Sympistis babi 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 : 28-29

Sympistis babi Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. F-24, M-3, Q-9)

Diagnosis. Sympistis babi and Sympistis astrigata (Barnes and McDunnough) comb. n. (Fig. F-23) are closely related but easy to separate. The forewing of S. babi is a powdery gray color, with faint black antemedial and postmedial lines; that of S. astrigata is brown to grayish brown with black veins and no hint of postmedial or antemedial lines. In both species the ampulla of the clasper runs parallel with the costa of the valve.

Description. Antennae filiform, prothoracic collar black basally, edged with white and then gray scales; head, thorax and abdomen dusty gray. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 13-14 mm. Dorsal forewing gray, becoming darker with a brown hue beyond postmedial line; orbicular and reniform spots absent; antemedial and postmedial lines faint, black; veins highlighted with scattered black scales fringe grayish brown, darker basally. Dorsal hindwing white with grayish brown terminal shade; veins highlighted with scattered black scales; fringe white with narrow gray median line. Male genitalia. (Fig. M-3) Valve shaped like the prow of a canoe, bends slightly upward, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper narrows evenly to upturned apical spine, arises from clasper at low angle and runs parallel with costa of valve. Vesica bends abruptly downward and to the right before bending directly backward; a ribbon of sparse cornuti extends from base of vesica on left, around bend, and extends along ventral surface to apex; a second ribbon of cornuti extends along left side of apical ½ of vesica; a single spine and a tuft of longer cornuti extend from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. Q-9) 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 lightly sclerotized, rounded at anterior end; sac-like appendix bursae gradually narrows to ductus bursae and to ductus seminalis, which arises at anterior end; corpus bursae about ½ as large as appendix bursae, arises from right side of appendix bursae; signae absent.

Type material. Holotype female: USA, Utah, San Juan Co., Newspaper Rock, Rec. Area , 6 vi 2000, P. Opler, in the CNC . Paratypes: 5♂ 9♀: Colorado: Colorado National Monument, 13-15 vii 1968 , J. E. H. Martin, 1♀; Moffat Co., Dinosaur Nat. Monument, Pool Creek Canyon, near Echo Park, T7 N R103 W S32, 5200’, 30 vi 1994 , Terhune S. Dickel , 1♂; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, Sewage Lagoon, W. Entrance, Rogers family, 30 vi 1997 , 1♂; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, W. Entrance, 4700’, B. Rogers family, 27 vi 1996 , 1♀; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, Devil’s Kitchen pic. area, B. Rogers family, 29 vi 1996 , 1♀; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, Saddlehorn cpg., Rogers family, 9 vii 1997 , 3♀. Utah: San Juan Co., Canyonlands NP, Ranger’s residence, 4 vi 1994 , P. Opler et al., 2♀; San Juan Co., Canyonlands NP, Squaw Elat CG, 6 vi 2000 , Opler and Slotten, 2♀; San Juan Co., Canyonlands NP, Squaw Flats CG, 6 vi 1994 , Kondrateff and Opler, 1♂; San Juan Co., Canyonlands NP, Big Spring Cyn., 5 vi 1994 , P. A. Opler, 1♂.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Babi is a demonic god, thought to live on human entrails. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species is known only from northwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah.