Grammia speciosa, 2009

Schmidt, B. Christian, 2009, Taxonomic revision of the genus Grammia Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Arctiinae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (3), pp. 507-597 : 532-533

GRAMMIA SPECIOSA CELINEATA SCHMIDT SSP. NOV.

(FIG. 11F, G)

Callarctia celia form lineata Smith, 1938b: 10 (unavailable infrasubspecific name).

Type material: Holotype (Fig. 11G) – ♂. Canada, AB, [south-west of] Calgary , near Billings Lumber Mill [head of Fish Creek, 12 km south-west of Bragg Creek], 26.vi.1898, F.H.W. Dod [ CNC] [Note: the location of Billings Lumber Mill was restricted to the head of Fish Creek by Kondla (1996)] . Paratypes – 13 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ AB: same data as holotype , 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀, [ CNC]; same locality as holotype, 19.vi.1898 , 1 ♂ [ CNC]; Bragg Creek , 29.vi.1974, F. Sperling , 2 ♂♂ 1 ♀ [ USNM]; Bragg Creek , 28.vi.1974, F. Sperling , 1 ♂ [ USNM]; Bragg Creek , 12.vii.1972, F. Sperling , 1 ♂ [ USNM]; Bragg Creek , 4.vii.1972, F. Sperling , 1 ♀ [ USNM]; Spruce bog, Nitchi Cr., 31-6-W5, 24.vi.1990, C. Schmidt , 1 ♂ [ BCSC]; 16 miles west of Water Valley , 14.vii.1990, D. Lawrie , 1 ♀ [ UASM]; Junction Mtn. trail, 26.viii.2000, E.M. Pike , 1 ♂ [ UASM]; Nordegg , 24.vii.1918, 20.vi.1926, 16.vii.1938, K. Bowman , 3 ♀ [ UASM]; Adams lookout, 11.vii.1982, E.M. Pike , 1 ♂ [ UASM] .

Etymology: Grammia speciosa celineata is a combination of the names celia and lineata, the unpublished name originally proposed for this taxon by Smith (1938a).

Diagnosis: Grammia speciosa celineata is unique among speciosa populations in that the abdomen and hindwing can be entirely black, the forewing vein lines can be reduced or absent, and forms expressing fragmentary medial and postmedial bands are more common. The limited available data show that G. s. celineata is diurnal. Forms exhibiting both loss of vein lines and expression of forewing bands can be similar to G. margo , but celineata has larger eyes, longer antennal rami, is larger overall, and flies later in the year (mid June onwards vs. late May to early June) compared to margo . See diagnosis under G. virguncula for comparison to other species.

Description: Head – Palps black, frons and vertex pale to yellowish buff; male antennae moderately bipectinate, rami averaging 3.18 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, (N = 8); female antennae moderately biserrate; dorsal scales dark brown to black; eyes slightly reduced, mean diameter 7.1 ¥ 10 - 1 mm. Thorax – Vestiture black with pale to yellowish buff borders on vertex, patagia, and tegulae; black ventrally, base of coxa and distal area usually with yellowish buff scales; coxa and femur black centrally, yellow at base and apex, giving striped appearance, or entirely dark brown – black; tibia and tarsus pale buff dorsally, black ventrally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour yellow, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black, medial line broad; pale buff ventrally, lateral black markings broad but not confluent at midline; occasionally entirely black ventrally and dorsally. Forewing – Male forewing length averaging 15.1 mm (N = 6 males); black dorsally, vein lines complete; reduced to distal half, or absent; lines and bands yellowish; rarely pale buff; cubital vein line not thickened; medial band usually absent, occasionally present as bar in discal cell; fragmentary postmedial band often present as bar across distal end of discal cell, and/or below end of discal cell; subterminal band complete; fringe and anal margin concolourous with pale markings, costal margin entirely pale, sometimes reduced to basal half; ventral markings similar, but dark markings with a paler yellowish cast; sexes similar. Hindwing – Ground colour dull yellow or entirely black; black markings highly variable in extent, but antemedial, medial, postmedial, and subterminal elements nearly always present, and often confluent to the point where yellow is reduced to irregular central area; entirely black form relatively common in both sexes (seven of 30 specimens); ventral markings similar, but dark markings with a paler yellowish cast; sexes similar. Genitalia – not distinguishable from G. speciosa structurally; see description under G. speciosa .

Biology: Collection dates for G. speciosa celineata range from mid June to August, with most records from late June. Although the eyes are not strongly reduced in size, G. s. celineata males fly in late afternoon in spruce bogs, and are not known to come to light (pers. observ.).

Distribution: Occurs in the foothills and mountains of southern and central AB, and possibly further north in the cordilleran region of western Canada.

Remarks: The type series of celineata is restricted to specimens from the AB foothills, as specimens from northern BC, YT, and AK are few and may not represent this taxon, although provisionally included as speciosa here. Grammia speciosa celineata was associated with G. margo and G. franconia (as G. celia of auth.) by Smith (1938a, b), who believed it to be a form of ‘ celia ’ with lined forewings. Examination of additional specimens from the vicinity of the type locality of celineata show variation to typical speciosa wing pattern in specimens collected at the same locality and the same date as unlined forms. The antennal structure, eye size, habitat, and flight time are also consistent with speciosa , and differ from the margo / franconia group. The relationship of G. speciosa to G. virguncula populations where they come into contact is unclear – typical G. virguncula occurs in prairie and montane regions adjacent to populations of G. s. celineata in the AB foothills, as discussed under ‘Remarks’ for G. speciosa . The situation awaits further study.

Although this taxon was first collected over a century ago by AB’s foremost pioneer lepidopterist, Frederic H. Wolley Dod, its taxonomic affinity has remained unclear (and perhaps still is!). The range of phenotypes expressed by G. s. celineata, particularly evident in a series of Bragg Creek specimens reared by F. Sperling, may be indicative of introgression with other Grammia species (such as G. elongata ), or it may represent a regional genetic variation towards melanism wherein the paler fore- and hindwing patterns are lost or reduced.