Eupithecia macfarlandi Ferris

Ferris, Clifford D., 2007, Three new species of Eupithecia Curtis from Arizona and New Mexico with discussion of associated species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Eupitheciini), Zootaxa 1516, pp. 49-60 : 50-51

Eupithecia macfarlandi Ferris , New Species

( Figs. 1–13 )

Diagnosis. This is the dullest and least maculated of the North America species, appearing almost uniformly brownish-gray when viewed from a distance; DFW and DHW discal spots are nearly obsolete, but visible ventrally. Maculation (D, V) consists of multiple obscurely defined, thin brownish transverse lines and bands.

Description. MALE ( Figs. 1–2 ): Forewing length (base to apex): 9.0– 9.5 mm. Head and Body: Palpi length about eye width, porrect, triangular in side view with mixture of whitish and dark brownish-gray scales, dark scales at tips. Frons, head, thoracic collar, thorax, and tegulae with mixture of brownish-gray and whitish scales. Antennae finely and weakly ciliate, brown with dorsal dark patch on each segment, scape with dark brown ring. Abdominal segments dorsally grayish-brown, paler ventrally, not conspicuously ringed but with intersegmental paler scales. Legs broadly ringed with dark gray and whitish scales; upper pair of hindtibial spurs well developed. Wings: DFW in gross appearance medium-to-dark gray; under magnification covered with mixture of light and dark brownish scales forming a pattern of very fine irregular transverse lines, diffuse postmedian paler band from costa to mid-wing; poorly developed small discal spot. Segmented brown adterminal line; fringes brown-gray, paler at tips. DHW colored as in forewings with alternating pale and dark banding; small dark discal spot present; fringes as in FW. Ventrally paler with more clearly defined maculation of alternating light and dark brownish-gray bands; discal spots repeated and better defined. Dorsal terminal lines and fringes repeated ventrally. Genitalia ( Figs. 7–13 ) [2 dissections]: Hair pencils poorly developed (not illustrated). Valve basally broad, with very slightly irregular ventral margin, tapering to moderately narrow rounded tip ( Fig. 7 ); uncus dorsoventrally bifid; socii well developed and typical. Aedoeagus ( Fig. 8 ) broad (width one-third of length). Vesica ( Fig. 9 ) pleated, stippled with small chitinous papillae, shagreened crown, one large half-cylinderlike chitinized plate with straight end. Genital plate ( Fig. 10, 8 th sternite at top) basally broad, tapering distally with expanded apical apex, apex with shallow cleft approximately one-third apical width.

FEMALE (3–4): Forewing length (base to apex): 9.5–11.0 mm. Color and maculation similar to male in all respects, except D and V discal spots less distinct. Legs paler than male with banding more diffuse. Antenna essentially filiform, only very weakly setose, colored as in male. Genitalia ( Figs. 11–13 ) [5 dissections]: Papillae anales small, broadly oval and weakly setose; apophyses delicate and slender, anterior-to-posterior ratio ca. 0.6; caudal spurs weak and embedded in genital plate. Ostium bursae weakly sclerotized and wide mouthed tapering to very short ductus bursae above an open, moderately broad colliculum. Corpus bursae vertically ellipsoidal with narrow band of diffuse spines just below colliculum followed by a clear membranous band above the densely spinose fundus. Just below the colliculum, the basally broad tubular ductus seminalis projects outward from the right ventral side of the corpus bursae, then curves downward crossing ventrally as it tapers sharply.

Other than wing length, there appears to be little variation in this species.

Holotype: male: ARIZONA, Cochise Co., Ash Canyon, Huachuca Mts., 31°23.17’N, 110°14.28’W, 1575 m, 24.viii.2006, N. McFarland, to be deposited along with a female paratype in USNM.

Paratypes: 3m, 12f. ARIZONA, Cochise Co.: same locality as holotype, 10.ix.1992 (1f, McFarland collection), 25.viii.2006, N. McFarland (1f, USNM); 14.ix.2004 (2f), 24.viii.2006 (1m, 1f), 25.viii.2006 (1m, 4f), N. McFarland; 22.viii.2004 (1f) C. D. Ferris; Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mts., 31°26.38’N, 110°15.87’W, 1710 m, 21.viii.2004 (1m, 1f); 22.viii.2006 (1m, 1f), C. D. Ferris. Except where indicated otherwise, all currently deposited in author's collection with eventual deposition in McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Gainesville, Florida.

Etymology. I am pleased to name this species for Noel McFarland in recognition of his many contributions to the study of southeastern Arizona moths and in-depth study of South Australian geometrids ( McFarland 1988).

Biology. Unknown; found in oak and oak-conifer habitats ( Figs. 57–58 ).

Flight period. Late August–mid-September.

Distribution. Canyons on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains, Cochise Co., Arizona.

Discussion. The male genitalia (valve, uncus, genital plate) and female genitalia (arrangement of spines on the bursa copulatrix and geometry of ductus seminalis) suggest affiliation of E. macfarlandi with E. nimbicolor (Hulst) and E. strattonata Packard. Placement is thus in the satyrata group (sensu Bolte, 1990).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Eupithecia macfarlandi. 1, male holotype, D; 2, male holotype V; 3, holotype label; 4, female, D; 5, female, V; 6, holotype pin label.

FIGURES 7 – 13. Eupithecia macfarlandi genitalia. Male structures: 7, genitalia with aedoeagus removed; 8, aedoeagus; 9, lateral view of everted vesica; 10, 7 th and 8 th (top, genital plate) abdominal sternites. Female structures: 11 – 12, ventral view of entire genitalia (two preparations); 13, image-inverted view of fig. 12 to enhance structural features.

FIGURES 57 – 58. Eupithecia macfarlandi habitats, Huachuca Mts., Cochise Co., Arizona; 57, Ash Canyon (type locality), 1575 m; 58, Carr Canyon, 1710 m.