Metalectra nigrior Troubridge

Troubridge, J. T., 2020, A new genus and 37 new noctuoid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), Insecta Mundi 2020 (789), pp. 1-56 : 14-15

Metalectra nigrior Troubridge , new species

( Fig. 11 , 68 , 120 )

BIN: BOLD:AAE9529

Diagnosis. Metalectra nigrior is similar to M. analis (Schaus) , described from Cuba, and M. dixoni , new species described below. In M. analis and M. dixoni there are patches of scattered red scales distal to the reniform spot and hindwing discal spot, normally absent in M. nigrior . In M. analis there is a patch of off-white scales between the medial line and the submarginal area of the hindwing tornus of M. analis ; these are absent in M. nigrior . Internally, the juxta of M. nigrior is an oval, elevated dome, whereas that of M. dixoni is similarly elevated, but extended dorsally to a point resembling the prow of a boat. The clasper of M. nigrior is an ovate structure with a minute terminal point, whereas that of M. dixoni is shorter and concave terminally. Metalectra nigrior also is sympatric with M. discalis (Grote) (BIN: BOLD:AAA8207) and M. quadrisignata (Walker) (BIN: BOLD:AAB4859). Metalectra discalis tends to have more light brown through the antemedial and postmedial areas than M. nigrior , the juxta is not domed, and the clasper is in the form of a bent, setose, finger-like process with no terminal point. Metalectra quadrisignata is smaller than M. nigrior , the juxta is not domed, and the clasper is like a large, setose ball, with small terminal point.

Description. Male antennae bipectinate; female antennae filiform; head, vertex, prothoracic collar, tegulae, and thorax, brown; foretibia of male brown with dense scales. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 11–14 mm. Ground color brown with patches of metallic mauve scales; basal line light brown, antemedial line light pinkish beige bordered distally with dark brown or black scales; broad, diffuse medial line dark blackish brown; postmedial line a series of dark blackish brown spots; postmedial area with a series of light beige dots on veins; submarginal line a series of obscure, dark-brown crescents; terminal line black with black dots on veins adjacent to line; fringe brown; orbicular spot black; reniform spot rectangular, black; a series of alternate blackish brown and pinkish spots present along costa. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color brown, heavily suffused with metallic mauve scales between veins M3 and 2A; black discal spot rectangular; vein 3A with light beige spot in submarginal area; postmedial line series of black dots on veins between veins M1 and 2A; postmedial area with a series of light beige dots on veins; cell 2A brown between postmedial line and wing margin; terminal line black; fringe brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 68 ). Valve lightly sclerotized in terminal half; clasper setose, arising on short stalk to form oval, apex with small, downturned hook; sacculus with setose, flattened disc adjacent to clasper; juxta with raised, oval, dome-like process; uncus long and narrow, arcs downward with pointed tip. Aedeagus with small antero-dorsal hump; vesica globular, bends to the right with two small subbasal diverticula, beneath which the ductus seminalis arises; various additional diverticula present; small submarginal sclerite present on ductus seminalis. Female genitalia ( Fig. 120 ). Ovipositor lobes setose; anterior apophyses reduced to short, bulbous, processes slightly pointed anteriorly; ostium bursae triangular, flanked by pointed triangular processes directed posteriorly; posterior ⅔ of ductus bursae heavily sclerotized; ½ of anterior section of ductus bursae membranous and the remaining half sclerotized toward appendix bursae; appendix bursae twice as long as wide, ductus seminalis arises at posterior end; corpus bursae about twice as long as wide and twice as wide as appendix bursae with a ventral field of thorn-like cornuti pointing inward and a second, smaller field on dorsal surface adjacent to appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Sarasota Co.: North Port , 27° 02.5′N, 82° 05′W, 4.Dec.2014, J. Troubridge, in the CNC . Paratypes: 18♂, 7♀: Desoto Co.: Nocatee , 27° 10.07′N, 81° 54.63′W, J. Troubridge, 1♂ ; Monroe Co.: Upper Key Largo , 25.287° N, 80.292°W, 25.Jan.2017, J. Troubridge, 1♀ ; Key Largo , 25.133°N, 80.408°W, 10.Jan.2017, M.L. Justiz, slides MGCL 3994 , 3995 , 1♂, 1♀ ( FSCA) ; Sarasota Co.: Nokomis , 27.149°N, 82.458°W, 14.Aug.2019, S. Youngblood, slide MGCL 5581 , 1♀ ( FSCA) ; North Port , 27° 02.5′N, 82° 05.0′W, 4.Dec.2014, 1♂ ; 24.Nov.2014, 2♂ ; 11.Nov. 2013, 1♂; 29.Nov.2012, 1♀; 27.Nov.2011, 1♂; 26.Nov.2012, 1♂; 23.Nov.2017, 1♂; 6.Dec.2017, 1♂; 6.Nov.2013, 2♂, 1♀; 3.Nov.2013, 4♂, 2♀; 29.Nov.2013, 1♂; 4.Dec.2012, 1♂ all J. Troubridge .

Etymology. Nigrior, from Latin means “blacker” and refers to this species being blacker than M. discalis and M. quadisignata .

Distribution. Metalectra nigrior has been collected from Sarasota and Desoto counties, southward to Key Largo, usually in pine flatwoods.

Remarks. The DNA was analyzed and the 658 COI base pairs compared with those of specimens of M. analis , M. nigrior , and M. dixoni . The results showed an 8.57% difference between M. dixoni and M. nigrior and a 7.5% difference between M. analis and M. nigrior .

Figures

Figures 1–12. Adults. 1a) Bleptina biformata ♂, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 1b) Bleptina biformata ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 1c) Bleptina biformata ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 2a) Bleptina flavivena ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 2b) Bleptina flavivena ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 3) Bleptina caradrinalis ♂, Ocala, FL. 4a) Bleptina verticalis ♂, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 4b) Bleptina verticalis ♀, paratype, Key Largo, FL. 5a) Bleptina extincta ♂, paratype, Monroe County, FL.5b) Bleptina extincta ♀, paratype, Monroe County, FL.6) Bleptina araealis ♂, Andros, Bahamas. 7a–c) Toxonprucha killamae ♀ variation, paratypes, Bahia Honda, FL. 8a) Lascoria coma ♂, paratype, North Port, FL. 8b) Lascoria coma ♀, paratype, North Port, FL. 9) Lascoria orneodalis ♂, Key Largo, FL. 10) Metalectra dixoni ♂, paratype, Florida City, FL. 11) Metalectra nigrior ♂, paratype, North Port, FL. 12a) Janzena pyraliformis ♂, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. 12b) Janzena pyraliformis, Mayagüez, PR, showing hood.

Figures 67–73. Male genitalia. 67) Metalectra dixoni, holotype, Key Largo, FL. 68) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 69) Athyrma fakahatchee, paratype, Collier County, FL. 70) Antiblemma perva, paratype, North Port, FL. 71) Toxonprucha killamae, paratype, Islamorada, FL. 72) Antiblemma carolae, Holotype, Florida City, FL. 73) Litoprosopus linea, holotype, Port Charlotte, FL.

Figures 114–122. Female genitalia. 114) Sigela sordes, paratype, Collier County, FL. 115) Sigela lynx, paratype, North Port, FL. 116) Sigela rosea, paratype, No Name Key, FL. 117) Sigela incisa, paratype, Collier County, FL. 118) Sigela minuta, paratype, Okeechobee County, FL. 119) Dyspyralis ocala, paratype, Gainesville, FL. 120) Metalectra nigrior, paratype, North Port, FL. 121) Metalectra dixoni, paratype, Florida City, FL. 122) Melipotis florida, paratype, Florida City, FL.