Paectes arcigera ( Guenee , 1852)

Pogue, Michael G., 2013, A review of the Paectes arcigera species complex (Guenee) (Lepidoptera, Euteliidae), ZooKeys 264, pp. 125-163 : 127-130

Paectes arcigera ( Guenee, 1852) Figs 1-4293748

Ingura arcigera Guenée in Boisduval and Guenée 1852: 312.

Type material.

St. Thomas: lost. Neotype: Dominica. USNM, here designated. This is a confusing group of species that can only be identified reliably by genitalic characters, so to ensure the stability of the name, a male labeled "DOMINICA: Grande Savane, 1 July 1964, O. S. Flint, Jr., genitalia slide male, USNM 135918 [green label]" is designated as neotype for Ingura arcigera Guenée, 1852.

Other material examined.

All specimens in USNM unless noted (62 males, 49 females). BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Guana Island, 1-14 July 1984 (22 males, 11 females), Genitalia slides m, USNM 135957, 1359980, 135991, 135993, 136010, S.E. & P.M. Miller; Virgin Gorda Island, Virgin Gorda Peak, ca. 400 m, 17-19 July 1986 (4 males, 1 female), Genitalia slide m, USNM 135958, S.E. Miller & M.G. Pogue. DOMINICA: same data as neotype (1 male, 1 female), genitalia slide male, USNM 136004, 13 May 1964 (1 male), 14 June 1964 (1 male), 28 Oct. 1966 (2 males), E.L. Todd, 31 Oct. 1966 (2 males), genitalia USNM 136003, E.L. Todd, 1 Nov. 1966 (1male), E.L. Todd; Clarke Hall, 11 Jan. 1965 (1 female), J. F. G. Clarke & Thelma M. Clarke, 16 Jan. 1965 (1 male), J. F. G. Clarke & Thelma M. Clarke; 2.2 mi E of Pont Casse, 7 May 1964, O. S. Flint, Jr. (1 male); Roseau, Nov. 1967 (1 female), N.L.H. Krauss; S. Chiltern (1 female), 8-10 Dec. 1964 (1 female), P.J. Spangler; no specific locality, May-June 1905 (1 male, 4 females), Genitalia slide m MGP 1325, E. A. Agar [BMNH], Oct. 1904 (1 male, 3 females), Nov. 1904 (1 female), Apr. 1905 (1 male), E. A. Agar [BMNH], (2 males, 2 females), Genitalia slide m MGP 1324, E. A. Agar [BMNH], (2 males, 6 females) [BMNH]; Portsmouth, 8 Oct. 1956 (1 female), E. Hamblett [BMNH]. GRENADA: St. George’s Cave, July 18 (1 male, 1 female), genitalia slide male MGP 1321 [BMNH]. GRENADINES: Union I., June 1905 (1 male), genitalia slide MGP 1322 [BMNH]. GUADELOUPE: Port de Jaray, 14 Sep. 1982 (1 male), B. Lalanne-Cassou. PUERTO RICO: Bayamón, 15 Jan. 1933 (1 female), Anderson & Lesesny; Guanica, Fajardo, 29 July 1913 (1 male), E. G. S. Collector; Maricao, Centro Vacacional, Monte del Estado, nr. Maricao, 1-9 Mar. 1971 (1 male), C.P. Kimball; Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, 3-4 Aug. 1955 (1 female), J.A. Ramos; San Juan, June–July 1932 (1 male), Genitalia slide USNM 135929, C.G. Anderson. ST. LUCIA: no specific locality, (2 males, 4 females), Branch; (4 males, 3 females), Maj. Cowrie, (2 males, 1 female) [BMNH]; 1 mi NW Soufriere, 18-23 Nov. 1975 (1 male), Genitalia slide USNM 135933, E.L. Todd. ST. VINCENT: Bequia I., Sep. 1903 (2 females); windward side, (1 male), H. H. Smith [BMNH]. TRINIDAD: No specific locality (1 female), A. Busck. U. S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: ST. CROIX: 1 mi W airport, 6-16 July 1967 (1 male), Genitalia slide USNM 42808; Christiansted, 19 Nov. 1941 (1 male), H.A. Beatty; Gallows Point, 9 July 1956 (1 female), genitalia slide USNM 136045, J.G. Coutsis; Orangegrove, W. End, 6-16 July 1967 (1 male), E.L. Todd.

Diagnosis.

The only reliable way to distinguish Paectes arcigera from Paectes asper Pogue is by characters in the male and female genitalia. Male genitalia of Paectes arcigera consist of a reduced, fingerlike valve and costa, and a greatly expanded free saccular extension (Fig. 29). In Paectes asper the valve is triangulate, the costa has a truncate apex, and the free saccular extension (Fig. 33) is approximately half the width as in Paectes arcigera . Female genitalia of Paectes arcigera have a large, half-round ostium bursae covered with thorn-like spines and the lateral apices of the eighth sternite are not produced (Fig. 37). In Paectes asper , the ostium bursae is a crescent-shaped invagination covered with fine spicules and the lateral apices of the eighth sternite are produced (Fig. 40).

Redescription.

Adults. Sexes dimorphic. Male.Head - antenna broadly bipectinate to 3/5 length, then filiform; eyes large, globular; vertex with broad scales, cream colored, thin black lines adjacent to scape; frons with broad scales, projecting slightly beyond anterior eye margin, mostly cream colored with a few gray and ferruginous scales, two black dots along eye margin, one ventral to antenna, other dorsal to palp; labial palp porrect, mixture of cream-colored, gray, and ferruginous scales, internal surface white. Thorax - prothorax somewhat variable, well-marked specimens cream colored with medial ferruginous band, anterior margin a thin black line, posterior margin gray to black and not as well defined as anterior line; patagium with cream-colored hairlike scales mixed with ferruginous, gray, and black scales; protibia cream colored mixed with a few black scales; tarsi gray with white apical bands; middle legs mixture of cream-colored and pale gray scales, scales much longer than either the pro- or hind tibia, tarsi pale gray with cream-colored apical bands; hind tibia cream colored, tarsi cream colored; underside with white hairlike scales; forewing length 9.5-12.2 mm; costal area a gray; ovate basal spot white in ventral half, pale gray white-tipped scales in dorsal half; antemedial line thin, black, from posterior margin to Cu vein, forming ventral border of basal spot; medial area between antemedial and postmedial lines mostly white mixed with pale-gray scales; some specimens with medial line consisting of two very thin crescent-shaped lines from posterior margin to just below M3 vein; reniform spot obscure, consists of two small ferruginous dots in a vertical pattern, or may only be represented by a single dot in some specimens; postmedial line a mixture of ferruginous and black scales, double line from posterior margin to vein M2 then single until merging with black dash at vein R5 that extends to outer margin; white apical spot; subterminal area variable, gray to cream colored, mixed with ferruginous scales; terminal line a series of black dashes between veins; fringe light brown to gray with gray patches at wing veins resulting in a somewhat checkered appearance; hind wing with marginal shading dark gray, veins highlighted dark gray, white between veins and at base, anal fold a white and dark gray striped pattern. Abdomen - variable, mixture of cream-colored, light-brown, and ferruginous scales, posterior margin of dorsal segments with short, black line; venter variable, can be white with faint, black medial stripe to a pair of wide black or brown stripes with a thin central line of the same color on a white background; male eighth segment membranous with a pair of short, sternal, sclerotized bars and a pair of longer, wider, dorsal sclerotized bars; a pair of lateral, coremata bearing numerous, fine, elongate setae. Genitalia (Fig. 29) - Uncus triangulate, apex recurved and pointed, 0.62-0.64 × length of subscaphium; subscaphium triangulate, decurved, pointed apex; valve membranous, reduced, widest at base and tapering to a fingerlike projection, setose; costal margin sinuate, apex produced, fingerlike projection wider than valve, setose; sacculus well developed, proximal half fused with valve, distal half free, elongate, broad, curved inward, longer than valve, apex broadly rounded; saccus U-shaped; aedeagus straight, slightly curved in distal half, dorsum near apex covered with minute spicules; vesica irregularly-shaped oval, wide diverticulum lateral to apex of aedeagus, a long, flat cornutus at base of vesica directed posteriorly, short, thumb-like diverticulum near apex and adjacent to irregular sclerotized area bearing a short, narrow cornutus. Female. As in male except:antenna filiform; forewing length 9.8-11.6 mm;medial area less contrasting with fewer white scales than male; overall more drab in appearance than male. Genitalia (Fig. 37) - Papillae anales ovate, soft, fleshy, covered with numerous setae; anterior apophyses fused with eighth segment; posterior apophyses present; venter of eighth segment covered with minute spicules; ostium bursae sclerotized, rectangulate, dorsal invagination covered with thorn-like spines, dorsal spines largest; base of ductus bursae rectangulate and fused with eighth segment; ductus bursae juncture with appendix bursae below base, striate; duct of appendix bursae narrow, striate 2/3 length; appendix bursae membranous, round; corpus bursae ovate to round, covered internally with numerous thorn-like signa.

Distribution and biology

. Paectes arcigera is restricted to the eastern Caribbean Islands from Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles, including U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad (Fig. 48). Probably flies throughout the year with flight records for all months except February. Nothing is known about biology or host plants. McMullen (1986) remarked that adults of Paectes arcigera were seen near Crytocarpus pyriformis Kunth (Nyctaginaceae) on Isla Santa Fe, Galapagos Islands, but this record can be referred to Paectes nana .

Remarks.

Paectes arcigera has been confused in collections and in the literature as Paectes obrotunda . Kimball (1965) and Minno (1992) listed Paectes arcigera as occurring in Florida, but these are based on a broad concept of Paectes arcigera that made this revision of the species complex necessary. These Florida records are now known to be referable to Paectes asper and Paectes nana . Franclemont and Todd (1983) and Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) also listed Paectes arcigera as occurring in North America, unaware that the name represented a species complex. Askew (1994) listed Paectes arcigera as occurring on Little Cayman Island, but this is probably referable to Paectes asper . Paectes arcigera and Paectes asper occur sympatrically in the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Dominica.