Ethmia gigantea Busck 1914

Ethmia gigantea Busck, 1914c:54

A Mexican species with a brown and white forewing pattern similar to E. marmorea; having the greatest forewing length of the New World Ethmiidae.

MALE.–Length of forewing 14.6 to 17.4 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.2 to 1.35 times eye diameter; third segment straight, slightly reflexed, length about 0.7 to 0.8 that of second (0.8 to 1.1 times eye diameter); smooth scaled, second segment white, broadly blackish basally and with a narrow subapical, black band exteriorly, third segment entirely blackish except white in a narrow median band exteriorly and extreme tip. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter; dorsal scaling blackish. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown whitish, occipital tufts broadly blackish at midorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, bases of tegulae and adjoining areas of collar broadly dark brownish black, reflecting steel blue, notum with a large, concolorous median blotch and two pairs of smaller, lateral spots of the same color adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs mostly brownish exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.1 to 3.3 times width; costa nearly straight beyond basal one-third, apex acute, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle nearly obsolete. Ground color dark brownish black, nearly unicolorous on costal half, at times with some indistinct paler blotches; dorsal area white, the dividing line sinuate, fairly distinct, along Cu fold, with broad spurs of dark in dorsal area near base and just before middle, thence angled upward to end of cell with an elongate dark spur or separate spot angled back above tornus; a distinct spot beyond basal spur near dorsum; terminal area white except just below apex. The dark costal area extended narrowly to fringe; a row of blackish dots subtending fringe, from before apex to tornus. Fringe white with a tinge of brown below apex. Underside brown, dorsal area white. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal area with a narrow fold, ending before end of cell, tightly appressed, enclosing a thin, whitish hair pencil; costal margin convex beyond fold, apex acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish, semitraslucent basally, becoming pale brownish on apical half; fringe white; underside similar, costal area brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown, ventral pale brownish, genital ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 147 (drawn from topotype, JAP prep. no. 1102; two preparations examined); uncus membranous, short; valva broad, its apical “plume” short; vesica with some roughened sclerotization.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 16.8 to about 17.5 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye slightly smaller, labial palpus and antennae about as large as in male. Hindwing costal area simple, ground color not darker than on male. Genitalia similar to E. nigritaenia (Figure 253) and E. cyanea (Figure 259), one preparation examined; sterigma simple, ringlike, antrum sclerotized, with a ventral fold, ductus with about three small and five large coils, signum elongate with a deep cleft on the inner ridge.

TYPE DATA.–Mexico, Zacualpan, August 1913 (R. Muller); type female in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Mexico (Zacualpan, presumably in northwestern Veracruz) and Guatemala (Chichicastenango).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–April, June, August.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

The Trifurcella Group

Eye index 1.0—1.2. Maxillary palpus moderately large, four segments varying in lengths, about 2:2:2:3. Labial palpus moderately elongate to elongate, II segment index 1.3–1.8; smooth scaled. Antenna of male slightly dilated to dilated, index 0.20–0.30. Forewing moderately broad; pattern costal-dorsal. Hindwing of male with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold. Abdomen usually with genital scaling ochreous, at times basal two terga with specialized scaling. Uncus and gnathos absent; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with cucullus “plume” bearing scalelike setae that are bifid apically; valva usually with distal specialized seta-bunch; fultura-manica simple; vesica simple or armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged, usually with sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous, at times sclerotized basally, 5–9 tight coils; signum a notched keel.

This is a somewhat loose assemblage of 17 superficially similar nocturnal species distributed primarily in semiarid parts of the southwestern Nearctic and northern Neotropical regions. Phenetic assessments indicate E. semiombra, the playa-baja complex, and E. oterosella do not cluster well with other members of the group. They are retained, as I believe they represent separate ex-group derivatives of this New World group, which has no relatives in the Old World fauna. Ethmia oterosella, the only Antillean representative, may well be excluded when the female genitalia have been studied.

Ethmia semiombra Dyar

Ethmia semiombra Dyar, 1902:206.–Busck, 1906b:728.–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 27, 36.–McDunnough, 1939:83.

This species, which occurs in eastern Mexico and southern Texas, has the costal-dorsal forewing pattern of the Trifurcella group, with the costal brownish half variably replaced by whitish along the costa.

Ethmia semiombra semiombra Dyar, new status

A Texan and Mexican race having the forewing with a whitish or grayish dorsal band and a dark blackish or brownish costal half which is indistinctly and irregularly replaced by whitish along the costa.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.2–9.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, second segment length 1.4 to 1.5 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, 0.80–0.83 the length of the second; smooth scaled, whitish, second segment with basal half exteriorly and a narrow subapical band black; third segment with broader submedian and subapical bands. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.22 eye diameter; dorsal scaling brownish black. Scaling of tongue and front whitish, crown and occipital tufts tinged with grayish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling unicolorous whitish, tinged with grayish. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs broadly blotched exteriorly with dark or pale brownish gray, hind legs blotched with pale brownish on darker individuals. Forewing: Moderately broad, length 3.1–3.2 times width; costa slightly more strongly curved than related species, appearing slightly concave before apex owing to fringe, termen very strongly angled back, tornal angle nearly obsolete. Ground color dark on costal half; whitish, lightly to heavily tinged with gray, on dorsal half; dividing line sinuate, on Cu fold at base, curving into dorsal area as shallow lobes at basal one-third and at about middle, thence upward to lower corner of cell and on to termen; dorsal area usually unmarked except for a small spot below and beyond lower corner of cell, at times a small spot at basal one-third; costal half darkest in cell, becoming slightly and indistinctly paler at costa, at times rather broadly whitish, a more distinct pale area before apex; a row of dark spots at margin, scarcely discernible except in preapical pale area. Fringe whitish tinged with grayish at apex and tornus, broadly dark below apex. Underside brown, a paler area in cell. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costal area with a narrow fold, ending before termination of Sc, a large whitish hair pencil from base, mostly outside fold; apex rather blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish basally, becoming pale brownish on apical half; fringe gray, paler at anal area. Underside similar, slightly paler. Abdomen: Dorsal and ventral scaling pale to dark gray brown, genital scaling slightly paler, not ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 148 (drawn from plesiotype, Brownsville JAP prep. no. 1152; three preparations examined); uncus membranous, fultura extended as a ventrally sclerotized sheath around aedeagus; basal processes unusually heavily sclerotized, curved outward at middle, valva with a strong distal projection; vesica with a spiral, rasplike sclerotized cornutus.

MAP 57.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia semiombra Dyar.

E. s. semiombra E. s. nebulombra Powell

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 11.0–11.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye relatively slightly smaller (absolute size about the same as in the smaller male); labial palpus as large or larger than in male, second segment length 1.6–1.7 times eye diameter; antenna as large as in male. Color generally darker, especially the hindwing; abdominal scaling darker, the genital scaling distinctly ochreous. Genitalia as in E. s. nebulombra (Figure 260); sterigma not differentiated from VIII sternite, antrum with light sclerotization on one side, signum an open fold with a broad emargination in the inner ridge, which is deeper than in nebulombra (Figure 261, drawn from plesiotype, Texas, JAP prep. no. 2562; one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.–San Diego, Texas, June 12, 1895 (E. A. Schwarz); Brownsville, Texas, June 20, 1895 (C. H. Townsend); USNM type No. 6623. Two females in U.S. National Museum bear the above data and identical type numbers. The former bears an additional “Holotype” label and may be con-

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Southwestern Texas sidered as such.

(Brewster County) and southern Texas to southern Tamaulipas, Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Evidently multivoltine; February, May, June, and September (Texas), July (Tamaulipas).

FOOD PLANT.–Probably Ehretia elliptica de Candolle (Boraginaceae); a series of specimens in the U.S. National Museum from Brownsville bear labels “on Ehretia sp.,” “ex Anagua,” and “on Anacua” (Reagan), presumably referring to Gaza anacua, now considered to be a synomym of E. elliptica. Additional specimens from the Reagan material were reared from “wild hackberry.”

The 18 specimens from Tamaulipas, Mexico, are generally somewhat larger and appreciably darker than a smaller and older sample of flown individuals from Texas.

Ethmia semiombra nebulombra Powell, new subspecies

A race in Yucatan which differs from s. semiombra by a generally paler appearance, particularly due to a broad, pale costal area of the forewing.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.5 to 11.0 mm. Generally similar to s. semiombra, differing as follows: Head: Labial palpus size slightly more variable in the sample available, third segment 0.75–0.83 the length of second. Forewing: Color pattern with dividing line between light and dark more produced into dorsal area, forming two dark squarish spurs, rather than broad, ill-defined ones; costal area irregularly whitish, at times restricting dark portion to an ill-defined, brown, broad, longitudinal band through middle of wing, blackish in cell as in s. semiombra; the dot in basal one-third in dorsal area present, at least a trace. Hindwing: Whitish, tinged with brownish distally. Genitalia very similar to s. semiombra (Figure 148); valva slightly broader distally, with less well developed distal production below the “plume.”

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.4 to 11.8 mm. As described for nominotypic race; pale ground color generally darker than in male, tinged with gray to uniform gray, narrowly bordered with whitish adjoining dark markings. Hindwing much darker than in male, dark brownish on distal half. Genitalia as in Figure 260 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 2698; two preparations examined); essentially as in E. s. semiombra, inner ridge of signum evidently shallower with slightly larger teeth.

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, Merida, Yucatan, July 29–30, 1964 (P. J. Spangler); deposited in U.S. National Museum. Eleven paratypes, all Yucatan, as follows (Map 57): same data as holotype, 3♂, 3♀, Chichen Itza, 1♂, II–4–56, 1♀, III–11–56, 1♀, IV–8–56, 1♀, V–26–55, 1♀, IX–27–55 (E. C. Welling). Deposited in California Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

Ethmia albicostella (Beutenmüller)

Anesychia mirusella.–Chambers, 1877 [not Chambers, 1874]: 121.

Psecadia albicostella Beutenmüller, 1889:9.

Ethmia mirusella.–Dyar, 1902 [not Chambers, 1874]:203 [in part].–Barnes and Busck, 1920 [not Chambers, 1874], pls. 27, 36.–McDunnough, 1939 [not Chambers, 1874]:83 [in part].

Ethmia mirella Meyrick, 1914:29 [in part].

MAP 58.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia albicostella (Beutenmüller).

A widespread species in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico having narrow forewings which are evenly divided by a straight, longitudinal line, brownish gray on costal, white on dorsal half.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.2 to 13.2 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, variable; second segment length 1.05 to 1.20 eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.4 to 0.8 that of second (0.45 to 1.0 eye diameter); scaling slightly shaggy, second segment blackish exteriorly, at times with a whitish median blotch and narrow apical ring, whitish interiorly, third segment black with narrow basal and postmedian white bands. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of tongue and front white, crown slightly to heavily tinged with grayish, occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling grayish white, base of tegula and adjoining collar narrowly blackish, five black spots on notum: lateral pairs adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum, a single larger one at middorsum preceding scutellar area. Underside whitish, legs broadly marked with pale gray exteriorly. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.5 to 3.8 times width; costa straight along middle one-third, apex acute, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle obscure. Ground color divided by a straight longitudinal line along Cu fold to end of cell, costal half dark to pale brownish gray, darkest at dividing line, blending to whitish at costa; dorsal area white, lightly tinged with grayish, marked by a single small, oblong, dark spot at basal one-fourth; dorsal white upcurved at end of cell as a distinct spur, at times defined outwardly by gray, at times white thence to termen, a small grayish spot just below and beyond the spur; terminal area with a heavy streak of gray from cell to termen or mostly white; a row of black dots around termen before fringe, well defined only on paler specimens. Fringe white or pale grayish, a brownish gray spot below apex. Underside pale brownish, dorsal area paler. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area with a narrow fold, ending before end of cell, containing a thin, whitish hair pencil; costal margin convex at end of cell, apex rather blunt, termen strongly angled back to dorsum, tornal angle not evident. Ground color pale brownish, slightly darker apically; fringe slightly paler. Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling, dorsal and ventral, pale to rather dark gray-brown; genital scaling dull to bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 149 (drawn from plesiotype, Florissant, Colorado, JAP prep. no. 918; five preparations examined); uncus membranous; valva with apex attenuate, without a well-developed “plume” at end of costa.

FEMALE.–Not examined in detail; the holotype was the only specimen available: length of forewing 10.5 mm; labial palpus more elongate than in male, second segment about 1.35, third 0.95 eye diameter; external characters essentially as in male; hindwing simple; abdomen, especially the venter, tinged with ocherous. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.–Colorado, “1♂,” a female specimen which evidently is the type (cited by Dyar, 1902), in U.S. National Museum, bears the data “Col., 248, collection Beutenmüller, Psecadia albicostella Beut. Type,” and “Type No. 435 U.S.N.M.”

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Montana (Bozeman) through the southern Rocky Mountain states at moderately high elevations (mostly 7,000–8,000 feet) and mountains of western Mexico at least to Durango (25 mi W. Durango, 8,100 feet).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Mid-June to early August.

FOOD PLANT.–Lithospermum, in Wyoming (A. F. Braun, in litt.).

REMARKS.–The Mexican specimens (2♂, Mesa de Heracan, Chihuahua; 2♂, 25 mi W. Durango) are generally somewhat darker colored than Colorado and Manitoba individuals. In addition, it appears there may be a clinal change in labial palpus length from north to south. The ratios of eye diameter: second segment: third segment were 1.0:1.1:0.45 for the single Manitoba specimen measured; they ranged 1.0: 1.05–1.15:0.75–0.88 for Florissant, Colorado, individuals; and 1.0:1.2:0.95–1.05 in material from Chihuahua and Durango.

One additional male in the U.S. National Museum from Mexico, D.F. (Mexico City, June) that was examined is referred to albicostella tentatively, although it differs in several respects. The specimen is slightly larger (forewing length 13.8 mm) than any other examined but has an equally narrow forewing and labial palpus size about equal to that of other Mexican albicostella. The basic forewing pattern is the same; but the general coloration is dull and less contrasting, and all minor marks of the forewing (dorsal area spot, spot below outer lower corner of cell, and marginal dots) are lacking. The darker areas are more brownish than gray, a feature which may in part be due to age of the specimen. In genital characteristics the Mexico City example differs only by having narrower basal processes and slightly more angulate distal and saccular margins in the valva.

Ethmia mirusella (Chambers)

Anesychia mirusella Chambers, 1874:233.

Ethmia mirusella.–Dyar, 1902:203 [in part].–McDunnough, 1939:83 [in part].

Ethmia mirella Meyrick, 1914:29 [in part].

A rather small Ethmia in Oklahoma and adjacent states which resembles a faded E. albicostella.

MALE.–Length of forewing 7.8 to 9.2 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, not strongly upcurved; second segment length 1.1 to 1.25 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.82 to 0.90 that of second (1.0–1.1 eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment broadly brownish on basal half, with a small, indistinct, subapical spot exteriorly, third segment with dark submedian and subapical bands. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye diameter; dorsal scaling brownish gray. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown silvery whitish, occipital tufts lightly tinged with brownish gray; extreme base of tegula dark brown, notum with five small, dark spots: two lateral pairs adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellar area, and a single median one preceding scutellar area. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs mostly dark brownish gray exteriorly; hind tibial fringe rather dense and elongate, whitish. Forewing–Length 3.2 to 3.6 times width; costa nearly straight on middle one-third, apex acute, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground color white, pattern divided by a longitudinal, straight line along Cu fold, area costad in cell dark brown, shading to pale brownish and whitish toward costa, latter brown only at base, costal area beyond cell mostly white, dividing line slightly upcurved at end of cell, becoming indistinct beyond; dorsal area white with two small, brownish spots, basal one at one-third rather distinct, nearer dorsum, second one at about middle, sometimes absent or connected to dark area of cell at Cu; an indistinct spot at lower corner of cell; a row of dark marginal dots, usually distinct only below apex on termen. Fringe white with a brown spot below apex, at times indistinctly connected to brown streak through cell. Underside dark brown, dorsal area and a small blotch in cell paler. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costal area with a narrow fold containing a thin pencil of white hairscales; costal margin slightly convex at end of cell, apex blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, at times very lightly tinged with grayish brown towards distal margins. Fringe white. Underside whitish, lightly tinged with pale brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling whitish tan, ventral white; genital concolorous. Gentalia as in Figure 150 (drawn from plesiotype, Jeff Davis County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 771; three preparations examined); uncus lacking, valva somewhat variable in width, sclerotized portion of apical plume at times broader than in Figure 150, distal seta bunch a dense row of about 15 heavy, spurlike setae; vesica with a lightly sclerotized, ill-defined cornutus.

MAP 59.—Geographical distribution of members of the Trifurcella group of Ethmia.

E. trifurcella (Chambers) E. mirusella (Chambers) populations of uncertain affinity

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.0 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye about the same size; labial palpus slightly larger, length of second segment about 1.4 times eye diameter, third 0.75–0.83 as long as second (1.1–1.2 eye diameter). Hindwing, costal area simple, broadly convex; ground color slightly darker. Genitalia similar to E. marmorea and E. hodgesella (Figures 262–264) but less heavily sclerotized; antrum with only faint brownish sclerotization (one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.–Texas, April and May; lectotype male, by present designation: “Chambers, Tex; Type 1423” in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. The material upon which the description is based is stated to have come from “Mr. Belfrage of Waco, Texas.” According to Geiser (1948), Belfrage lived near Norse, Bosque County (about 40 miles northwest of Waco) from 1870 to 1879.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Kansas, Oklahoma to central and western Texas.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Evidently double brooded; March, May to September.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–This and the following species need further study. Although the two seem distinct in the eastern United States, the precise relationships of populations on the western periphery of the geographical distribution of the complex are in need of clarification (see Map 59). Western morphotypes differ markedly in appearance from the typical form of E. trifurcella, but the genitalia do not differ from eastern specimens. The phenotype in Nueva Leon and Arizona resembles a paler, more strongly marked kind of E. mirusella, with a straight line separating the dark median and pale dorsal areas of the forewing and the brown restricted to the median area, with the costal area whitish, as in E. trifurcella. Specimens from Wyoming are intermediate between the dark and pale extremes of E. trifurcella and superfically resemble E. albicostella.

Ethmia trifurcella (Chambers)

Anesychia trifurcella Chambers, 1873:12.

Ethmia trifurcella.–Dyar, 1902:206.–McDunnough, 1939:83.–Kimball, 1965:286.

A widespread but poorly known Nearctic species superficially resembling E. marmorea, with a broader costal whitish area.

MALE.–Length of forewing 7.6 to 9.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment length about 1.3 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.85–0.90 that of second (1.1 eye diameter); smooth scaled; white, second segment exteriorly with broad basal band and small subapical spot of brownish black; third segment with sub-basal and apical dark rings. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of shaft basally 0.18–0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray except extreme base of scape white. Scaling of tongue and front white, latter margined narrowly below eye dark gray reflecting metallic bluish, crown white, occipital tufts at middorsum narrowly to broadly dark, reflecting bluish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, base of tegula and adjoining collar dark brownish, dark brown spots at side of notum adjoining apices of tegulae and medially, one or a pair (originally described as a longitudinal stripe) preceding scutellar area. Underside white, prothoracic leg heavily blotched with brownish black, mesothoracic leg lightly so, hind tibial fringe sparse, pale ochreous. Forewing: Length about 3.3 times width; costa gently curved, flattened before middle and before apex, latter acute, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Color pattern divided longitudinally by a somewhat sinuate line along Cu fold, dorsal area white or pale gray and containing a single dark spot at about basal one-third; costal half dark brownish or blackish, darkest at Cu fold, becoming paler costad, costal area with scattered pale grayish scaling or mostly whitish above cell; dorsal area sending a narrow spur at end of cell obliquely towards apex, at times nearly isolating a second dark spot beyond and below cell; a row of dark dots around margin from before apex to tornus. Fringe white except brownish adjoining dark median streak of terminal area. Underside brown, paler on dorsal half. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing; costa with a narrow fold to about end of cell, containing a thin, whitish hair pencil; apex very acute, sublanceolate, termen strongly angled back, straight. Ground color pale brownish, slightly darker distally; fringe concolorous. Underside whitish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish gray, ventral and genital paler. Genitalia as in Figure 151 (drawn from plesiotype Jefferson County, Kentucky, JAP prep. no. 1177; three preparations examined); uncus membranous, basal processes and valva narrow, apical “plume” on a rather broad stem, distal seta bunch of about 16 elongate, heavy spurlike setae.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.7 to 9.1 mm. Essentially as described for male. Antenna about as large as in male; general coloration, especially hindwing, darker. Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia not examined, presumably as in E. mirusella.

TYPE DATA.–Kentucky, in July. Lectotype female, by present designation, “Chambers, Kentucky, 19, Type #1426,” at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Incompletely known. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky to North Carolina and northern Florida (Pensacola); and widespread westward, according to scattered records of an atypical phenotype from Nueva Leon, Arizona, and Wyoming.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Probably bivoltine; April (Florida; Ohio, reared), May (Kentucky, reared), June (Nueva Leon and Florida) July (Kentucky, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Maryland), September (North Carolina); all single locality records.

FOOD PLANT.—Cynoglossum virginianum L. (Boraginaceae), reared from larvae collected in July in Warren County, Ohio, and Jefferson County, Kentucky, by A. F. Braun, who kindly supplied the information. The larva forms a tubular shelter on the underside of the leaf and feeds upon the leaves.

REMARKS.–This species exhibits geographical variation, but insufficient material has been available to enable analysis of any population differences. The few specimens examined from Kentucky and southern Ohio are smaller (and are reared) and have more strongly contrasting white areas on the forewing.

Three specimens from North Carolina (Maxton) and Florida (Pensacola) are darker than those from Kentucky and Ohio, having the pale areas of the forewing gray and somewhat restricted.

As discussed above, the genital form characteristic of E. trifurcella is widespread westward according to scattered records from northern Nueva Leon, southeastern Arizona, and eastern Wyoming. It is not known whether these populations represent a geographical segregate of E. trifurcella or western components of a polytypic complex which also includes populations here referred to E. mirusella.

Ethmia marmorea (Walsingham)

Psecadia marmorea Walsingham, 1888:149.

Ethmia marmorea.–Dyar, 1902:206.–Walsingham, 1912:146.–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 27, 36.–McDunnough, 1927:271; 1939:83.–Powell, 1959:145.

Ethmia semilugens.–Braun [not Zeller, 1872], 1925:197.

A widespread, variable Nearctic species with the forewings having a broad white dorsal margin, the remainder pale to dark brown, usually with one or more whitish blotches along the costa.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.8–11.7 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, variable, second segent length 1.35–1.50 eye diameter; third segment 0.70–0.96 as long as second (1.05–1.33 eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment dark brown on basal half exteriorly, at times with a postmedian band; third segment with broad basal band and tip dark brown, or extreme tip white. Antenna slightly dilated width of shaft basally about 0.22 eye diameter, dosal scaling dark brown. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown silverywhite, occipital tufts dark brown at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, tegula basally and adjacent collar dark brown, notum with five large blackish spots: one at middorsum, lateral pairs adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs banded with dark brown exteriorly, metathoracic leg indistinctly so. Forewing: Length 3.25–3.50 times width; costa gently, evenly curved from base to apex, termen strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle evident. Pattern divided by a longitudinal line along Cu fold extended below fold as blunt, triangular spurs at basal one-fourth, middle, and in terminal area; dorsal area white, area costad of line dark brown, usually with one or more ill-defined whitish blotches along costa: an indistinct dusting at basal one-third, a larger blotch just beyond middle containing a dark dot, a more distinct white blotch always present preceding apex, containing one or more terminal dots; dorsal white area with a distinct dark spot between and below basal two dark spurs, a second spot just before tornus, at times connected to the third spur from dark in terminal area; a row of distinct blackish spots around termen from before apex to tornus. Fringe white at apex and broadly around termen, brownish between. Underside dark brown, white areas of upperside distinctly reproduced pale brownish. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with a narrow fold to end of cell, containing a rather thick, whitish hair pencil, costal margin nearly straight, apex acute, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish basally, becoming pale brownish on apical half; fringe paler. Underside mostly whitish except blotched with brownish along costal area. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish gray, ventral whitish, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 152 (drawn from plesiotype, Santa Clara Canyon, Chihuahua, JAP prep. no. 774; eight preparations examined); uncus lacking, valva with apical “plume” thin, its setation restricted to apical end, distal seta-bunch of valva a curved row of heavily sclerotized, short, black, spurlike setae from exterior side apical margin.

MAP 60.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia marmorea (Walsingham).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.4 to 10.7 mm. As described for male, variation in markings and palpus size within range shown in male. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft about 0.75 that of male. Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia as in Figures 262, 263 (drawn from plesiotype, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, JAP prep. no. 2567; two preparations examined); similar to semiombra, with sterigma as a V-shaped emargination in VIII sternite, antrum not much enlarged, broadly sclerotized on its ventral side, signum ridge with a single, deep notch.

TYPE DATA.–Arizona; unique type male in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Lower parts (mostly 5,000 to 7,500 feet elevation) of the Great Basin ranges and Rocky Mountains from southeastern British Columbia (Seton Lake) and eastern portions of the Pacific states to northern and central Colorado (Loveland) and central Chihuahua (15 mi E Cuauhtemoc).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–May to August; possibly univoltine.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–The wing color variation does not seem to be geographically restricted. In addition to Arizona, the typical form, with more distinct whitish costal blotches, has been taken in southern California, Utah, and Chihuahua. Dark individuals closely resemble E. sphenisca and E. semilugens in wing pattern, but the latter species is easily distinguished by the shorter labial palpus, simple costal area of the hindwing, and abdomen coloration, which is entirely bright ochreous ventrally.

Ethmia hodgesella Powell, new species

A widespread species in the southwestern United States and Mexico having the appearance of a small E. marmorea.

MALE.–Length of forewing 6.0–7.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.1–1.3 times eye diameter; third segment 0.75–0.85 as long as second (0.94–1.1 eye diameter); smooth scaled, whitish, second segment dark brownish on basal half, third segment with subbasal and subapical dark rings. Antenna not appreciably dilated, width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray-brown. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white, occipital tufts dark brown at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, at times tinged with pale gray, extreme base of tegula dark brownish, notum with a pair of lateral spots adjoining apices of tegulae and a transverse band preceding scutellum, dark gray-brown. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs marked exteriorly with pale grayish brown. Forewing: Length 3.1 to 3.5 times width; costa gently curved, nearly straight; apex moderately blunt, termen strongly angled back, straight. Color pattern divided by a serpentine longitudinal line along Cu fold; dorsal area whitish, invaded by three prominent triangulate dark spurs from cell, first at basal one-third, second beyond middle, third reaching to tornus, a conspicuous round, dark spot between and below first two spurs; area costad of line mostly dark brownish gray, an ill-defined whitish blotch on costa beyond middle containing an ill-defined dark spot, at times some whitish along costa before middle; terminal area mostly whitish, at times crossed by a dark, median extension from cell; a row of blackish, rather large dots around margin from before apex nearly to tornus. Fringe white at apex and around tornus, broadly grayish along termen. Underside dark gray-brown, the white areas of upperside paler. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing, costa with a narrow fold from base to end of cell, containing a thin, white hair pencil; costal margin slightly convex at end of cell, apex rather blunt, termen not strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color unicolorous pale gray; fringe paler. Underside similar, slightly mottled along costa. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale, silvery gray, first two segments lightly tinged with ochreous, ventral whitish, genital whitish ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 153 (drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1624; eight preparations examined); resembling E. marmorea, basal processes more elongate, valva broader, its apical “plume” with setae more restricted, distal seta-bunch a compact group of about a dozen elongate, thick setae (not extended onto posterior margin as in marmorea).

MAP 61.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia hodgesella Powell.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 6.7 to 7.6 mm. Essentially as described for male; hindwing costal area simple, margin broadly convex. Genitalia (Figure 264, drawn from plesiotype, San Jose del Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2570; two preparations examined); similar to E. marmorea, sterigma simple, thin, ostium subtended by a short, sclerotized sleeve and sclerotized antrum, signum not differing from marmorea and related species.

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Arizona, Madera Canyon, 4880 feet, Santa Rita Mountains, August 3, 1959 (R. W. Hodges); deposited in Cornell University collection.

One hundred sixty-five paratypes (69♂, 96♀), as follows California, “Victoria” (near Loma Linda, Riverside County), 1♀, X–26–25 (E. Piazza). Arizona, Oracle, Pinal County, 1♀, VI–28–24 (J. O. Martin); Santa Rita Exp. Range, Santa Rita Mountains, 1♂, VII–16–41 (A. B. Klots); Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, 9♂, 12♀, VII–5 to 12–59, 2♀, VII–22, 25–59, 22♂, 38♀, VIII–1 to 5–59, 8♂, 14♀, VIII–9 to 12–59 (all R. W. Hodges); Baboquivari Mountains, Pima County, 1♂, VII–15 to 31–23, 1♀ VIII–15 to 30–23, 2♂, VI–15 to 30–24, 1♂, VII–15 to 31–24) all O. C. Poling); Pena Blanca Canyon, Santa Cruz County, 12♂, 1♀, VIII–7 to 11–59 (R. W. Hodges); Huachuca Mountains, 1♂ (no further data.) Arkansas, Hope, Hempstead County, 1♀, VI–6–31, 1♀, IX–26–32 (no further data). Texas, San Antonio, Bexar County, 1♂, VIII–1–42 (E. S. Ross); Brownsville, 1♀, III–4–25 (E. Piazza), 1♂, IV–26–28 (F. H. Benjamin); “Tex”, 1♀, (no further data). Sinaloa, Mazatlan Beach, 1♂, 1♀, VIII–14–60 (Arnaud, Ross, Rentz); 5 mi N Mazatlan, 1♂, VIII–5–64 (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell); 28 mi E Villa Union, 1♂, VIII–4–64 (H. F. Howden). San Luis Potosi, 2 mi S Tamazunchale, 1♂, 2♀, VII–15–63 (Duckworth and Davis). Tamaulipas, El Salto Falls, 26 mi W Antiguo Morelos, 2♂, 2♀, VII–11 to 14–63 (Duckworth and Davis); 4 mi SW Ciudad Victoria, 1♀, VIII–5–63 (Duckworth and Davis). Veracruz, Puente Nacional, 1♂, 1♀, VI–21–62 (D. H. Janzen); 1,2 mi W Fortin de las Flores, 2♂, 6♀, VII–2–62 (D. H. Janzen); Cotaxtla Exp. Sta., 1♂, 2♀, VI–28–62, 3♀, VIII–2,6–62 (D. H. Janzen). Oaxaca, Temescal, 1♂, 3♀, VII–4–64 (D. H. Jansen). Deposited in American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Academy of Sciences, California Insect Survey, Canadian National Collection, Cornell University, and U.S. National Museum.

The following specimens from Baja California have more recently been examined and are not designated as paratypes. Baja California (Territorio Sur), 2 mi NW El Triunfo, 1♀, VIII–12–66 (J. Chemsak, J. Doyen, and J. Powell); 3.5 mi N San Pedro, 2♂, IX–7–67, at lights (J. A. Chemsak, A. E. Michelbacher); 5 mi S Miraflores, 1♂, VII–10–38 (Michelbacher and Ross); 1 mi SW Punta Palmilla, 1♂, 2♀, IX–13–67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher); 6 mi N San Jose del Cabo, 9♂, 12♀, IX–10, 15–67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher); 3 mi N San Jose del Cabo, 1♂, IX–11–67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher).

REMARKS.–Although E. hodgesella is one of the most widespread members of the genus in the New World, it shows very little variation. The distribution appears to be disjunct, extending along the two sides of the central cordillera of Mexico. However, it is noteworthy that all but one of the 16 Mexican records (representing seven separate American expeditions) are the result of work during the past decade and considerable extension of the known range of the species will not be surprising. In superficial appearance E. hodgesella is almost indistinguishable from typical E. marmorea except by size. The smallest specimen of the latter species examined measures 8.4 mm forewing length; the largest hodgesella 7.8 mm.

Ethmia playa Powell, new species

A small, dull-colored species along the west coast of northern Mexico, having brown forewings with a grayish or whitish dorsal band.

MALE.–Length of forewing 5.2–6.2 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment length about 1.2 times eye diameter; third segment 0.75 to 0.88 as long as second (0.96–1.0 eye diameter), slightly curved; smooth scaled, white, second segment mostly brown exteriorly except apex, third segment brown apically. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling brown. Scaling of front pale brownish or mostly white, of crown and occipital tufts white, latter at times with a pale brownish median spot. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish tinged with pale brownish. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs pale brownish exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.0–3.2 times width; costa rather strongly curved, appearing (owing to fringe) flattened beyond middle; apex blunt, termen only moderately strongly angled back, straight or very slightly convex. Ground color divided by a longitudinal line along Cu fold, costal half grayish brown, darkest basally and near Cu; dorsal area whitish, usually tinged with grayish or tan; the line projected below cell at basal one-fourth and about middle, producing shallow, rounded spurs of dark into dorsal area, latter usually with a small spot between and below the spurs; whitish produced upward as a narrow spur at end of cell, thence sloped away to tornus; at times a light tinge of whitish on costa preceding apex. Fringe gray-brown, pale only at tornus. Underside brown, dorsal area paler, the dividing line of upperside visible. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with a narrow fold to end of cell enclosing a sparse pencil of whitish ochreous hair scales; costal margin nearly straight, apex blunt, termen moderately strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle evident. Ground color gray, paler basally; fringe whitish ochreous. Underside slightly paler, somewhat mottled. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dull ochreous on basal two or three segments, becoming gray brown distally, ventral whitish, genital whitish ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 155 (drawn from paratype, San Carlos Bay, JAP prep. no. 800; four preparations examined); uncus rudimentary, basal processes and valvae rather narrow, apical spur bunch of valva consisting of a tight group of about six heavy setae, setation of apical process of costa restricted to apex.

MAP 62.–Geographical distribution of members of the Trifurcella group of Ethmia.

E. playa Powell E. baja Powell

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 5.4 to 6.5 mm. Essentially as described for male, eye and labial palpus as large as in male. Coloration as in male, including abdominal scaling. Hindwing costal area simple, convex beyond cell. Genitalia similar to E. marmorea and E. hodgesella (Figure 264) but antrum unsclerotized and both sleeve at base of ductus and signum somewhat smaller and less heavily sclerotized (three preparations examined).

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, Rio del Fuerte, 13 miles north of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, August 7, 1964 (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell), deposited in the California Academy of Sciences. Two hundred paratypes (100♂ 100♀), all Mexico, as follows: same data as holotype, 91♂, 96♀; Navajoa, Sonora, 6♂, VII–14–63 (P. J. Spangler); San Carlos Bay (Northwest of Guaymas), Sonora, 1♂, 3♀, VIII–10–60 (P. H. Arnaud, E. S. Ross, D. C. Rentz). Numerous additional specimens in poor condition, from the same localities, not designated as paratypic. Paratypes deposited in American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, Canadian National Collection, California Academy of Sciences, California Insect Survey, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.–Although it was not collected until recently, the species is abundant in the northern, desert-scrub portion of the Sinaloan thorn forest, flying at the beginning of the rain season. There is little variation in external features in the material examined.

Ethmia baja Powell, new species

A moderately small moth in the Cape District of liaja California that resembles the smaller E. playa but with the costal dark portion of the forewing and the white dorsal portion more strongly contrasting.

MALE.–Length of forewing 5.7 to 7.2 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment moderately strongly curved, length 1.2–1.4 times eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, length 1.0–1.2 times eye diameter; smooth scaled, whitish, second segment with broad subbasal and narrow subapical dark bands, third with narrow subbasal and broader subapical dark bands, the narrow ones incomplete on inner side of palpus. Antenna dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.25 eye diameter. Coloration as described for E. playa, the pale areas of baja mostly white rather than whitish tinged with gray brown. Forewing: Length 3.2 to 3.3 times width; costal half darker than in playa, blackish brown in cell adjoining pale dorsal area, fading to gray brown at costa; apical whitish spot usually present, not well defined; dorsal area white, sometimes tinged with pale gray-brown. Genitalia as in Figure 154 (drawn from paratype, San Jose del Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2350; two preparations examined); similar to E. playa, differing by darker, more elongate setation, by a less-produced peak on the distal margin of the valva, and by a more well developed cornutus in the vesica.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 6.7 to 8.0 mm. As described for male; labial palpus more elongate, second segment 1.5 times eye diameter; antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.75 that of male. Genitalia (Figure 265, drawn from paratype, San Jose del Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2574; three preparations examined); similar to E. marmorea, base of ductus with more extensive sclerotization than in playa, antrum membranous, signum relatively large, not differing in shape from marmorea and related species.

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, 26 miles west of La Paz, Baja California (Territorio Sur), August 11 and 13, 1966, at lights (J. A. Chemsak, J. T. Doyen, J. Powell); deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Seventy paratypes, all Baja California, as follows: same data as holotype, 2♂; same data as allotype, 37♂, 3♀; 1 mi SW Punta Palmilla, 6♂, 1♀, IX–11–67, at lights (J. A. Chemsak and A. E. Michelbacher); 6 mi N San Jose del Cabo, 5♂, 1♀, IX–10–67, 12♂, 2♀, IX–15–67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher); 3 mi N San Jose del Cabo, 1♂, IX–11–67 (Chemsak and Michelbacher).

REMARKS.–This species is closely related to E. playa but differs from that species by its larger size, more contrasting colors, slightly larger labial palpus, and minor genitalic features, particularly the valva shape and more well developed cornutus. Ethmia baja may represent a southern race of E. playa, but this will have to be shown through material originating from the gap in the allopatry of the two, perhaps northward along the peninsula or across some of the islands in the Gulf of California.

THE PENTHICA COMPLEX

Most members of the Trifurcella group are rather similar in appearance, having the forewing brown on the costal half, white on the dorsal area, with the pattern divided by a sinuate line. However, within this series, a small group in Mexico and Central America consists of species which are so similar in external appearance that reliable separation of them is not possible except by genital characters. Moreover, female genital features are variable (possibly geographically), the complex is represented by females from more localities than males, and I have not been able to associate the female with one of the male genital types, so satisfactory treatment of the complex has not been realized.

The first species, E. penthica Walsingham, 1912, was described on the basis of a single male from Oaxaca, Mexico, and no member of the complex has been collected from that region subsequently. The slide of the penthica type specimen, unfortunately, was mounted with the aedeagus in situ. However, I believe that I am correct in referring several collections from Puebla, Veracruz, and other central Mexican areas to penthica, using as the most distinguishing feature a heavy spurlike cornutus in the vesica. This species has slightly narrower forewings and more elongate labial palpi than the other three members of the complex.

The second species to be described, E. similatella Busck, 1920, from Guatemala, was distinguished by Busck by its larger size, less sinuate line dividing the colors of the forewing, and by a white patch at the apex of the forewing surrounding two of the terminal dots. Moths with male genital characters apparently identical to those of the type series have subsequently been taken in Costa Rica, Honduras, and western Mexico. In this material all of Busck’s diagnostic features disappear. The Mexican specimens, in particular, reverse the comparison to penthica; most are smaller and all lack the white apical patch, which is nearly always present in penthica. There is a tendency for all these similatella to exhibit a less sinuate line, but this feature is better seen in series than in individual specimens.

A third species is here described as E. cordia, from Yucatan. This may prove to represent a race of E. similatella in eastern Mexico, since the genital characters are very similar to those of Busck’s species. E. cordia is the only population in the complex with pale hindwings; all the others have dark brown hindwings in both sexes.

Fourth and fifth male genital types turned up in older material from Sonora and Nayarit on the west coast of Mexico. When we collected in that area in 1964 and 1965 considerable additional material was accumulated, but this revealed both similatella and penthica also present in the Sinaloan thorn forest and failed to clarify the status of the two new species. A few additional males of the Sonoran species described below as E. scutula were collected, but always along with E. similatella. The two are nearly indistinguishable superficially, and recognition of the female of scutula has not been possible.

The other of the two west coast species, previously known from a single battered specimen from Tepic, has subsequently been taken in Veracruz and proves to be a larger, darker moth which is superficially recognizable. The species is described below as E. clava; it is also quite distinctive in genital characters.

Only in the case of E. similatella was the female included in the type series, and the one topotypical genital preparation I have examined differs from all others in the complex which I have studied. Females associated by collection data for both penthica and similatella in Mexico suggest that structures associated with the ostium are geographically variable. Thus, I have not been able to draw species limits in female genitalia. Localities in Mexico and Costa Rica are represented only by females which do not closely match females from any area where males have been taken. One of these may represent E. scutula but cannot be assigned to species with certainty at present.

In the Mazatlan area, where three species have been collected, E. penthica has been taken only in late June, prior to the rainy season, while E. similatella was flying both then and in July and August, well into the rainy season, and E. scutula was encountered only in the latter period. Ethmia scutula can be distinguished from west coast similatella by a white spot at the apex of the forewing which encloses a single terminal dot; Sinaloan similatella have at most a trace of white near the apex, but as mentioned above this is a geographically variable character.

Ethmia penthica Walsingham

Ethmia gigantea is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is found in Mexico.

The length of the forewings is 14.6–17.5 millimetres (0.57–0.69 in). The ground color of the forewings is dark brownish black, nearly unicolorous on the costal half. The ground color of the hindwings is whitish, semitraslucent basally, becoming pale brownish on the apical half. Adults have been recorded in April, June and August.