Tetracis australis Ferris

Ferris, Clifford D. & Schmidt, Christian, 2010, Revision of the North American Genera Tetracis Guenée and Synonymization of Synaxis Hulst with Descriptions of Three New Species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae), Zootaxa 2347, pp. 1-36 : 13

Tetracis australis Ferris , New Species

( Figs. 9 , 24–26 , 90 , 105 , 121 , 136 )

Diagnosis: The nearly straight DFW PM line, fawn color, and early-season flight period (February–June; stragglers to mid-July) separate australis from its congeners except cervinaria . Genitalic characters (male genitalia: length of furca nearly as long as aedeagus, ratio ca. 0.9; ca. 0.7 in cervinaria ; valves longer and narrower than in cervinaria ) and geography (coastal southern California to Baja California) separate australis from cervinaria . Some males of australis have a slightly ruddy aspect not usually seen in cervinaria , but this is not a reliable character for species separation. The ventral maculation of australis is paler and more diffuse than in cervinaria .

Description: Adults ( Figs. 9 , 24–26 ): FWL: 19–23 mm. External morphology as for cervinaria . Male genitalia ( Figs. 90 , 105 ): Uncus slightly decurved, basally broad tapering to rounded apex. Gnathos typically with 2 or 3 robust upcuved spines projecting from opposite ends of dorso-caudal margin. Slender robust furca from middle of anellus tapers to rounded apex, expanding slightly before apex, length of furca almost as long as aedeagus, ratio ca. 0.9. Valve basally broad with even margins, tapering to rounded apex lacking an apical projection. Aedeagus with lightly sclerotized projection at posterior end, but without ring of spinules at base of vesica; everted vesica with well-defined dome; ribbon-like lightly setose sclerotized plate at base of vesica; small irregularly-shaped slightly setose sclerotized plate and scattered small sclerotized nodules on dome. Female genitalia ( Fig. 121 ): A/P = 0.4. Tubular ductus bursae moderately long, linearly sclerotized, expanding slightly before joining corpus bursae; corpus bursae plum-shaped with pointed fundus, slightly shorter than length of ductus bursae; large oval and strongly dentate signum below junction with ductus bursae.

Type material. Holotype ♂: CALIFORNIA, Santa Barbara Co., 3 mi. N. Refugio Beach, 20 June, 1965, (no collector) [ UCB, Berkeley, California]. Paratypes: 27 ♂, 19 ♀) CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Co., Carnavon Way, Los Angeles, 17 April, 1983 (1 ♀), 4–21 May, 1983, F. P. Sala (3 ♂),, Buckham Camp, Angeles Crest, 7000’, 9 June, 1952, F. P. Sala (1 ♀); Monterey Co., Big Creek Reserve (UC NRS), 5/ 8 June, 1989, Y-F Hsu & J. Powell (3 ♂), 5/6–27/29 April, 1990 Y. F. Hsu & J. Powell (4 ♂, 7 ♀), 3/5–14/16 June, 1991, Y. F. Hsu & J. A. Powell (2 ♀), 2/ 4 May, 1992, C. A. Geiger (1 ♂, 1 ♀) 12/13–23/24 May, 1992, J. Powell & Scaccia (3 ♂), 7/ 9 June, 1993, Y. F. Hsu & J. A. Powell (1 ♀), 25/26 April, 1997, J. Powell & J. Kruse (1 ♀); San Luis Obispo Co., 3 mi. W. Paso Robles, 28 April, 1968, J. A. Powell & P. A. Opler (4 ♂, 2 ♀), 2 mi. W. Paso Robles, 28 April, 1968, J. Powell (1 ♂), 7 mi. E. Morro Bay, 23 June, 1965, J. S. Buckett (1 ♂), 3 mi. S. Atascadero, 26 April, 1968, P. A. Opler (1 ♂), Pozo, 1 May, 1962, R. L. Langston (1 ♂); Santa Barbara Co., Mission Cyn., Santa Barbara, 2 March, 1987, J. Powell (1 ♂), 3 mi. N. Refugio Beach, 20 June, 1965, J. Powell (1 ♂), 24 June, 1965 J. Powell (1♀); Ventura Co., Cherry Ck., 6 mi. E. Pine Mtn. Summit, 25 May, 1984, J. Powell & DeBenedictis (1 ♂, 1 ♀). MEXICO, Baja California Norte, Los Encinos, San Pedro Martir, 6000’, 2 June, 1958, J. Powell (1 ♂, 1 ♀). Paratypes deposited in EME and CDF.

Material examined: Additional material was examined that is not included in the type series.

Etymology. The adjectival name australis reflects the southern geographic distribution of this species.

Biology: Incompletely known. In pine-oak-manzanita habitat. McFarland (1965, as cervinaria ) cited larval hosts as Quercus and Populus in the Santa Monica Mts., Los Angeles Co., California. Adults from March to late June.

Distribution ( Fig. 136 ): Coastal southern Caifornia from Monterey Co. south to Los Encinas, San Pedro Martir, Baja California Norte, Mexico at elevations from near sea level to 7000’ (2135m). Records by state/ county are: UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA. Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara. MEXICO: Baja Caifornia Norte.

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 11. Type specimens: 3, Tetracis j. jubararia [CM photo]; 4. Synaxis jubararia sericeata [AMNH photo]; 5. Synaxis pallulata [AMNH photo]; 6. Synaxis hirsutaria (syntype) [author photo]; 7. Metanema cervinaria dorsal (D) & ventral (V) [composite of MCZ photos, used by permission]; 8 Metanema aurantiacaria dorsal (D) & ventral (V) [composite of MCZ photos, used by permission]; 9. Tetracis australis; 10. Tetracis montanaria; 11. Tetracis pallidata.

FIGURES 12 – 26. Tetracis adults: 12 – 15. T. crocallata, 12. Penobscot Co., ME, 13 – 14. Lagrange Co., IL, 15. Elkhart Co., IN; 16 – 18. T. cachexiata, Elkhart Co., IN; 19 – 23. T. cervinaria, 19, 23. Franklin Co., ID, 20 – 22. Wallowa Co., OR; 24 – 26. T. australis, Los Angeles Co., CA, paratypes.

FIGURES 87 – 94. Tetracis male genitalia with aedeagus removed and aedeagus with vesica everted. 87. T. crocallata. 88. T. cachexiata. 89. T. cervinaria. 90. T. australis. 91. T. fuscata. 92. T. pallulata. 93. T. mosesiani. 94. T. j. jubararia. Aedeagus enlarged relative to remaining structures.

FIGURES 102 – 117. Tetracis male genitalia, domes of everted vesica. 102. T. crocallata. 103. T. cachexiata. 104. T. cervinaria. 105. T. australis. 106. T. fuscata. 107. T. pallulata. 108. T. mosesiani. 109. T. j. jubararia. 110. T. j. sericeata. 111. T. montanaria. 112. T. barnesii. 113. T. formosa. 114 – 115. T. hirsutaria. 116 – 117. T. pallidata.

FIGURES 118 – 124. Female genitalia with enlarged view of signa. 118. T. crocallata. 119. T. cachexiata. 120. T. cervinaria. 121. T. australis. 122. T. fuscata. 123. T. pallulata. 124. T. mosesiani.

FIGURES 135 – 136. Tetracis distribution maps. 135. T. cervinaria. 136. T. australis.