Schinia unimacula Smith Revised Status, 1891

Pogue, Michael G. & Harp, Charles E., 2003, Revised status of Schinia unimacula Smith including morphological comparisons with Schinia obliqua Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 226 (1), pp. 1-8 : 4-5

Schinia unimacula Smith Revised Status

( Figs. 4­6 , 9­10, 12­13 )

Schinia unimacula Smith 1891:126 . Smith 1893:276. Dyar 1903:188. Barnes and McDunnough 1917:39. McDunnough 1938:105. Todd 1982:219. Franclemont and Todd 1983:159. Poole 1989:898. Poole and Gentili 1996:772. Hardwick 1996:183 [synonym].

Schima [sic] coolidgei Hill 1924:185 . McDunnough 1938:105 [synonym]. Franclemont and Todd 1983:159 [synonym]. Poole 1989:893 [synonym]. Poole and Gentili 1996:772 [synonym]. Hardwick 1996:183 [synonym].

Diagnosis. Schinia unimacula has a straight median band with a wide white area between the basal and median bands. The subterminal band consists of a distinct subapical spot, then becomes faint medially and more distinct on posterior margin. Reniform spot large and distinct. The male genitalia has a long and thin uncus and narrow valve with gently curved costal margin. The female papillae anales have a pointed apex. Large and numerous setae are present along the posterior margin of the seventh tergite.

Description. Male genitalia ( Figs. 9­10 ): Uncus short (0.39 X vavle length), thinner basally becoming broader toward apex. Valve elongate (length 8.1 X width), costal margin gently curved; ampulla elongate (0.10 X valve length); corona at apical 5% of valve length; sacculus well developed and 35% of valve length, distal margin not distinct and blends into valve. Aedoeagus slightly curved; vesica with 2 1/2 coils and minute spicules. Female genitalia ( Fig. 12 ): Papillae anales triangulate, apex pointed. Eighth segment with fine spicules. Seventh segment with many large, robust setae in a row along distal margin; remainder of segment devoid of setae. Ductus bursae moderately elongate. Appendix bursae coiled. Corpus bursae ovate; signa composed of 4 scobinate bars.

Type material. Schinia unimacula , lectotype male, in USNM designated by Todd (1982). Label data: 1) Colo, Bruce (hand written in black ink); 2) Schinia unimacula Type Smith (hand written in black ink); 3) Type No. 33719 USNM [red label]; 4) Col. B. Neumögen; 5) LECTOTYPE, Schinia unimacula Smith ; 6) USNM ENT 00143255 [bar code].

Schinia coolidgei , holotype male, in USNM. Label data: (1) Jacumba, 9. 28. 24, No. (Hand written in pencil); (2) HOLOTYPE male, Schinia coolidgei Hill, Jacumba Cal., E. Piazza, Sept 28­24 (hand written in black ink), HILL Collection (printed); (3) Barnes Collection (printed in red); (4) USNM ENT 00143256 [bar code].

Larval host plant. Hardwick (1996) describes the life history and larvae of S. unimacula from the Mohave Desert in southern California where the larvae feed on Ericameria paniculata (A. Gray) Rydb. In the Great Basin the larvae presumably feed on E. nauseosa (Pallas) Briton ( Hardwick 1996). We plotted the host plant distribution of E. paniculata ( Fig. 13 , dark shading) and it does not occur in the Mojave Desert of southern California as stated by Hardwick (1996), but it coincides with specimens collected in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The host plant distribution of E. nauseosa nauseosa ( Fig. 13 , light shading) more closely coincides with the broader distribution of S. unimacula . Further field studies should be conducted to confirm these larval hosts as well as those in Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho.

Flight period. End of July to early October with most records in August.

Distribution ( Fig. 13 ). From central Arizona and New Mexico, north to Colorado, southwestern Wyoming and Utah, west to Nevada and California, and north to Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.

Material Examined. Specimens were examined from the following states and counties: ARIZONA: Mohave Co. CALIFORNIA: Inyo Co., Kern Co. , Los Angeles Co. , Modoc Co. , Mono Co. , Riverside Co. , San Bernardino Co. , San Diego Co. , Tuolumne Co. , Ventura Co. COLORADO: Adams Co. , Alamosa Co. , Arapahoe Co. , Baca Co. , Boulder Co. , Denver Co. , El Paso Co. , Fremont Co. , Huerfano Co. , Jefferson Co. , Kit Carson Co. , La Plata Co. , Larimer Co. , Lincoln Co. , Mesa Co. , Moffat Co. , Montezuma Co. , Otero Co. , Weld Co. IDAHO: Bonner Co. NEVADA: Clark Co. , Eureka Co. , Lander Co. , Lincoln Co. , Nye Co. , Washoe Co. NEW MEXICO: Bernalillo Co. OREGON: Deschutes Co. , Harney Co. , Jefferson Co. , Klamath Co. UTAH: Beaver Co. , Daggett Co. , Eureka Co. , Garfield Co. , Juab Co. , Kane Co. , Rich Co. , San Juan Co. , Sanpete Co. , Sevier Co. , Toole Co , Unitah Co. , Utah Co., Washington Co. WASHINGTON: Okanogan Co. WYOMING: Lincoln Co. , Uintah Co .

Discussion. The forewing maculation of unimacula can approach that of obliqua , but the shape of the papillae anales is diagnostic. Forewing maculation seems to be darker and more contrasting in some Colorado specimens than those throughout the rest of the range. The discal spot in the hindwing can be present or absent and the marginal band is faint to almost absent.

The holotype of coolidgei is a slightly more heavily marked individual than is typical of unimacula . The female paratype is typical of unimacula .

Schinia unimacula is widespread through western United States, approaching the range of S. obliqua only in the southeastern portion of its range, so in most areas the species can be identified by distribution alone.

Figures

FIGURES 13. Collecting localities of Schinia obliqua (open squares) and S. unimacula (solid circles). Distribution of larval hosts of S. unimacula, Ericameria paniculata (dark shading) and E. nauseosa nauseosa (light shading).

FIGURES 1-6. Adults. 1, Schinia obliqua, f, Arizona, Pima Co., Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mts., 17 Aug. 1943, USNM ENT 143043. 2, Schinia obliqua, m, Arizona, Pima Co., Redington, USNM ENT 143050. 3, Schinia obliqua, m, New Mexico, Luna Co., Deming, 8-15 Sep., USNM ENT 143072. 4, Schinia unimacula, Lectotype m [designated by Todd], Colorado, Type No. 33719 USNM, USNM ENT 143255. 5, Holotype m, Schinia coolidgei Hill [synonym of S. unimacula], California, San Diego Co., Jacumba, 28 Sep. 1924, USNM ENT 143256. 6, Schinia unimacula, f, Washington, Bar, 10 Aug. 1940, USNM ENT 143116.

FIGURES 7­12. Genitalia. 7, Schinia obliqua, m, Arizona, Pima Co., Redington, Genitalia slide USNM 46784, USNM ENT 143044. 8, aedoeagus of same specimen. 9, Schinia unimacula, m, Utah, Utah Co., Vineyard, Genitalia slide USNM 46782, USNM ENT 143124. 10, aedoeagus of same specimen. 11, Schinia obliqua, f, Arizona, Pima Co., Redington, Genitalia slide USNM 46785, USNM ENT 143052. 12, Schinia unimacula, f, Utah, Utah Co., Vineyard, Genitalia slide USNM 46783, USNM ENT 143127.