Rhabdorthodes pattersoni, Crabo, Lars G., 2018

Crabo, Lars G., 2018, A new genus and three new species of noctuid moths from western United States of America and Mexico (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini), ZooKeys 788, pp. 183-199 : 185-188

Rhabdorthodes pattersoni sp. n. Figs 1-4, 7, 10, 13, 16

Type locality.

USA: Colorado: Clear Creek County: Doolittle Ranch, Mt. Evans, 2987 m.

Type material.

Holotype, male. USA: Colorado: [Clear Creek County]: Doolittle Ranch, Mt. Evans, 9,800' [2987 m], 10 VIII 1961, E. W. Rockburne. / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00140423. CNC. Paratypes. 49 m, 5 f. USA: Arizona: Apache County: Alpine, 3-5 mi [4.8-8.0 km] SE, 16 VI 1967 (1 m); Greer, White Mts., 8500' [2591 m], 6 VIII 1962, E. & I. Munroe, black light (1 m); same collection label / Genitalia slide # 11,732 male (1 m); [Greenlee County], Hannagan Meadow, 13 VI 1967, R. F. Sternitzky / Genitalia CNC slide # 17406 female (1 f); same collection label / [CNC] Slide No. 11,734 (1 m); Colorado: Archuleta County: [north of Pagosa Springs], 8[000]' [2438 m.], 15 VI 2004, Vargo leg. / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00120092 (1 m); same collection label / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00120092 (1 f); [Boulder County]: Boulder, Silver Saddle Motel, 5500' [1676 m], 5 VI 1961, M. R. MacKay (1 m); [Clear Creek County]: Doolittle Ranch, Mt. Evans, 9800' [2987 m], 16 VII 1961, E. W. Rockburne / Genitalia CNC slide # 15894 male (1 m); same collection label, 30 VII 1961 (1 m); same collection label / [CNC] Slide No. 10,766 female (1 f); same locality & collector, 31 VII 1961 (4 m); same collection label / [CNC] Slide No. 10,764 male (1 m); same locality & collector, 1 VIII 1961 (8 m); same locality and collector, 2 VIII 1961 (6 m); same collection label / Genitalia CNC slide # 15893 male (1 m); same locality & collector, 3 VIII 1961 (1 m); same locality & collector, 5 VIII 1961 (1 m); same locality & collector, 6 VIII 1961 (1 m); same locality & collector, 6 VIII 1961 (1 m); same locality & collector, 8 VIII 1961 (1 m); Teller County: Florissant, 3.5 mi [5.6 km] SW, 38.904° -105.323°, 8-9 VII 2016, 2660 m, L. G. Crabo & G. Morrell leg. (4 m); Idaho: Bear Lake County: Georgetown Cyn., 42.524° -111.263°, 2100 m, 4 VII 2016, L. G. Crabo & G. Morrel leg. / Specimen ID CNCLEP00140350 / Barcode of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted (1 m); New Mexico: Colfax County: Cimarron Canyon, Sangre de Cristo Mts., 7900' [2408 m], 6 VII 1982, black light, E. & I. Munroe (1 m); same collection label / [CNC] slide No. 11733 male (1 m); same locality & collector, 8 VII 1962 (1 m); same locality & collector, 11 VII 1962 (1 m); Lincoln County: Capitan Mts., Capital Ridge, radio towers, summit, 10,000' [3048 m], 3 VII 1982, RWH [Ronald H. Hodges] (2 m); same locality & collector, 10 VII 1982 / Genitalia slide # 17407 female (1 f); Otero County, High Rolls, Karr Cyn., 32.898° -105.813°, 2400 m, 9 VI 2016, L. G. Crabo leg. (1 f); Sandoval County: San Jose Ca[illegible]., 4 mi [6.4 km] E. Regina, Jemez Mts., NW slope, 8500' [2591 m], 26 June, 1983, UV, RWH [Richard W. Holland] (1 m); Utah: [Iron County]: Cedar City, 11 mi [17.7 km] SE, 8300' [2530 m], 29 VIII 1965, D. F. Hardwick (1 m); Sanpete County: Ephraim, 8 mi [12.9 km] E, 39.317°-[39.]337° -111.448°-[111.]470°, 10000' [3048 m], 21 VII 2006, L. G. Crabo leg. / Specimen ID CNCLEP00140348/Barcode of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted (1 m); same collection label / Specimen ID CNCLEP00140349 / Barcode of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted (1m); Wyoming: Albany County: T13N R77W, Section 4, 1.5 mi (2.6 km) NW of Woods Landing, Fox Creek, el. 7,600 ft (2316 m), 21 VI 1997, black light trap, J. S. Nordin leg. (1 m): CNC, LGC, TM.

Diagnosis.

Rhabdorthodes pattersoni is the most drab and poorly patterned of the three Rhabdorthodes species, appearing dull dark brown with faint markings. The forewing subterminal line of R. pattersoni is faint pale gray, whereas those of the Mexican species are more prominent, luteous preceded by dark wedge-shaped spots. Rhabdorthodes pattersoni is the only species in the genus that is known to occur in the United States.

Structurally, males of R. pattersoni are distinguished from the Mexican species by the smaller ventral process of the distal clasper (Figure 7), relatively short and triangular. In both other species this process is longer and curves toward the apex of the valve.

The shape of sternite A7 is shallowly concave with a quadrate lateral margin (Fig. 13). Those of the two Mexican species are more complex, with distinct lateral flanges, deeper pits, and more strongly concave edges (Figs 14, 15).

The Barcode Index Number (BIN) of R. pattersoni from Colorado and Utah (n = 5) is BOLD:ADH0770.

This moth resembles several nondescript brown species of Eriopygini - such as species of Homorthodes McDunnough and Protorthodes - but is probably most similar superficially to " Orthosia " noverca (Grote), a common widespread western North American moth that lacks a satisfactory generic placement. Most " O. " noverca have thicker and more prominent black forewing pattern elements than those of R. pattersoni . Rhabdorthodes can be identified without dissection by observing the ends of the valves for the chunky claspers in males and the sculpted seventh sternite in females. In addition, males of Rhabdorthodes have biserrate antennae, simple in look-alikes other than Protorthodes .

Description.

Adults.Head. Male antenna total width 3 × shaft; dorsal scales dark gray-brown, scattered off-white on proximal ⅓. Labial palpus scales gray-brown, scat tered off-white on second and third segments, increasing toward tip. Frons scales gray brown; dorsal head scales white tipped gray-brown.

Thorax. Dorsal scales long, white tipped gray-brown; appearing uniform dull gray-brown to dark brown. Wings: Forewing length 13.0-13.5 mm (males); 13.5 mm (females); scales gray-brown, scattered white tipped gray-brown, appearing uniform gray-brown to dark brown; costa spots luteous gray; basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines double, black and dark gray-brown, filling ground and slightly lighter gray; basal line uneven, indistinct; antemedial line slightly irregular, pointed basad on veins; medial line slightly darker than ground, angled distad from mid costa to reniform stigma, thence basad to posterior margin; postmedial line indistinct, evident mostly as black inner part and pale gray filling, scalloped; subterminal line irregular off-white patches between veins, preceding shade faint, brown; terminal line thin, dark gray; fringe striped dark gray, base thin, pale; orbicular stigma round, often incomplete, black, lined with few pale-gray scales, center ground color; claviform stigma small, black, filled with ground color, or reduced to a spot; reniform stigma moderate size, weakly figure-8 shaped, open at posterior end, black, with adjacent luteous and pale-gray lining strongest at medial and lateral sides, center ground color. Hindwing: Dorsum gray, basal ½ paler; veins and faint discal spot dark; terminal line thin, black; fringe gray with copper luster, base thin, pale.

Abdomen. Male genitalia: (Figure 7) Uncus length 0.9 × juxta. Juxta height 2 × width, rod length 1.2 × height. Valve length 5 × width, part distal to clasper curved slightly dorsad; cucullus weak, paddle shaped; sacculus length 0.5 × and width 0.75 × valve; distal clasper 1 × valve width, left slightly larger than right, thick, mesial surface with molar like ridges, dorsal distal margin expanded to broad rounded projection, ventral distal margin triangular with slight curve distad; ampulla directed 45° basad, scythe shaped with 120-180° curve distad; digitus small, thin. Phallus and vesica as in genus description. Female genitalia (Figs 10, 13): Sternite A7 lateral concavity shallow with quadrate raised lateral margin; posterior margin weakly concave. Papilla analis, segment A8, and bursa copulatrix as in genus description.

Etymology.

I am pleased to name this moth after Robert (Bob) Patterson of Bowie, Maryland in recognition of his contribution to the study and enjoyment of North American moths through his work on the Moth Photographers Group website (http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu).

Distribution and ecology.

Rhabdorthodes pattersoni occurs in the mountains of the American West (Figure 16). It has been collected from southeastern Idaho and south-central Wyoming in the north to southwestern Utah, eastern Arizona and south-central New Mexico in the south. Most records are from Colorado and New Mexico. It flies in mid- to high-elevation forest at elevations from 1600 to 3050 meters. Collection dates range from early June to early August. The early stages are unknown.

Remarks.

This species is moderately common in collections. Specimens are often mixed in with other brown species in the tribe Eriopygini , often " Orthodes " noverca and " Orthodes " obscura (Smith).