Leucosigma solisae Goldstein

Goldstein, Paul Z., Janzen, Daniel H., Proshek, Benjamin, Dapkey, Tanya & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2018, A review of Leucosigma Druce, 1908: a newly discovered case of fern-feeding and descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), ZooKeys 788, pp. 87-133 : 100-102

Leucosigma solisae Goldstein sp. n. Figs 15, 16, 25, 26; Male genitalia: Figs 57, 58, 81, 82

Material examined.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂. Voucher: D.H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs DB: http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, COSTA RICA, Sector Pitilla: Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m, 02/17/2007, S. Rios & F. Quesada, collector, 07-SRNP-101229, ♂ USNM Dissection 148077, USNMENT01370294.

PARATYPES (2♂). COSTA RICA: (1♂): Alajuela: Sector Rincon Rain Forest: Estacion Caribe, 10.90082, -85.2764, el. 391m, 10/10/2007, S. Rios & H. Cambronero, collector, 07-SRNP-109201, ♂ USNM Dissection 148078, USNMENT01437370. PERU (1♂): La Oroya, R. Inambari, Peru, Sept. 1904 3100 ft, dry seas., (G. Ockenden), Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939-1., NHMUK010606203. Types at USNM.

Diagnosis.

Forewing terminal area and distal part of the medial area appearing more uniform purplish gray than in other species, giving the wing a smoother, less granular appearance overall. The reniform-orbicular complex forms a continuous green “Ч "(left wing) or “μ” (right wing), the outline of which is broader than in other species except L. albimixta and L. viridipicta ; the green (not silvery-white) apical patch distinguishes this and the following species from other members of the genus; hind wing underside with discal spot present but unpronounced, unlike L. poolei below. Male genitalia most similar to those of L. poolei and L. uncifera , distinguished by a shorter and more gently arced distal part of the cucullus; vesica without small basal lobe as in L. poolei .

Description.

Head. Antennae setose-ciliate, bifasciculate in males, scaled above with alternating bands of gray (basal) and tan (apical). Frons, vertex, and labial palpi scaled with an admixture of white, brown and black. Eyes smooth.

Thorax. Excepting vestiges of green visible immediately behind head, thoracic vestiture uniformly purplish gray. Wings. Forewing length 13.7 mm (holotype, male), average 13.3 mm (males, n = 3). Forewing predominantly lilacine, russet subcostally in the postmedial; apical and anal patch present; green scaling concentrated at inner margin, apical and anal patch, and Ч /μ-shaped medial stigma. Medial area cupreous; medial, antemedial, and postmedial lines visibly darker brown; terminal area green in Costa Rican specimens, more closely matching medial coloration or slightly darker reddish brown in Peruvian specimen; apical patch primarily green; forewing underside lightly suffused with green scaling in terminal area; no antemedial or postmedial lines present on underside except at most as costal striae. Legs. Scales predominantly purplish gray; femora and tibia with an admixture of lime-green among the tan-lilacine scales; a single pair of striped mid-tibial spurs, two pairs on hind-tibiae; three rows of tibial spines on all legs.

Abdomen. Vestiture uniformly tannish gray, paler than on thorax.

Male genitalia. Uncus elongate, widest subapically, upwardly curved with a very small apical point, and bearing ventral setal crest. Tegumen roughly hemi-circular, excepting a deformation of the dorsal edge at the base of the uncus. Vinculum a wide V-shape; saccus blunt. Juxta pentagonal, dorsal edge horizontal; annellar arms fused, hoop-like. Sacculus (1) densely setose, tapering to a blunt extension. Cucullus (2) appears chelicerate, the sclerotized part occupying ~1/3 the overall length and bending sharply at the outer edge near the sharply pointed apex, with a subapical tuft of reëntrant spine-like setae. Dorsal process (3) coequal in width to cucullus, setose apically. Clasper (4) finger-like, gently curved. Aedeagus with minutely but differentially spinulose patch confined to apex. Vesica without cornuti; subbasal and medial diverticula reduced, with a weakly sclerotized ridge.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Etymology.

The name solisae is given in honor of Dr. Alma Solis, lepidopterist at USDA/ USNM who has contributed her expertise to the systematics of the Costa Rican lepidopteran fauna for three decades.

Biology.

Unknown, collected only in rain forest light traps.

Distribution.

Costa Rica, Peru.