Sympistis buchis 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 : 35-36

Sympistis buchis Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. E-25, M-10, S-3)

Diagnosis. Sympistis buchis is very similar to and most closely related to S. pernotata Grote. The species are most easily separated by the ground color of the dorsal forewing, S. buchis pinkish beige and S. pernotata gray. Internally, the ventral margin of the valve of S. buchis is narrower than that of S. pernotata – in S. buchis , the cucullus bends abruptly from the tip if the valve and runs almost parallel with the costal margin of the valve, that of S. pernotata arcing evenly from the tip of the valve. Description. Antennae filiform, prothoracic collar, head and thorax pinkish beige; abdomen light beige. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 12-14 mm. Dorsal forewing ground color pinkish beige; basal, antemedial and postmedial lines black; orbicular and reniform spots somewhat obscure, scattered light brown scales in center, ringed with pinkish beige. Claviform spot absent. Veins between postmedial line and wing margin highlighted with blackish brown scales, broadly bordered with grayish brown. Thin blackish brown terminal line, present as a series of small chevrons between veins, bordered basally with pinkish beige; pinkish beige subterminal line present only as a crescent in anal angle; fringe grayish brown, lightly checkered with beige at tips of veins. Dorsal hindwing light brown basal area blends to grayish brown terminal shade; veins and discal lunule lightly highlighted with scattered grayish brown scales; fringe white with narrow brown median line and pinkish beige base. Male genitalia. (Fig. M-10) Ventral margin of valve narrows from the ampulla of the clasper to the ventral margin of the cucullus; cucullus very narrow, arcing ventrally from tip of valve before straightening and running almost parallel with costal margin for short distance; ampulla of clasper narrow in middle, widening towards terminal spine arising on posterior margin. Vesica bends abruptly to the right with small subbasal diverticulum mid-way through bend on right; a ribbon of short, sparse cornuti extends dorsally through bend meeting a larger ribbon of sparse, long cornuti which extends along distal side of vesica to apex; a ribbon of longer, stouter cornuti extends dorsolaterally on proximal side of middle ½ of bent portion of vesica; a small single spine and a tuft of longer cornuti extend from apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. S-3) Ovipositor lobes rounded, apex with ring of short setae, corona of short setae mid way down -these setae produced at 90° to the abdomen; a ruff of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a small vshaped sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae elongate, bends dorsally and widens to form short tube towards junction of corpus bursae on right and appendix bursae on left; appendix bursae sac-like with large anterodorsal diverticulum which gradually narrows posteriorly to ductus seminalis; corpus bursae about ½ as large as appendix bursae with elongate signae on left and right.

Type material. Holotype male: USA, Utah, San Juan Co., Comb Ridge west of Bluff , 27 ix 2003, George J. Balogh, in the CNC . Paratypes: 9♂ 6♀: Utah: San Juan Co., Comb Ridge west of Bluff, 26 ix 2003, George J. Balogh 1♂ 1♀; San Juan Co., Comb Ridge west of Bluff, 28 ix 2003, George J. Balogh 2♂ 1♀; San Juan Co., Comb Ridge west of Bluff, 20 ix 2000, sandstone and sand, George J. Balogh 1♂ 2♀. Arizona: Apache Co., Rd. to Lukachukai , Chuska Mts. Above Cove, 31 viii 1974, 6000’, R. W. Holland , 2♀. Colorado : Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument, 11-12 ix 1999, E. Buckner and P. Opler , 5♂; Mesa Co., Colorado National Monument , Mouth Red Canyon, 23-24 vii, 1999, John Moore , 1♀.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Buchis is the sacred bull of the city of Hermonthis, near Thebes. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species has been collected from western Colorado and southern Utah to northeastern Arizona.