Cautethia geraceorum Miller, Matthews, and Gott, 2022

Miller, Jacqueline Y., Matthews, Deborah L. & Gott, Riley J., 2022, Three new species of Cautethia Grote (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from the Lucayan Archipelago and keys to West Indies species, Insecta Mundi 2022 (937), pp. 1-28 : 10-14

Cautethia geraceorum Miller, Matthews, and Gott , new species

Fig. 10–13 , 28 , 33 , 46, 47 , 59 , 70

Diagnosis. Wing patterns of this species are like those of C. grotei except the forewing ground color tends to appear paler in males with more white scales mixed with gray and fuscous in the medial and submarginal areas. The forewing is generally darker in females than males as in C. grotei except the medial area is much paler in contrast to the adjacent subbasal and postmedial areas in cell Cu 2 –A 2+3 and the anal cell, and with the veins distinctly outlined in fuscous. The pale, terminal area also contains some distinct dark markings interrupting the pale area. The species can only be reliably distinguished from C. grotei by characters of the male or female genitalia. In males, the gnathos of C. geraceorum has an upturned apex extending from the basal lobes as in C. grotei but differs in having the terminus broadly spatulate ( Fig. 46 ) and evenly sclerotized as opposed to medially notched with a clear, less sclerotized, midline extending along the stalk ( Fig. 45 ). The lateral lobes of the gnathos also project more distally in C. geraceorum than in C. grotei and are covered with much longer spinules. The gnathos of C. geraceorum , is similar to that of C. fideli Haxaire and Melichar from Cuba but the latter has a more elongate gnathos overall with the terminus more distinctly Y-shaped, a slenderer stalk, and the basal lobes not produced to the extent seen in C. geraceorum . Females of C. geraceorum can be distinguished from C. grotei by the proportionally longer and narrower ductus bursae and a more extensive ventral sclerotized area on segment A7 as opposed to a smaller square-shaped sclerite on the lamina postvaginalis in C. grotei . The female of C. fideli is unknown.

Description (male). Based on the male holotype and 42 male paratypes. Head. Dorsum of front with gray to drab, white-tipped dentate scales. Palpi stout, with similar mottled gray scaling on second segment except for lateral fuscous patch. Second segment length just exceeding eye diameter. Third segment minute, uniform drab. Basal (first) segment with elongate white scales and a small fuscous patch laterally. Antennae white at base, dorsally drab with cream ventrolateral stripe. Thorax. Dorsum mottled drab to gray with fuscous subdorsal dash adjacent to midline and fuscous transverse band across anterior near head, contiguous with median fuscous band along tegulae; metascutum edged in fuscous. Venter white and buff with small fuscous patch near eye. Legs with coxa white, interspersed with cinnamon buff and drab scales; femur and tibia mottled fuscous, drab, and white; tarsi banded, fuscous alternating with white or white mixed with cinnamon buff. Ventral part of tarsomeres armed with short ferruginous spines. Foreleg epiphysis shiny brownish olive. Mid- and hindleg tibial spurs white. Forewing. Length 13.5–16.5 mm, x= 15.2 ± 0.59 (n = 43), holotype 15.5 mm. Ground color mottled gray. Antemedial, median, and postmedial lines thin, fuscous. Two very small fuscous scale patches near wing base. Antemedial lines jagged, wider, and forming pair of spots along costa. Subbasal area (between antemedial lines) mottled gray, darker than medial area. Medial area white, interspersed with gray scales, veins traced with fuscous; discal spot round, white with fuscous border on distal half; area distad of spot in cells M 1 –M 2 and M 2 –M 3 gray. Postmedial area white, interspersed with gray, drab near costa. Postmedial line zig-zagged from costa to tornal dash. Tornal dash distally fuscous, grading to drab, bordered basally by fuscous postmedial line and transected by fuscous line tracing vein Cu 2. Submarginal area with subapical drab to fuscous triangle, white submarginal band, and broken scalloped drab subterminal line with fuscous to drab spot in cell R 5 –M 1. Subterminal line consisting of drab crescents along margin within extradiscal cells. Fringes light grayish olive or deep olive gray, white at vein terminals. Ventral forewing buffy brown to fawn color, cinnamon buff near base along cubitus, cream-buff along anal margin. Median and postmedial lines faintly traced with buffy brown scales (expression individually variable). Hindwing. Costa cream buff to white. Basal two-thirds yellow ocher (dull orange), medial and submarginal area russet to cinnamon brown. Fringes alternating patches of cream buff to white and russet to drab. Ventral hindwing buffy brown to fawn color along costa and distal third. Costa scattered with white scales. Medial and postmedial lines traced with buffy brown near costa. Basal half of cells Cu 2 –A 2 and A 2 –A 3 yellow-ocher, with vein A 2 partly traced with cinnamon brown. Abdomen. Dorsum mottled with dentate, white-tipped drab, fuscous, and white scales. Segments A2–A6 armed with transverse row of stout spine-like ferruginous to fuscous scales. Segments A2–A4 sometimes with small middorsal patch of fuscous scales preceded by white. A rectangular fuscous patch laterad on A4. Venter mixed white and cream buff with scattered buffy brown scales. Segments A6–A7 buffy brown.

Male genitalia (n = 2). Uncus longer than tegumen and distally exceeding gnathos, widest at distal third (lateral aspect), tapered to a small sclerotized ventrally projecting point ( Fig. 47 ). Gnathos basal lobes strongly protruding, with dense covering of elongate spines. Gnathos apex fused, with short, stout, upturned stalk and darkly sclerotized spatulate tip ( Fig. 46 ). Valvae elongate, weakly curved toward dorsum, and slightly wider at base, distal ends rounded ( Fig. 28 ). Sacculus tapered to a simple blunt apex, without sclerotized process ( Fig. 59 ). Juxta a simple lightly sclerotized collar-like sclerite supporting phallus. Saccus projecting posterad, apex rounded. Phallus ( Fig. 33 ) stout, widest near basal third just distad of inception of ductus ejaculatorius, apex without sclerotized process. Vesica tubular, without diverticulum; membranous connection with phallus apex followed by spiculate slightly wider section, again membranous and constricted before a slender terminal section angled away from main axis.

Description (female). Based on two female paratypes. Similar to males except forewing ground color appearing a darker mottled gray. Medial area gray along antemedial line, grading to white along median line. Medial area distad of discal spot dark gray. Postmedial area anterad of tornal dash dark gray, white adjacent to tornal dash. Tornal dash muted with white scales toward anal margin. Submarginal area with subapical triangle darker than in males, dark gray to fuscous. Area bordering postmedial line also darker than in males, dark gray bordered distally by white. Subterminal line well developed, fuscous to drab. Forewing length 16.0– 16.5 mm, x= 16.25 ± 0.35 (n = 2).

Female genitalia (n = 1). Papillae anales moderately setose, longest setae reaching length of papillae anales. Apophyses posteriores length about 2× that of papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores originating from anterior margin of sternite VIII, length of free portion about 1.5× length of papillae anales, slightly swollen and then tapered at apex. Ostium poorly defined, a broad opening into triangular, moderately sclerotized antrum. Lamina postvaginalis evenly sclerotized across its entire width. Inception of ductus seminalis near juncture of antrum with ductus bursae. Corpus bursae round, distinct from ductus bursae, with laterally attached larger and more membranous appendix bursae. Ductus bursae length about 4× diameter of corpus bursae.

Types. HOLOTYPE. ♂ - with the following labels: ‘ Bahamas: San Salvador │Is.; Gerace Research Centre │vic. Water Tanks │24.117589°, −74.465207° │ 22.vii.2015 D. Matthews │ T.A. Lott, R.W. Portell’ [white printed];

‘ SAN SALVADOR IS.│SURVEY, D. Matthews │et al. MGCL Acc. # │ 2015-57’ [white printed]; ‘ HOLOTYPE

♂ │ Cautethia │ geraceorum │J.Y. Miller │D.L. Matthews │R.J. Gott’ [red printed]; ‘MGCL 244145 │McGuire Center for Lepidoptera │& Biodiversity, FLMNH, UF’ [green printed with barcode]. The holotype is deposited at MGCL. PARATYPES. 42 ♂, 2 ♀ - BAHAMAS: San Salvador Island: 0.25 mi. W of Gerace Research Centre, 24.119145°, −74.469995°, 25.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, RWP, MGCL Acc. 2015-47 (24 ♂) MGCL 244175–244177, 244182, 244183, 244432, 244435, 244440, 244444, 244454, 244455, 244457, 244461, 244468, 244472, 244473, 244476, 244826–244832, (1 ♀) MGCL 244181; same location, 12.vi.2018, DLM & JYM, MGCL Acc. 2018-19 (1 ♂, prep. DM 2209) MGCL 247849; beach NE of Gerace Research Centre, 24.120114°, −74.461898°, 24.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, RWP, MGCL Acc. 2015-57 (6 ♂, prep. DM 2140) MGCL 244082, 244083, 244399, 244402, 244403, 244405, (1 ♀, prep. DM 2210) MGCL 244084; Gerace Research Centre, Alfred Pike Trail, 24.117166°, −74.463864°, 23.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, RWP, MGCL Acc. 2015-57 (8 ♂) MGCL 244215, 244425, 244426, 244885–244889; same location, 10.vi.2018 DLM & JYM, MGCL Acc. 2018-19 (1 ♂) MGCL 247828 (LEP-65155); Gerace Research Centre, vic. Water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 22.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, RWP, MGCL Acc. 2015-57 (2 ♂) MGCL 244146, 244164.

Life history. Unknown. As in related taxa, larvae on San Salvador Island most likely feed on species of Rubiaceae .

Distribution. Known only from San Salvador Island.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Kathy Gerace and her late husband, Donald T. Gerace, for their work in Caribbean marine sciences, archaeology, geology, and biology, and for their dedicated efforts in the development and support of the Gerace Research Centre, the type locality for this moth.

Figures

Figures 10–17. Lucayan Cautethia adults. 10) Dorsal view of C. geraceorum, new species, ♂ holotype, MGCL 244145, San Salvador Island, 22.vii.2015. 11) Ventral view, same specimen. 12) Dorsal view of C. geraceorum, new species, ♀ paratype, MGCL 244181, San Salvador Island. 13) Ventral view, same specimen. 14) Dorsal view of C. exuma ♂, MGCL 233420, South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 15) Ventral view, same specimen. 16) Dorsal view of C. exuma ♀, South Andros Island, 233419. 17) Ventral view, same specimen. Scale bar under names 1 cm.

Figures 26–30. Male genitalia of Lucayan Cautethia with valvae spread and phallus removed. 26) C. exuma, prep. DM 2233, MGCL 233423, South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 27) C. grotei bahamensis, prep. DM 2208, MGCL 239522, Crooked Island, 6.vi.2014. 28) C. geraceorum, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2209, MGCL 247849, San Salvador Island, 12.vi.2018. 29) C. gossi, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2136, MGCL 321522, Great Inagua, 9-12.vi.2007. 30) C. simoni, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2176, Grand Turk, 6.ii.2001 [USNM].

Figures 31–41. Phalli of West Indies Cautethia. 31) C. exuma, prep. DM 2233, MGCL 233423 South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 32) C. grotei bahamensis, prep. DM 2208, MGCL 239522, Crooked Island, 6.vi.2014. 33) C. geraceorum, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2209, MGCL 247849, San Salvador Island, 12.vi.2018. 34) C. n. noctuiformis, prep. DM 2186, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 10 km NE Jarabacoa, Hotel Montana, 28.v.1972, Don & M. Davis [USNM]. 35) same specimen, enlargement of apical process. 36) same specimen, enlargement of cornuti. 37) C. calezae, prep. DM 2143, MGCL 1076079, Puerto Rico, Bosq. Est. Toro Negro, Rte. 143, UPRM Biol. Station, 18.1783°N 66.4878°W, 7.viii.2007, J. E. Hayden. 38) C. carsusi, prep. DM 2142, MGCL 1076062, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 5 km S of Jarabacoa, 1700’, 28.vi.1981, Charles M. Stevens. 39) C. gossi, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2136, MGCL 321522, Great Inagua, 9-12.vi.2007. 40) same specimen, enlargement of apical process. 41) C. simoni, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2176, Grand Turk, 6.ii.2001 [USNM].

Figures 42–57. Lateral views of uncus, gnathos, and tegumen and ventral views of gnathos apex in West Indies Cautethia males. 42) Ventral view, C. exuma, prep. DM 2233, MGCL 233423 South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 43) Lateral view, same specimen. 44) Lateral view, C. grotei bahamensis, prep. DM 2208, MGCL 239522, Crooked Island, 6.vi.2014. 45) Ventral view, same specimen. 46) Ventral view, C. geraceorum, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2209, MGCL 247849, San Salvador Island, 12.vi.2018. 47) Lateral view, same specimen. 48) Lateral view, C. simoni, prep. 2176, Grand Turk, 6.ii.2001 [USNM]; 49) Ventral view, same specimen. 50) Ventral view, C. gossi, new species, paratype, prep. 2136, MGCL 321522, Great Inagua, 9-12.vi.2007. 51) Lateral view, same specimen. 52) Lateral view, C. calezae, prep. DM 2143, MGCL 1076079, Puerto Rico, Bosq. Est. Toro Negro, Rte. 143, UPRM Biol. Station, 18.1783°N 66.4878°W, 7.viii.2007, J. E. Hayden. 53) Ventral view, same specimen. 54) Ventral view, C. carsusi, prep. DM 2142, MGCL 1076062, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 5 km S of Jarabacoa, 1700’, 28.vi.1981, Charles M. Stevens. 55) Lateral view, same specimen. 56) Lateral view, C. n. noctuiformis, prep. DM 2186, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 10 km NE Jarabacoa, Hotel Montana, 28.v.1972, Don & M. Davis [USNM]. 57) Ventral view, same specimen.

Figures 58–67. Examples of sacculus and saccular processes in West Indies Cautethia males. 58) C. grotei bahamensis, prep. DM 2128, MGCL 239522, Crooked Island, 6.vi.2014. 59) C. geraceorum, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2209, MGCL 247849, San Salvador Island, 12.vi.2018. 60) C. exuma, prep. DM 2233, MGCL 233423, South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 61) C. simoni, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2229, CMNH-IZ 720410, Providenciales, 28–30.i.1978 [CMNH]. 62) C. simoni, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2176, Grand Turk, 6.ii.2001 [USNM]. 63) C. gossi, new species, paratype, prep. DM 2136, MGCL 321522, Great Inagua, 9-12.vi.2007. 64) C. n. noctuiformis, prep. DM 2186, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 10 km NE Jarabacoa, Hotel Montana, 28.v.1972, Don & M. Davis [USNM]. 65) C. carsusi, prep. DM 2142, MGCL 1076062, Dominican Republic, La Vega Province, 5 km S of Jarabacoa, 1700’, 28.vi.1981, Charles M. Stevens. 66) C. calezae, prep. DM 2143, MGCL 1076079, Puerto Rico, Bosq. Est. Toro Negro, Rte. 143, UPRM Biol. Station, 18.1783°N 66.4878°W, 7.viii.2007, J. E. Hayden. 67) C. calezae, prep. DM 2231, CMNH 64087, Puerto Rico, Isabela, Bosque Estatal de Guajataca, Montanas Aymamon, 18-25-06N, 66-57-55W, 210m, 14-15.vi.1996, J. Rawlins, W. Zanol, R. Davidson, C. Young, M. Klingler, S. Thompson [CMNH].

Figures 68–72. Female genitalia of Cautethia. 68) C. grotei, prep. DM 2212, MGCL 1076042, Central Abaco, 9–18.viii.1988. 69) C. exuma, prep. DM 2141, MGCL 233424, South Andros Island, 27.iii.2014. 70) C. geraceorum, new species, prep. DM 2210, San Salvador Island, 24.vii.2015. 71) C. grotei bahamensis, enlargement of lamina postvaginalis, prep. DM 2212. 72) C. exuma, enlargement of lamina postvaginalis, prep. DM 2141.