Antaeotricha floridella Hayden & Dickel

Hayden, James E. & Dickel, Terhune S., 2015, A new Antaeotricha species from Florida sandhills and scrub (Lepidoptera, Depressariidae, Stenomatinae), ZooKeys 533, pp. 133-150 : 135-140

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Antaeotricha floridella Hayden & Dickel sp. n. Figs 1-5, 10-12, 16-17

Type material.

Holotype ♂. USA, Florida: "FLORIDA: Marion Co. | Ocala National Forest | Forest Road 88 | 3.9 Miles SE of SR 316 | Longleaf Pine Sandhills | 14 OCT 2004 BL | TERHUNE S. DICKEL", " FLMNH-MGCL | Specimen 164263" (FSCA). Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (FSCA); 1 ♂: same data except 14 Sept. 2003 UV (FSCA); 1 ♂: same data except 21 Sept. 2003 UV (FSCA); 1 ♂: same data except 1 Oct. 2003 UV (FSCA); 1 ♂: same data except 20 July 2004 (FSCA); 1 ♂: same data except 18 Oct. 2004 MV/BL (FSCA); 4 ♂: same data except 20 OCT 2005 MV/BL (one MGCL 2404) (FSCA); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: FLORIDA: Marion Co. Ocala National Forest Forest Road 97 0.5 Miles S of SR 316 Sand Pine Scrub AUG 11 2007 MV TERHUNE S. DICKEL (FSCA); 2 ♂: same data except Aug. 17 2007 (FSCA); 5 ♂, 2 ♀: same data except 3.75 Miles SSE of SR 314 Sand Pine Scrub June 14 2005 MV/BL (FSCA); 2 ♀: Marion Co. Ocala Nat. Forest, 2 mi. S. of Juniper Sprs. 25-V-1993 Linwood C. Dow, [one] MGCL slide 2965 (MGCL); 3 ♂: Putnam Co., Welaka Forest Conservation Station, Site 4, live oak xeric hammock, 28-31-VII-1986, J.B. Heppner (FSCA); 1 ♀: same data except Site 5, slash pine-palmetto flatwoods (FSCA); 1 ♀: Putnam Co. IFAS Sta. Welaka 19 Sept '87 Dow (MGCL); 1 ♀: [Osceola Co.] Kissimmee, 24 Sept '83 L.C. Dow, MGCL slide 2964 (MGCL); 1 ♂, 2♀: Martin Co., Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 8-10 Aug. 1999, J.B. Heppner, MGCL slides 1679M, 1680F (FSCA); 1 ♂: Hillsborough Co., Tampa, USF Golf Course, bait trail, 4-V-1981, H.D. Baggett (FSCA); 1 ♂: Hillsborough Co., Tampa, USF Nature Preserve near Tampa campus, 5-X-1983, H.D. Baggett (FSCA); 1 ♂: Highlands Co., Archbold Biological Station, 10 mi. S. Lake Placid, UV light, 2-V-1975, J.B. Heppner (FSCA); 2 ♂: same data except 1-V-1975, (one) MGCL slide 1685M (FSCA); 1 ♂: same locality, 9-VII-1979, insect flight trap, H.V. Weems Jr. & Cathy W. Harris (FSCA); 3 ♂: Marion Co., Ocala National Forest, vic. Hopkin’s Prairie, 11-18-V-1979, Fairchild & Weems, (one) MGCL slide 1672M (FSCA); 1 ♂: same locality, 18-V-1979, insect flight trap, G.B. Fairchild (FSCA); 1 ♀: same data as previous except 23-V-1979, MGCL slide 1693F (FSCA); 1 ♂: Lake Co. SR 19, 5 miles S of Hwy 40, from larva on Quercus geminata , 15-IX-1989 (pupa 23-IX, adult 2-X-1989), D.H. Habeck and J. Gillmore, Habeck rearing A-5188 (FSCA); 6 ♂, 5 ♀: Putnam Co. near Hollister, larvae collected on " Quercus minima ?", 29-VIII-1984, D.H. Habeck, rearing A-3586 (FSCA); 1 ♀: Marion Co. 18 mi. E. of Lynne, 7-V-1981, adult 9-V-1981, host Galactia regularis , D.H. Habeck, rearing A-2790 (MGCL slide 1706) (FSCA); 1 ♂: FLA: Marion Co. 30 Oct. 2001 ONF Vargo (FSCA); 1 ♂: Highlands Co. Archbold Biological Station, June 3 1986, M.C. Minno, at UV light (MV ABS); 1 ♂, 1 ♀: same data except June 4 1986 (MV ABS); 1 ♂: same data except June 10 1986 (MV ABS); 1 ♂: same data except July 13 1986 (MV ABS); 1 ♂: same data except July 28 1986 (MV ABS); 1 ♀: same data except July 20 1986 and "Reared ex larva in leaf & frass nest on Quercus geminata ", with pupal case (JEH genitalia slide 2777) (MV ABS); 3 ♂: Lake Placid, 30 April 1964, R. W. Hodges (NMNH); 6 ♂: Lake Placid, Archbold Biol. Sta. 1-7 May 1964, R. W. Hodges, one each with USNM Genitalia Slide nos. 76253, 76323, 76324, 76325 (NMNH); 3 ♂, 3 ♀: same data except 8-15 May 1964, males not dissected, females USNM Genitalia Slide nos. 76319, 76320, 76321 (NMNH); 1 ♂: Dade City, October, Duckworth genitalia slide 102258-D, USNM slide no. 76305 (NMNH); 1 ♀: Citrus Co. Lecanto, 1 Oct. 1996, J. Glaser, J.E. Hayden slide no. 2752 (NMNH); 1 ♀: Highlands Co. Archbold Biol. Station 10 mi. S. Lake Placid 8-V-1975 at UV light J.B. Heppner (NMNH); 1 ♂: FLA., Highlands Co. Archbold Biol. Sta. Lake Placid 13 June, 1987 T.L. Schiefer; MEM 45,268; J.E. Hayden Slide No. 2979M (MEM); 1 ♂: FLA: Flagler Co. Pellicer Crk, 13 mi N of Bunnell. 1954 J. Bauer. C.M. Acc. 17023, 10.iv. (CMNH); 1 ♀: FLA: Flagler Co. Pellicer Crk, 13 mi N of Bunnell. 1954 J. Bauer. C.M. Acc. 17023, 21.vi. (CMNH); 1 ♀: Florida, Highlands Co., Lake Placid, Archbold Biological Station, W Jay Cottage, 27.1716°N 81.3493°W 21-VI-2006 at BL & MVL J.F. Landry & P.D.N. Hebert, slide MIC 6863, Barcode of Life #CNCLEP00025987 (CNC). Paratypes deposited in MV ABS, CMNH, CNC, NMNH, and FSCA (FLMNH-MGCL Specimen nos. 164264-164315, 164327-164331).

Diagnosis.

Dorsally, the forewings of Antaeotricha floridella are immaculate white without any trace of a black spot at the distal end of the discal cell, and the hind wings are always pale gray. Antaeotricha albulella has one or two small black dots on the forewing at the distal end of the discal cell (Figs 7-9). A spot is usually visible under magnification even when worn, but some fresh specimens lack the spot entirely. The hind wings of Antaeotricha albulella are usually white, but some specimens have pale gray hind wings. Antaeotricha osseella (Walsingham, 1889) (Fig. 6) and Antaeotricha unipunctella (Clemens, 1863) are pale tan, ochreous or straw-colored with one or two black spots on the distal end of the forewing discal cell. The Western species Antaeotricha thomasi (Barnes & Busck, 1920) and Antaeotricha utahensis Ferris, 2012 are larger (forewing length ≥10 mm) and creamy white. Antaeotricha utahensis has a glossy sheen with small, scattered brown scales ( Ferris 2012).

The most obvious genitalic difference between Antaeotricha floridella and Antaeotricha albulella is the shape of the gnathos. In Antaeotricha floridella , the lobes of the gnathos are flat, round-tipped, and close together, with the length of each lobe not longer than the common stalk. This is like the shape in Antaeotricha osseella and Antaeotricha unipunctella , but in Antaeotricha albulella (Figs 13, 15), the lobes of the gnathos are acute and widely spaced, with a U- or H-shaped embayment between them, and their common stalk is shorter than each lobe, almost non-existent. The gnathos of Antaeotricha thomasi and Antaeotricha utahensis is not bifid. The anellus of Antaeotricha floridella has two lobes on each side, and the dorsal (interior) lobe bears a few chaetae that are shorter than the lobe itself. In Antaeotricha albulella and Antaeotricha osseella , the interior lobes of the anellus bear more robust chaetae that are about as long as the lobe itself. Some specimens of Antaeotricha albulella have sub-apical chaetae; these are not present in Antaeotricha floridella , although some specimens have a fine sub-apical seta. The genitalia of Antaeotricha floridella are similar to those of Antaeotricha unipunctella depicted by Barnes and Busck (1920, Pl. XXIX fig. 3). Floridian specimens of Antaeotricha unipunctella have two anellar lobes rather than the four figured by Barnes and Busck (1920) and Duckworth (1964). Antaeotricha thomasi and Antaeotricha utahensis have no anellar lobes.

In the female genitalia of Antaeotricha floridella , sternite VIII consists of two flat setose pads that are broadly joined mesally and not bordered by pockets on the anterior margin. In contrast, these pads in Antaeotricha albulella distinctly protrude out of the plane of the sternite and are partly divided by an anterior emargination (Fig. 18). There is a shallow pocket in the membrane between each protrusion and SVIII. These protrusions are diagnostic for Antaeotricha albulella and are obvious in the undissected lectotype specimen. The ductus bursae of Antaeotricha floridella is slightly longer than the corpus bursae, whereas Antaeotricha albulella has a ductus bursae as long as the corpus bursae. The signum of Antaeotricha floridella varies in shape but is generally rhombiform or trapezoidal, being at least as wide or wider mesally than at either end, and it lacks a central denticle. In Antaeotricha albulella , Antaeotricha osseella , and Antaeotricha unipunctella , the signum is more or less arachiform (peanut-shaped), being mesally constricted or at least linear in Antaeotricha unipunctella . In those species, the signum frequently has a central denticle in addition to scattered lateral denticles, which is especially well-developed in Antaeotricha osseella (Fig. 19). The central denticle is absent in Antaeotricha floridella . The signum of Antaeotricha thomasi and Antaeotricha utahensis is differently shaped (cruciform in the former and hexagonal in the latter).

Description.

Head (Fig. 5). Vertex white; frons white and laterally pale brown. Labial palpi with second segment laterally pale brown, mesally white; apical segment all white. Ocelli absent. Antenna white on scape, pedicel, and basal flagellomere, distal flagellomeres brown; male sensilla as long as width of flagellum; female sensilla short.

Thorax. Legs pale brown anteriad and laterally; mesally white. Spurs 0-2-4, inner twice length of outer.

Wings (Figs 1-2, 4). Mean forewing length of males: 6.6 mm, range 6.0-7.0 mm (n = 26); of females: 7.6 mm, range 6.5-8.5 mm (n = 15). Forewings with anterior and posterior margins parallel. Eleven veins arising separately from cell; Sc, R1, Rs1-4, M1-3 present; CuA1 and CuA2 from common point at corner of cell; CuP tubular in distal 2/5; 1A+2A forked at base. Forewings dorsally matte white with no trace of black discal spots or other maculation, or if greased, pale lemon yellow; costa proximally pale brown, distally white. Ventral side pale grayish yellow. Hind wing venation: Sc+R1 present; Rs1 stalked with M1 1/4 their length; M2 present; M3 and CuA1 from common point at corner of cell; CuA2 from well before end of cell; CuP, 1A+2A, 3A present. Hind wings pale gray on both sides, fringe white; male with tuft of short hairlike scales from base of discal cell on dorsal side. Male retinacular hook present; female frenulum double or triple.

Abdomen. Uniformly white, without androconia or otherwise modified scales.

Male genitalia (Figs 10-12). Uncus slender, distally bulbous and truncate. Gnathos with two lobes, flattened and broadly pointed, lobes as long as common stalk, set closely. Vinculum broadly concave ventrally. Distal half of valva narrowly rounded and membranous; medio-central extension of valva ( “harpe” of Duckworth 1964) mitten-shaped, with “thumb” on costal half parallel-sided, twice as long as wide, bearing long, curved, bifid setae, and with lateral half broadly triangular, with short, straight, bifid setae. A narrow, setiferous ridge present basal of thumb. Each half of anellus with two lobes: ventral (exterior) lobe with long setae, dorsal (interior) lobe with a few short chaetae restricted to apex, no longer than the lobe. Phallus without cornuti; with (specimens from southern Florida) or without low subapical tooth.

Female genitalia (Figs 16-17). Papillae anales rounded, setose. Apophyses anteriores elongate, extended to posterior margin of sternum VII. Apophyses anteriores short. Sternum VIII with two square setose pads, not or only slightly projected, joined mesally the entire length but not medially setose. AVII–AVIII membrane without concavities. Ostium bursae in middle of sternum VII. Lamella antevaginalis a narrow, curved band. Lamella postvaginalis with a broad, triangular extension covering ostium. Ductus bursae as long or longer than corpus bursae, not sclerotized, leading straight into corpus bursae or with a half-twist. Ductus seminalis from near posterior end of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae pyriform. One signum (Fig. 17) situated halfway along corpus bursae, bulged inward, roughly rhombiform with transverse axis the longer; shape variably ovoid, rhomboid, or with anterior side slightly more acute than posterior; denticles present on each half, without central denticles along mesal suture or in center.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is an adjective derived from the state of Florida, diminutive like congeners.

Distribution.

The type locality is in Ocala National Forest (Marion County, Florida, USA) south of Lake Kerr in sandhills dominated by longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) (Fig. 20). The known distribution is peninsular Florida, including ten counties: Citrus, Flagler, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Marion, Martin, Osceola, Pasco, and Putnam.

Ecology.

Antaeotricha floridella has been reared on leaves of Quercus geminata Small (sand live oak) and Quercus minima (Sarg.) (dwarf live oak; identified with “?”). D.H. Habeck reared a specimen on Galactia regularis (L.) (downy milkpea). Adults have been collected April 10-October 30.