Sympistis amenthes 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 : 25-26

Sympistis amenthes Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. C-18, L-10, Q-6)

Diagnosis. Sympistis amenthes is the sister species to Sympistis cibalis (Grote) comb. n.. The two species share similar male and female genitalic characters but are easily separated by wing coloration. Sympistis cibalis is a Great Plains species, occurring in dunes and badlands from southern Alberta and Manitoba, south at least to Colorado, west to the Rockies and again in the Fraser Canyon, near Lillooet, British Columbia. Sympistis amenthes is a Great Basin species. The hindwing of S. cibalis (Fig. C-17) is smudgy gray basally, blending to the wide marginal band, which extends from the wing margin more than ½ way to the discal lunule; that of S. amenthes has a much whiter basal area and the marginal band sharper and narrower, extending less than ½ way from the wing margin to the discal lunule. The forewing of S. cibalis from the Great Plains has a soft blending of various shades of gray and the shades of gray more contrasting in the disjunct Fraser Canyon population; in that of S. amenthes , the orbicular and claviform spots are outlined with white scales, there is a patch of pale rust colored scales between the orbicular and reniform spots, and the area between the reniform spot and the submarginal band is white. DNA analysis supports the morphological data, showing that of the 658 COI base pairs examined, there is a 2.41% difference between S. amenthes from north central Washington and S. cibalis from the Fraser Canyon, near Lillooet, BC, and a 1.88% difference between S. amenthes from north central Washington and S. cibalis , from southern Alberta.

Description. Antennae filiform. Prothoracic collar off white with sharp subbasal black line and rusty gray terminal band. Head a mix of black and white scales with narrow black line between antennae, thorax shades white and light rust scales. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 14-16 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color light blue-gray; antemedial, median, postmedial, and basal lines absent; subterminal line a row of black dashes and chevrons, bordered basally with white and then light rust and distally with white and then light rust scales; orbicular spot elliptical in shape with white border, filled with light blue-gray and scattered black and light rust scales; claviform spot with white border, filled with white scales and scattered light rust scales above anterior margin and a patch of black below poste- rior margin; reniform spot with blue-gray margin, filled with light rust and scattered black scales in posterior ½; light rust scales fill area between reniform and orbicular spots; cells between reniform spot and apex filled with white basal to subterminal line; terminal line black; fringe a series of white, light rust, white, dark gray, white and finally grayish brown lines, this terminal grayish brown line checkered with lighter shades at veins. Dorsal hindwing basal area white with grayish brown marginal band; discal lunule grayish brown; fringe white with faint dark gray median line. Male genitalia. (Fig. L-10) Valve with pointed, upturned apex; ampulla of clasper thumb-shaped with small apical spine. Vesica with two small, basal, dorsal diverticulae and bend to right in apical ¼; a ribbon of sparse cornuti runs from left basal diverticulum around to the left to ventral margin, terminating at about ¼ the length of vesica; a wide ribbon of cornuti runs along right side of middle ½ of vesica; a third ribbon of dense cornuti wraps around left side of apical ½ of vesica; a single, coarse apical cornutus and small bundle of cornuti project from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. Q-6) 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 sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae narrow; sac-like appendix bursae amphora-shaped, narrowing toward ductus seminalis at anterior end; corpus bursae absent.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Washington, Douglas Co., Corbaley Cyn., 2600’, 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 26 ix 2000 J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 7♂ 1♀: Washington: same data as holotype , 1♂; Douglas Co., Pine Cyn. , 47° 38' N, 120° 08' W, 2600’, 15 ix 2001, J. Troubridge , 1♂. Oregon: Grant Co., Weberg Rd., 1 mi. S. of Weberg , 5 ix 1997, J. Troubridge , 1♂ 9 mi. W. of Burns , 12 ix 1961, Wm. C. Cook , 1♂; Seneca , 6 ix 1955, Wm. C. Cook , 2♂ 5 mi. N. of Seneca , 5000’, 11 ix 1961, Wm. C. Cook , 1♂. Nevada: Humboldt Co., Winnemucca Mtn , 41° 01' N, 117° 46' W, 5600’, 20 ix 2001, Troubridge and Crabo , 1♀.

Etymology. Amenthes is the Hades of the Ancient Egyptians. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species is a Great Basin species, occurring from the east slope of the Cascades in north central Washington, south into Nevada.