Sympistis hathor 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 : 37-38

Sympistis hathor Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. E-14, N-1, S-5)

Diagnosis. Sympistis hathor and S. septu are separated from the other species in the S. homogena group by the ground color of the forewing, which is brown to yellowish brown, not gray or grayish brown as in the other species. Sympistis hathor and S. septu are distinguished from each other by the dorsal forewing, which in S. hathor is heavily suffused with black scales except within the orbicular and reniform spots, which stand out as being paler than the surrounding area. In S. septu , the wing is yellowish brown with scattered black scales and the orbicular and reniform spots are only faintly discernable.

Description. Antennae filiform, head and prothoracic collar brown, thorax brown with scattered whitetipped black scales; abdomen light grayish brown. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 14-16 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color light brown, heavily suffused with black scales; dark grayish brown subterminal band about as wide as that of hindwing; faint or obscure, light brown, jagged subterminal line extends through middle of this band. Antemedial line dark grayish brown; dark grayish brown postmedial line faint or obscure; area between dark subterminal band postmedial line less heavily suffused with black scales than remainder of wing; orbicular and reniform spots light yellowish brown, thinly outlined with dark grayish brown scales; terminal line absent; fringe dark grayish brown, checkered with darker grayish brown between veins and light yellowish brown basal line. Dorsal hindwing basal area with white scales under long brown hairs giving a dirty off-white appearance; veins with scattered grayish brown scales; discal lunule absent; sharply defined terminal band dark grayish brown; fringe white distally, light yellowish brown basally with brown medial line. Male genitalia. (Fig. N-1) Valve shaped like the prow of canoe, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper parallel sided with terminal spine arcing from posterior margin; clavus well-developed, about as tall as wide. Vesica with small basal, ventral diverticulum bends slightly to the right; a patch of short, sparse cornuti on left near base and second patch of much longer cornuti on right at base; a ribbon of long cornuti extends along ventral margin of apical ¾ of vesica; a second ribbon of longer, stouter cornuti extends along apical ½ of vesica, nearly to apex, where vesica narrows and bends downward toward low subapical diverticulum with comb of long cornuti and single apical spine. Female genitalia. (Fig. S-5) Ovipositor lobes rounded, apex with long, fine setae, corona of short setae midway down -these setae arc anteriorly; a ruff of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a Y-shaped sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae elongate, about same length as corpus bursae, widens with diverticulum on dorsal side half way between ostium bursae and appendix bursae; appendix bursae ellipsoidal, narrowing to ductus seminalis at anterior end; corpus bursae ellipsoidal, about ¾ as large as appendix bursae, arises via narrow duct from left side of appendix bursae near ductus bursae, elongate signae on dorsal and ventral sides.

Type material. Holotype male: USA, Oregon, Malheur Co., Namorf , 43° 46' N, 117° 44' W, 2700’, 31 viii 2002, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 13♂ 2♀: Oregon: same data as holotype , 5♂; Malheur Co., Namorf , 43° 46' N, 117° 44' W, 2700’, 6 ix 1999, J. Troubridge , 6♂; Malheur Co., Namorf , 43° 46' N, 117° 44' W, 2700’, 27 ix 1998, J. Troubridge , 1♂ 1♀; Madras , 10 mi SW, 2100’, 11 ix 1970, D. F. Hardwick , 1♀.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Hathor was the goddess associated with the living queen. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species has been collected in riparian areas in the deserts of eastern Oregon and northern Nevada.