Stamnodes calcarea sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 35564042-253B-4351-B99C-F5CEAFC43DDA

Figs 29, 57, 88, 95

Diagnosis

Stamnodes calcarea sp. nov. is visually similar and presumably closely related to S. ferropulvisa sp. nov. While both species share a tan to cream ground colour, the forewing underside apical area and hindwing underside of S. ferropulvisa is given much more toward rusty brown than the lighter beige colour found in the four specimens of S. calcarea available for examination. Additionally, S. calcarea has an apparent pale medial transverse band on the hindwing underside that is absent or inconspicuous in S. ferropulvisa. Male genitalia of these species are exceedingly similar; however, the posterior juxtal processes of S. calcarea are more rounded apically and less deeply cleft between (see arrow, Fig. 57a), while the same processes of S. ferropulvisa are apically pointed and deeply cleft between (see arrow, Fig. 56a). Though both species share a single spinose cornutus and an opposite echinate field of many smaller cornuti, the smaller cornuti of S. calcarea are generally half the length of those of S. ferropulvisa.

Etymology

The specific epithet, calcarea, meaning ‘of lime’ or ‘pertaining to lime’, is given for the pale and chalky hindwing underside that is reminiscent of limestone (calcium carbonate). Limestone is also a dominant geological substrate at the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

MEXICO • ♂; Coahuila, Sierra La Madera, Upper Canada Desiderio; [27.08° N, 102.31° W]; 15–17 Mar. 1983; elev. 1810 m; J. Rawlins and S. Thompson leg.; genitalia: TAM-2023-194; genetic voucher: TAM0323; CMNH.

Paratypes (3 ♂♂)

MEXICO • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; genitalia: TAM-2023-203 (USNM 154204); USNMENT01771236 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; AMNH _ IZC 00352921 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; CNIN.

Description

Male

FOREWING LENGTH. 16–17 mm (n = 4).

HEAD. Antenna filiform, mostly ochreous except for mixture of white, black, and pink scales above. Frons and vertex mostly rosaceous, but vertex scattered with some white scales. Labial palpus short, slightly porrect, subequal to diameter of eye, mostly rosaceous. Cephalic collar white to cream.

THORAX. Cream to ochreous. Tegula slightly rosaceous at base. Legs with mostly rosaceous femora, but otherwise cream; tibial spur formula 0–2–4; epiphysis well developed.

FOREWING. Ground colour cream with slightly darker costa and ochreous to light brown apical area; costomedian with pale, barely visible, transverse band. Underside like upperside, perhaps slightly darker. Fringe lightly checkered with brown and white.

HINDWING. Concolourous with forewing above. Underside beige with pale medial transverse band; basal area along inner margin often speckled with pink scales. Fringe like forewing.

ABDOMEN. Cream to ochreous.

GENITALIA (Fig. 57). Uncus long and slightly spatulate. Vinculum broadly squared. Juxta nearly pentagonal, but with cleft posterior face forming rounded posterolateral processes. Inner face of valva with hair tuft arising from medial depression; elongate scales of hair tuft enlarged at tips. Vesica with single, large, spinose cornutus opposite echinate field of nearly two dozen minute cornuti.

Female

Not known.

Distribution (Fig. 88)

Mexico: Stamnodes calcarea sp. nov. is so far only known from the type locality in the Sierra La Madera range of central Coahuila but is likely found elsewhere through the oak woodlands and chaparral-ladened arroyos and canyons of the northern Sierra Madre Oriental where its predicted host, mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), is abundant.

Biology

Adult Stamnodes calcarea sp. nov. were collected in March at the type locality along with a large series of S. agapetica. The immature stages of this taxon remain unknown, but adult habitus and genitalia suggest affinity to the many Stamnodes that feed on Cercocarpus spp.

Molecular characterization

An attempt to sequence the COI barcode region of the holotype specimen was unsuccessful. This extraction remains ripe for next-generation sequencing.

Remarks

I was unable to find any additional information regarding the location of “ Upper Canada Desiderio”. Based on the predicted host of this moth, the dry bajada habitat where the GPS coordinates from the type specimens’ labels plot does not seem like a suitable location. Additionally, the elevation of 1810 m on the label does not match the elevation of 1140 m where the GPS coordinates on the label plot. Given this incongruence, it is likely that the labeled elevation is correct, and the given GPS coordinates should be considered only as a very rough regional approximation.