , A. mundicola (Walker) , and several undescribed neotropical species.

Euteliidae : Euteliinae

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.