Lasionycta sierra Crabo & Lafontaine, 2009

Crabo, Lars & Lafontaine, Donald, 2009, A Revision of Lasionycta Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for North America and notes on Eurasian species, with descriptions of 17 new species, 6 new subspecies, a new genus, and two new species of Tricholita Grote, ZooKeys 30 (30), pp. 1-156 : 91-93

Lasionycta sierra Crabo & Lafontaine , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5B1099ED-68BE-4C0B-8D25-B00413C453BF

Figs 99, 100, 182, 237. Map 20

Type material. Holotype ♁. USA, California, Mono County, Lee Vining, 7 mi WSW, 9600’, 6 Aug .. 1967, D. F. Hardwick. CNC . Paratypes 8 ♁, 12 ♀. USA. California. Fresno Co, Sierra Nevada, Mono Pass to overlook to Golden Lake , 37.424–442° N 118.771–765° W, 11400–12040’, 19–20 Aug. 1998, L. G. Crabo (2 ♁) ; Inyo County, Bishop , 14 mi SW, 9500’, 8 Aug. 1967, D. F. Hardwick (2 ♀) ; Mono County: same locality as holotype, 12 Aug. 1967, D. F. Hardwick (2 ♀), 13 July 1967, D. F. Hardwick (1 ♀), 14 Aug. 1967, D. F. Hardwick (1 ♁) ; E of Tioga Pass, Saddlebag Lake to Warren Fork , 37.94-. 95° N 119.21-. 25° W, 8520–9640’ elev., 30 July 1995 and 1 Aug. 1995, J. Troubridge and L. G. Crabo (1 ♁, 3 ♀) ; same data as last specimen, Databased for CNC, Noctuoidea # 6565, Barcodes of Life Project, University of Guelph , DNA # Noctuoidea 6565 (1 ♀) ; Tioga Pass , 37.94° N 119.21– 25° W, 8500–9600’, 21. Aug ..1998, L. Crabo and G. Morrell (3 ♁, 2 ♀) ; Tioga Pass , 8500–10000’, 31 July 1995, Troubridge and Crabo, Databased for CNC, Noctuoidea # 6566, Barcodes of Life Project, University of Guelph, DNA # Noctuoidea 6566 (1 ♁) ; same data as last specimen, Databased for CNC, Noctuoidea # 6567, Barcodes of Life Project, University of Guelph , DNA # Noctuoidea 6567 (1 ♀). AMNH, CNC, LGC, USNM .

Etymology. This species is named for the Sierra Nevada where it occurs. It is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Lasionycta sierra occurs in the Sierra Nevada and cannot be mistaken for any other Lasionycta in is range. It has a mottled gray forewing with olive-yellow and orange-yellow patches, a pale-filled ocellate orbicular spot, and a two-toned dorsal hindwing with a wide gray marginal band. Th e ventral hindwing has a darker postmedial line than other L. promulsa sub-group species, resembling those of L. uniformis multicolor and L. u. fusca in the L. phoca sub-group. Th e male valve is similar to those of other L. promulsa sub-group species. Th e band of cornuti on the distal vesica is comprised of a single row of unusually short spines. Th e female genitalia are similar to those of most other members of the sub-group.

The CO1 sequence of L. sierra is most similar to that of L. pulverea , differing by 0.18 %.

Description. Head – Antenna of male weakly bipectinate and fasciculate, 2.0–2.5× as wide as central shaft. Antenna of female filiform and ciliate. Dorsal antennal segments dark olive proximally, slightly lighter olive distally. Scape light grayish white. Eye normal size. Palpus light grayish white medially, similar scales mixed with gray laterally. Frons light grayish white centrally, gray laterally. Top of head a mixture of hair-like cream scales, tricolored scales with cream basally, black subapically, white at apex. Thorax – Vestiture similar to top of head, with a few broader gray scales at anterior prothoracic collar, appearing nearly uniform yellow gray or olive gray, central patagium slightly darker gray. Legs covered with a mixture of dark-gray and light-yellow scales. Tarsal segments nearly uniform dark gray ringed distally with yellow. Wings – Forewing length: males 14–15 mm (expanse 32–34 mm); females 15–16 mm (expanse 35–36 mm). Forewing ground color a mixture of brown-gray, yellow, and orange-yellow scales, appearing mottled olive brown with patches of yellow and orange, most prominent luteous or orange areas forming two streaks interrupted by transverse lines, one from reniform spot to lateral margin and other in fold from wing base to anal angle. Lines brown gray, single. Basal and antemedial lines irregular, jagged. Medial line broad and similar in darkness to other lines. Postmedial line moderately scalloped between veins, weakly convex from costa to lower cell and then oblique to posterior margin. Subterminal line pale brownish yellow, slightly irregular, preceded by a slightly patchy gray-brown shade, interrupted by luteous or orange streak opposite reniform spot and in fold and forming dark chevrons between veins in dark specimens. Spots similar to lines. Orbicular spot round to ovoid, filled with luteous or light-gray scales slightly lighter than ground color and containing an ocellus in most specimens. Reniform spot inconspicuous, kidney shaped, filled peripherally with luteous to orange and centrally with gray brown similar to adjacent median line. Claviform spot absent. Fringe light yellow to pale olive gray, checkered with gray brown between veins. Ventral forewing uniform fuscous gray near cubital vein and distal to expected position of subterminal line, suffused with light-gray scales from fold to posterior margin with luteous off-white scales in cell, in fold, distal to reniform spot in postmedial area, and in subterminal area. Costa a mixture of light-yellow and dark-gray scales. Discal spot kidney to chevron shaped, dark gray brown, nearly equal in darkness to ventral hindwing discal spot. Postmedial line light to dark gray brown, similar in darkness to ventral hindwing postmedial line, diffuse to lightly scalloped between veins. Fringe light yellow brown checkered with gray brown between veins. Dorsal hindwing ground color light brownish yellow with suffusion of light-gray scales. Discal spot gray, chevron shaped to weakly arrowhead shaped. Postmedial line gray, slightly ill defined, nearly touching marginal band near costa and adjacent to marginal band to inner margin of wing. Marginal band uniform dark fuscous, broad with moderately well-defined inner margin. Fringe light gray basally, white distally. Ventral hindwing grayish light yellow brown with suffusion of dark-gray scales. Discal spot dark gray, relatively small, weakly arrowhead shaped and similar in prominence to ventral forewing discal spot. Postmedial line relatively wide and well defined, variable in darkness from equal to discal spot and much darker than marginal band to fainter than spot and marginal band. Marginal band relatively narrow and moderately well-defined, gray, variable in darkness, lighter or darker than postmedial line. Fringe similar to hindwing ground color. Abdomen – Covered with a mixture of light-fuscous and few darker gray scales. Male genitalia – (Fig. 182) Genital capsule and aedeagus as in L. leucocycla species-group and L. promulsa sub-group descriptions. Valve slender, approximately 7.5–9.0× as long as wide, with a moderate neck at base of cucullus. Cucullus relatively small, with corona comprised of a single row of setae. Vesica with 1–2 basal cornuti and band of distal spines comprised of a single row of very short cornuti. Female genitalia – (Fig. 237) Ovipositor lobe, segment VIII, and bursa copulatrix as in L. leucocycla species-group and L. promulsa sub-group descriptions.

Distribution and biology. Lasionycta sierra occurs in the Sierra Nevada of California and flies in subalpine forests and alpine tundra. Adults are nocturnal and have been collected from late July through August.