Psectrotarsia rhodophora (Hampson) Hampson, 2007

Pogue, Michael G., 2007, Revision of the Genus Psectrotarsia Dognin, 1907 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), Zootaxa 1637, pp. 1-19 : 8-9

Psectrotarsia rhodophora (Hampson) , new combination

( Figs. 5 , 14–15 , 24–25 , 30 , 35 )

Erythroecia rhodophora Hampson, 1910: 58 — Poole, 1989: 380.— Hardwick, 1996: 41.

Diagnosis. The forewing pattern of P. rhodophora is most similar to that of P. euposis , but there is more pink than yellow in the terminal area of P. rhodophora than in P. euposis .

Redescription. Male. Head: Frons with low transverse ridges, minute cream-colored scales between ridges ( Fig. 5 ); vertex with narrow pink scales; labial palp appressed, scales pink with white fringe at base; antenna pink on basal 0.33, gradually changing to white to apex; scape pink dorsally, white ventrally; eyes large, globular. Thorax: Patagium and prothorax with pink hairlike scales; tegula a mixture of yellow narrow and hairlike scales; mesothorax and metathorax pink; foretibia armature absent, pink, tarsi white; middle leg with white femur, pink tibia, and white tarsi; hind leg mostly white with some pink at apices, tarsi white; underside with some buff-colored and pink hairlike scales anteriorly, remainder white. Forewing length 13.0– 17.5 mm (n = 11); ground color yellow; all markings pink; basal costal spot from costa to M vein; claviform spot between M and A veins coalesced with spot below; orbicular spot present; reniform spot present; median line irregular below reniform spot; subterminal area with broad band of pink; fringe pink spotted with yellow; underside mostly gray, orbicular and reniform spots obscure, apical spot pink, terminal area yellow. Hindwing ground color gray, marginal edge pink bleeding onto white fringe. Abdomen: Sternites gray, genital tuft and tergites white. Genitalia ( Figs. 24–25 ) with uncus elongate, approximately 0.34X length of valve, apex pointed; valve broad, length 5.0X width, costal margin straight, posterior margin straight; angulate at distal end to round apex; ampulla elongate, 0.2X length of valve, apex projecting above costal margin of valve; corona with less than ten setae; sacculus with ventral margin slightly produced; juxta rectangulate with dorsal margin excavated, ventral margin straight; saccus V-shaped; aedoeagus slightly bent at middle, apex truncate; vesica Y-shaped, with enlarged bulbous area at junction of Y, bulbous area projecting ventrally with one small cornutis at apex, right diverticulum of Y (when viewed ventrally) with elongate cornuti at apex, left diverticulum lacking cornuti.

Female. Head, Thorax: As in male, except forewing length 13.9–14.8 mm (n = 2). Abdomen: Genitalia ( Figs. 30 , 35 ) with papilla analis fleshy, apex rounded; posterior apophysis 0.72X anterior anpophysis, narrow; ductus bursae sclerotized, heavily striated on distal 0.25; appendix bursae present as undifferentiated cephalad extension of corpus bursae; corpus bursae large, kidney-shaped; signa absent.

Holotype. Male, Type [round red bordered label]. Capitello, Guatemala. Rodriguez. Godman-Salvin Coll. 1901-99. Erythroecia rhodophora type m. Hmpsn. [hand written label]. Depostied in BMNH.

Distribution and Biology. Known only from Guatemala ( Fig. 36 ). Psectrotarsia rhodophora was collected during October and November, whereas P. euposis flies from 31 July to September. Larval host is unknown.

Material Examined. 5m, 1f GUATEMALA: QUEZALTENANGO: Volcan Sta. Maria, Oct. (4m, 1f), Nov. (1m), m genitalia USNM 49746, Schaus & Barnes Coll. All specimens deposited in USNM. Discussion. Hardwick (1996) synonymized E. euposis with E. rhodophora without examining the genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 36. Collecting localities. Psectrotarsia flava, closed squares; P. s u a v i s, closed circles; P. hebardi, closed triangles; P. euposis, closed triangles; P. rhodophora, open circle.

FIGURES 1 – 5. Heads. 1, Psectrotarsia flava, female, Peru, Lima, USNMENT 14764; 2, P. s u a v i s Nebraska, Platte Co., Columbus, USNMENT 147638; 3, P. hebardi New Jersey, Morris Co., Lake Hoptacong, USNMENT 147639; 4, P. euposis Mexico, Cuernavaca, USNMENT 147705; 5, P. rhodophora, Volcan Guatemala, Volcan Santa Maria, USNMENT 220365.

FIGURES 12 – 15. Adults. 12, Psectrotarsia euposis, male, Mexico, Districto Federal, Lomas de Chapultepec, USN- MENT 147703; 13, P. e u p o s i s, male, Mexico, Morelos, Cuernavaca, USNMENT 147704; 14, P. rhodophora, male, Volcan Santa Maria, Guatemala, USNMENT 147698; 15, P. rhodophora, male, Volcan Santa Maria, Guatemala, USNMENT 147700.

FIGURES 22 – 25. Male Genitalia. 22, Psectrotarsia euposis, Mexico, Morelos, Cuernavaca, USNMENT 147705, genitalia slide USNM 49756; 23, P. e u p o s i s, aedoeagus, same data; 24, P. rhodophora, Guatemala, Quezaltenango, Volcan Santa Maria, USNMENT 147697, genitalia slide USNM 46758; 25, P. rhodophora, aedoeagus, same data.

FIGURES 29 – 30. Female Genitalia. 29, Psectrotarsia euposis, Mexico, Zacualpan, USNMENT 147709, genitalia slide USNM 49759; 30, P. rhodophora, Guatemala, Quezaltenango, Volcan Santa Maria, USNMENT 147701, genitalia slide USNM 46755.

FIGURES 31 – 35. Papillae anales of female Genitalia. 31, Psectrotarsia flava, same data as Fig. 26; 32, P. s u a v i s, same data as Fig. 27; 33, P. h e b a rd i, same data as Fig. 28; 34, P. euposis, same data as Fig. 29; 35, P. rhodophora, same data as Fig. 30.