Litoprosopus linea Troubridge

Troubridge, J. T., 2020, A new genus and 37 new noctuoid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), Insecta Mundi 2020 (789), pp. 1-56 : 29-30

Litoprosopus linea Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 41 , 73 , 132 )

BIN: BOLD:ACM4126

Diagnosis. Litoprosopus linea is easily distinguished from the other North American Litoprosopus Grote species by the metallic mauve patch of scales in the tornus of the forewing that is divided into two sections above and below vein 1A+2A (entire in the other species) and the dark-brown line extending from this patch of scales to the outer margin of the wing, absent in the other species.

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen light brown. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 16–17 mm. Ground color light brown; narrow postmedial line ferruginous, splits into two diverging lines from cubital vein to costa; antemedial line diffuse, reduced to a series of ferruginous spots, again splitting into two diverging lines extending to costa; basal line reduced to a few ferruginous spots; submarginal area with scattered ferruginous scales becoming denser toward apex; metallic mauve patch of scales in tornus divided into two sections above and below vein 1A+2A, a dark-brown line extends from this patch of scales through middle of cell CuA2 to outer margin; fringe light brown, gradually becoming yellow brown toward tornus. Dorsal hindwing. Basal area light yellow brown; post medial band darker gray brown, edged outwardly with light yellow brown below vein M1; broad terminal shade dark gray brown; black jewel spot (with two metallic blue streaks) straddles vein CuA at margin, edged with light-yellow scales on inner margin; fringe cream colored. Male genitalia ( Fig. 73 ). Valve narrows in mid-section and becomes broader and rounded at apex; clasper forms a narrow rod that extends near ventral margin of valve; ampulla of clasper angled acutely back toward base of valve before bending dorsally and then turning slightly downward; uncus long, curved downward, heavily setose on terminal half, apex pointed; pleural sternite heavily setose; anal tube supported by long dorsal and ventral sclerites; shaft of aedeagus with sclerotized C-shaped “trap door” that closes over tip of aedeagus when not everted; vesica angled dorsally with a band of fine sub-basal setae extending from ventral to dorsal surface on right side; a small sub-basal diverticulum on left folds inward to meet a second small diverticulum; between these diverticula, a C-shaped channel is formed reminiscent of the “trap door” at apex of shaft; a bulbous, submarginal, dorsal diverticulum is covered with a field of fine setae from which vesica turns abruptly to right and narrows to the ductus seminalis. Female genitalia ( Fig. 132 ). Ovipositor lobes short with scattered setae; ostium bursae well sclerotized, broader than ductus bursae; ductus bursae elongate, membranous, with small diverticulum on dorsal surface; corpus bursae about 3× as long as wide with appendix bursae arising on right as a large diverticulum at posterior end.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Charlotte Co.: Port Charlotte , 27.024°N, 82.063°W, 4.Jul.2016, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 8♂, 4♀: Broward Co.: Davie , 9.Jul.1982 and 11.Aug.1983, at light, M. Minno, 2♂ ( MGCL) ; Fort Lauderdale , 15.Dec.1983, M. Minno, 1♂ with pupal exuvia ( MGCL) ; Fort Lauderdale , Harbordale, 26.093°N, 80.125°W, Helicoverpa trap, 23.Sep.2016, E. Dougherty, 1♀ ( FSCA) ; Charlotte Co.: Port Charlotte ,

27.024°N, 82.063°W, 4.Jul.2016, 1♂; 25.Dec.2018, J. Troubridge, 1♂, 1♀; Collier Co.: Marco Island , 15.Sep.1988, D. Smith, slide MGCL 3399 , 1♂ ; same data, 4.Jul.1988, slide MGCL 3400 , 1♀ ; same data, 2.Aug.1988, dissected, 1♂ ( FSCA) ; Collier-Seminole State Park , 14.Feb. 1988, V. P. Lucas, 1♂ ( MGCL) ; Miami-Dade Co.: Miami Beach Marina , Lindgren trap, 25.771°N, 80.140°W ; 25.Jan. 2017, P. Perez, 1♀ ( FSCA) .

Etymology. From Latin, linea refers to the dark line in the tornus of the forewing.

Distribution. This species is known from Cuba, the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and peninsular Florida at least as far north as Ocala.The extent of its range elsewhere in the Antilles is unknown. In Florida, I have not seen this species in rural areas where sabal and saw palmettos are abundant; however, it occurs in urban areas where various ornamental palms have been planted.

Remarks. The DNA of L. linea was analyzed and the 658 COI base pairs compared with those of specimens of L. futilis and L. bahamensis . The results showed a 4.4% difference between L. linea and L. futilis , and a 6.2% difference between L. linea and L. bahamensis .

Noctuidae : Eustrotiinae

Figures

Figures 35–48.Adults. 35) Athyrma fakahatchee ♀, paratype, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, FL.36) Athyrma ganglio ♀, North Port, FL. 37a) Antiblemma carolae ♀, paratype, Florida City, FL. 37b) Antiblemma carolae ♀, paratype, Florida City, FL. 38a) Antiblemma perva ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 38b) Antiblemma perva ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 39a) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♂, Bahia Honda, FL. 39b) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♀, Key Largo, FL. 39c) Hemeroplanis floccalis ♀, Port Charlotte, FL. 40) Hemeroplanis scopulepes ♂, Highlands County, FL. 41) Litoprosopus linea ♀, paratype, Port Charlotte, FL. 42) Neogalea caracara ♂, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 43) Neogalea sunia ♂, Lake Placid, FL. 44a) Catabenoides insularis ♂, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 44b) Catabenoides insularis ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 45) Condica collaris ♂, holotype, Bahia Honda, FL. 46) Condica concisa ♂, North Port, FL. 47) Diastema leo ♂, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 48) Diastema tigris ♂, Sinton, TX.

Figures 67–73. Male genitalia. 67) Metalectra dixoni, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 68) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 69) Athyrma fakahatchee, paratype, Collier County, FL. 70) Antiblemma perva, paratype, North Port, FL. 71) Toxonprucha killamae, paratype, Islamorada, FL. 72) Antiblemma carolae, Holotype, Florida City, FL. 73) Litoprosopus linea, holotype, Port Charlotte, FL.

Figures 132–138. Female genitalia. 132) Litoprosopus linea, Islamorada, FL. 133) Tripudia calusa, paratype, Islamorada, FL. 134) Catabenoides insularis, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 135) Homophoberia australis, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 136) Diastema leo, paratype, Highlands County, FL. 137) Leucania elephas, paratype, Bahia Honda, FL. 138) Pyreferra slotteni, paratype, Grenada County, MS.