Doryodes tenuistriga Barnes & McDunnough, 1918

Lafontaine, J. Donald & Sullivan, J. Bolling, 2015, A revision of the genus Doryodes Guenee, 1857, with descriptions of six new species (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Catocalinae, Euclidiini), ZooKeys 527, pp. 3-30 : 22-23

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Erebidae

Doryodes tenuistriga Barnes & McDunnough, 1918 Figs 29-31, 42, 49

Doryodes tenuistriga Barnes & McDunnough, 1918: 117.

Type material.

Syntypes ♂, ♀, Benito, Texas, USNM, examined.

Other material examined and distribution.

USA: Louisiana, Texas.

Diagnosis.

Doryodes tenuistriga adults usually can be distinguished from other species in the genus by the narrow forewing stripes. The forewing length varies from 16.5-18.0 mm (males) and 15.5-18.5 mm (females). Some specimens of Doryodes broui can be similar, but the male and female genitalia are diagnostic. In the male genitalia the sclerotized areas on the dorsal and ventral margins of the valve end in broadly rounded processes well before the mainly membranous apex of the valve; in other species the process on the dorsal margin of the valve is pointed and extends to the apex of the valve, or beyond it, and the ventral process extends to, or almost to, the valve apex and is bluntly pointed or narrowly rounded. The aedeagus is short and wide, only about 5 × as long as wide. In the vesica the dorsal and ventral diverticula are similarly elongated, giving the vesica a T-shape; the vesica immediately posterior to the aedeagus has a rounded ventral lobe with a massive spine-covered sclerotized apical plate that is unique in the genus. In the female genitalia the ventral sclerotized plate on the ductus bursae is short and wide, about as long as wide and extending about ½ length of ductus; corpus bursae rounded, with protruding sclerotized lobe on posterior left opposite appendix bursae; appendix bursae rounded, lightly sclerotized.

Distribution and biology.

Doryodes tenuistriga is known only from the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, occurring as far south as Brownsville, Texas. Its range overlaps those of Doryodes broui , Doryodes reineckei , and Doryodes latistriga , and among these species, it is likely only to be confused with Doryodes broui . The immature stages and larval host plants are unknown. Based on very few records, it appears that Doryodes tenuistriga flies throughout the year but with a primary brood in April and May and a secondary protracted brood in the fall (V.A. Brou Jr. pers. comm.).