Grammia speciosa

GRAMMIA SPECIOSA (MÖSCHLER) (FIGS 11D–G, 105)

Arctia speciosa Möschler, 1864: 195, pl. 5 figs 13, 14. Apantesis virguncula speciosa (Möschler); Franclemont, 1983: 117.

Grammia speciosa (Möschler); Ferguson & Opler, 2006: 9.

Type material: Euprepia speciosa: described from three syntypes (2 ♂, 1 ♀) from Labrador, [NF, Canada]. Two syntypes (one of each sex) are in the ZMHB [examined]. A male syntype in the FMNH labelled ‘ Arctia Speciosa / Labrador Möschl./ orig. Type H.B. Möschler’, ‘Labrad./ Hf. R./ 72.’ Arctiidae / genitalia slide/ No. 1221′, ‘ Lectotype ♂ / det. A. Watson 1966’, ‘ Lepidoptera Type/ Photograph No. 198/ Field Museum’, ‘ LECTOTYPE / Arctia / speciosa Möschler / B.C. Schmidt, 2009’ is hereby designated lectotype to stabilize the name. This specimen was noted by Smith (1938a) and probably also Strecker (1899) as a female; it is a male specimen with glued-on female antennae [photo examined].

Diagnosis: Grammia speciosa is a small, diurnal species of boreal peatlands and subalpine habitats that has been confused with G. virguncula. In comparison to G. virguncula, speciosa is smaller overall, has a more elongate forewing shape, and has a thinner-lined cubital vein; the hindwing black markings are usually more extensive. Most importantly, speciosa exhibits the reduced eyes and shorter antennal rami associated with diurnality, and this species does not come to light. Forms of G. speciosa celineata ssp. nov. lacking the forewing vein lines can be similar to G. elongata, but the antennal branches are much shorter, and the eyes are less markedly reduced compared to G. elongata.

Description: Head – Palps black, frons and vertex pale to yellowish buff, vertex sometimes black centrally; male antennae moderately bipectinate, rami averaging 3.18 ¥ 10 - 1 mm, (N = 8 males); female antennae moderately biserrate; dorsal scales dark brown to black; eyes somewhat reduced, mean diameter 7.07 ¥ 10 - 1 mm (N = 8). Thorax – Vestiture black with pale to yellowish buff borders on vertex, patagia, and tegulae; black ventrally, base of coxa and distal area usually with yellowish buff scales; coxa and femur black centrally, yellow at base and apex, giving striped appearance, or entirely dark brown – black; tibia and tarsus pale buff dorsally, black ventrally. Abdomen – Dorsal ground colour yellow, pale buff near apex; medial and lateral markings black; pale buff ventrally, lateral black markings broad but not confluent at midline; occasionally entirely dark brown – black ventrally and dorsally. Forewing – Male forewing length averaging 15.1 mm (range 13.9– 15.8 mm, N = 8 males), black dorsally, vein lines complete (except for ssp. celineata, where lines vary to absent), lines and bands yellowish buff to pale whitish buff; all bands except subterminal usually absent, medial band very rarely present as bar in discal cell; fragmentary postmedial band sometimes present in ssp. celineata; subterminal band complete; fringe and anal margin concolourous with pale markings, costal margin entirely pale, sometimes reduced to basal half; ventral markings similar, but dark markings with a paler yellowish cast; sexes similar. Hindwing – Ground colour yellow, black markings highly variable in extent, but antemedial, medial, postmedial, and subterminal elements usually confluent, sometimes entirely so; ventral markings similar, but dark markings with a paler yellowish cast; sexes similar. Male genitalia – Distal portion of valve gradually tapering to rounded or slightly pointed apex; clasper poorly to moderately developed, median ridge moderately developed; uncus broad-based, process evenly tapered to point, two to three ¥ as long as width of base; juxta 1.5–2¥ wider than height; aedeagus with dorsad curve at 2/3 distance beyond base; vesica with basal and medial chamber approximately equal in length and width, not scobinate; distal chamber medium-sized, twice as long as width of medial chamber, kidneyshaped, roughly scobinate; vesica as long as or slightly shorter than aedeagus. Female genitalia – Ductus bursae unsclerotized; proximal half of ductus bursae twice as wide as distal half; corpus bursae more or less globose, four ¥ width of ostium bursae; signa round to slightly elliptical, relatively small averaging about 1.6 ¥ 10 - 1 mm; signa coarsely scobinate; coil of appendix bursae evenly rounded; posterior apophysis 1.5 ¥ longer than papillae anales.

Biology: Adult collection records range from late June to late July, and the species occurs in wetlands, bogs, and sub-Arctic tundra. Adults fly by day, and lighttrapping in sites where this species is known from in AB have failed to capture this species. The immature stages are unknown.