Lithophane boogeri, Troubridge, J. T., 2006

Troubridge, J. T., 2006, Three new species of Lithophane Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Xyleninae), Zootaxa 1284, pp. 61-68 : 67

Lithophane boogeri new species

( Figs. 3 , 6 , 10 )

Diagnosis. Lithophane boogeri has been confused with L. longior (Smith) in collections. It is separated from it by the male genitalia: the apex of the valve is broad with a heavy, rugose spinelike process on the ventral margin in L. boogeri ( Fig. 6 ), much narrower, with a smaller spine­like process apically and with a ventral lobe in L. longior ( Fig. 7 ). Externally these species are similar with the same range of variation from even gray to mottled gray with fine black etching in the postmedial area. They may also be separated by range: L. boogeri occurs in association with Juniperus occidentalis in the western and northwestern Great Basin and L. longior occurs from Colorado, south into Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, following the distribution of Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sarg. Lithophane subtilis is another juniper feeding species that occurs in southwestern California. The tip of valve is also wide, but unlike L. boogeri , the digitus is well developed ( Fig. 8 ).

Description. ( Fig. 3 ). Holotype: Forewing length 20 mm. Antenna filiform, ciliate; eye orbicular, lashed; head, palpus, prothoracic collar, tufted thorax and tegula gray. Dorsal forewing gray with slightly darker median shade; orbicular and reniform spots obscure, only very slightly lighter gray than rest of wing. Fringe gray. Dorsal hindwing even gray brown with slightly darker discal lunule; fringe pale gray, darker at base. Male genitalia ( Fig. 6 ). Costa of valve broadly sclerotized, becoming broader subapically, narrowing to a rugose, ventrally directed point. Cucullus absent. Digitus vestigial. Fleshy lobe on ventral margin of valve near apex. Clasper arcs upward and then downward to approach dorsal apex of valve. Uncus thickens slightly medially, splayed laterally at apex. Vesica bulbous, bending upward and to the right with two small subapical diverticulae; cornuti absent. Female genitalia ( Fig. 10 ). Ostium bursae heavily sclerotized laterally; ductus bursae with heavily sclerotized ventral plate that twists around to dorsal surface at appendix bursae. Appendix bursae reduced to a swelling at base of ductus seminalis. Bursa bean­shaped, signa absent. Ovipositor lobes with fine setae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA, Oregon, Deschutes Co., Barr Rd., 6 mi N Tumalo, 7 April, 1996, J. & L. Troubridge ( CNC). Paratypes: Oregon: 12 males, 8 females, same data as holotype. Paratypes in the CNC and JTT.

Derivation of the name. I name this species for my cat, Booger, who is keenly interested in entomological gastronomy.

Distribution and habitat. Lithophane boogeri occurs in association with Juniperus occidentalis in Idaho and the Oregon high desert. Juniperus occidentalis also occurs in eastern California and extreme northwestern Nevada where L. boogeri is expected to occur.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Adults of Lithophane species. 1 a, b) L. lanei, Ottawa, ON; 2) L. scottae, Ottawa, ON; 3 a, b, c) L. boogeri, nr. Tumalo, OR.

FIGURES 4 – 8. Male genitalia of Lithophane species. 4) L. lanei; 5) L. scottae; 6) E. boogeri; 7) L. longior (tip of valve); 8) L. subtilis (tip of valve).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Female genitalia of Lithophane species. 9) L. lanei; 10) L. boogeri.