Sympistis apep Troubridge 2008, sp. n.

Sympistis apep Troubridge sp. n.

(Figs. A-20, K-6, P-6)

Diagnosis. Sympistis apep is very similar to S. tenuifascia (Fig. A-21) and is distinguished from it predominantly by the coloration of the dorsal forewing. In S. tenuifascia, the forewing is darker with a brownish hue, and the ordinary lines and spots somewhat obscure due to the darker background color, in addition, the fringe is concolorous with the terminal area. In S. apep, the forewing is a medium gray with ordinary spots and lines distinct, a broader postmedial white area, and a distinctly checkered fringe. Sympistis apep flies at low elevation in late September in xeric lithosol habitats; S. tenuifascia flies near treeline in mid-summer.

Description. Males and females similar. Antennae filiform, head, palpi, vertex, prothoracic collar, thorax, and abdomen gray. Forewing length 9-12 mm. Dorsal forewing mottled gray and white; black antemedial line undulating, edged basally with white scales; median shade dark gray, diffuse; postmedial line edged distally with white scales; subterminal line irregular, bordered basally with variable black shading, heaviest near costa and a series of small black dashes between veins; terminal line scalloped, enclosing a series of black spots at margin; orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots well demarcated with thin black outer and white inner lines; fringe black, checkered with white at tips of veins. Dorsal hindwing gray basally, with distinct black discal lunule transected by black median line; white postmedial band, and wide black marginal band; fringe gray basally, white distally. Male genitalia. (Fig. K-6) Valve widest just beyond clasper, then gently tapered and rounded at apex; ampulla of clasper talon-like, mid-section slightly widened. Vesica bends slightly downward and then hooks to the left, with small basal diverticulum; a ribbon of cornuti extends from left on dorsal surface at diverticulum along right side to apex, cornuti become longer and denser distally; a ventral patch of long, dense cornuti extends along distal half of vesica to apex; a single, coarse apical cornutus points ventrally and a small bundle of cornuti is projected dorsally. Female genitalia. (Fig. P-6) Ovipositor lobes rounded with scattered setae; a corona of short setae surrounds ovipositor lobes about 0.1 mm from tip, these setae produced at 90° to the abdomen, a second row of longer, finer setae encircles ovipositor lobes at base; a sclerite occurs on ventral surface of ductus bursae at ostium bursae, ductus bursae otherwise not heavily sclerotized; appendix bursae 2x as long as wide, bends ventrally and backward toward ductus seminalis at anterior end; minute corpus bursae hangs like a small polyp on right side of appendix bursae.

Type material. Holotype male: USA: Washington, Douglas Co., S. end Jameson Lk., 23 ix 1995, J. Troubridge, in the CNC. Paratypes: 37♂ 1♀: Washington: Douglas Co.: Corbaley Cyn., 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 2600', 26 ix 2000, J. Troubridge, 3♂; Corbaley Cyn., 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 2600', 16 ix 2000, J. Troubridge, 1♂; Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 120° 07' W, 26 ix 2000, J. Troubridge, 1♂; Jameson Lk., south end, 23 ix 1995, J. Troubridge, 1♂; Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 32' W, 17 ix 1999, J. Troubridge, 2♂; Jameson Lk., 47° 39' N, 119° 32' W, 15 ix 2001, J. Troubridge, 8♂; Jameson Lk., south end, 16 ix 1994, J. Troubridge, 6♂ 1♀; Pine Cyn., 47° 38' N, 120° 08' W, 2600', 14 ix 2002, J. Troubridge, 9♂; Pine Cyn., 47° 38' N, 120° 08' W, 2600', 15 ix 2001, J. Troubridge, 6♂.

Etymology. From Egyptian mythology, Apep was a monster living in perpetual darkness. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution. This species is known from xeric lithosol habitats in central Washington and northern Oregon.