Sigela sordes 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 : 10-11

Sigela sordes Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 13a, 13b 85 , 114 )

BIN: BOLD:AAE9651

Diagnosis. I know of no other North American species that remotely resembles Sigela sordes . Under magnification, the scales on the wings and body appear too large and too few for the size of the specimen. There are strongly defined, distinct lines or spots. The reniform spot is reduced to a thin, white discal lunule surrounded by a few scattered black scales and a large brown area that appears smudged. The hindwing has scattered scales that can be gray green, orange, or beige, the color of which is repeated on the forewing in a large postmedial patch below vein M2 and along the posterior margin below vein 1A+2A.

Description. Antenna filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen light beige. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 5–6 mm. Ground color light brown; antemedial line absent, diffuse postmedial line white, surrounded by a patch of gray-green scales below vein M2; scattered black or dark-brown scales loosely define reniform spot present along vein 1A+2A between postmedial line and margin; medial area dark brown between vein 1A+2A and costal margin; scattered gray-green and off-white scales present between vein 1A+2A and posterior margin; diffuse submarginal line white with scattered black scales on veins in submargin adjacent submarginal line; terminal line off-white; fringe light brown checkered with off-white scales at vein tips. Dorsal hindwing. Basal area with scattered gray-green or orange scales; postmedial line white; terminal line white; submarginal line beige, bordered basally with scattered dark brown scales; fringe with scattered brown and white scales. Male genitalia ( Fig. 85 ). Valve short and thick with finger-like apical process that bends medially at tip. Saccular extension terminates just short of the apical finger-like process with a triangular process extending just beyond saccular margin and dorsally with a strong, inward curved spine-like extension; a raised oval plate covered with fine spines is situated above costal margin of left valve; uncus narrows toward dorso-ventrally flattened tip. Female genitalia ( Fig. 114 ). Ovipositor lobes short, setose, and more or less flattened at tip; ostium bursae lightly sclerotized; ductus bursae membranous, gradually widening toward appendix bursae; appendix bursae with small diverticulum on right, narrowing toward ductus seminalis; corpus bursae with single signa on ventral surface that turns inward as a sharp spine; central area of corpus bursae encircled by a field of minute spicules.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Highlands Co.: Archbold Biological Station , 27.188°N, 81.336° W, 17.Mar.2016, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 12♂, 2♀: Alachua Co.: Gainesville , 12.Dec.1975, W.H. Pierce, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Paynes Prairie Preserve , 29.520°N, 82.295°W, 31.Oct.2007, G. T. Austin and P.Z. Goldstein, MGCL #1070698 , 1070527 , and 1070845, [one] slide MGCL 5103 , 2♂, 1♀ ( MGCL) ; Gainesville , 29.616°N, 82.299°W, 6.Jan.2009, G. T. Austin, #1070555, 1♂; ( MGCL) ; Collier Co.: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park , 25.98°N, 81.39° W, 3.Mar.2019, J. Troubridge, 3♂ ; Highlands Co.: same data as holotype, 4♂ ; 1♀ ; Hillsborough Co.: Tampa , USF Ecology Area, 12.Sep.1990, W.L. Adair Jr., 1♂ [abdomen missing] ( MGCL) .

Etymology. From Latin, the word sordes means smudge, which refers to the dark smudge-like marking in the center of the forewing.

Distribution. This species has been collected in peninsular Florida.

Remarks. The color of the hindwing always carries through to the forewing. Most specimens that I have seen are ochre or dull beige.

Figures

Figures 13–25. Adults. 13a) Sigela sordes ♀, Highlands County, FL. 13b) Sigela sordes ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 14) Sigela rosea ♀, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 15) Sigela basipunctaria ♀, North Port, FL. 16) Sigela lynx ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 17) Sigela subincisa ♂, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 18) Sigela incisa ♂, paratype, Collier County, FL. 19) Sigela minuta ♀, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL.20) Tripudia calusa♂, paratype, Bahia Honda, FL.21) Meganola georgei ♂, paratype, North Port, FL.22) Meganola phylla ♀, Lambton Shores, ON. 23) Dyspyralis ocala ♂, holotype, Marion County, FL. 24) Paectes hercules ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 25) Paectes lunodes ♂, San Cristobal, MX.

Figures 85–92. Male genitalia. 85) Sigela sordes, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 86) Sigela lynx, paratype, North Port, FL. 87) Sigela rosea, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 88) Sigela incisa, paratype, Collier County, FL. 89) Sigela subincisa, holotype, No Name Key, FL. 90) Sigela minuta, paratype, Miami-Dade County, FL. 91) Dyspyralis ocala, paratype, Gainesville, FL. 92) Meganola georgei, paratype, North Port, FL.

Figures 114–122. Female genitalia. 114) Sigela sordes, paratype, Collier County, FL. 115) Sigela lynx, paratype, North Port, FL. 116) Sigela rosea, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 117) Sigela incisa, paratype, Collier County, FL. 118) Sigela minuta, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL. 119) Dyspyralis ocala, paratype, Gainesville, FL. 120) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 121) Metalectra dixoni, paratype, Florida City, FL. 122) Melipotis florida, paratype, Florida City, FL.