Sympistis sesmu Troubridge, 2008

Troubridge, J. T., 2008, A generic realignment of the Oncocnemidini sensu Hodges (1983) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Oncocnemidinae), with description of a new genus and 50 new species, Zootaxa 1903 (1), pp. 1-95 : 15-16

Sympistis sesmu Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. C-5, L-1, P-11)

Diagnosis. Sympistis sesmu is quite similar to S. incubus and S. seth , occurs with both species, and is most easily distinguished from them by the hindwing. In S. sesmu , the black band is considerably narrower and less sharply defined on both dorsal and ventral surfaces, veins M3, CuA, and CuA2 are highlighted with scattered brown scales in S. sesmu but not S. incubus and S. seth , and the female hindwing of S. sesmu is much darker. Internally, the cornuti at the base of the vesica on the ventral side are much longer than in S. incubus and S. seth .

Description. Antennae filiform. Prothoracic collar beige then a thin black line, buff, brown, buff, brown, and buff lines. Head, thorax, and abdomen a mix of various shades of brown scales. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets absent from base of male abdomen. Forewing length 15-17 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color beige brown; black denticulate antemedial line bordered basally with beige scales; undulating postmedial line black, edged distally with buff scales; medial line grayish brown; basal line black; veins from antemedial through postmedial lines edged with white scales, black between postmedial line and subterminal line; a weak series of black dashes extend between veins through postmedial area almost to terminal line; subterminal line occurs as a series of beige dots within these black dashes; black terminal line edged basally with beige scales; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots well demarcated with black outer and beige inner lines with an inner ring of brown scales; fringe a series of cream, brown, white, brown, white, and finally brown lines. Dorsal hindwing basal area off-white in males, brown in females; submarginal band dark grayish brown, not sharply defined; veins M3, CuA, and CuA2 highlighted with scattered brown scales; fringe cream basally, a thin brown line, then white distally. Male genitalia. (Fig. L-1) Valve with rounded, upturned apex; ampulla of clasper talon-like, mid-section slightly widened. Vesica bends 90° to the left; a patch of long cornuti on posterior and ventral sides of elbow at base of vesica; a dense ribbon of cornuti occurs on dorsal surface along distal ½ of vesica; a ribbon of fine cornuti extends along terminal 1/4 of posterior margin of vesica; a single, coarse apical cornutus and small bundle of cornuti projected from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. P-11) Ovipositor lobes rounded with scattered setae; a corona of short setae surrounds ovipositor lobes near tip, these setae produced at 90° to the abdomen; a ruff of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae very short; appendix bursae bulges ventrally near ductus bursae, rounded at anterior end where ductus seminalis arises on dorsal side; corpus bursae absent.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Washington, Douglas Co., Corbaley Cyn., 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 2600', 16 ix 2000, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 89♂ 16♀: Washington: same data as holotype , 17♂ 1♀ Douglas Co.: Corbaley Cyn. , 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 2600', 16 ix 2000, J. Troubridge , 1♂ 1♀; Pine Cyn. , 47° 38' N, 120° 08' W, 2600', 14 ix 2002, J. Troubridge , 36♂ 6♀; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 37' W, 15 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 6♂ 2♀; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 37' W, 14 ix 2002, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 37' W, 16 ix 2000, J. Troubridge , 4♂ 1♀; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 37' W, 26 ix 2000, J. Troubridge , 1♀; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 37' W, 17 ix 1999, J. Troubridge , 4♂; Douglas Co., Jameson Lk., south end, 27 ix 1996, J. Troubridge , 1♂ 1♀; Umptanum Cr. , 1800’, 46° 52' N, 120° 34' W, 14 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 8♂ 2♀; Umptanum Cr. , 1800’, 46° 52' N, 120° 34' W, 7 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 1♂. Oregon: Lake Co., Rt . 140 N. of Adel , 42° 12' N, 120° 00' W, 21 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 6♂ 2♀; Harney Co., Threemile Cr., 26 ix 1997, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Harney Co., Catlow Rim , Threemile Cr., 42° 30' N, 118° 54' W, 4600’, 30 xiii 2000, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Baker Co., Cornet Cr., 44° 29' N, 117° 51' W, 3600’, 19 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Baker Co., Burnt R. Cyn. , 44° 34' N, 117° 34' W, 3031’, 19 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 1♂; Malheur Co., Malheur R., 43° 46' N, 117° 44' W, 2700’, 27 ix 1998, J. Troubridge , 1♂.

Etymology. Sesmu is the Egyptian god of oil and wine pressing; it is a noun in apposition. Specimens of S. sesmu invariably grease up.

Distribution. This species is known from xeric lithosol habitats in eastern Oregon and central Washington.