Amorbia laterculana ( Zeller, 1877 )

Phillips-Rodríguez, Eugenie & Powell, Jerry A., 2007, Phylogenetic relationships, systematics, and biology of the species of Amorbia Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Sparganothini)., Zootaxa 1670 (1670), pp. 1-109 : 27

12. Amorbia laterculana ( Zeller, 1877)

Figs. 30, 31, 73, 74, 98, 135

Oenectra laterculana Zeller, 1877 , Hor. Soc. Ent. Ross. 13: 113.

Amorbia laterculana ; Walsingham, 1913, Biol. Centr. Amer., Lep.-Het. 4: 221.

DIAGNOSIS. Within the Colubrana Group, A. laterculana and A. knudsoni are the only species lacking a costal fold. Amorbia laterculana has a conspicuous spine on the aedeagus, has asymmetrical valvae, and lacks struts of the socii. In contrast, A. knudsoni lacks the spine, has symmetrical valvae, and has struts of the socii.

REDESCRIPTION. MALE. FW length 12.3–14.0 mm (mean = 13.0; n = 10). HEAD: Vertex brownish. Labial palpus brownish, inner surface paler. THORAX: Dorsum smooth scaled, ground color brownish, tegula concolorous. FW ground color pale brown to brown, pattern diffuse; in some specimens a dot at end of discal cell. Termen produced. HW beige. ABDOMEN: Pale brown. Genitalia as in Fig. 73 (slide # EPR12, SDNHM, Mexico, Sinaloa; n = 5). Uncus simple. Socii without stuts. Valvae asymmetrical, left valva with deep rounded subbasal emargination. Aedeagus 0.75X length of valva, with conspicuous subapical, dorsal spine ( Fig. 74).

FEMALE. FW length 13.0–17.0 mm (mean = 15.0; n = 10). HEAD and THORAX: As described for male. ABDOMEN: Genitalia as in Fig. 98 (slide # 5810, EME, Mexico, Nuevo León; n = 3). Ostium sclerotized; ductus bursae uniform in width throughout, strongly sclerotized near ostium .

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: Female : MEXICO ( MNB).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. GUATEMALA: QUETZALTENANGO: Volcán Santa María, 3F, vii.[no year] (Schaus & Barnes, USNM). [STATE UNKNOWN]: San Lorenzo, 1700 m, 1M, 6/ 10.xi.1986 (P. T. Dang, CNC). MEXICO: CHIAPAS: 3 mi S Triatoria, 5200 ft, 1F, 1/ 6.viii.1966 (Breedlove & J. Emmel, USNM); San Cristóbal de Las Casas, 2300 m, 1F, 23.vii.1969 (D. Kritsch, CNC), 1M, 4F, 23/ 27.vi.1981 (V. Becker, VBC); Lagos de Colores, Rt.17, 1F, 13.vi.1969 (A. Mutuura, CNC). DURANGO: 10 mi W of El Salto, 9000 ft, 1M, 9.vii.1964, 4M, 8.viii.1964 (J. E. H. Martin, CNC), 1M, 1F, 1/ 2.viii.1964 (J. Powell, EME). ESTADO DE MEXICO: Zacualpan, 2235 m, 1F, ix.1909 (R. Müller, USNM). MORELOS: Cuernavaca, 1M, 28.x.1989 (r.f. Lantana camara , Verbenaceae ) (K. Pullen, EME); Lag. Zempoala, 1F, 10.xi.1965 (O. Flint & Ortiz, USNM). NUEVO LEON: 4 mi W Iturbide, 5M, 1F, 21/ 25.ix.1975, 2M, 13/ 14.ix.1976 (J. Chemsak & J. Powell, EME); 2 mi S Monterrey, Chipinque Mesa, 2M, 10.viii.1963 (W. Duckworth & D. Davis, EME); Cerro Potosí, 2800 m, 1F, 26.vi.1997 (Becker, VBC). OAXACA [?]: 6140 ft, 3F [no date] (T. Escalante, USNM). SAN LUIS POTOSÍ: Tejocote, El Chico, 11.ii.1933 (T. Escalante, USNM). SINALOA: 28.2 mi E Concordia, 3M, 24/ 28.vii.1987 (N. Bloomfield, SDNHM); 8 mi W El Palmito, 6400 ft, 8/ 12.viii.1972 (J. Powell, D.Veirs & C. D. MacNeill, EME), 1M, 2F, 12.x.1975 (J. Powell & J. Chemsak, EME); 1.1 mi W El Palmito, 6700 ft, 1F, 26.viii.1976 (J. & K. Donahue, LACM). [STATE UNKNOWN]: Tamalpan [possibly Zacualpan, Morelos], 2235 m, 1F, v.1918 (Müller, USNM).

DISTRIBUTION AND BIOLOGY. This species is known from Guatemala to Sinaloa, Mexico ( Fig. 135) at elevations mostly between 1700 to 2800 m. The data show flight activity from May to November, with one record from February. The early stages are unknown.

HOST PLANT RECORDS. Amorbia laterculana was reared from Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) .