Ethmia proximella Busck 1912

Ethmia proximella Busck, 1912:84.–Walsingham, 1915:423

A moderately small Mexican Ethmia, resembling E. bittenella, differing by a reduction of the black markings on the dorsal half of the forewing, and by the presence of a costal fold on the hindwing of the male.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.0–9.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate and strongly upcurved, reaching base of antenna; second segment length slightly more than 1.1 times eye diameter, moderately curved; third segment short, about 0.55–0.70 as long as second, slightly bent; smooth scaled, whitish, second segment exteriorly with scattered brownish or mostly brown at least apically. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16–0.17 eye diameter; scaled dorsally, white at base, becoming pale brownish distally. Scaling of front and crown smooth, white, at times with scattered pale brownish scales; occipital tufts dense, rather appressed, white. Thorax: Pronotal scaling white; paired blackish spots under tegulae and on scutellum. Underside white; legs pale ochreous at base, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs mostly dark brown exteriorly, banded with white; hind tibial fringe short, pale whitish ochreous. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length 3.4–3.5 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed, its fringe broad. Ground color white; costa from base nearly to apex, broadly dark gray-brown, broadest at distal half of cell, where it adjoins a double black spot or interrupted longitudinal bar in cell. Similar black markings, reflecting metallic blue-green on fresh specimens as follows: two roundish spots in dorsal area, one at basal one-fourth, second at one-third; a third spot, slightly larger, just beyond, in cell; an outwardly oblique row of three spots from middorsum to lower edge of cell before end; two spots at lower, outer end of cell, just preceding, below, and parallel to the oblique row of three; some ill-defined mottling and spots in terminal and tornal area preceding a more or less complete, narrow, dark submarginal band. A marginal band of dark to bright ochreous from apex to tornus. Fringe pale brownish, whitish basally. Underside pale brownish, markings of upper side showing through, marginal ochreous not reproduced; a row of elongated, tan scales following retinaculum; a streak of unsealed, dark brown along upper edge of cell, from basal one-third to R1.Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal hair pencil thin, pale whitish ochreous, enclosed, almost completely concealed in tightly appressed costal fold; costal margin appearing straight to apex, latter narrow, tornus strongly angled back to dorsum, tornal angle not evident. Ground color white, pale ochreous-brownish toward margins. Fringe white. Underside similar, costal fold area brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling shining, pale tan, becoming whitish distally; second segment pale ochreous medially. Underside whitish; genital scaling whitish, pale ochreous below. Genitalia as in Figure 90 (drawn from plesiotype, Tehuacan, JAP prep. no. 1503; two preparations examined); uncus divided through entire length; posterior gnathos a dense bunch of flat setae; basal processes broad; valva with apical notch, similar to E. bittenella.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.3–9.2 mm. Essentially as described for male; wing markings apparently not consistently darker than male as in the case of E. bittenella. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.9 that of male. Hindwing costa simple. Hindwing slightly darker than on male. Genital scaling darker ochreous. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.–Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico (R. Müller); type male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Mexico, Guerrero (Rio Balsas), and Puebla.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–June to September; all records from Tehuacan.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia festiva Busck

Ethmia festiva Busck, 1914b:33.–Showalter, 1929:72, pl. 15, fig. 15.

Ethmia xantholitha Meyrick, 1928a:519.–Clarke, 1955a:327; 1965:433 [synonymy].

A widespread Neotropical species having white forewings marked with black stripes and bright ochreous dorsal and terminal patches.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.3 to 8.9 mm. Head:Labial palpus strongly curved, elongate, reaching antenna base; second segment strongly curved, length 1.25–1.35 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, 0.67–0.75 as long as second; smooth scaled, white, tinged with brownish near base to mostly brownish exteriorly. Antenna dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.22–0.24 eye diameter; dorsal scaling white basally, becoming brownish distally. Scaling of front appressed, brown at base or entirely brown; of crown appressed, white; tufts of occipital margin compact, suberect, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, shining dark brown, reflecting bluish, at base and under collar, a narrow band of the same color across scutellum. Underside shining white; legs ochreous; metathoracic tibial brush dense, elongate, whitish. Forewing: Broad, length about 2.9–3.1 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter broadly curved, termen only slightly angled back, fringe moderately broad; wing rather oval in appearance. Ground color white; distinct lines, brownish black, reflecting bluish, as follows: costa at base; three narrow, transverse bands, first near base from costa to dorsum, second at basal one-fourth from just below costa to just above dorsum, angled slightly outward at lower fold, third at about middle of wing, angling outward on costal half, sending a longitudinal spur outward above Cu fold which nearly connects to a fourth transverse band from lower, outer angle of cell to dorsum; a large, square, bright ochreous patch between last two bands from above Cu fold to just above dorsum; costa pale ochreous from basal one-fifth; apical and terminal area with a broad, triangular, bright ochreous patch; terminal area between latter and cell with a small circle of blackish, sending five radiating arms, two toward costa, one each toward midtermen, tornus, and lower outer angle of cell. Fringe white with a distal ochreous band. Underside pale ochreous, indistinctly clouded with pale brownish; whitish on dorsal margin. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa very slightly excavate toward apex, termen moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle scarcely discernible. Ground color whitish becoming brownish apically. Fringe shining white with pale brown, basal band. Underside whitish, indistinctly clouded with pale brownish on costal and apical areas. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish, segments with pale caudal bands; underside and genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 91 (drawn from plesiotype, Cayuga, Guatemala, JAP prep. no. 1494; four preparations examined); uncus deeply notched, basal processes moderately broad, somewhat angulate in cross section, distal notch of valva broad, round, simple; vesica with a small spur.

MAP 35.–Geographical distribution of members of the Cypraeella group of Ethmia.

E. festiva Busck E. cypraeella (Zeller)

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.6–10.0 mm. Essentially as described for male. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of male. Forewing colors tending to be brighter and more contrasting. Hindwing brownish darker and more extensive. Genitalia as in Figures 210, 211 (drawn from plesiotype, Condega, Nicaragua, JAP prep, no. 2727; five preparations examined); sterigmal plate with spiculate, depressed lateral lobes, sometimes each with a convexity near ventral margin; ductus with an ill-defined sclerotized patch; signum a narrow, multidentate fold without lateral flanges. Specimens from Mexico less elaborate, with only a single lobe on each side of the sterigma.

TYPE DATA.–Panama, Porto Bello, May (A. Busck); male type in U.S. National Museum (festiva). Colombia, Gorgona Island, 200 feet, July, October, at light; type in British Museum (xantholitha).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Southeastern Mexico (Temescal, Oaxaca; Chichen Itza, Yucatan) and Guatamala (Chelel; Cayuga) to northern Colombia.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Late March to May (Yucatan, Panama), July (Oaxaca and Nicaragua), July and October (Colombia).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–It is possible that there are two species involved. Meyrick’s E. xantholitha, described from Colombia, is similar to typical festiva from Panama, differing slightly from Mexican specimens of E. festiva in color and in form of the valva. The northern festiva have mostly whitish hindwings, while those from Nicaragua southward have the hindwing mostly brown, even in the male, and in Panama and Colombia the markings are somewhat stronger and more contrasting. The valva of Yucatan and Guatamala festiva is somewhat broader than in xantholitha, while the depth of the cleft is greater in both Colombia and Guatamala specimens than in those from Mexico. The genitalia are generally more heavily sclerotized in Nicaragua, resulting in marked differences in appearance of the gnathos and basal processes (although their shapes are constant) between the two areas. For the present it seems best to regard the fragmentary sample available as representing clinal variation and to treat xantholitha as a synonym. Variation in female genitalia may also be clinal, since Yucatan examples are less ornate and complex (sterigma having shallower lobes with smaller spiculae; ductus with few scobinate patches) than those from Nicaragua, but more southerly examples have not been studied.

Ethmia cypraeella (Zeller)

Psecadia cypraeella Zeller, 1863:149, pl. 2, fig. 9.

Ethmia cypraeella.–Meyrick, 1914:27.–Amsel, 1956:293; 1957, pls. 64, 107.

A rather small moth resembling E. festiva, with white forewings marked by thin black lines which define outer dorsal and terminal spots of pale ochreous.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus lacking from single male examined (of female, elongate, strongly curved; second segment curved, length about 1.2 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, nearly 0.75 as long as second; smooth scaled, creamy white, second segment tinged with brownish exteriorly). Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter; scaled dorsally, whitish. Scaling of front and crown smooth, whitish. Thorax: Pronotal scaling whitish; tegula at base and under collar shining metallic blue; a large metallic blue spot in middle of scutellum. Underside shining white; legs whitish tan, tinged with ochreous at bases and on tarsi; metathoracic tibial fringe short, white. Forewing: Moderately broad, length about 3.1 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed; fringe moderately broad. Ground color white; pattern similar to E. festiva but reduced. Three narrow, black, transverse, outwardly curved bands: near base, at basal one-third, and at middle of wing, the latter two connected along costa, the last connected in cell by a short longitudinal line to an opposing, curved line from terminal area, through end of cell and vertically to dorsum well before tornus, the two opposing curved lines defining between them a square, bright ochreous patch from just above Cu fold to just above dorsum; a fourth blackish band from costa beyond cell curving outward in terminal area, nearly connecting to an apical patch of bright ochreous which is indistinctly defined inwardly by blackish and becomes narrowed and brownish toward tornus; two smaller, irregular blackish spots in terminal area above and below distal portion of inwardly curved band, preceding outer costal band. Fringe white with a brownish basal band which defines apical ochreous patch outwardly. Underside whitish, indistinctly clouded with pale brownish, the pattern of upperside showing through. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal area simple; costa slightly excavate before apex, latter narrow, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, pale brownish apically. Underside whitish, indistinctly clouded with pale brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish, second segment tinged with ochreous brown, distal segments with pale caudal bands; laterally and underside whitish; genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 92 (drawn from plesiotype, Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela, JAP prep. no. 1213; one preparation examined); similar to E. festiva, differing by slightly broader basal processes (exaggerated in the figure owing to orientation on the slides) and a narrower distal notch in the valva.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 7.9–9.0 mm. Essentially as described for male. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16 eye diameter. Abdomen not as distinctly marked with ochreous. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.–Venezuela; type male “in Dir. Kadens” collection, location unknown.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Northern Venezuela (Maracay; Caracas; Portachuela Pass, Aragua National Park, 3,600 feet; C.[iudad], Bolivar).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–April to July.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia abraxasella (Walker)

Psecadia abraxasella Walker, 1864b:1016.–Walsinghara, 1892: 528 [synonymy].

Ethmia abraxasella.–Walsingham, 1897:90.–Meyrick, 1914:27.–Wolcott, 1923:203.–Forbes, 1930:134.–Busck, 1934:167.

Psecadia aureoapicella Moeschler, 1890:341.

Ethmia abraxella [error] Meyrick, 1914:27.

A moderately small Antillean species having white forewings marked by metallic bluish spots and a spot of ochreous on the cubital fold near the middle of the wing. The nominate race, which has more extensive forewing markings, is widespread in the Greater Antilles.

Ethmia abraxasella abraxasella (Walker), new status

MALE.–Length of forewing 7.4–8.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately strongly curved and elongate; second segment length about 1.3 times eye diameter, curved; third segment very slightly curved, about 0.67 as long as second; smooth scaled, white, second segment dark brown on basal half, third segment brownish basally. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.21 eye diameter; scaled dorsally on basal half, whitish, scape with a dark spot on upper side. Scaling of front smooth, of crown somewhat roughened, tufts of occipital margin not appressed, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, base of tegula and two pairs of large spots, between tegulae and at sides of scutellum, dark metallic greenish. Underside white; prothoracic leg dark brown exteriorly, middle legs and hindlegs paler with ochreous spots on trochanters and base of femora, hind tibia brownish ochreous below. Forewing: Broad, length 2.7–2.9 times width; costal curve strong on basal half, flattened toward apex, latter blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed, fringe rather broad, the wing truncate in appearance. Ground color white; costa brownish gray from base to just before apex, this color produced at about middle as a broad triangulate spot reaching costal part of cell; a broad dorsal blotch of the same color beyond middle, extending into cell, to or nearly to costal blotch. Dark roundish spots usually reflecting metallic bluish, as follows: three near base, on costa, in cell and below Cu fold; two at basal one-third, in cell and below lower fold, latter one elongated toward dorsum; a larger one at about middle of wing on and below Cu fold enclosing a bright ochreous, transversely elongated mark; one at end of cell; about six, variable in development, in terminal area, arranged as an angled band from below outer one-fifth of costa toward termen above tornus. Terminal margin dark, at times reflecting bluish, enclosing a small ochreous spot at apex. Fringe whitish, with brownish distal band. Underside brown; costa distally with two whitish patches. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa excavate toward apex, latter blunt, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, becoming brownish apically. Fringe white, tinged with brown at apex. Underside white, irregularly clouded with brownish on costal and apical areas. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish, segments with slightly paler caudal bands; underside whitish; genital scaling pale brownish above, white below. Genitalia as in Figure 93 (drawn from plesiotype, Porto Rico, JAP prep. no. 1339; three preparations examined); uncus deeply cleft; gnathos with posterior spines and broad anterior flange, somewhat wrinkled, not dentate; basal processes moderately broad; valva with distal notch broad, the saccular portion blunt apically and shorter than costal.

MAP 36.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia abraxasella (Walker).

E. a. abraxasella E. a. clarissa Busck

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.3–8.8 mm. Essentially as described for male; insufficient samples available to show consistent differences in color pattern. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally slightly over 0.8 that of male. Genital scaling bright ochreous on sides. Genitalia essentially as in less ornate examples of E. festiva (Figure 210) (one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.–Santo Domingo; type female in British Museum (abraxasella). Puerto Rico; location of type unknown (aureoapicella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Jamaica (Kingston; Hardwar Gap, Portland Parish); Haiti (Port au Prince; Manville; Petionville; Camp Perrin); Dominican Republic; and Puerto Rico (Ensenada; Santa Rita; Guanica; Coamo Springs).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–February, May to July, October.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–Two specimens in the British Museum (“Felder Coll.,” Rothschild 1913–86”) are of the abraxasella s. str. phenotype, and one bears the data “Cuba Gundl,” which presumably was the basis for Walsingham’s (1897) report of abraxasella in Cuba. All other Cuban material examined has been of the clarissa phenotype. If abraxasella s. str. does occur in Cuba, a subspecific concept of E. abraxasella clarissa may be in error, but the two are very similar in structure.

The Jamaican record is represented by three specimens, two in the British Museum (Kingston, July 15, 17, 1891, Cockerell) which are somewhat darker in appearance, having the brownish gray more extensive, and one from Portland Parish (Hardwar Gap, VII–9–66, H. F. Howden), which is typical in appearance, without additional brownish gray.

Ethmia abraxasella clarissa Busck, new status

Ethmia clarissa Busck, 1914c:56; 1934:167, pl. 34, fig. 1.

Ethmia abraxasella.–Walsingham (not Walker, 1864b), 1897:90 [in part].

A race in Cuba which has the forewing markings restricted, so that the spots are mostly separated, without the transverse brownish gray blotches which connect the metallic blue spots in a. abraxasella.

MALE.–Length of forewing 7.1–8.0 mm. Similar to nominate subspecies, differing as follows. Head: Labial palpus tending to be shorter, length of second segment 1.2–1.3 times eye diameter. Forewing: Slightly narrower, length about 3.0–3.2 times width. Ground color white; brownish gray costal and dorsal blotches of abraxasella reduced to some indistinct scaling along costa; roundish markings dark brown, reflecting dark metallic greenish, through middle of wing similar to pattern of abraxasella: two near base, above and below Cu fold; three at basal one-fourth, above cell, below Cu fold, and in cell, the last located distad of the other two; three elongated ones forming a rough costal triangle at about middle (replacing brownish gray costal blotch of abraxasella); two below and adjoining lower fold on outer third of cell, the basal one having on its outer side a small bright ochreous spot (about half as large as in typical abraxasella); two on dorsum, before middle and before tornus; one in cell just before distal end; several irregular shaped and partially coalesced spots in terminal area from outer edge of cell to termen, leaving three spots of ground color, on costa before apex, on margin below apex and at tornus; a trace of a second yellow dot, often lacking, just before apex. Fringe grayish brown, interrupted by white spot below apex, with a basal row of white scales. Abdomen: Slightly darker above, pale brownish gray, including genital scaling. Genitalia not distinguishable from a. abraxasella (three preparations of clarissa examined).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 7.6–9.1 mm. Generally as described for male and nominate subspecies; forewing markings larger than on male, giving a darker appearance; ochreous spots both somewhat larger than on male. Ochreous genital spots of a. abraxasella reduced to traces. Genitalia not examined, probably as in E. festiva and abraxasella s. str.

TYPE DATA.–Cuba (W. Schaus); type male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Cuba (Santiago) and Bahama Islands (Nassau).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–June, October, December (Cuba), July (Bahama Islands).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia scythropa Walsingham 11

Ethmia scythropa Walsingham, 1912:148, pl. 5, fig. 13.–Busck, 1934:168, pl. 35, fig. 1.

A large moth, widespread in central America and the Greater Antilles, which has erect, white head scaling, enormous hair tufts under the tegulae of the male and whitish forewings heavily mottled with olivaceous gray, including the entire costal area, and with a bluish dorsal blotch.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.4–12.5 mm. Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, only slightly curved; second segment length 1.9–2.1 times eye diameter, slightly curved; third segment about 0.6 as long as second (about 1.2 eye diameter), nearly straight, tapering to hair-fine apex; smooth scaled, white, tinged with grayish on basal half. Antenna, scape greatly elongate, flagellum slightly dilated, width of shaft basally 0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray, scape with scattered whitish. Scaling of tongue and front smooth, pale grayish, of vertex, crown, and occipital margin and elongate, erect, anteriorly directed, white tuft, on fresh individuals exceeding crown by about eye diameter. Thorax: Dark gray, tegulae with metallic bluish and scattered translucent white scales basally, enlarged distally as a dense tuft of elongate paler scales which converge over scutellum, enclosing dense tufts of wavy hair which can be teased out into enormous fluffy masses. Underside pale grayish, legs pale brownish, hind tarsi with ochreous, hind tibial fringe dense, rather short, pale whitish ochreous. Forewing: Length 3.0–3.3 times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen not strongly angled back, very slightly concave, tornal angle well developed, fringe narrow. Ground color olivaceous gray, reflecting metallic olivaceous; basal area and a large dorsal blotch from just beyond middle nearly to tornus, extending to top of cell, dark gray-purple, reflecting metallic purplish, containing scattered translucent white scales, which in the dorsal blotch tend to form a W- or M-shaped line; a broad dorsal area of white extending to lower fold between the purplish blotches and isolated from them by margins of ground color, at times clouded with ground color, some scattered whitish scaling in cell; a second white area at tornus, adjoining dorsal blotch, tapering and extending nearly to apex. Underside pale brown, terminal area pale yellowish. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing. Costal hair pencil dense, elongate, reaching to end of cell, dark ochreous; enclosed except at base in a tight pinch-fold between Sc and R; costa with a pale fringe from base to apex, excavate toward the narrow apex, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle not discernible. Ground color shining whitish, becoming pale brownish apically. Underside color similar. Abdomen: Scaling brown, first segment paler; genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 94 (drawn from plesiotype, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, JAP prep, no. 1460; seven preparations examined); uncus notched a short distance; gnathos with broad, dentate posterior portion, anterior portion without armature; basal processes thin, valva broadly, shallowly emarginate distally; fultura plate with curved, broad spurs, vesica with a thin spinelike cornutus.

MAP 37.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia scythropa Walsingham.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.3–12.5 mm. Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus shorter, second segment 1.5–1.7 times eye diameter. Antenna slightly dilated, about equal in width to antenna of male (0.21 eye diameter). Tegulae normal, without enlarged hair tufts. Hindwing with costal area simple. Genitalia very similar to E. festiva; sterigma with spiculate, round cup-like lateral lobes; ductus with an irregular sclerotized sleeve basally, without scobinate patches; signum a narrow, dentate fold.

TYPE DATA.–Banana River, Costa Rica, March 1907 (W. Schaus); unique male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Widespread in Neotropical areas; from eastern Mexico (San Luis Potosi; Veracruz; Oaxaca; Yucatan), British Honduras, and Guatamala to Costa Rica, and in Cuba and Jamaica.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Evidently multivoltine; taken in nearly every month; December to March in Cuba and Jamaica, December to June and September in Yucatan, and March to May and September to October in Guatamala.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–This and the following species occur as distinct entities in Cuba and Jamaica, although they apparently have not been taken flying together. E. nivosella ranges eastward to Porto Rico, but E. scythropa has not been collected there. I have seen no specimens from Dominican Republic and only two from Haiti, both worn males in the U.S. National Museum. One has genital characters somewhat intermediate between scythropa and nivosella. A Busck slide with what I assume to be the genitalia preparation from the second specimen shows identical characters. The specimen is labeled “Haiti, Dognin coll.” and neither the moth nor the slide bears the characteristic date label Busck normally used to associate pinned specimens and slides. However, both specimen and slide are determined “Ethmia near or = scythropa Wlsm.” in Busck’s handwriting. Although very worn, the specimens resemble scythropa in having the ground color uninterrupted costad of the dorsal blotch. Additional material from Dominican Republic or Haiti will be necessary to define the status of populations there.

Busck (1934) also stated that E. scythropa was represented in the U.S. National Museum by a large series from Costa Rica, but these were not located during this study. The only specimens I have seen from any place south of Honduras are a very worn female from the Canal Zone and the type from Costa Rica, which differs slightly in appearance by having the white areas, although as large, less conspicuous and contrasting than material from more northern areas. Specimens from Cuba and Jamaica tend to have the white areas less extensively invaded by ground color than those from the mainland.

Ethmia nivosella (Walker)12

Tamarrha nivosella Walker, 1864a:817.–Walsingham, 1897: 144 [Synonymy].

Psecadia nivosella.–Walsingham, 1892:528, 546.

Ethmia nivosella.–Meyrick, 1914:28.–Forbes, 1930:134.–Busck, 1934:167, pls. 34, 36.

Psecadia adustella Zeller, 1877:240.–Moeschler, 1890:343.–Walsingham, 1892:528, 546.

Ethmia adustella.–Wolcott, 1923:203.

Tamarrha niveosella (error), Busck, 1906b:728.

Tamarrha nievosella (error), Busck, 1906b:729.

A West Indian species which resembles the larger E. scythropa, differing by expansion of white on the costal area of the forewing connecting the submedian and terminal white areas.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.3–10.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, not much curved; second segment length about 1.5 times eye diameter, slightly curved; third segment about 0.6 as long as second (about 0.9 eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment pale brownish exteriorly. Antenna only slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.19 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of tongue and front smooth, pale brownish, of crown and occipital margin as in scythropa, an elongate, erect, white tuft. Thorax: Dorsal scaling purplish gray with scattered translucent white scales; tegulae heavily scaled, bulging, extending to but not over scutellum, which is similarly densely scaled, enclosing dense tufts of wavy hair which can be teased out into fluffy masses. Underside whitish, legs pale brownish to whitish, hind tibial brush white, rather reduced. Forewing: Broad, length about 3.0 times width; costa slightly curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen scarcely angled back, nearly vertical. Pattern similar to scythropa, white more extensive, forming the predominate ground; basal area and broad dorsal blotch purplish bronzy, reflecting metallic purplish, the blotch extending to about middle of cell, its scattered white scales usually forming an M-shaped zigzag line; gray areas not as strongly olivaceous as on scythropa: on costa before middle and broadly bordering purplish basal area and dorsal blotch, not extending from latter into costal area beyond cell, at apex; resulting white area contiguous from dorsum before middle through to costa above end of cell and into terminal area to tornus. Underside pale brown, irregularly clouded by whitish on dorsal and terminal areas. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa with elongate hair pencil, enclosed in tight, subcostal pinch-fold; costa free of the fold, with fringe, slightly excavate toward apex, latter rather blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish becoming pale brownish distally. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brown, tinged with ochreous basally; underside whitish; genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 95 (drawn from plesiotype, Portland Parish, Jamaica, JAP prep. no. 1235; six preparations examined); uncus shallowly notched; gnathos similar to E. scythropa; basal processes broad, becoming subcapitate, extended laterad apically; valva deeply notched, the saccular portion produced into a triangulate flange apically; fultura plate elongate, with a few very small spurs.

MAP 38.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia nivosella (Walker).

typical morphotype atypical morphotype on Hispaniola

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.7–10.5 mm. Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus as long as on male (shorter in scythropa). Antenna shaft about as wide as on male. Tegulae normal, not covering large hair tufts. Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia similar to E. festiva and E. scythropa, very weakly sclerotized; lateral lobes of sterigma thin, shallow, ductus without differentiated sclerotized areas; signum smaller, with fewer teeth than in related species.

TYPE DATA.–Jamaica (Grosse), Domingo (Tweedie); types in British Museum (nivosella). One ♂, 3♀, from Puerto Rico in Staudinger collection, location unknown (adustella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–West Indies, from Jamaica and eastern Cuba, “Bahamas,” and Puerto Rico. As discussed in connection with the preceding species, I have not seen specimens of typical nivosella from Haiti or Dominican Republic. The species was reported from Trinidad by Walsingham (1897) and by Forbes (1930) (probably quoting Walsingham), based on specimens I have not examined.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–January to March (Jamaica), July (Jamaica, Porto Rico), October (Cuba).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–Busck (1906b) stated that this species seems to have the remarkable ability of raising the scales of the head when alive, since in “a series of perfect specimens” some exhibited a tufted head while others had “the scales of the head perfectly smoothly appressed.” He also mentioned that in two specimens one side of the head was tufted, the other smooth, “proving that it is a changeable character, probably in control of the individual and subject to the mental condition of the insect.” Later, however, the same author (Busck, 1934) gives the curious erect scaling of this and E. scythropa as a diagnostic feature which “at once separates them from all other species of the genus with normal smooth head.” The latter statement seems more tenable; all specimens I have examined have the scaling of the crown erect except where rubbed off.

Ethmia terpnota Walsingham

Ethmia terpnota Walsingham, 1912:147, pl. 5, fig. 11.

A large Central American species having a large coppery dorsal blotch on the forewing, and the costa broadly gray-brown.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.8–12.4 mm. Head: Labial palpus rather short, strongly upcurved; second segment moderately curved, length about 1.1 times eye diameter; third segment moderately curved, about 0.6 as long as second; smooth-scaled, brown with occasional white scales. Antenna only slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20–0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark brown with occasional white scales, scape white below. Scaling of proboscis and front appressed, brown with scattered white scales, reflecting metallic blue at upper front, becoming roughened, somewhat spreading, white on crown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, base of tegula and lateral spots on scutellum dark metallic blue. Underside pale brownish; legs dark brown marked with white; metathoracic leg gray-brown, tibial fringe sparse, grayish. Forewing: Length 3.0–3.1 times width; costa strongly bowed toward middle, apex blunt, termen only slightly angled back, nearly straight. Ground color white; a large quadrate dorsal blotch from well before middle nearly to tornus, extending upward to middle of cell, metallic purplish coppery, containing translucent white scales forming an irregular sinuate line; costal area gray-brown from base nearly to apex, broadened in outer half of cell, contiguous with dorsal blotch; three paler gray spots in terminal area; several dark metallic blue spots on basal one-fourth, those on costal half ill-defined and blending with costal gray, a single distinct one in dorsal area, an ill-defined marginal bar of same color at apex. Fringe dark gray, white at tornus. Underside pale brown, dorsal area pale yellowish, tornal area whitish. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa with elongate, whitish ochreous hair pencil tightly enclosed in subcostal pinch-fold; costa nearly straight, apex narrow, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, becoming pale brownish at apical margins. Fringe white. Underside whitish, costal and apical areas brownish. Abdomen: Scaling brown, slightly paler ventrally; genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 96 (drawn from plesiotype, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, JAP prep. no. 1493; three preparations examined); uncus elongate, deeply notched, gnathos with posterior teeth divided into lateral groups, anteriorly broadened, somewhat crenulate, not dentate; basal processes elongate, thin; sacculus with a finger-like projection, rounded or attenuate apically; fultura plate elongate, narrow, without spurs.

MAP 39.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia terpnota Walsingham.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 13.6–13.8 mm. Essentially as described for male; antenna nearly equally thick; forewing markings at times slightly heavier. Hindwing without subcostal fold and brush. Genitalia (Figures 212, 213, drawn from plesiotypes, Tuis and Juan Vinas, Costa Rica, JAP prep. nos. 2267, 2797; two preparations examined); similar to E. festiva, lateral lobes of sterigma deep, bowl-like, densely covered with fine spines inside; ductus with a narrow sclerotized sleeve basally, followed by a long, curved, stiff, unsclerotized portion, then a tight spiral of about six loops; signum a broadly flanged, dentate fold with a single row of large teeth.

TYPE DATA.–Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu, 6,000–7,000 feet (H. Rogers); type male in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Known only from Costa Rica (Juan Vinas; Puntarenas, Monteverde; San Jose; Sixola River; Tuis).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–March, October to November.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia iridella Powell, new species

A Mexican species resembling E. terpnota but having the forewing costa only narrowly gray, the area above the dorsal blotch white.

MALE.–Length of forewing 12.3 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, rather strongly curved, reaching base of antenna; second segment length about 1.25 times eye diameter, curved; third segment about 0.5 the length of second, slightly curved; smooth scaled, dark brown, third segment white beyond base. Antenna only slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling gray, scape white below. Scaling of proboscis and front smooth, dark gray-brown with scattered whitish scales, of crown appressed, somewhat roughened, white (holotype irregularly yellowish, presumably discolored). Thorax: Dorsal scaling white; base of tegula, two large spots on collar between tegulae and scutellum dark metallic blue. Underside whitish; legs pale ochreous, prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae and tarsi dark brown; hind tibial fringe well developed, white. Forewing: Length about 3.3 times width; costa rather strongly curved toward middle, apex blunt, termen slightly concave. Ground color white; a broad dorsal blotch from before middle to about end of cell, extending upward into cell, metallic purplish copper, containing translucent white scales which form a zigzag line; costa narrowly gray nearly to the end of cell. Dark gray-brown spots, reflecting metallic blue, as follows: several in costal area above Cu fold near base, the outer most at one-fifth, extending below Cu, preceded in dorsal area by a single indistinct spot; an irregular mark adjoining inner side of dorsal blotch below Cu; a spot in cell above dorsal blotch, one just beyond dorsal blotch at end of cell; several more or less coalesced spots in apical area. Fringe gray, white at tornus. Underside pale brownish, broadly clouded with yellowish white in middle and dorsal area, yellow beyond cell, costa ochreous distally. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; an elongate, whitish hair pencil, tightly enclosed in subcostal pinch-fold; costa nearly straight, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, faintly grayish along costa, tinged with pale ochreous at apex. Underside similar, the colors darker and more extensive. Abdomen: Scaling colors not recorded. Genitalia as in Figure 97 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1101; one preparation examined); uncus elongate, very shallowly notched; gnathos as in scythropa and nivosella; basal processes elongate, thin; valva broad distally, with a round notch, sacculus attenuate distally.

FEMALE.–Unknown.

TYPE.–Holotype male: Mexico, Puebla, Tehuacan, June 21, 1941 (C. C. Hoffmann); unique, deposited in American Museum of Natural History.

Ethmia perpulchra Walsingham

Ethmia perpulchra Walsingham, 1912:146, pl. 5, fig. 14.

A moderately large Central American moth having white forewings with a reddish coppery dorsal blotch and golden ochreous termen.

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.2–10.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus short, rather strongly curved; second segment length 0.9–1.0 eye diameter; third segment 0.80–0.85 as long as second, slightly curved; smooth scaled, mostly whitish, second segment brownish exteriorly. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally 0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling white. Scaling of tongue mostly brownish, of front smooth, dark brown reflecting metallic blue, of crown roughened, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white; paired, conspicuous dark metallic blue spots at bases of tegulae, between tegulae and on scutellum. Underside white; legs ochreous, tibiae and tarsi marked with brown; hind tibial fringe rather sparse, white. Forewing: Length 3.1–3.2 times width; costa gently curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle a broad curve. Ground color white; a quadrate, well-defined dorsal blotch from before middle to end of cell, extending upward well into cell, shining metallic reddish coppery, enclosing some white scaling which forms an irregular sinuate line; termen broadly shining golden ochreous. Ground more or less evenly checkered by distinct squarish dark metallic blue spots, becoming black and more coalesced toward costa. Underside pale brownish, whitish on dorsal area, becoming pale ochreous towards tornus. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal hair pencil elongate, pale gray, tightly enclosed in subcostal fold; costa nearly straight, apex narrow, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color shining translucent white, becoming pale brownish apically. Fringe white. Underside similar, costal area brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown; underside white; genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 98 (drawn from plesiotype, Cayuga, Guatamala, JAP prep. no. 1138; four preparations examined); uncus rather broad, not notched; gnathos broad and heavily dentate posteriorly, not developed anteriorly; basal processes moderately broad and sclerotized; valva broad, with costa developed into strong apical hook (as in Elutella complex); fultura plate with heavy, irregular armature.

MAP 40.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia perpulchra Walsingham.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.4 to 11.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of male; hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia as in Figure 214 (drawn from plesiotype, Lancetilla, Honduras, JAP prep. no. 2160; one preparation examined); papillae anales heavily sclerotized, anterior apophyses short, sterigma broad with elongate, pointed lateral lobes, ductus lightly sclerotized basally with a dentate band; signum narrow, dentate.

TYPE DATA.–Mexico, Orizaba, Veracruz (W. Schaus); type female in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Veracruz to Guatamala (Cayuga) and Honduras (Lancetilla, Tela).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–February to May.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia elutella Busck

Ethmia elutella Busck, 1914b:35; 1914c:57.

Ethmia submissa.–Amsel, 1956 [not Busck, 1914c]:293.

A small Central American moth, which has the costal half of the forewing clouded with grayish, the dorsal area with a large purplish blotch which is concolorous with the termen.

MALE.–Length of forewing 6.3–7.7 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding base of antenna; second segment about 1.3 times eye diameter, strongly curved; third segment nearly straight, about 0.6 as long as second; smooth scaled, pale grayish exteriorly, apex and interiorly white. Antenna with shaft basally moderately dilated, about 0.23 eye diameter; dorsal scaling pale brownish. Scaling of front appressed, brownish, of crown white, only slightly upraised. Thorax: Scaling of collar, tegula, and dorsum laterally white, median area with large coalesced metallic blue spots. Underside including legs shining sordid whitish, hind tibial brush well developed. Forewing: Length about 3.0–3.2 times width; costa slightly, evenly arched from base to apex; termen straight, moderately angled back, tornal angle well developed; dorsum slightly convex. Ground color white, mostly obscured by grayish clouding or ill-defined blotches basally and through costal half except along costa on distal one-third; a large, median dorsal blotch of bronzy purplish bearing two ill-defined, bluish white, zigzag lines; terminal area of same bronzy-purplish, basal scale row of fringe slightly more coppery colored; fringe paler distally and at tornus, continuous with white tornal area. Underside, Sc with a broad, pale ochreous fringe directed toward middle of wing; ground color pale grayish, blotched with whitish along dorsum and termen. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal hair pencil, arising from a subcostal pinch-fold near base, composed of about 40 dark gray hairlike scales, reaching to beyond middle of wing; costa slightly excavate on distal one-third; apex acute; termen strongly angled back, tornal angle nearly obsolete. Ground color pale gray except under costal hair pencil, pale ochreous; fringe and underside white. Abdomen: Brownish gray dorsally except second and third terga mostly clothed with narrower, ochreous scales; scaling laterally and ventrally mostly whitish except near base, dark gray-brown, genital scaling whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 99 (drawn from plesiotype, Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, JAP prep. no. 1511; seven preparations examined); uncus evenly broad to apex, gnathos thick, dentate, without lateral flanges, basal processes slightly enlarged distally; valva with variable development of apical and subapical terminal spines, fultura plate with two spines laterad of a simple, elongate, curving plate.

MAP 41.–Geographical distribution of members of the Elutella complex of Ethmia.

E. elutella Busck E. janzeni Powell E. submissa Busck

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 7.3–8.3 mm. Essentially as described for male. Eye only slightly smaller than in male; diameter of antennal shaft basally about 0.75 that of male. Coloration generally somewhat darker than male; forewing markings darker, the gray clouding contrasting more strongly with ground color; dorsal and terminal blotches a darker purple with the zigzag lines rather distinct; hindwing costal area simple, ground color a uniform dark gray. Abdomen with dorsal ochreous scaling reduced to second segment. Genitalia similar to E. submissa, sterigma a narrow band fused with anterior margin of VII sternite, ostium subtended by a variable, bowl-shaped or assymetrically bilobed plate, ventrally with a dentate patch as in Figures 217–219 (drawn from plesiotypes, Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and Trinidad, JAP prep, nos., 2388, 2390, and 2235; four preparations examined); ductus unsclerotized with about seven loops; signum a deep fold terminating in the dentate ridge into bursa.

TYPE DATA.–Porto Bello, Panama, March (A. Busck); holotype female in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Panama (Barro Colorado Island) to Venezuela (Rancho Grande, Aragua) and Trinidad. A single record in Chile (Tolhuaca) not shown on map.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–February, March, May.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–This species and the following two comprise a closely knit allopatric triad. The three are separable on genitalia configuration and other minor differences. E. elutella apparently was described from a unique female, although the original description does not specify this. The females of this species have darker hindwings than the males; thus the dark hindwing of elutella and white hindwing of submissa mentioned by Busck (1914b) is not a diagnostic difference for the males.

Specimens from Venezuela are larger than both Panama and Trinidad on the average but do not otherwise differ in appearance. The shape of the fultura armature is variable but is basically similar throughout, consisting of a central, elongate twisted plate with three curved spines from its base. The sclerotized plate subtending the ostium is apparently geographically variable, from a bilobed sac in Panama to a broader, bowl shape in Venezuela and Trinidad (Figures 217–219).

A single female from Chile (Tolhuaca, I–9–62, R. L. Usinger) does not differ from more northern material appreciably in external features and is referred to E. elutella provisionally. The genital characters are similar except the Chilean example lacks most of the sclerotization of the sterigma.

Ethmia janzeni Powell, new species

A Mexican species closely related to E. elutella but differing by having a generally paler color, an ochreous rather than gray hindwing costal hair pencil, and differences in genital form.

MALE.–Length of forewing 7.3–8.3 mm. Head: Labial palpus, antenna, and scaling as described for E. elutella; scaling of front paler. Thorax: As described for elutella; prothoracic tibia blue-gray exteriorly, coxa tinged with ochreous at base. Forewing: Length about 3.2 times width. Pattern and color similar to elutella; the gray clouding restricted to more or less well-defined blotches, leaving a more extensive contrasting white ground; dorsal and terminal blotches a slightly darker purplish (as in female of elutella). Hindwing: Costal hair pencil as in elutella except ochreous on a whitish ground. Ground color white near base, becoming pale grayish toward margins. Abdomen: Scale coloring as in elutella. Genitalia as in Figures 100, 101 (drawn from plesiotypes, El Salvador, JAP prep. no. 2008, and Mazatlan, JAP prep. no. 1634; five preparations examined); gnathos broadened into rounded lateral flanges anteriorly, basal processes narrow in basal half, distinctly dilated toward apex; ventral plate of fultura larger than in elutella, more complex, variable with about four basal and dorsal spines.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 7.8–8.5 mm. Essentially as described for male and for female of E. elutella. Coloration only slightly darker than male, white ground color and whitish of hindwing considerably more extensive than on elutella. Genitalia similar to elutella but base of ductus with a more weakly sclerotized shallow bowl, bearing a slightly more heavily sclerotized dentate patch (Figure 220, drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 2779; two preparations examined).

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, Temescal, Oaxaca, December 12 and 21, 1963 (D. H. Janzen); deposited in California Academy of Sciences, on indefinite loan from the California Insect Survey. Seventy-four paratypes: 33♂, 39♀, same data, November 15 to December 21, 1963; 2♀, April 17 1964. Deposited in American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Academy of Sciences, California Insect Survey, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.–The type locality is in extreme northeastern Oaxaca, near the Temescal Dam on the Rio Tonto.

Two additional Mexican specimens have been studied but not designated as paratypes. The California Insect Survey collection has 1♀, 1♂, from Sinaloa (12 mi S Mazatlan, December 17, 1963, C. A. Toschi and M. J. Tauber) that are somewhat worn and are larger (forewing length 8.7 mm) than the average from Oaxaca but otherwise are not superficially distinguishable from typical E. janzeni. The male genitalia, however, differ in development of the fultura plate (Figure 101). Although this character appears to be constant at Temescal, it may be that populational differences of this type are characteristic; and study of additional material may reveal that E. janzeni represents a northern portion of a mosaic of variation, which is continuous with E. elutella.

The only specimens available from the intervening area between elutella in Panama and janzeni are a series from El Salvador (5♂, 10♀, Cojutepeque, II–9–65; 1♂, 3♀, 13 km N San Salvador, II–4–65, S. S. and W. D. Duckworth, in USNM; and 1♀, San Salvador, Salvador, 600 m, II–28–60, B. Bechyne, deposited in the Bavarian States Museum, Munich. These specimens are superficially indistinguishable from E. janzeni, and do not differ appreciably in fultura development from typical specimens.

Ethmia submissa Busck

Ethmia proximella is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is found in Mexico.

The length of the forewings is 8–9.2 mm (0.31–0.36 in). The ground color of the forewings is white, but the costa from the base nearly to the apex is broadly dark gray-brown. The ground color of the hindwings is white, but pale ochreous-brownish toward the margins. Adults are on wing from June to September.