Eupithecia miamata Cassino

Ferris, Clifford D., 2004, Taxonomic note on four poorly known Arizona Eupithecia Curtis (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Eupitheciini), Zootaxa 738, pp. 1-19 : 3-11

Eupithecia miamata Cassino [New Synonomy] ( Figs. 2 b, 4–9)

Original description: Cassino, S. E., 1925. Lepidopterist 4(6–7): 47–50.

Type series and location: Holotype male and allotype female in MCZ; one paratype male each in CNC and NMNH; one paratype female stated in description not found, second paratype female proved to be E. vitreotata Cassino upon examination of genitalic slide.

Type locality: Near Miami [Gila Co.], Arizona, March 1925.

McDunnough revision: 1949: fig. 16A male and female genitalia.

Diagnosis: Typical form immediately separated from other North American species by distinctive ferruginous color, small pale orange DFW discal spot with dark pupil, elongate FW, and small size (FWL = 9.0–10.5 mm, males; 9.0–11.0 mm, females).

Synoptic description: The adult facies of biedermanata and miamata are very similar, differing in only two aspects: the intensity of DFW maculation; and the proportion of ferruginous and gray scales. Wing shapes are identical, ascertained by overlaying digital photos. Since there are no apparent genitalic differences between the two taxa, I consider miamata to be a gray phenotype of biedermanata that has adapted to a different larval host and roosting substrate color. A morphological synopsis is now presented.

Discussion: The male holotype of biedermanata probably was collected near Charles Robert Biederman’s cabin in Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mountians, Cochise Co., Arizona. In April 2004 I visited the cabin, which is being maintained by the current property owners, and collected biedermanata in UV light traps placed below the nearby larval host trees, Arbutus arizonica (A. Gray) Sargent. Hereford , which is the closest community and Post Office, lies outside of Carr Canyon and lacks typical habitat for this moth. Palmerlee was a mining town and Post Office in the late 1800s and early 1900s located at the mouth of Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains.

Both type specimens are missing their abdomens, and according to McDunnough (1949: 598) the abdomen associated with the male was from a specimen of E. miamata : “An abdomen that had been glued on the holotype male at some time proved on dissection to be that of miamata Cassino , and obviously, therefore, the wrong abdomen. In the female allotype the abdomen is missing.” Cassino illustrated the male valvae of miamata , but Cassino & Swett did not for biedermanata . I contend that the abdomen examined by McDunnough was in fact that of the HT of biedermanata , and since he did not have additional specimens of biedermanata for examination, he did not realize that the genitalia of the two taxa are identical. To my knowledge, miamata is known from only 6 males (HT in MCZ, paratype in CNC, NMNH, 3 in AMNH) and the allotype female (MCZ) whose genitalia McDunnough illustrated. I examined the NMNH genitalic slide “HWC [H. W. Capps] # 1100, 10 Mar. 1941” labeled a female paratype of miamata , but the genitalia are clearly from E. vitreotata , and bear no resemblance to those of miamata = biedermanata . I could not find Cassino’s second female paratype. Specimens from Cochise Co., Arizona identified as miamata in several museum collections proved to be typical biedermanata . This confusion has certainly arisen from McDunnough’s comment. The location of McDunnough’s genitalic slide of the glued­on abdomen from the biedermanata HT is unknown (not at the MCZ). Based on comments about miamata (1941, p. 190), his illustrations (fig. 16A) of the male genitalia probably were made from the paratype illustrated here in Fig. 4 . Adults of biedermanata are illustrated in Figs. 1 (pair), 2a (male holotype), 3 (female allotype); adults of the miamata gray color form are shown in Figs.2 b, 3–5. The genitalia of both sexes of biedermanata match very closely McDunnough’s illustrations for miamata (text fig. 16A, p. 724), and Cassino’s drawings of the male valvae ( Fig. 6 shows a direct comparison).

Genitalic dissections: ( biedermanata ) 6 males, 8 females; ( miamata ) 2 males by CDF; three prepared slides examined, one by photograph. Male genitalia ( Figs. 6–10 ). As shown in the accompanying illustrations, the genitalic characters vary to some extent. Asymmetric left and right valvae ( Figs. 4 , 6–7 ); chitinous armament of vesica ( Figs. 8–9 ) consists of a large contorted pointed spade­like piece, a slender slightly contorted parallel strip of essentially equal length, with a patch of the adjoining membrane slightly sclerotized. The surface of one of the globular lobes of the everted and inflated vesica has acute scobinations (arrow in Fig. 9 ). Bifid uncus tip ( Fig. 7 e). Sclerotized plate (ventral plate) on eighth sternite ( Fig. 10 ) variable in length, short, bifurcated; chitinization weak and sternite as a whole is delicate. Segment IX two terminal hair pencils poorly developed and sparse, hairs immediately detached and dispersed into the dissection medium. Female genitalia ( Figs. 12–13 ). Bursa copulatrix matches McDunnough’s drawings for miamata . Papilla analis and apophyses as shown ( Figs. 11 c–12c). Ductus bursae enlarged and produced into semicircular smoothly­tapering tube from which ductus seminalis originates. Corpus bursae essentially spherical with evenly­spined patches varying in extent among individuals.

by McDunnough in Pl. 31, f. 11 as miamata .

Biology. The larval host of typical biedermanata is Arbutus arizonica (A. Gray) Sargent , Arizona madrone. Adults emerge in April while the host flowers are budding, with oviposition apparently at the bud bases. Mature larvae feed in the white to pinkish flowers and are cryptically patterned and colored to blend with them; pupation occurs in May (fide N. McFarland). Adult color matches the bark of the newer growth branchlets on which the flowers occur and which are the presumed roosting substrate. Based upon specimen yields in light traps placed at the bases of the host trees and at distances, adults do not normally stray very far from hosts. Fig. 22 illustrates typical habitat, with vegetation in addition to Arizona madrone including oaks ( Quercus emoryi Torrey , Q. oblongifolia Torrey ), manzanita ( Arctostaphylos pungens Humboldt, Bonpland, Knuth ), and alligator juniper ( Juniperus deppeana Steudel ). Arbutus arizonica is restricted to Cochise, Graham, and Pima counties. The larval host of the gray phenotype may be another shrub with gray or grayishbrown bark to which the moth is color­adapted.Manzanita does occur where the gray form has been collected, but its bark is reddish­brown or mahogany colored. A possible host candidate is quinine bush ( Garryaceae ), Garrya flavescens Wats. (= G. mollis Greene ), which is recorded from Coconino and Gila counties with Oak Creek Canyon the type locality for G. mollis . This shrub has grayish­green bark and blooms from January to April, depending upon elevation and location.

Flight period. ARIZONA, holotype 19 Feb.; contemporary records from 11 April to 7 May in Cochise Co. Gray phenotype: Gila Co., March, 1925; 25.iii.1947; Coconino Co., 10.v.1962.

Geographic distribution: ARIZONA, Cochise Co., (typical biedermanata ); Coconino and Gila counties (gray phenotype).

Material examined: ( biedermanata ) (36m, 51f; holotype by photo): ARIZONA, Cochise Co., nr. Portal, E. side of Chiricahua Mts., ca. 1525 m, 13.iv.1988, G. Balogh (2m, 3f); Huachuca Mts.: Copper Canyon, 1675 m, 15.iv.86, J. Brown (2f); Miller Canyon, 1775 m, 13, 15.iv.88, J. Powell (2m), 14.iv.86, Powell & Wagner(1m, 2f); Ash Canyon, 1577 m, 11.vi–7.v. 1982–2004,N. McFarland (8m, 3f); Ash Canyon, 1623 m, 17, 21.iv.2004, C.D. Ferris (21m, 37f); Carr Canyon, 1712 m, 20.iv.04, C. D. Ferris (2m, 4f); ( miamata ) (6m; holotype and 2 paratypes by photo and genitalic slide): ARIZONA, Coconino Co., Oak Creek Canyon, 10.v.1962, R. F. Sternitzky (3m).

Additional discussion: Because he did not have genitalic preparations of biedermanata, McDunnough placed this species in a different group from miamata and gilvipennata Cassino & Swett, 1922 . Based upon the genitalia in both sexes, biedermanata and gilvipennata appear to be closely related, and have asymmetric male genitalia. E. gilvipennata has a broad geographic distribution in western North America from Arizona to southwest British Columbia. Adults are polyphenic ( Fig.13 ) and larger than biedermanata . The specimen ( Fig. 13 c) illustrated by McDunnough (1949: pl. 31, fig. 11) as a topotypical miamata proved upon my dissection to be gilvipennata . The genitalia ( Fig. 14 ) differ in two major respects: male, the apex of the left valva is narrower and more acute than in biedermanata , and although somewhat variable the concave indentation is smoothly curved with a strongly sclerotized edge; female, there is a distinct notch in the shoulder where the ductus seminalis emerges from the ductus bursae. There are two additional species in Arizona that sometimes have been confused with gilvipennata : scabrogata Pearsall and hohokamae Rindge (1963: fig. 3 male genitalia; fig. 7 female genitalia).Adults of the latter are polyphenic and look very similar to gilvipennata ; scabrogata ( McDunnough, 1949: pl. 31, fig. 12, adult; fig. 16B, genitalia) is nearly uniformly gray with variable fine dark DFW maculation. The valvae in the male genitalia are symmetrical with essentially smooth and convex outer margins; ventral plates are long, slender, and not bifurcated. The female genitalia differ substantially from gilvipennata and from one another. Bolte’s (1990: fig. 286a, b) illustrations of the genitalia of gilvipennata show the extent of variation in the outer edge of the left valva (cf. fig. 14a). His illustration of the ventral plate (fig. 14e), however, appears to be from scabrogata.

ovipositor lobes and apophyses; h, ovipositor lobes (flattened).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adults. Eupithecia biedermanata, Arizona, Cochise Co., Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mts., 1713 m, 20. iv. 2004, C. D. Ferris.

FIGURE 2. Eupithecia holotype males (MCZ). a, biedermanata; b, miamata.

FIGURE 4. Eupithecia miamata male paratype, genitalic slide, and pin labels (CNC). The adult appears to be slightly deformed with foreshortened FW.

FIGURE 6. Comparison of valvae. a, E. miamata digitally reproduced from Cassino (1925, p. 49); b, E. biedermanata from Cochise Co., Arizona.

FIGURE 7. Male genitalic structures of Eupithecia biedermanata (Cochise Co., Arizona). a, genitalia less aedoeagus spread but not flattened; b, flattened valvae from another specimen; c, flattened genitalia less aedoeagus from adult in Fig. 5 b; d, flattened genitalia less aedoeagus from adult in Fig. 5 a; e, lateral view of uncus.

FIGURE 8. Eupithecia biedermanata aedoeagii variation. a – c, Arizona, Cochise Co.; d, Coconino Co.

FIGURE 9. Eupithecia biedermanata everted vesicae. a, lateral views of opposite sides of everted and inflated vesica (arrow points to scobinate membrane surface), Arizona, Cochise Co.; b – c, two views of the same flattened preparation; d, Coconino Co., flattened preparation.

FIGURE 10. Eupithecia biedermanata ventral plate variation. a – c, Arizona, Cochise Co.; a, digitally enhanced image of sclerotized plates (surrounding membrane removed) on the 7 th and 8 th (top) abdominal sternites; b – c, ventral plates; d – e, Coconino Co.

FIGURE 11. Eupithecia biedermanata female genitalia. a, ventral view of bursa copulatrix; b, dorsal view of bursa copulatrix; c, ovipositor lobes (flattened) and apophyses, Cochise Co., Arizona.

FIGURE 12. Eupithecia biedermanata female genitalia variation. a, ventral views from 3 Cochise Co., Arizona specimens (arrow points to smooth shoulder); b, image­inverted view of a to enhance structural features; c, upper portion of genitalia.

FIGURE 13. Variation in facies of Eupithecia gilvipennata. a – b, two females, Tex Canyon, 30. iii. 2000, Cochise Co., Arizona, C. D. Ferris; c, adult male and pin labels for specimen illustrated

FIGURE 14. Eupithecia gilvipennata genitalia. a, male genitalia less aedoeagus spread but not flattened (arrow points to heavily chitinized smooth concavity), Cochise Co., Arizona; b, aedoeagus; c, everted vesica; d, sclerotized plates on the 7 th and 8 th (top) abdominal sternites; e, bursa copulatrix (arrow points to notch in shoulder); f, inverted image of e to enhance view of structures; g, female

FIGURE 22. Habitat of E. biedermanata and classicata in Huachuca Mts, Cochise Co., Arizona. a, Carr Canyon ca. 100 m across arroyo from Biederman’s cabin, 21. iv. 2004; b, Ash Canyon with A. arizonica at center and A. pungens at left, 17. iv. 2004.