Lithophane leeae Walsh, 2009

Walsh, J., 2009, Lithophane leeae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Xyleninae), a striking new species from southeastern Arizona, ZooKeys 9 (9), pp. 21-26 : 22-24

Lithophane leeae Walsh , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0C3824FD-E817-4FA0-9A40-488521E6013B

Figs. 1, 2

Type material. Holotype female. ( Fig.1 ): USA, Arizona, Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains, Onion Saddle , 7700', 14 June 2007. B. Walsh leg. Presently in the private collection of Bruce Walsh, to be deposited in the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. DNA sequence in the BOLD Barcode of life data system ( Ratnasingham and Hebert 2007).

Etymology. Known from a singularly unique female festooned in pink, this species is named after the author’s wife, Lee Fulmer.

Diagnosis. While superficially similar to L. atara (Smith) ( Fig. 3 ) in maculation, Lithophane leeae is the largest known species in the genus Lithophane . Although Lithophane leeae keys out to L. atara in the key of Troubridge and Lafontaine (2003), it clearly differs from L. atara in being a significantly larger species (forewing length 25 mm vs. 18-20 mm), with more extensive and brighter pink on the dorsal surface of the hindwing ( Fig. 1 ) and on both wings on the ventral surface ( Fig. 2 ). While the male is presently undescribed, male specimens should be easily recognized once found given the distinct appearance and barcode of L. leeae .

Description. Female (male: unknown). A large species with extensive pink suffusion on the dorsal hind wing and both wings on the ventral surface. Dorsal surface – forewing ground color gray brown, with a large reniform spot almost touching the orbicular spot. There is a deep zigzag in antemedial (am) and postmedial (pm) lines into median area fold where am and pm lines are connected by a thick black dash. Similar but thinner dashes occur from medial dash to subterminal (st) line, from lower margin of reniform spot to st line , and at wing base. Subterminal line deeply zigzagged. Basal two-thirds of hindwing heavily suffused with pink, with a light brown on outer third. Discal lunule prominent and brown. Ventral surface – ground color heavily suffused with pink on basal two-thirds of both fore- and hindwing. Reniform spot and discal

lunule dark brown and prominent. Abdomen – pink lateral tufts of hair at distal end. Differs from L. atara in its much larger size (25.0 versus 18.0 mm forewing length in L. atara ) and extensive bright pink suffusion on dorsal hindwing and very extensive pink suffusion on fore- and hindwings ventrally.

Biology and Distribution. The only known specimen was collected in mid-June at 7700’ elevation in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona. Attracted to mercury-vapor lights. Based on its phylogenetic position and biology of other Lithophanae, L. leeae is most likely a pine-feeder and probably hibernates as an adult, flying in early spring.

Figures

Figures 1-3. Adults of Lithophane species. 1, 2. L. leeae Walsh, holotype. USA, Arizona, Cochise County, Chiricahua Mountains, Onion Saddle, 7700', 14 June 2007. 3. L. atara (Smith), Canada, B. C., Summerland, 18 November 1994.