Aethes ringsi (Metzler, 2000), new combination

Figs. 14, 30, 44

Cochylis ringsi Metzler, 2000: 191; Brown 2005: 213; Metzler & Brown 2014: 276.

Described in Cochylis by Metzler (2000), ringsi is transferred to Aethes based on facies, DNA barcodes (see Brown et al. 2019), and the similarity in the male genitalia to those of Aethes tuxtlana Razowski, 1986. The forewing pattern of A. ringsi (Fig. 14) is somewhat reminiscent of that of a few other species of Aethes (e.g., A. fernaldana (Walsingham, 1879), A. argentilimitana (Robinson, 1869)), with a slightly shiny, buff to whitish ground color and a contrasting and characterisitic orange-brown basal patch, and a well-defined, median fascia, angled near the middle. DNA barcodes convincingly place it deeply embedded within Aethes in a maximum likelihood analyses (Brown et al. 2019).

The assignment of ringsi to Aethes is contradicted by the absence of the sickle-shaped processes from the socii that define Aethes and the absence of a median process of the transtilla, common to most Cochylini, including Aethes. However, at least two other species of Aethes (i.e., an undescribed species from the Midwestern U.S. and Aethes tuxtlana from Mexico) lack the sickle-shaped processes, and the latter species lacks a median process from the transtilla, as well (see Razowski 1986b: fig. 5). The unusual somewhat ”split” valva, with a invagintation between the sacculus and the remainder of the valva of A. ringsi (Fig. 32) is extremely similar to that of A. tuxtlana, which also has unusual socii. Hence, ringsi appears to be a derived species within Aethes, possibly the sister to A. tuxtlana. The female genitalia (Fig. 44) are fairly typical of the genus.

Aethes ringsi ranges from the southeastern U.S. (Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina) to the mid-West (Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma). Metzler (2000) suggests it is a species of oak barrens on sandy soils. Captures range primarily from June through August, but there are a few April and May records from the southernmost portion of its range.

Holotype ³, USA, Indiana, Newton Co., 41˚6.43’N, 87˚26.25’W, Conrad Savanna, 8 Jul 1998, E. Metzler, UV (USNM).