Ethmia timberlakei Powell 1973

Ethmia timberlakei Powell, 1971:53

A gray moth resembling E. geranella, differing by more elongate palpi and having the longitudinal streak more well defined and black on a dark gray ground, as well as by minor genitalic differences.

MALE.–Length of forewing (reared) 9.0 to 10.6 mm. Head: Labial palpus subporrect; second segment slightly curved, length variable, about 1.2 to 1.35 times eye diameter, smooth scaled, mostly blackish exteriorly, white ventrally at base and interiorly at least on third segment. Antenna slightly dilated, diameter of shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter; scaled, gray. Scaling of front and crown appressed, mixed dark gray and whitish, white at sides. Thorax: Dorsal scaling dark gray with intermixed white. Underside shining pale gray; legs dark gray exteriorly, metathoracic leg paler, tibial fringe well developed, elongate, white. Forewing: Narrow, length about 4.0 times width, having a broader appearance owing to broad tornal fringe; costa straight on middle one-third, strongly curved to apex, termen strongly angled back to dorsum, tornus not developed. Ground color dark gray, sparsely to densely irrorate with scattered white scales; a well-defined or indistinct narrow black line from base to apex through lower part of cell, not broadened on costal side; sending a short spur into dorsal area just before middle of wing, beyond this the line slightly offset toward costa; interrupted and broken by an oval white spot at end of cell, which is more conspicuous than on E. geranella, due to the dark ground color of E. timberlakei; streak ill-defined at apex and in fringe, latter concolorous with ground. Underside pale gray. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costa with well-developed dorsal hair pencil, arising at base, cream-white; costa excavate on distal one-third, apex blunt, narrow, termen strongly angled back, dorsum slightly concave before anal angle. Ground color uniform pale gray; fringe broad, about one-half membrane width, white. Underside whitish. Abdomen: Scaling shining whitish gray, more or less unicolorous including genital. Genitalia similar to E. geranella (Figure 71) but with the teeth of anterior portion of gnathos small; basal process broad, elongate, length equal to width of valva (three preparations examined).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing (reared), 8.7 to 10.0 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye and labial palpus smaller; antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft basally about 0.67 that of male; median dark streak of forewing often obscure; hindwing without costal hair pencil. Genitalia with anterior apophyses broad, as in macelhosiella, but sterigmal plate not as well developed and ductus bursae entirely unsclerotized (Figures 196, 197, drawn from paratopotype; JAP prep. no. 2328; three preparations examined); signum a depressed, oval patch, minutely, densely dentate, without lateral flanges.

TYPES.–Holotype male: California, Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, Riverside County, March 21, 1961 (larva) (P. H. Timberlake), reared from Phacelia ramosissima, emerged November 8, 1961 (JAP 61C12). Allotype female: Same data except larva collected March 24, 1961, moth emerged November 14, 1961 (R. L. Langston and J. Powell, JAP 61C12, C13). Both deposited in California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. Sixteen paratypes, all California, as follows: Riverside County: 1♂, 1♀, same data as holotype: 4♂ 1♀, same data as allotype; 1♂, 4♀, same data except larvae collected V–13–62, emgd. XI–62 (J. Powell, JAP 62E7); Riverside, I♂, 2♀ XI–16–35 (C. M. Dammers); San Bernardino County: Desert Springs, 1♀, X–17–60 (P. D. Hurd and J. Powell). Deposited in California Insect Survey, U.S. National Museum, and University of California, Riverside.

FOOD PLANT.–Phacelia ramosissima var. suffrutescens Parry. Biology is reported elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

Ethmia macneilli Powell, new species

A moderately large moth of the Macelhosiella group having a whitish forewing, marked by a distinct narrow black line from base to apex.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.7 to 11.1 mm. Head: Labial palpus strongly upcurved, elongate; second segment evenly curved, length about 1.3 times eye diameter, third segment curved, 0.67 the length of second; smooth scaled, whitish with a broad, brown blotch exteriorly on second segment. Antenna, scape elongate, 0.85 eye index, flagellum slightly dilated, diameter of shaft basally 0.2 eye diameter, scaled dorsally, pale gray. Scaling of front and vertex smooth, brown with scattered white scales, of crown roughened, whitish, tufts of occipital margin spreading, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, dark brown at base of tegula and indistinctly along median longitudinal line, scutellum with distinct, dark, lateral lines. Underside shining pale gray; legs dark gray exteriorly, metathoracic paler, tibial fringe small. Forewing: Narrow, length about 4.0 to 4.2 times width; costal curve flattened at middle, sloping to lanceolate apex, termen strongly angled back, fringe narrow. Ground color white with scattered dark scales tending to form lines between the veins in distal half; a well-defined, narrow, black line from base to apex through lower half of cell, sending off a short spur toward tornal area just before middle of wing, offset toward costa beyond; broken by an outwardly angled white spot at end of cell. Fringe white around apex, broken by the black median line, brownish toward tornal area. Underside pale brownish. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa with dorsal hair pencil from base rather small, cream-white; costa sloped off to narrow apex, termen broadly curved toward anal angle. Ground color white, becoming pale brownish toward margins; fringe white. Underside white. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling whitish with an ochreous tinge at base becoming pale tan or brownish distally and on underside. Genitalia as in Figure 72 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 807; one preparation examined); teeth of anterior portion of gnathos small; basal process large; process of inner side of valva finger-like.

TYPES.–Holotype male: California, Rock Creek, one mile west of Tom’s Place, Mono County, September 6, 1960 (C. D. MacNeill); deposited in California Academy of Sciences. One paratype: cf, same data; in California Insect Survey. One male subsequently examined, same data except collected IX–4–64.

REMARKS.–One female (presumed to represent this species, but not designated as allotype) from “Redington, Arizona,” in U.S. National Museum, may be characterized as follows: Length of forewing 9.6 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male, labial palpus only slightly smaller, length of second segment about 1.6 times eye diameter; longitudinal streak of forewing slightly paler and less well defined, but not diffusely spreading costad. Genitalia not examined.

One additional male from Arizona (Baboquivari Mountains, Dec. 15, 1923, O. C. Poling) is referred here tentatively since the genitalia do not differ appreciably from typical macneilli. The moth is small (forewing length 9.0 mm), but the labial palpus is elongate (second segment 1.3 times eye diameter) but not strongly curved. The forewing pattern is also somewhat intermediate between geranella and macneilli, with a moderately well-defined central streak on a pale gray ground.

The Piperella Group

Eye index 1.05. Labial palpus moderately short, II segment index 1.05–1.10; smooth scaled. Antenna of male dilated, index 0.27. Forewing moderately narrow; pattern scattered spots. Hindwing of male with costal hair pencil, no fold. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate posteriorly; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva, fultura-manica, and vesica without armature. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses narrow, short; sterigma simple; antrum differentiated, with sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous, 3 loose coils; signum a broad cone.

A single species in Cuba and Jamaica.

Ethmia piperella Powell, new species

A small Jamaican moth having a dull tan forewing peppered with black specks which are surrounded with whitsh.

MALE.–Length of forewing 5.4–6.4 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, rather strongly curved, barely exceeding base of antenna; second segment 1.0–1.05 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, slightly shorter than second (about 0.95 eye diameter); scaling whitish, lightly tinged with pale tan exteriorly. Antenna dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.25 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish, becoming pale tan distally. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown whitish, tinged with pale tan. Thorax: Dorsal scaling concolorous with head, extreme base of tegula and four spots on notum brownish black, a pair mesad of apices of tegulae and a pair, sometimes indistinct, at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, foretibia and tarsi and midtarsi mostly brown. Forewing: Length about 3.4–3.6 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter acute, termen strongly angled back, tornus not discernible. Ground color grayish tan, dorsal area somewhat paler, not well defined; markings more or less uniform-sized brownish black dots about one-half eye diameter, each bordered and emphasized by a narrow whitish area: a pair at base, on costa and below Cu; a group of four near base, one below and one above cell, preceded and followed by two in cell; a pair just before middle of wing, one on Cu fold, the other in cell just beyond, a single one at end of cell. Terminal area irregularly blotched with light and dark areas, not as dark or distinct as the blackish dots. A row of dark dots along termen, usually partially obliterated. Fringe gray-brown, paler at tornus. Underside pale brown; a well-dened whitish area in cell beyond retinaculum. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa without a fold, bearing from base a brush of ochreous-tan hair scales extending to beyond middle of cell; costa excavate before apex, latter acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color uniform pale gray; fringe concolorous. Underside pale brownish gray, paler basally. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling shining pale gray, underside and genital scaling whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 73 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 1215; two preparations examined); uncus deeply notched, gnathos developed anteriorly, irregularly dentate, basal processes short, moderately heavily sclerotized; valva very broad, bearing interior projections along saccular margin.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 6.2–6.8 mm. Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus about as long as in male. Antenna less dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.9 that of male. Ground color of forewing often darker, the pale areas more contrasted. Hindwing without costal brush. Genitalia as in Figures 198, 199 (drawn from plesiotype, Cuba, JAP prep. no. 2828; one preparation examined); VIII segment broadly sclerotized, fused with sterigma; antrum with elongate, sclerotized band, signum similar to that of papiella.

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Jamaica, Runaway Bay, March 23 and April 24, 1905 (Walsingham); deposited in the British Museum. Eighteen paratypes: 5♂, 11♀, same data as holotype except collected I–22 to IV–6–1905; 1♀, near Farmouth, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, VII–28–1962 (Farr, O.&R. Flint); 1♀, central Baragua, Cuba, V–1–1931 (H. K. Plank). Deposited in British Museum, California Insect Survey, and U.S. National Museum. The Walsingham specimens bear numbers ranging from 76915 to 76932.

REMARKS.–One additional female, from Cuba (Prov. Habana, Marianao, 15m, III–10 to IV–30–06, F. Gregor) has been examined but not designated as a paratype. The specimen, which is deposited in the Moravian Museum, Brno, is somewhat worn but appears to differ from the Jamaican moths only in having a slightly darker ground color on the forewing, with the dark spots less distinct.

The male genitalia relate E. piperella to the Nearctic groups, but the valvae are unique among New World Ethmiidae and recall the Old World type of the genus, Ethmia aurifluella (Hübner) (Figure 74). The female genitalia show relationships to E. apicipunctella and E. papiella.

The allotype bears what I take to be a manuscript name of Walsingham, but its spelling is not decipherable.

The Bipunctella Group

Eye index 0.9–1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately large, 4 segments, the basal largest. Labial palpus moderately elongate, II segment index 1.2–1.6, smooth scaled or roughened. Antenna of male moderately dilated, index 0.20–0.23. Forewing moderately broad, pattern costal-dorsal or uniform gray. Hindwing of male with costal area unmodified. Abdomen yellow, scaling not differentiated. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate anteriorly and posteriorly; basal processes sclerotized and geniculate; valva with cucullus separated; fultura-manica and vesica simple. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongated; anterior apophyses narrow, short; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged, with sclerotized structures; ductus bursae membranous, 3–4 tight coils; signum a dentate bar.

A Holarctic group of about eight closely related species, three (or four) of which occur in the boreal Nearctic (Ethmia bipunctella is introduced). Ethmia cirrhocnemia (Lederer) of arid regions in central Asia and E. monticola fuscipedella of midwestern United States are virtually indistinguishable. The moths are nocturnal with the exception of caliginosella, which has an intermediate eye size and may be secondarily diurnal because of its occurrence at high elevations.

Ethmia bipunctella (Fabricius)

Alucita bipunctella Fabricius, 1775:668.9

Psecadia bipunctella.–Hübner, 1825:412.–Stainton, 1873:268 [biology].–Spuler, 1910, pl. 10 [larva].–Benander, 1965:21 [larva].

Ethmia bipunctella.–Meyrick, 1914:29.–Ford, 1950:28 [biology].–Wakely, 1952:144 [biology].–Sattler, 1967:89 [taxonomy, synonymy].

Phalaena Tinea echiella Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775:140.

Tinea hochenwartiella Rossi, 1790:208.

Psecadia bipunctelia [error] Uffeln, 1938:21.

Ethmia bipunctella griseicostella Wiltshire, 1947:126.

This well known, widespread Palearctic species, which has the forewing black costally and white dorsally and a bright ochreous abdomen, recently has been introduced in northeastern North America. The following description is based on a series from Tunisia and Greece and single males from New Jersey and Ontario.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.0 to 12.5 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; length of second segment 1.2 times eye diameter, of third 0.9 eye diameter; second segment scaling black except scattered whitish at base and extreme apex, third segment white. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near base 0.20 diameter; dorsal scaling black, including scape. Scaling of tongue brownish white, front shining bluish black, crown white, including occipital tufts. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, extreme base of tegula and lateral margin of collar brownish black; notum with two pairs of large, round, blue-black spots, first between tegulae, second at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish tinged with gray, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs dark gray, metathoracic leg ochreous. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length about 3.4 to 3.5 times width; costa curve slightly flattened at middle; apex acute; termen concave. Ground color divided by longitudinal line along Cu fold from base to termen below apex, costal half black becoming brownish toward costa, dorsal half white; black extended as two squarish spurs, the outer one broader, into dorsal white at basal one-third and middle of wing; white produced as a squarish spur upward at end of cell, preceding a third, triangular black extension above tornus; apex whitish; a row of 10 black dots around termen from before apex to beyond tornus, darker than terminal brownish black ground. Fringe white, broken by brownish black below apex. Underside dark gray, the pale dorsal area of upperside visible. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costal area simple, margin excavate toward apex; dorsum concave beyond anal area. Ground color semitranslucent white, brownish toward apex, pale ochreous toward anal margin. Underside whitish, costal area dark gray. Abdomen: Scaling entirely bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 75 (drawn from plesiotype, Hoboken, New Jersey, JAP prep, no. 1834; two preparations examined); similar to E. monticola, uncus narrow, hoodlike; basal processes narrower; valva broader.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 11.2 to 13.3 mm. Essentially as described for male; labial palpus slightly more elongate, second segment length 1.2 to 1.4 times eye diameter, third segment about 1.0 eye diameter. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16 eye diameter. Forewing slightly broader, length 3.3 to 3.4 times width. Genitalia very similar to E. m. fuscipedella (two preparations, Tunisia examined); sterigma a broad band with ostium on its posterior margin preceded by an upraised flap; ductus irregularly sclerotized basally, with an irregular, curving plate terminating in a curved thorn and bearing a variable number of small spurs (e.g., Sattler, 1967, pl. 90).

TYPE DATA.10–Germany, Saxonia, location of type unknown (bipunctella); Austria, vicinity of Vienna, type lost (echiella); Italy, Prov. Florence and Piza, location of type unknown (hochenwartiella); Teheran, N. Iran, VII–17–39, holotype male in Tring Museum (griseicostella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Widespread in the Palearctic Region; from Great Britain, where it may be introduced; central and southern Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa (Meyrick, 1895; Sattler, 1967). In North America, introduced in the New Jersey and Quebec-Ottawa areas.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Bivoltine, at least in part; June-July and September, in southern parts of its distribution in the old world, the generation pattern is not clear, with flight records from January to October (Sattler, 1967).

FOOD PLANT.–Echium vulgare and Symphytum; biology discussed by Ford (1950) and Wakely (1952); literature on food plants, summarized by Sattler (1967), includes records for Cynoglossum, Anchusa, and Lithospermum as well (all are Boraginaceae).

REMARKS.–It is probable that this species is of recent establishment in North America, although Echium vulgare has long been a weed of the eastern United States and Canada. The earliest record I have seen for the moth in North America is Picton Island, Clayton, Jefferson County, New York, July 24, 1964 (B. Heineman). It was also taken at Hoboken, New Jersey, in August 1964, so the introduction evidently occurred prior to the 1964 season. In conversation, Klaus Sattler reported presence of a colony of E. bipunctella at Ottawa during the 1965 season. The Canadian National Collection has specimens collected at Ottawa May 20 and 31, 1965, by G. G. Lewis, and a specimen dated August 2, 1965, was sent to me by H. F. Howden. According to Sheppard (1970) it was also collected in the Quebec area in 1965 and on another island in the St. Lawrence during 1969. Also in recent years, Ethmia bipunctella has been taken at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1967 by D. C. Ferguson, and inland, at Ithaca, New York, in 1970 (J. G. Franclemont, in litt.).

Since the moth is large and fairly conspicuous in appearance, there being no other eastern Nearctic species similar to it, and since adults are attracted to light, the adventive colonies probably have not been widespread many years. In 1962 I checked collections for Ethmia in most of the major eastern North American institutions, and no bipunctella were found. In addition, I received an extensive assortment of light trap samples from the New Jersey-southern New England area in 1962 and E. bipunctella was not represented.

Ethmia monticola (Washingham)

Psecadia monticola Walsingham, 1880:87.

Ethmia monticola.–Dyar, 1902:203.–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 26, 35.–McDunnough, 1939:82.

Ethmia fuscipedella Powell, 1959 (not Walsingham, 1888): 136 [in part].

A moderately large, dark gray moth with black lines or markings on the forewing and a bright ochreous abdomen. The nominotypic race, which has longitudinal lines on the forewing, occurs in the northern Rocky Mountains and along the cordillera of the Pacific states.

Ethmia monticola monticola (Walsingham), new status

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.1–14.6 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding antenna base; second segment strongly curved, length 1.5–1.6 times eye diameter; third segment straight, 0.70–0.75 as long as second; smooth scaled, black sprinkled with white scales exteriorly. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20–0.22 eye diameter; scaled dorsally, pale gray. Scaling of front smooth, of crown and occipital margins loosely appressed, black with scattered pale slate gray scales. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale slate gray; paired, large, round, black spots at bases of tegulae, between apices of tegulae, and on scutellum. Underside blackish gray including prothoracic and mesothoracic legs; metathoracic leg bright ochreous. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length 3.4–3.5 times width; costa very slightly curved from base to apex; apex rather blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well defined. Ground color pale to dark slate gray. Markings black, conspicuous, variable, as follows: a longitudinal streak in costal area, from base to beyond middle, at times diffuse toward base; four roundish spots in cell, the first pair on Cu fold at basal one-fourth and before middle of wing, second pair above and distad of first, at about middle of cell and end of cell; a line from base along lower fold at times connects first pair of spots or ends before outer one, rarely absent, the spots isolated; a parallel line connects pair of spots in cell, rarely broken before inner one, an ill-defined, often indistinct, parallel, short streak in cell just below outer spot; a series of four to seven short streaks radiating out from cell in outer costal and terminal areas between the veins, ending before margin; a series of dots on margin from before apex to tornus; a thin line on dorsal margin. Underside entirely dark gray, paler toward dorsum. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal area simple; costa very slightly excavate on distal half; apex blunt, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color pale to dark gray; fringe pale ochreous on anal half, pale gray on apical half of wing. Underside similar, paler. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of first segment black, of second and third segments mostly or partially black, or entirely ochreous, remainder of dorsum, underside and genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figures 76, 77 (drawn from plesiotype, Cedarville, Modoc County, California, JAP prep. no. 1488; six preparations examined); uncus and basal processes broad, cucullus narrow, flared distally, valva attenuate distally, anterior gnathos ridge rather sparsely dentate.

MAP 27.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia monticola (Walsingham).

E. m. monticola E. m. emmeli Powell E. m. fuscipedella (Walsingham)

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.8 to 13.1 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male; antenna slightly smaller, width of shaft basally about 0.8 to 0.9 that of male. General coloration and maculation as in male except abdomen black only on first tergite. Sixth and seventh abdominal sternites unusually heavily sclerotized, sixth with an anterior median lobe, not correlated with modified scaling or other modification visible externally. Genitalia as in E. m. fuscipedella (Figures 200, 201) (two m. monticola preparations examined); sterigma protruded ventrally but not well differentiated from the broadly sclerotized VIII sternite, antrum with a broad, curled plate ending in a strong thorn, similar to that of bipunctella but lacking the small subtending spurs, signum a broad, shallow fold with one lateral expansion.

TYPE DATA.–Siskiyou Range, border of California and Oregon, June 10, 1872 (Walsingham); type in British museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Widespread in boreal western North America from Alberta (Calgary) westward through southern British Columbia and much of Washington, southward through western Montana and Wyoming into northern Utah, Idaho, and the mountains of California (to Alpine County).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–May to July.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown. D. S. Horning reared several specimens from stick traps (see Parker and Bohart, 1966) at Craters-of-the-Moon National Monument, Idaho. He believes (in litt.) that if the food plant were Boraginaceae or Hydrophyllaceae, either Phacelia heterophylla, P. leucophylla, or Lithospermum ruderale were the most likely hosts at the site.

REMARKS.–Specimens from northern California (Plumas, Modoc, and Siskiyou Counties) have blackish gray forewing ground, while those from Rocky Mountain areas are consistently pale gray.

Ethmia monticola emmeli Powell, new subspecies

A race in the southern Rocky Mountains and adjoining ranges, differing from nominate monticola by having the costal half of the forewing black.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.7 to 14.0 mm. Generally as described for m. monticola, differing as follows. Head: Labial palpus usually relatively shorter, length of second segment 1.3–1.5 times eye diameter, second segment 0.70–0.78 as long as second. Scaling of front and crown mostly pale slate gray. Forewing: Ground color and pattern basically as in m. monticola but whole costal half black to end of cell, at times with some pale gray scaling above middle of cell, forming ill-defined longitudinal streaks; dorsal pale gray extends above Cu fold in cell before basal spot of Cu fold, thence along line at lower fold, invaded by the two Cu fold spots, upcurved as a spur at end of cell; two black spots of m. monticola in cell evident, slightly darker than costal black ground; terminal area as in m. monticola. Abdomen: Entirely bright ochreous except first segment dorsally brownish gray. Genitalia indistinguishable from nominate subspecies (four preparations examined).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 11.9 to 13.8 mm. As described for male and nominate subspecies. Wing pattern variation apparently the same as in male. Genitalia not distinguishable from m. fuscipedella (Figures 200, 201) (two preparations of m. emmeli examined).

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Arizona, Fort Valley, 7,350 feet, 7.5 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Coconino County, June 22, 1961 (R. W. Hodges); deposited at Cornell University. Forty-one paratypes, as follows: Arizona: same locality as holotype, 17♂, 12♀, VI–19 to VII–18–61; Hart Prairie, 8,500 feet, 10 mi NNW Flagstaff, Coconino County, 1♀, VII–12–61 (R. W. Hodges). Utah: Red Canyon Camp, 7,200 feet, 11 mi SE Panguitch, Garfield County, 1♂ VII–13–60 (F. P. and B. Rindge). Colorado: Chimney Gulch, Golden, Jefferson County, 1♀, VII–27–07 (Oslar); Big Springs Ranch, Florissant, Teller County, 3♂, 4♀, VII–21 to VIII–8–60 (T. C. Emmel); Lake City, 8,684 feet, Hinsdale County, 1♂, VII–3–57 (F. and P. Rindge); Rock Creek Canyon, El Paso County, 1♂, VI–26–61 (M. May). New Mexico: McGaffey, Zuni Mountains, McKinley County, 7,500 feet, 2♂, VII–22,23–62 (E. and I. Munroe); Cimmaron Canyon, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colfax County, 1♀, VII–7–62 (E and I. Munroe). Paratypes deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Insect Survey, Canadian National Collection, Cornell University, R. W. Hodges, C. P. Kimball, Los Angeles County Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.–I take pleasure in naming the race for Thomas E. Emmel who has collected many Microlepidoptera in Colorado during the past few seasons, including the first specimens of emmeli which I had the opportunity to study.

Specimens from the type locality have a somewhat darker slate gray ground color than do those from Colorado. In addition to the above I have seen three individuals with a wing pattern roughly intermediate between m. monticola and m. emmeli, but these are labeled simply “Col.” or “Colo.” At present a broad zone exists from which I have seen no specimens of the monticola complex; ie., central and southern Nevada, through central Utah, northern Colorado, and northward in eastern Wyoming and Montana and western Nebraska and the Dakotas to Saskatchewan. If blend zones between emmeli and monticola exist, for example in the southern Wasatch Range or in northern Colorado, they have not been sampled. E. m. fuscipedella may be entirely allopatric. To the south, a narrow area in central New Mexico separates emmeli from fuscipedella (Ruidoso, Lincoln County). The emmeli phenotype remains fairly typical in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, while a long series of fuscipedella from Lincoln County shows no indication of increase of black on the forewing. Further field work in the area may reveal that the two are sympatric and distinct species.

Ethmia monticola fuscipedella (Walsingham), new status

Psecadia fuscipedella Walsingham, 1888:150.

Ethmia fuscipedella.–Dyar, 1902:203 [taxonomy].–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pis. 26, 35.–Forbes, 1923:245 [taxonomy].–McDunnough, 1939:82.–Powell, 1959:136 [in part].

An eastern Nearctic race similar to typical monticola but with the black markings of the forewing reduced to a few isolated spots.

MALE.–Length of forewing 12.4 (reared) to 15.3 mm. Structural and color characteristics similar to m. monticola, differing as follows. Forewing: Slightly broader, length 3.2 to 3.5 times width; costa more strongly curved at middle. Ground color pale slate gray, not ranging to the dark extreme of m. monticola. Black markings as follows: the four roundish black spots of monticola present, distinct, two on Cu fold at basal one-fourth and just before middle of wing, two above and beyond them, in cell at middle of wing and at end of cell; a fifth spot present or absent, smaller, at outer, lower angle of cell; a series of about ten dots on margin, from before apex to tornus; a short line on outer one-third of dorsum, at times almost entirely lacking. Hindwing: Entirely gray including anal fringe. Abdomen: Entirely ochreous except first segment dorsally brownish gray. Genitalia very similar to m. monticola, differing by a wider anterior dentate ridge of the gnathos and by slightly broader apices on the cuculli (three preparations examined).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 12.1 to 14.0 mm, apparently not consistently smaller than male as in m. monticola. As described for nominotypic subspecies and male. Genitalia as in Figures 200, 201 (drawn from plesiotype, Lincoln County, New Mexico, JAP prep. no. 2542; two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.–“North Carolina”; type female in British Museum. In view of the known distribution this label is suspected to be in error.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Widespread in eastern North America, but incompletely known (i.e., known only from the type locality and West Point, New York); in the midwest from southern Ontario (Point Pelee) and southern Manitoba, south to Kansas (Riley County), and in south-central New Mexico (Ruidoso).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–May to July.

FOOD PLANT.–Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) (Boraginaceae) according to a reared series in the Canadian National Collection from Point Pelee, Ontario (F.P.Ide). The larvae live in a slight web on L.gmelini in Ohio (Braun, in litt.).

REMARKS.–The three preceding entities, here treated as subspecies, comprise a component of a holarctic species or species complex with an extremely unusual distribution pattern. As pointed out by Sattler (1967) Ethmia cirrhocnemia (Lederer) of central Asia is more similar in appearance to E. m. fuscipedella than the latter is to E. m. monticola. The former two are essentially indistinguishable in external features. E. cirrhocnemia evidently has a slightly different sclerotization pattern of the sterigma and antrum from members of the monticola complex according to Sattler’s figures. E. cirrhocnemia occurs in arid regions from Iran through southern U.S.S.R. to Mongolia and northeastern China. The distribution of fuscipedella is unlike any other Nearctic Ethmiid and is difficult to explain, especially in view of the montane distribution of monticola, emmeli, and caliginosella. However, fuscipedella and cirrhocnemia may occupy similar habitats, dry steppe or comparable semiarid situations or perhaps edaphic factors are involved, the species living in areas with sandy or other well-drained soils to which the food plants they follow are adapted. The host plant of E. cirrhocnemia is unknown.

Ethmia caliginosella Busck

Ethmia caliginosella Busck, 1904:44.–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 26, 35.–McDunnough, 1939:82.

A high montane, dark gray moth resembling members of the monticola complex, but with bushy labial palpus and dark hind legs.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.7 to about 12.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding antennal base; second segment strongly curved, length about 1.5 times eye diameter, with a brush of elongate, spreading, hairlike scales ventrally; third segment slightly curved, about 0.7 as long as second, smooth scaled; blackish gray (color of scales of whole moth becoming dark brown or brownish gray with age in museums). Antenna dilated a short distance near base, width of shaft at base about 0.26 eye diameter. Scaling under eye spreading, hairlike, of front appressed, of crown slightly roughened; blackish gray. Thorax: Dorsal scaling black; tegula mostly dark slate gray. Underside dark gray, densely hairy; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs blackish exteriorly; metathoracic leg pale slate gray, tibial brush elongate, pale gray. Forewing: Length about 3.5 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter blunt; termen rather strongly angled back, tornal angle developed. Ground color dark slate gray, markings black, as follows: two rather broad, ill-defined longitudinal lines corresponding to those of E. m. monticola on lower fold in basal half of wing and in outer half of cell; a series of short streaks between the veins, radiating out from distal portion of cell; a series of dots on margin from well before apex to beyond tornus; a line on dorsal margin. Underside entirely dark gray. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa strongly sloped from beyond middle to apex, latter narrow, blunt; termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color pale gray; hairs of anal area darker, fringe in anal area paler. Underside slightly paler. Abdomen: Scaling dark grayish at base, gradually becoming ochreous, segments 5 to 7 with ochreous caudal bands, final segments and genitalia ochreous. Sclerotizations of 6th and 7th sternites heavier, with a slight anterior median extension not present in male but well developed in female monticola. Genitalia as in Figure 78 (drawn from plesiotype, Colorado, Bruce, JAP prep. no. 1464; three preparations examined); very similar to E. monticola, differing by slightly shorter, more abruptly attenuate sacculus and a more heavily dentate anterior ridge of the gnathos.

FEMALE.–Known only from the holotype which is in worn condition. Length of forewing 11.0 mm. Essentially as described for male in external appearance except hindwing as dark as forewing. Labial palpus slightly larger, second segment 1.6 times eye diameter. Genitalia not dissected.

TYPE DATA.–Silverton, Colorado, 12,000 feet altitude (C. P. Gillette); holotype female in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–High montane Colorado. I have seen eight specimens with detailed data, all labeled 11,500–12,500 feet, “timberline,” etc.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Late June to late July.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown. A specimen from “Cont. Divide” bears a handwritten label which I decipher as “on Pseudocymopterus multifidus” (=montanus (Gray) (Umbelliferae), an unlikely host.

The Hagenella Group

Eye index 0.9–1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately large, four subequal segments. Labial palpus moderately short, II segment index 0.95–1.2, smooth scaled. Antenna of male not dilated. Forewing moderately narrow, pattern costal-dorsal as longitudinal streaks. Hindwing of male with costal area unmodified. Abdomen yellow, I–II terga with or without specialized scaling. Uncus sclerotized, narrow; gnathos dentate posteriorly; basal processes sclerotized, broad or distally broadened; valva and fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae anales heavily sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses broad; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged, heavily sclerotized with inner spurs; ductus bursae membranous, eight tight coils; signum a broad cone.

A closely knit group of four species in eastern United States and Mexico which is widely distinct from all other groups. Southwestern species are nocturnal but Ethmia zelleriella of the eastern United States has an intermediate eye size and may be primarily crepuscular.

Ethmia hagenella (Chambers)

Anesychia hagenella Chambers, 1878:80.

Ethmia hagenella.–Dyar, 1902:207.–Meyrick, 1914:30.–Barnes and Busck, 1920:242, pl. 27 [in part].–McDunnough 1939: 83 [in part].

This is a southwestern Nearctic species, with forewings marked on costal half with black spots or blotches.

Ethmia hagenella hagenella (Chambers), new status

A central Texan subspecies with white forewings, having a brown costal area and black dots scattered over the dorsal half.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.1–11.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus rather short, not strongly curved, not reaching base of antenna; second segment length about equal to (0.95–1.05) eye diameter; third segment 0.55–0.70 as long as second (0.53–0.72 eye diameter); smooth scaled, second segment dark brown exteriorly except apex white, third segment white. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.18 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark brown, scape mostly white. Scaling of tongue white, front brown basally, becoming white, crown hite, occipital tufts with median black spot. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, tegula and collar dark brown at extreme base, notum with two pairs of large black spots, first adjoining collar, second at sides of scutellum. Underside white; legs tinged with pale yellowish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs and hind tarsi brown spotted. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.6–3.7 times width; costa very slightly curved from base to apex, latter acute, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle indistinct. Ground color white, costal area broadly pale brown, extending into cell from base nearly to apex, with an irregular spur into terminal area not reaching marginal dots; dorsal half marked by more or less evenly distributed blackish brown spots (slightly darker than costal area) arranged in four oblique rows of two or three dots each, the upper (basal) of each row larger and adjoining and partially obscured by the costal brown; a row of nine black dots along margin from before apex to beyond tornus. Fringe white. Underside with costal brown weakly reproduced, dorsal half white, the darker spots not reproduced. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costal area simple; costal margin steeply tapered toward the acute apex, the wing strongly narrowed in distal half; tornal angle not evident. Ground color white, pale brownish toward distal margins, concentrated into darker spots between veins, fringe white. Underside white, costal area brownish, the marginal dots reproduced. Abdomen: Scaling whitish, tinged with pale brownish dorsally, pale yellowish laterally and ventrally. Genitalia as in Figure 79 (drawn from plesiotype, Bosque County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 1625; five preparations examined); uncus rather short, tapered to a point, gnathos not developed anteriorly, posteriorly narrow, variable, with about four teeth, basal processes elongate, equal to tegumen length, variably broadened distally, at times nearly as much as in h. josephinella (Figure 80); valva broad, not emarginate distally; vesica-manica with a large thorn-shaped cornutus, with or without a lateral spur.

MAP 28.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia hagenella (Chambers).

E. h. hagenella E. h. josephinella Dyar

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.1 mm. As described for male; labial palpus within range of male; antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft about 0.9 that of male. Abdominal sternite VII with a deep, rounded emargination posteriorly. Genitalia not examined; presumably as in h. josephinella (Figure 202).

TYPE DATA.–Bosque County, Texas; lectotype male, by present designation, “6/10, Tex, 27, Hagenella Chb., Type 1422,” in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. A specimen labeled “Texas” and “su 100” or “sn 100” in the U.S. National Museum is labeled as the type and presumably is a pseudotype.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Central Texas, from Bosque County south to San Benito, westward to Big Bend, probably southward in Chihuahua.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Multivoltine; records available for January, March, April, and October.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia hagenella josephinella Dyar, new status

Ethmia josephinella Dyar 1902:205.–Meyrick, 1914:30.

Ethmia hagenella.–Barnes and Busck (not Chambers, 1878), 1920:242, pl. 27 [in part].–McDunnough, 1939:83 [in part].

A subspecies in western Texas and New Mexico which differs from h. hagenella by its larger size and a more extensive black blotching in the dorsal half of the forewing.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.4–11.9 mm. Head: As described for h. hagenella, the labial palpus size less variable in the sample available. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.6–3.7 times width, and shape as in h. hagenella. Ground color white, costa broadly dark gray-brown nearly to apex; blackish marks on dorsal half of h. hagenella enlarged, in cell and on distal half of wing coalesced, particularly just before and above tornus, forming an oblique blotch from dorsal margin toward termen. Hindwing and abdomen as in h. hagenella. Genitalia very similar, gnathos narrow, teeth variable in size and number (usually 5 or 6), basal processes elongate, variably broadened (e.g., Figure 80, drawn from plesiotype, Davis Mountains, Texas, JAP prep. no. 626; four preparations examined); vesica with thorn-shaped cornutus with lateral spur.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.9–11.5 mm. As described for male and h. hagenella. Genitalia similar to E. mimihagenella, differing by having fewer spurs inside antrum and a more conspicuous flaplike plate just posterior of ostium (Figure 202;drawn from plesiotype, Davis Mountains, Texas, JAP prep. no. 2308; one preparation examined); ductus membranous, tightly coiled, with about eight spirals; signum large, with a more pronounced keel into the corpus bursae, similar to E. zelleriella (Figure 205).

TYPE DATA.–New Mexico, Dripping Springs, Organ Mountains (Cockerell); the holotype male in U.S. National Museum bears the additional data “April 23” and “at light.”

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Extreme western Texas (Davis Mounatins and Alpine) and southern New Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Probably multivoltine; late March to May, September.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–Barnes and Busck (1920), who synonymized Ethmia josephinella with E. hagenella, stated that the two wing patterns grade into each other, but I have seen no evidence of this in older material.

Two recently collected males from southern Chihuahua represent the only sample I have examined of the Hagenella group in Mexico. These specimens are dissimilar both from Texas populations and from one another. One of them, from Hidalgo del Parral (5,500 feet, VII–30–67, Gardner, Kovacic, and Lorenzen) is somewhat intermediate between E. h. hagenella and josephinella in wing pattern, being similar to the former in restriction of costal brown and in size (forewing length 10.0 mm), but resembles josephinella with enlarged spots in the tornal area. The genitalia show relatively narrow basal processes, as in most E. h. hagenella, but possess six teeth on the gnathos and a strongly serrate cornutus with large lateral spur, more characteristic of josephinella.

The second specimen may represent yet another race, as it has an appreciably different appearance. It was collected in the mountains 25 miles west of Hidalgo del Parral (6,800 feet, VII–15–64, Chemsak and Powell). The forewing costal brownish is a little restricted and distinctly paler, causing the dark spots of the dorsal half, especially those in the cell, to appear more contrasting. The spots are larger than those of h. hagenella, but remain roundish, not elongated and coalesced as in josephinella (Plate 9i). The specimen is large (forewing length 11.4 mm) and has a broader gnathos with 10 teeth, and the basal processes are broadened as much or more than in any josephinella examined, but the cornutus has no lateral spur.

Ethmia mimihagenella Powell, new species

A widespread species in the southwestern states that resembles E. h. hagenella, but is larger and has different genital characters.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.2–12.1 mm. Head: Essentially as described for h. hagenella, labial palpus second segment length slightly less or equal to eye diameter. Antenna shaft about 0.19 eye diameter; dorsal scaling with whitish banding basally. Scaling of tongue whitish or brownish, front mostly brown. Thorax: Scaling as in h. hagenella, underside more yellowish. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.65–3.80 times width. Ground color white, dark pattern similar to h. hagenella, the costal brown slightly more extensive, in cell and apical area reaching first marginal dot, less uniform, darkest in cell, becoming variably whitish at costa; marks of dorsal half not noticeably darker than costal area except basally, somewhat elongated (not greatly enlarged as in h. josephinella), the terminal one fused with costal area dark as an extended spur through terminal area to the 10 marginal dots, which are scarcely darker, extending well beyond tornus. Fringe white, a dark area below apex opposite, at times contiguous with terminal streak. Hindwing and underside: As described for h. hagenella. Abdomen: Scaling entirely pale yellow. Genitalia similar to E. burnsella, gnathos teeth variable but usually larger, 7–9; basal processes slightly narrower; thornlike cornutus of vesica smaller, lacking spurs (three preparations examined).

MAP 29.–Geographical distribution of members of the Hagenella group of Ethmia.

E. mimihagenella Powell E. burnsella Powell

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.3 to 11.8 mm. As described for male and h. hagenella. Genitalia as in Figure 203, 204 (drawn from paratypotype, JAP prep. no. 2087; one preparation examined); papillae anales moderately heavily sclerotized; sterigma a broad anteriorly pronged plate, subtended by a deep, oval, sclerotized antrum that bears numerous inwardly directed spurs; ductus bursae with about 8 tight spirals; signum a broad triangular plate, produced inwardly into a median keel and with numerous short spurs on inner side; keel shorter than in E. burnsella (Figure 206).

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: New Mexico, Gran Quivira National Monument, Socorro County, July 20, 1957, and July 17, 1958 (S. F. Wood); deposited in the Los Angeles County Museum. Thirty-five paratypes as follows: Arizona, Fort Valley, 7,350 feet, 7.5 mi NW Flagstaff, Coconino County, 1♂ VII–30–61 (R. W. Hodges); New Mexico, McGaffey, Zuni Mountains, McKinley County, 1♂, VII–21–62, black light (E. and I. Munroe); Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument, 9♂, VII–(15–18)–62, black light (E. and I. Munroe); Frijoles Canyon, 1♂, VI–19–42 (G. H. and J. L. Sperry), same data as holotype, 1♂, 1♀, VII–1–56, 4♂, VII–20 to VIII–4–57, 1♀ VIII–16–57, 4♂, 3♀, VI–28 to VIII–9–58; Texas, Monahans Sand Hills, State Park, Ward County, l♂, 7♀, IV–16, 17–61 (Rozen and Schrammel); Big Bend National Park Basin, 1♂, III–29–65 (A. and M. E. Blanchard). Deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History, André Blanchard, California Insect Survey, Canadian National Collection, R. W. Hodges, Los Angeles County Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

Ethmia burnsella Powell, new species

A moderately large member of the Hagenella group, in northern Texas, resembling hagenella hagenella, but with a pale ochreous ground color on thorax and forewings. The male genitalia are similar to mimihagenella.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.0 mm. Head: Essentially as described for hagenella; labial palpus, length of second segment equal to or slightly greater than eye diameter; scaling pale ochreous, second segment mostly dark brown exteriorly. Antennal shaft basally about 0.19 eye diameter; scape pale ochreous, with dark brown dorsal, apical spot. Scaling of front and crown whitish ochreous. Thorax: As described for E. hagenella, ground color pale ochreous. Forewing: Essentially as described for E. hagenella, slightly broader than E. minihagenella, length 3.5–3.7 times width; ground color pale ochreous, costal area pale gray-brown, distinctly paler than the brownish black spots of dorsal half; outer, tornal area black spots slightly larger than the others. Underside pale ochreous, legs and costa dark ochreous. Hindwing: White basally, becoming pale ochreous distally and along anal margin. Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling entirely ochreous, slightly darker than other members of the complex. Genitalia as in Figure 81 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 1633; two preparations examined); similar to E. mimihagenella; gnathos teeth blunt, 10–14; basal processes slightly broader than E. mimihagenella; vesica with ornate cornutus, bearing three curved spurs.

MAP 30.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia zelleriella (Chambers).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.2 to 10.6 mm. Essentially as described for male and E. h. hagenella; forewing slightly broader, 3.4–3.5 times width. Genitalia very similar to E. mimihagenella (Figures 203, 204); fewer spurs in antrum; signum moderately broad with deep keel (Figure 206, drawn from JAP prep. no. 2091; two preparations of burnsella examined).

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Texas, Palo Duro Canyon, 2,800 feet, Randall County, May 9 1959 (J. M. and S. N. Burns) deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Two male and two female paratypes: Same data, deposited in California Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

Ethmia zelleriella (Chambers)

Hyponomeuta zelleriella Chambers, 1878:80.

Psecadia zelleriella.–Walsingham, 1888:149.–Dyar, 1900:38.

Ethmia zelleriella.–Dyar, 1902:207; 1904a:3 [larva].–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 27, 35.–Forbes, 1923:245.–McDunnough, 1939:83.–Clench, 1957:45.

Hyponomeuta texanella Chambers, 1880:180.

Psecadia texanella.–Walsingham, 1888:149 [synonymy].

A moderately large species of eastern United States with whitish forewings marked by elongate black spots and with a yellow abdomen.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.7–11.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment 1.25–1.40 times eye diameter, third segment about 0.8 as long as second (slightly longer than eye diameter); without distinct color bands, mostly dark gray basally and exteriorly, mostly to slightly whitish interiorly and on distal half exteriorly. Antennal shaft not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16 eye diameter; scape simple, white-scaled; basal few segments of shaft scaled dorsally, white. Scaling of tongue white, of front brown basally, becoming white before crown; occipital tufts white laterally, black at middle. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, with four black spots, a pair at juncture of tegulae and collar, usually large, occasionally small, nearly hidden by collar; second pair at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs pale ochreous. Forewing: Length 3.50–3.65 width; costal curve slightly stronger toward base; termen moderately strongly angled back. Ground color white, dusted with gray along costa to midcell; a series of elongated black spots more or less evenly distributed over the wing; those in costal area at times somewhat obscured by infuscation; those in cell aggregated into two longitudinal bars in series, one in basal half, one in distal half of cell; six in dorsal area scarcely elongated. A row of conspicuous submarginal black spots from well before apex to beyond tornus. Fringe white, unbroken by markings. Underside pale brown, the upper side markings showing through. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area simple, margin concave before apex. Upper side white basally, becoming pale brownish in apical area. Fringe white. Underside white, costal area lightly tinged with brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of basal segment dark brown, of succeeding segments brownish gray with posterior ochreous scale fringe; lateral, ventral, and genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 82 (drawn from plesiotype, Plummer’s Island, Maryland, JAP prep. no. 1508; two preparations examined); uncus heavily sclerotized, trifid; gnathos small, notched apically, not denate; basal processes narrow, heavily sclerotized.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.4–12.0 mm. Similar to male; labial palpus slightly shorter in relation to eye diameter, length of second segment 1.15–1.35 times eye diameter, third segment 0.8–0.9 the length of second. Scaling darker, of thorax and forewing often entirely pale gray, costal area usually more heavily infuscated than male, almost completely obscuring markings in extreme cases; of hindwing pale brownish gray on distal half to almost wholly brownish gray, darkening toward apical area. Abdominal sternite VII with shallow posterior emargination. Genitalia similar to E. mimihagenella, the sterigmal plate shorter and signum larger, as in Figure 205 (drawn from plesiotype, Indiana, JAP prep. no. 2122; two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.–Bosque County, Texas; lectotype by present designation: female (lacking wings on one side), bearing the data “Tex, 15/4, 28, zelleriella Chb., Type #1405,” in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (zelleriella). “Texas,” lectotype (lacking metathorax and abdomen) by present designation: labeled “Hyponomenta texanella Chamb. Texas” [in what appears to be Chambers’ hand], “Type #1406” [probably by Hagen or Banks], “Ethmia (Psecadia) AB 1902” in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (texanella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Eastern North America, from southern Ontario and Quebec through the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachian regions and in central Texas. Records are not available from the Mississippi Valley.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–April to June (Ohio and Maryland), May to July (Indiana). Two records from Monteagle, Tennessee, late April and early August, suggest two generations; an August record is also available from North Carolina. One specimen from Bosque County, Texas, in the British Museum is labeled “X–6–1876.”

FOOD PLANT.–Phacelia. The larva of E. zelleriella was described by Dyar (1904a); specimens from Plummer’s Island, Maryland, in the U.S. National Museum, and adult dissected from the pupa, blown larvae, and a pupal shell bear the Dyar number B81116 (emerged specimen data 18493). Information from the Dyar Notebook entry of this number states that the larvae were free feeding, without a web, on Phacelia dubia. Specimens of zelleriella from Cincinnati, Ohio, which bear the number B1106 were reared by Annette Braun. Dr. Braun (in litt.) noted that the larvae associated with this rearing number fed exposed on the upper surface of leaves of Phacelia bipinnatifida. At pupation they bored into pieces of corky bark of Ulmus racemosa. Larvae were collected August 15, 1923, and the moths emerged in April 1924.

REMARKS.–The peculiar nomenclatorial confusion, created when Chambers described a gelechiid as Anesychia (a synonym of Ethmia) texanella and the present ethmiid twice, as zelleriella and as Hyponomenta texanella, was clarified by Dyar (1902).

The Kirbyi Group

Eye index ± 1.0. Maxillary palpus small, four segments, the distal two reduced. Labial palpus moderately short, II segment index 1.0–1.2, smooth scaled. Antenna of male not or slightly dilated, index 0.19–0.22. Forewing moderately broad, pattern transverse metallic lines. Hindwing of male with costal hair pencil, with or without pinch-fold, or unmodified. Abdomen usually with I–II tergal scaling modified. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate posteriorly; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with distal notch; fultura simple; manicavesica with elongate sclerotized spur. Papillae anales with lateral lobes; antrum enlarged with sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous with ± 6 loose coils; signum an elongate-narrow dentate keel.

An assemblage of seven nocturnal species in Mexico and the Caribbean. With the exception of Ethmia bittenella, the species are extremely similar in genital characters. E. bittenella is included, despite its modifications in uncus and other structures, on the basis of similarity in the phenetic assessments.

Ethmia delliella (Fernald)

Psecadia delliella Fernald, 1891:29.

Babaiaxa delliella.–Busck, 1902:95.

Tamarrha delliella.–Busck, 1906b:729 [taxonomy]; 1908b:205 [biology].–Barnes and Busck, 1920, pls. 26, 36.

Ethmia delliella.–Meyrick, 1914:27.–Heinrich, 1921:819 [biology].–McDunnough, 1939:83.–Powell, 1959:150 [in part].

A primarily Mexican species having white forewings with narrow, transverse, steel blue stripes and a bright ochreous terminal band.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.0–10.9 mm. Head: Labial palpus not strongly upcurved, rather short, not reaching antennal base; second segment moderately curved, about 1.1 times as long as eye diameter; third segment slightly bent, about 0.67 times the length of second; smooth scaled, white, black exteriorly at apex of second segment. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.19 eye diameter; scaled dorsally, white at base, dark gray beyond. Scaling of tongue, front, crown, and occipital tufts white. Thorax: Pronotal scaling white; two transverse bands, black reflecting metallic steel blue, between tegulae and across scutellum. Underside shining white; coxae and trochanters tinged with bright ochreous, tibiae, tarsi, and prothoracic femur banded with blackish; hind tibial fringe dense, white. Forewing: Length about 3.2–3.3 times width; costa curve very slightly flattened toward apex, latter blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed, fringe moderately broad. Ground color white, markings black, reflecting metallic steel blue, as. follows: a small spot at base of costa; three transverse bands, narrow to rather broad (about 0.3 to 0.6 eye diameter), from costa, first near base ending before dorsum, second at one-fourth outwardly curved, ending before dorsum, third from costa before middle curved outward to middle of wing, sending a spur outward in cell with a detached spot above it, usually complete to dorsum, at times broken below spur; distal half of wing with two similar, incomplete bands, first bent outward toward end of cell, broken at lower outer angle of cell, second more or less straight from costa before apex to tornus, connected to the preceding band by a longitudinal mark at end of cell; a short band, sometimes broken, in lower terminal area; a series of about eight submarginal dots from apex to dorsum. A conspicuous, bright ochreous marginal band from apex to dorsum. Fringe gray, whitish basally. Underside pale brownish, whitish toward dorsum, markings of upperside showing through; ochreous terminal band partially reproduced. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costal area with an exposed hair pencil rather thin, cream-white; costa slightly excavate toward apex, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle scarcely discernible. Ground color white, becoming slightly to strongly brown toward apex (more extensive brown accompanying broader forewing markings). Fringe white. Underside white, costal and apical area brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of second segment bright ochreous, of remainder gray-brown with pale caudal and lateral fringes; ventrally dark brownish on middle, whitish laterally and posteriorly. Genital scaling bright ochreous, paler dorsally. Genitalia as in Figure 83 (drawn from plesiotype, Brownsville, Texas, JAP prep. no. 1471; eight preparations examined); uncus broad, width 0.90 to 1.05 times length; basal processes elongate, about 1.5 times uncus length; spines of anterior portion of gnathos, 11–18, variable.

MAP 31.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia delliella (Fernald).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.5 to 12.0 mm. Essentially as described for male; antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of male; hindwing costal area simple. Color and markings, including thise of abdomen, not differing appreciably from male; females tending to have slightly broader forewing markings than males at any given locality. Genitalia as in Figures 207, 208 (drawn from plesiotype, Sinton County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 2005; two preparations examined); anterior apophyses thin, elongate; sterigma a simple plate, subtended by a deep, irregularly rugose, bilobed plate; ductus bursae sclerotized basally, membranous with about 6 loose coils distally; signum a thin fold with a row of short, blunt teeth.

TYPE DATA.–Texas; female type in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Gulf region of Texas (Victoria to Brownsville) and Mexico (Monterrey to San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Yucatan); west coastal plain of Mexico (Alamos, Sonora, to southern Sinaloa); Chiapas; and El Salvador.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Apparently multivoltine; March to October in Texas, scattered records April to August elsewhere.

FOOD PLANT.–Ehretia elliptica de Candollé (Boraginaceae) at Victoria, Texas (Busck, 1908b). Collections of larvae in the U.S. National Museum from several Texas localities are labeled Ehretia anacua, a synonym of elliptica. Heinrich (1921) reported one moth reared at Brownsville from Pseudabutilon (=Wissadula) lozani (Rose) (Malvaceae), stems of which were heavily affected by an aegeriid and may have provided a pupation site but not food of the E. delliella. A specimen in the U.S. National Museum from Victoria, Texas, is labeled “on Anogra pallid” (=Oenothera pallida Lindl. Onagraceae)), an unlikely larval host.

REMARKS.–Specimens from Texas and northeastern Mexico are rather consistent in having narrower bands on the forewing, and generally reduced dark coloring including the hindwing, than those from Sonora and Sinaloa. Individuals of the series from San Salvador are the darkest of all and most are somewhat larger than those from the northern parts of the range.

Ethmia davisella Powell, new species

A species in northeastern Mexico, similar to E. delliella, differing by reduced dark markings of the forewing (transverse bands broken) and by lacking the hindwing costal hair pencil.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.0–9.0 mm. Head: As described for E. delliella; labial palpus slightly longer, owing to third segment length about 0.7–0.8 that of second. Thorax: As described for delliella; pronotal bands distinctly broken into paired spots between tegulae and on scutellum. Forewing: Shape and shining white ground color as in delliella; markings black, reflecting metallic blue, in same general pattern as delliella but reduced, as isolated spots: costa at base; first band near base as short bars on costa and in dorsal area; second band at one-fourth, as subcostal spot and short bars in cell and dorsal area; third band as costal spot before middle, short bar in cell and two in dorsal area, the last at dorsum sometimes lacking, outward spur in cell represented by isolated spot or short longitudinal bar; fourth band as thin bars in subcostal area, at lower, outer corner of cell and in dorsal area or reduced to the one at end of cell only; fifth bar thin, more or less complete from costa before apex to just above tornus; terminal dots and golden-ochreous marginal band about as conspicuous as in delliella. Fringe dark gray to nearly white. Hindwing: Shape as in delliella; costal brush absent. Ground color whitish basally, pale brownish over distal one-third to one-half. Fringe white. Abdomen: Scaling paler than on delliella, second segment dull ochreous dorsally, other segments brownish, broadly margined with pale tan to wholly whitish tan. Underside, segments brownish with pale caudal bands to almost entirely whitish; genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 84 (drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep, no. 1672; four preparations examined); similar to delliella, differing by a narrower uncus, its length about 1.10–1.30 times width and by shorter basal processes, 1.1 times uncus length; spines of anterior portion of gnathos, 12–14, variable but tending to be reduced toward middle.

MAP 32.–Geographical distribution of members of the Kirbyi group of Ethmia.

E. davisella Powell E. clarkei Powell E. linsdatei Powell

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.2–9.7 mm. Essentially as described for male. Antenna not dilated; forewing markings tending to be slightly more extensive, the bands at times nearly complete, but all at least slightly separated into spots. Genitalia very similar to E. delliella (Figures 207, 208) (one preparation examined).

TYPE.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, 6 miles south of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, 1,050 feet, August 6, 1963 (W. D. Duckworth and D. R. Davis); deposited in U.S. National Museum. Forty-nine paratypes all Mexico, as follows: same data as type, 12♂, 10♀; 4 mi SW Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, 1,100 feet, 5♂, 4♀, VII–10–63; same data, 1,200 feet, 1♀, VIII–5–63 (Duckworth and Davis); 2 mi S Monterrey, Neuva Leon, 4,200 feet, 2♀, VII1–10–63 (Duckworth and Davis); 3 mi E Galeana, Neuva Leon, 5,000 feet, 5♀, VIII–(7–9)–63 (Duckworth and Davis); 25 mi N Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, 400 feet 5♂, 2♀, VII–(3,4)–63 (Duckworth and Davis); 2 mi S Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, 400 feet, 1♂, 2♀, VII–15–63 (Duckworth and Davis); deposited in California Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.–Lack of a costal hair pencil on the upperside of the male hindwing readily separates this and the following species from E. delliella.

Ethmia linsdalei Powell, new species

Ethmia timberlakei is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is found in California, United States.

The length of the forewings is 8.7–10.6 mm (0.34–0.42 in). The ground color of the forewings is dark gray, sparsely to densely irrorated (speckled) with scattered white scales. The ground color of the hindwings is uniform pale gray.

The larvae feed on Phacelia ramosissima var. suffrutescens.