Nomophila triticalis Berg, 1875

Hayden, James E. & Dickel, Terhune S., 2014, New North American records of Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Pyralidae) from southern Florida, Insecta Mundi 2014 (361), pp. 1-16 : 5

Nomophila triticalis Berg

Figures 2A , 3G , 4E .

Nomophila tetricalis [sic] Berg, 1875a: 136. Nomen nudum .

Nomophila triticalis Berg, 1875b: 155 ; Munroe, 1973: 180 ( Argentina).

Nomophila squalidalis Hampson, 1913a: 511 ( Argentina) .

New records. 1M: “ FLORIDA: Monroe Co. Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site. 20 Mar. 1996 Terhune S. Dickel Collected at MV light” ; 1M: “ FLORIDA: Monroe Co. Upper Key Largo 28 Feb. 1992 Terhune S. Dickel mercury vapor lamp”, “ Project Photo J. B. Heppner 9460” ( TSDC); 1M: “ USA, FL: Indian River Co. Vero Beach, SE 9 St. FMEL impoundment 27.58701°N 80.36875°W 18-V-2012. UV. J.E. Hayden. ” MGCL slide 1290 .

Discussion. Heppner (2011) listed this species for Florida without comment. It is much smaller than the widespread and abundant N. nearctica Munroe, 1973 . It is also distinguished by a short, slight cornutus, a separate, quadrate sclerotization on the wall of the phallus, and an uncus that is not apically split (unique among species of Nomophila Hübner, 1825 ). The species is native to Argentina and not recorded elsewhere, so artificial transport would best explain its appearance. The time and distance between the collection events could reflect separate introductions, but considering that it is a small, obscurely marked species and the 2012 specimen was not from near a port, it is probably already more widely distributed in Florida.

Figures

Figure 2. Habitus: A) Nomophila triticalis (FL, Vero Beach; FSCA).B) Microthyris lelex (FL, Key Largo Hammocks St. Bot. Site, 24 Feb. 1995; TSDC). C) Ancylosis bonhoti (FL, Fuchs Hammock, 28 Dec. 1986; TSDC). D) Ancylosis balconiensis (FL, Hollywood, Port Everglades, 20/21 July 2013; FSCA). Scale bars = 5 mm.

Figure 3. Heads in lateral aspect (not to scale): A) Ennomosia basalis male (same as Fig. 1A). B) E. basalis female (same as Fig. 1B). C) Neoleucinodes torvis male (Dominica, Mar. 1965; NMNH). D) N. torvis female (Dominica, Oct. 1964; NMNH). E) Lineodes triangulalis (same as Fig. 1E). F) Cangetta micralis (FL, Upper Key Largo, 22 Feb. 1992; TSDC). G) Nomophila triticalis (same as fig. 2A). H) Microthyris lelex (same as Fig. 2B). I) Ancylosis bonhoti (FL, Fuchs Hammock, 28 Dec. 1986; TSDC). J) Ancylosis balconiensis (same as Fig. 2D).

Figure 4. Male genitalia (not to scale): A) Ennomosia basalis (FL, Monroe Co. Key Largo Hammocks State Bot. Site, 2 Mar. 1995, JEH slide 1368; TSDC). B) Neoleucinodes torvis (FL, Broward Co. Davie, 24 Apr. 2013 ex S. torvum fruit, MGCL slide 1205; FSCA). C) Lineodes triangulalis (TX, Cameron Co. Brownsville, 3 Dec. 1975, NMNH slide 114956; NMNH). D) Cangetta micralis (FL, Monroe Co. Key Largo, 9 June 1975, MGCL slide 377; FSCA). E) Nomophila triticalis (FL, Vero Beach, MGCL slide 1290; FSCA).