Thyraylia wiscana ( Kearfott, 1907 ) Brown, 2019

Brown, John W., 2019, New genera, new species, and new combinations in New World Cochylina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae), Zootaxa 4671 (2), pp. 195-222 : 219-220

Thyraylia wiscana ( Kearfott, 1907) , new combination

Figs. 17, 18 , 32 , 46

Phalonia wiscana Kearfott, 1907: 77 ; McDunnough 1939: 60; Klots 1942: 419.

Phalonia acropeda Meyrick, 1912: 35 (unnecessary replacement name).

Cochylis wiscana: Powell 1983: 42 ; Razowski 1977: 132.

[ Cochylini New Genus 6] wiscana: Brown, 2005: 208 ; Metzler & Brown 2014: 278.

Described in Phalonia and treated as such by McDunnough (1939), wiscana was transferred to “incertae sedis” by Powell (1983). Pogue (1986) proposed the name Poterioparvus in his unpublished dissertation for Phalonia wiscana , and Pogue and Mickevitch (1990) used Poterioparvus in their phylogenetic analysis of the genera of North American Cochylidae . Brown (2005) treated it as “ Cochylini New Genus 6 [ wiscana group].” According to Pogue (1986), Poteriorparvus is the sister group to Thyraylia . Based on the distinctive shape of the valva with a long, free spine near the middle, which is the most convincing synapomorphy for Thyraylia , wiscana is transferred to Thyraylia .

Thyraylia wiscana is easily distinguished from other species of Thyraylia by its larger size and forewing pattern ( Fig. 17, 18 ). Forewing length averages about 9.0 mm, and the pattern includes a pale whitish gray ground color with a pinkish hue and a poorly-defined, beige to rust median fascia that extends uninterrupted from the hind margin to the costa. The only species of Cochylina of similar size in the eastern half of the U.S. are small individuals of Phtheochroa , most of which are dark brown. The male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ) are most easily distinguished by the somewhat trifurcate apex of the socii.

Distribution and biology. Aside from the holotype from Wisconsin (AMNH), I examined nine specimens from Kentucky (USNM), most of which were collected by malaise trap, and one from Pennsylvania (MSC). Hence, it is possible that this species is diurnal and not avidly attracted to light. Razowski (1997) reported this species from Saskatchewan (n = 2); however, the illustrations of the male genitalia that he provided ( Razowski 1997: figs 100–101) belong to a species of Cochylichroa. The Kentucky specimens are all from April, the specimen from Pennsylvania is from late May‒early June, suggesting a rather early flight period.

Holotype ♀, USA, Wisconsin ( AMNH).

Figures

FIGURES 11–18. Adults of Cochylini genera. 11. Cochylichroa atricapitana, United Kingdom (USNM). 12. Monoceratuncus lantana, Falfurrias, Brooks Co., Texas (USNM). 13. Mimcochylis fulvotinctana, Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona (USNM). 14. Aethes ringsi, Highlands, Macon Co., North Carolina (USNM). 15. Aethes triassumenta, old landfill off Hibbs Road, Carteret Co., North Carolina (USNM). 16. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida (USNM). 17. Thyraylia wiscana, Bernhelm Forest, Bullitt Co. Kentucky (USNM). 18. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Menifee Co., Kentucky (USNM).

FIGURES 27–32. Male genitalia of Cochylini genera. 27. Cochylichroa atricapitana, Germany, USNM slide 152,637. 28. Monoceratuncus lantana, Falfurrias, Texas, USNM slide 23,055. 29. Mimcochylis fulvotinctana, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USNM slide 23,049. 30. Aethes ringsi, Highlands, North Carolina, USNM slide 153,612. 31. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida, USNM slide 23456. 32. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, USNM slide 145,219.

FIGURES 44–46. Female genitalia of Cochylini genera. 44. Aethes ringsi, Putnam Co., Illinois, USNM slide 23,338. 45. Aethes triassumenta, St. Petersburg, Florida, USNM slide 23,738. 46. Thyraylia wiscana, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, USNM slide 153,613.