Spragueia apicalis (Herrich-Schäffer), Herrich-Schaffer

Pogue, Michael G., 2010, of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Zootaxa 2499, pp. 1-20 : 5-6

3. Spragueia apicalis (Herrich-Schäffer)

( Figs. 7–8 , Map 4)

Identification: Forewing length 6.0–8.0 mm. Spragueia apicalis is sexually dimorphic with the male forewing ground color yellow ( Fig. 9 ) and the female dark gray ( Fig. 10 ). In the male forewing, the angulate basal band is reddish brown with a small, indistinct patch of gray scales basally along the postmedial margin; the costa and apex ochreous; an indistinct, median longitudinal streak that varies from ochreous to being mixed with reddish-brown scales and ending with an indistinct reddish-brown area at outer margin, which is adjacent to a black band on fringe. The forewing in the female has numerous thin, white scales scattered on top of the gray scales. The angulate basal band in the female forewing is reddish brown with a distal white spot on costa, which becomes faint toward M vein and does not reach posterior margin. Forewing apex in female is white, with a variable amount of reddish brown scales at tip. Hind wing in both sexes is dark gray with a dark gray fringe.

MAP 4. Collecting localities of Spragueia apicalis .

Flight period: Mid July.

Collected localities: Tennessee: Cocke Co.: Foothills Parkway, 4.5 mi from Rt. 321, 3rd overlook. (1 specimen)

Elevation range: 1920 ft. (585 m)

General distribution: Mainly southern in distribution from Pennsylvania south to Florida, west to Louisiana and Texas in the south and Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois in the Midwest. This species also occurs in the Neotropical Region from Mexico to Brazil.

Larval hosts: Broom snakeweed ( Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby , Asteraceae ) ( Covell 1984).

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 16. Adults. 3, Ponometia candefacta, m, Oklahoma, Cimarron Co., Black Mesa State Park, east end of primitive area, nr. Lake Elling, 4281 ft., 36 o 50.783 ’ N, 102 o 52.583 ’ W, 24 Aug. 2004, M. G. Pogue; 4, Ponometia candefacta, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 12 July 1966, R. W. Hodges; 5, Ponometia erastrioides, m, Maryland, Montgomery Co.: Colesville, 29 Aug. 1978, D. C. Ferguson; 6, Ponometia erastrioides, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 25 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 7, Spragueia apicalis, m, Texas, Montgomery Co., Camp Strake 9 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 8, Spragueia apicalis, f, Texas, Tyler Co., Town Bluff (Dam B) 15 Sep. 1975, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 9, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Dorchester Co., Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, 7 Aug. 1999, J. Glaser; 10, Spragueia dama, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co., Spice Creek Marsh, 17 Aug. 2003, J. Glaser; 11, Spragueia leo, f, Maryland, Prince Georges Co.: Oxon Hill, 11 July 1972, G. F. Hevel; 12, Spragueia leo, f, Arkansas, Washington Co.: Devil’s Den State Park, 3 June 1966, R. W. Hodges; 13, Amyna axis, m, Texas, Tarrant Co., Fort Worth, 14 Sep. 1962, E. Jackh Jr.; 14, Amyna axis, f, Texas, Cameron Co.: Brownsville, 27 Oct. 1970, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 15, Amyna axis, f, Texas, La Salle Co.: Artesia Wells, 11 Nov. 1971, A. & M. E. Blanchard; 16, Argillophora furcilla, m, Florida, Alachua Co.: Gainesville, hardwood hammock, 25 May 1972, E. C. Knudson.