Sympistis khepri 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 : 47

Sympistis khepri Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. A-27, N-10)

Diagnosis. Sympistis khepri is most likely to be confused with S. rustica (Barnes and McDunnough) comb. n.. The forewing is grayer than S. rustica , the hindwing lacks the terminal shade of S. rustica , and it has a dark brown basal dash, which is absent in S. rustica . Internally, the vesica of S. khepri is much longer (about 7x as long as wide) than that of S. rustica (about 4x as long as wide).

Description. Antennae filiform, head and thorax brown with scattered off-white scales; prothoracic collar brown with black basal line; abdomen light grayish brown. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 13 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color brown with scattered light gray scales on veins and along costa; faint basal, antemedial, and postmedial lines dark brown; obscure subterminal line of scattered light brown scales; terminal line dark brown; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots absent; dark brown basal dash present; dark brown line extends through discal cell to postmedial line; veins between postmedial line and terminal line dark brown. Fringe brown, checkered with dark brown between veins. Dorsal hindwing white; terminal line dark brown; fringe white with brown median line. Male genitalia. (Fig. N-10) Valve shaped like prow of canoe with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper arises about ½ of the way between base and apex of valve, anterior bulge makes ampulla wider at apex than base; terminal spine produced at posterior corner of apex. Vesica with a ribbon of cornuti extending from dorsal base of vesica around to the left side, terminating at apex; a second patch of cornuti extends along right side of middle 2 of vesica; a single heavy spine and tuft of long cornuti occur at apex. Female genitalia. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype male: USA, Arizona, Baboquivari Mts. , 23 iv 1938, Grace N. and John L. Sperry, in the AMNH.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Khepri is the sacred scarab. It is a noun in apposition. Distribution. This species is known only from the unique holotype, collected in the Baboquivari Mts., Arizona.