Sympistis disfigurata 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 : 56-57

Sympistis disfigurata Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. H-2, O-10, U-3)

Diagnosis. Externally, S. disfigurata most closely resembles S. figurata (Fig. H-1), but the ground color of the forewing of S. figurata (and S. pallidior ) is an even medium gray, that of S. disfigurata appears more mottled due to the diffuse, dark median line, which is absent in S. figurata and S. pallidior and the area between the postmedial and subterminal lines is darker than the basal area. Internally, male and female genitalic characters are very similar to those of S. pallidior ; however, in S. pallidior the corpus bursae is wider than long (Fig. P- 1) vs. longer than wide in S. disfigurata (Fig. U-3), and the fields of cornuti on the vesica are larger in S. disfigurata .

Description. Antennae filiform, head black, prothoracic collar back basally, edged with white and then gray scales; thorax and abdomen gray. Coremata with brushes, levers, and pockets present on base of male abdomen. Forewing length 12-15 mm. Dorsal forewing gray, becoming darker between postmedial and subterminal lines; orbicular and reniform spots absent; black antemedial and postmedial lines joined by black dash through the fold, diverge and run parallel to each other toward trailing edge of forewing; thin black lines centred between veins extend from terminal line toward postmedial line, except between veins M1 and M2, where line is more distinct and transects postmedial line; fringe grayish brown. Dorsal hindwing light gray to dusky white basally with darker grayish brown terminal shade (darker and wider in females); fringe white with grayish brown medial line. Male genitalia. (Fig. O-10) Valve bends slightly upward, with distinct corona; ampulla of clasper almost rectangular with anterior shoulder rounded and posterior margin leading straight to terminal spine. Vesica bends slightly to left before hooking downward and around to the right; one dorsal field of spine-like cornuti extends from base of vesica around left side of shoulder; a second field of cornuti covers right side of vesica almost to apex; one small tuft of longer cornuti and one terminal spine occur at apex. Female genitalia. (Fig. U-3) Ovipositor lobes covered with setae; ductus with sclerotized ventral plate on posterior ½; appendix bursae broadly joined to ductus bursae, arises ventrally and wraps around dorsally, narrowing to ductus seminalis. Bulbous corpus bursae with two long signae narrows anteriorly, attaches to appendix bursae via a long, narrow tube.

Type material. Holotype male: Texas , Culberson Co., Sierra Diablo Wildlife Mgt. Area 6000’, 15 vii, 1971, A. and M. E. Blanchard, in the USNM . Paratypes: 5♂ 7♀: TEXAS : Culberson Co., Sierra Diablo Wildlife Mgt. Area 6000’, 6 vi, 1969, A. and M.E. Blanchard , 1 ♂; Guadalupe Mtn. , MacKittrick Canyon, 23 v 1968, A. and M. E. Blanchard , 4♀; Guadalupe Mtn. , MacKittrick Canyon, 23 v 1973, A. and M. E. Blanchard , 2♂, 1♀; Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. National Park , Ship on the Desert, 29-30 vii 1989, E.C Knudson , 1 ♂; Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. National Park , Ship on the Desert, 22-23 vi 1989, E.C Knudson , 1 ♀; Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. National Park , Ship on the Desert, 2-3 ix 1989, E.C Knudson , 1♀; Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. National Park , Ship on the Desert, 17-19 v 1980, E.C Knudson , 1♂.

Etymology. This species looks like a mottled, disfigured S. figurata , hence the name.

Distribution. Sympistis disfigurata is known only from the Guadalupe Mts in western Texas.