Ethmia hiramella Busck 1914

Ethmia hiramella Busck, 1914c:56; 1934:166

A rather large Ethmia from Cuba, resembling E. notatella but with the forewing markings reduced to separate spots.

MALE.–Length of forewing 11.9–12.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment strongly curved, length about 1.2 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length about 0.7 that of second; smooth scaled, white, basal half of each segment black exteriorly. Antenna modified, scape elongate, length about 1.5 times eye diameter, greatly enlarged toward middle, scaling giving a somewhat notched appearance beyond; shaft scarcely dilated, width basally about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray, scape white with dorsal black spots at base and from before middle to apex. Scaling of tongue and front white, posterior tufts tinged with pale ochreous. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, marked with deep blue-black: base of collar narrowly, base of tegula, two pairs of large spots on notum adjoining bases of tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish; legs blotched exteriorly and tarsi banded with blackish; metathoracic tibial fringe dense, rather short, white. A large brush of ochreous hair scales from below hindwing extending along base of abdomen, about as long as hind femur. Forewing: Rather narrow, length about 3.3–3.4 times width; costa rather strongly curved before middle, apparently slightly concave beyond owing to fringe; termen straight, rather strongly angled back, tornal angle not distinct. Ground color white or pale cream-white, markings brownish black reflecting metallic greenish blue, pattern similar to E. notatella, the spots all separated, distinct: base of costa and at base in cell, two spots just beyond base in cell and in subcostal area, followed by three more in subcostal area before middle, the three transverse diagonal rows hardly defined (wing has a more evenly spotted appearance than in notatella), first row of four spots, one in subcostal area at distal two-thirds, one at upper margin of cell at about middle, two diagonally nearer base in dorsal area, second row of three large spots at end of cell, in cell and in dorsal area just before middle, third row of two large spots, beyond and below lower distal corner of cell; two small spots in apical area; a submarginal row of ten dots from before apex nearly to tornus. Fringe white with a black dot below apex. Underside brown, costal fringe not developed as in E. notatella, scarcely discernible from the rather elaborate retinaculum. Fringe white with partially reproduced upperside submarginal dots. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; a tightly closed pinch-fold between Sc and R on basal one-third, containing a short cream-white hair pencil; costal margin nearly straight, apex acute, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color semitranslucent white basally, becoming opaque ochreous on distal half, brownish at apex. Fringe white. Underside similar, costal and apical areas pale brown. Abdomen: Second segment modified laterally to form pouchlike folds as receptacle for thoracic scale brushes. Dorsal scaling pale brownish becoming pale ochreous at segment VIII, venter white becoming ochreous at VIII; genital scaling including immense, paired dorsolateral tufts of VIII and of tegumen basally (Figure 122) ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 121 (drawn from plesiotype, Sanitago, Cuba, JAP prep. no. 1623; three preparations examined); tegumen developed anteriorly into elongate lobes bearing huge hair tufts (which are not shown in Figure 121), uncus and gnathos similar to E. notatella, valva relatively smaller, with the apical membranous pouch and heavily sclerotized sacculus bearing a distal two pronged structure, aldeagus not as crooked as in E. notatella.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 12.0 mm. Essentially as described for male, eye and labial palpus size not differing from male. Antennal scape length about equal to eye diameter, not enlarged toward middle; shaft about as broad as in male. Hindwing subcostal area simple, costal margin concave before apex. Abdomen without specialization of first two segments laterally; scaling brown dorsally, broadly white laterally and ventrally; segments VIII and IX bright ochreous, a pair of peglike lateral evaginations on sternite IV and a single median one on VII (Figure 241); VII heavily sclerotized ventrally with broad, rounded, lateral emarginations. Genitalia similar to E. notatella with ventral portion of sterigma not ridged, lateral lobes broader and deeper (Figures 239, 240, drawn from plesiotype, Prov. Pinar del Rio, JAP prep. no. 2819; one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.–Santiago Cuba; W. Schaus collector; holotype male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Known only from Cuba.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–April, June, October.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia paucella (Walker)

Hyponomeuta paucellus Walker, 1863:530.

Psecadia paucella.–Walsingham, 1892:527,546.

Ethmia paucella.–Walsingham, 1897:90.–Busck, 1914c:55.

A little known species of the Notatella group from Hispaniola, somewhat resembling hiramella but with smaller spots. The following description is based on a single male and a paratype female. As discussed above, study of additional material will have to show whether the male, which has broader, yellow hindwings and peculiarly enlarged palpi, is conspecific with the paratype female.

MALE.–Length of forewing 12.4 mm. Head: Eye large, diameter about 1.25 times that of other Ethmia of comparable size. (Front also modified, concave; and eye index =1.0.) Labial palpus modified into an elongate, clublike shape, reflexed from head (Plate 2c); first segment greatly elongated, strongly curved, about 0.9 eye diameter; second segment curved away from head (opposite to first), enlarged into a dorsoventrally flattened hoodlike structure about 1.33 times eye diameter (one palpus; the other considerably shorter, possibly broken or teratologically malformed, lacking third segment); third segment greatly reduced, only about 0.13 eye diameter, mostly concealed by scaling of second; dorsal scaling of second segment appressed, tan, ventral concavity (away from head) filled by upright scales about 0.23 mm in length, white, margined laterally by tan scales about one-half as long; third segment with the tan scales only. Antenna not strongly modified, length of scape about 0.8 eye diameter (about as long as in other members of Notatella group, which have smaller eyes), not much swollen toward middle; shaft little dilated beyond first segment, width about 0.15 eye diameter; dorsal scaling tan. Tongue heavily clothed with shaggy, tan scaling; front concave between eyes, scaling appressed, tan, becoming white at occipital tufts (crown denuded). Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale grayish white, dark steel blue spots laterally and at midcollar, midtegula and laterally on scutellar area. Underside pale tan. Prothoracic tibia broadened, margined with white interiorly; prothoracic and mesothoracic tarsi banded with dark brown; metathoracic tibial brush large, extending around inner side to venter, pale ochreous. An elongate, pale ochreous hair brush from below hindwing extending alongside of abdomen to segment II. Dorsal metathoracic tufts also enlarged. Forewing: Length about 3.0 times width; costa evenly, gently curved from base to apex, apparently slightly concave beyond middle owing to fringe; termen rather strongly angled back, tornal angle not distinct. Ground color uniform pale grayish white; markings more or less evenly spaced, similar sized (about 0.6 mm), roundish spots of black reflecting metallic blue: one at base, divided by ground color at R; one in costal area at basal one-fourth; three parallel, diagonal rows of three spots each, first row a spot in costal area just before middle, one in cell and one in dorsal area successively nearer base, second row spots in costal area at two-thirds, in cell beyond middle and in dorsal area at middle, third row spots in apical area, at outer edge of cell and above dorsal margin before tornus; one more spot just below and distad of the one at end of cell. A row of blackish dots around termen from before apex nearly to tornus, preceded just below apex by a short streak of the same color. Underside pale ochreous becoming pale brownish toward apex; subcosta with a short fringe; an unsealed area following retinaculum, with subcostal spot of upperside evident. Hindwing: About 1.2 times broader than forewing, (cubital and anal areas noticeably broader than in other Ethmia; subcostal area with a very slight pinch-fold; costal margin, evenly curved from base to apex, no concavity before apex, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle slightly developed. Ground color pale ochreous except costal area entirely clothed from upper margin of cell to costal margin with bright ochreous, roughened scaling. Underside unicolorous whitish ochreous. Abdomen: Basal segments not conspicuously modified for reception of the thoracic tufts as in other members of Notatella group. Scaling entirely pale ochreous, concolorous with hindwing; large dorsal hair brushes of segment VIII lying against tegumen, and large tufts of valvae dark ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 119 (drawn from plesiotype, Haiti, JAP prep. no. 1613; one preparation examined); intermediate in appearance between notatella and phoenicura; tegumen not extended anteriorly as in hiramella; valva not heavily spined as in latter and wellingi.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.9 mm. Head: Eye smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male. Labial palpus normal in form, elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment upcurved, length about 1.25 times eye diameter; third segment short, length about 0.6 that of second; smooth scaled, whitish, both distal segments blackish exteriorly except apically. Antenna not modified, scape length about three-fourths eye diameter, without enlargement; shaft not dilated, similar in size to male. Scaling of tongue moderate, whitish, of front and crown pale tan. Thorax: Dorsal scaling of pronotum as in male; metathoracic hair tufts reduced. Underside whitish, tibiae and tarsi banded with black. Forewing: Shape and upperside color pattern as in male. Underside whitish at base, becoming pale brownish beyond middle. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing (width about 0.7 that of male). Costal area simple. Ground color white; apex dark; fringe white. Underside similar. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown; lateral and ventral white; genital bright ochreous. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.–Santo Domingo; lectotype female in British Museum, labeled “St. Dom. 55.1” and “Type ♀,” probably by Durrant.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Dominican Republic and Haiti (Bourdon).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–June (a single record).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia wellingi Powell, new species

A large central American Ethmia having the white forewings broadly marked with black which faintly reflects metallic greenish; the genital tuft is bright ochreous or red.

MALE.–Length of forewing 13.4 to 15.9 mm. Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment strongly curved, length about 1.3 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length about 0.70–0.75 that of second; smooth scaled, white, basal half of apical two segments black. Antenna modified, scape elongate, about 1.3 times eye diameter, moderately enlarged distally; shaft scarcely dilated, width basally less than 0.20 eye diameter. Scaling of tongue dark basally, whitish beyond; of front and crown, appressed, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, marked with black, reflecting metallic greenish blue: base of tegula, most of collar, pronotum broadly adjoining collar, a pair of spots which sometimes join medially on scutellar area. Underside whitish tinged with brown anteriorly; legs mostly brown, tibiae and tarsi banded with white; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs reflecting metallic bluish on fresh examples; mesocoxae and metacoxae and trochanters blotched with bright ochreous. A large, dull ochreous hair brush from below hindwing extending alongside of abdomen to segment III. Forewing: Length 3.0–3.3 times width; costa evenly, gently curved from base to apex; termen not strongly angled back, slightly concave, tornal angle well developed. Ground color white, markings distinctly defined, dark brownish black reflecting greenish blue, as follows: costal half of wing from base to end of cell except an irregular spot at basal one-fourth and a smaller one in cell below it, lower edge of costal dark area sending two lobes into dorsal area, an inwardly, slightly oblique, one at basal one-fourth and a short, broad one at about middle, the latter preceded slightly and subtended by a round spot in dorsal area, sometimes joined to it; outer margin of costal dark area sinuate, with an outwardly projecting spur at end of cell; terminal area with an irregular, diagonal band from below apex to dorsum just before tornus, reaching termen just below apex, there expanding as a blotch in the otherwise white fringe. A submarginal row of black dots at base of fringe, from before apex nearly to tornus. Underside pale brownish; costa basally with an inwardly directed, darker fringe, obscuring retinaculum. Fringe as on upperside. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; Sc and R with a broad, tightly closed pinch-fold between them extending to middle of wing containing a thin, ochreous hair pencil and a tightly compacted row of specialized scales, which are broad, brittle, translucent (recalling fish scales); costal margin as a result nearly straight, apex blunt, termen moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle obscured. Ground color whitish, becoming pale brownish on distal half; fringe white. Underside similar, costal area including fold brownish. Abdomen: Basal segments not modified for reception of thoracic brushes. Dorsal scaling dark gray, ventral mostly whitish except apical two or three segments dark gray. Genital scaling entirely bright ocherous or tufts of segment VIII and valvae red and tufts lying over tegumen ochreous; tufts laterally on tegumen white. Genitalia as in Figure 120 (drawn from paratype, Costa Rica, JAP prep. no. 1389; three preparations examined); tegumen with moderately enlarged lateral lobes bearing tufts of very long hair scales (not shown in figure), uncus hoodlike, gnathos elongate-narrow, valva greatly modified with a large apical membranous lobe subtended by a blade-shaped and a scythe-shaped sclerotized structure, sacculus with a free, outward extending, flat projection on inner, posterior margin; aedeagus greatly modified, with crooked distal half.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 12.7 to 16.4 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye and palpus size as in male. Antennal scape shorter, about equal to eye diameter, less enlarged. Thoracic hair brushes smaller, white. Hindwing costal area simple. Genital scaling reduced, bright ochreous or bright red. Genitalia as in Figure 238 (drawn from plesiotypes, Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Yucatan, JAP prep. nos. 2544, 2787; three preparations examined); similar to E. notatella, sterigma fused with VII sternite, forming deeply recessed, partially sclerotized lateral lobes which are pinched inward; subtending lobes of E. notatella lacking; ductus with two loose coils.

TYPES.–Holotype female and allotype male: Mexico, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, May 17, 1955 and April 14, 1956 (E. C. Welling); deposited in the California Academy of Sciences. Thirty-four paratypes, as follows: Mexico: Chichen Itza, Yucatan, 1♀, IV–3–54, 3♀, V–(5–23)–54, 2♀, V–14, 16–55, 1♂, 4♀, V–(20–28)–55, 4♀, II–(4–29)–56, 2♀, III–5, 16–56, 4♀, IV–(7–9)–56 (E. C. Welling); Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Monteverde, 4,600 feet; 1♀, II–18–60, 1♂, 3♀, III–2, 3–60, 1♂, 1♀, I–14, 29–61, 2♀, XI–14, 24–61, 1♀, VII–5–61, 2♀, II–23, 27–62 (C. W. Palmer); Turrialba, 1♀, III–(13–17)–65 (S. S. and W. D. Duckworth). Deposited in American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Insect Survey, Carnegie Museum, U.S. National Museum, and collection of E. C. Welling, Merida, Yucatan. Two additional specimens have been examined subsequent to writing the description: Costa Rica: 6 km S San Vita, Puntarenas, 1♀, 111–13/18–67, 1♀, IV–27/V–4–67 (D. F. Veirs).

REMARKS.–The specimens from Costa Rica are generally larger (forewing length of females 14.4 to 16.4 mm.) than those from Mexico (forewing of female 12.7 to 14.6 mm) and exhibit other differences, the most conspicuous of which is the bright red genital scaling. In the series from the type locality the caudal tuft is bright ochreous or orange-ochreous. Individuals from Costa Rica show a tendency toward somewhat more extensive markings on the forewing, particularly a slight broadening of the large costal blotch and its outer spur into the dorsal area.

Section II

ADULT.–Eye large (index 1.1–1.2). Male with uncus reduced, membranous, or absent; gnathos rudimentary or lacking; valva with differentiated “distal seta-bunch,” and usually with modified scale-like setae that are often bifid apically. Female with posterior apophyses usually elongate; anterior apophyses narrow-elongate.

MATURE LARVA.–Head capsule rounded, with epicranial lobes strongly bulging; strongly sclerotized (uniformly dark); adfrontal sutures reaching only about 0.5–0.6 to cervical triangle. Secondary setae in SV group: 2–10 on abdominal segments 1, 2, 7, 8; none on segment 9; 18–22 on abdominal and anal prolegs, on a distinct pinaculum. Crotchets arranged in a circle.

PUPA.–Robust, cylindrical, with rugose, densely sclerotized integument. Appendages extended to middle of abdominal segment VI or beyond. Segment VI stationary (?), segment VII movable by lateral condyles. Anchoring by grasp of larval head capsule or cocoon in abdominal segments VI–VII intersegmental closure. Setae lacking.

COCOON.–Loose, frail, nonresistant to desiccation.

The Baliostola Group

Eye index 1.1 Maxillary palpus moderately large, 4–segmented, lengths about 1:1:1:2. Labial palpus elongate, II segment index 1.5–1.6; smooth scaled. Antenna of male moderately dilated, index 0.23–0.28. Forewing broad to moderately broad; pattern longitudinal streaks. Hindwing of male with costal brush and Sc–R pinch-fold. Abdomen with ochreous genital scaling. Uncus short, hoodlike; gnathos absent; basal processes membranous, narrow; without costal plume; fultura-manica simple; vesica simple or armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses elongate; sterigma ornate; antrum enlarged with sclerotized band; ductus bursae sclerotized basally, four tight coils; signum a dentate keel.

Two large Central American and Antillean species which occupy a somewhat intermediate position between the two sections of the genus.

Ethmia baliostola Walsingham

Ethmia baliostola Walsingham, 1912:144.–Meyrick, 1924:119.–Busck, 1934:165.

Ethmia baliostoma [error] Busck, 1914c:54.

A rather large, broad-winged, central American Ethmia having white forewings heavily mottled with dark brownish and a double whitish costal brush on the hindwing.

MALE.–Length of forewing 10.7 to 13.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, strongly curved, extending to back of crown; second segment length 1.43–1.50 times eye diameter; third segment moderately curved, length 0.83–0.88 that of second (about 1.25–1.30 eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment with basal, median, and preapical blackish rings, third segment with broad black bands before and beyond middle. Antenna dilated, width of shaft at basal one-third 0.21–0.25 eye diameter; dorsal scaling sparse, gray, scape white with some blackish scaling dorsally. Scaling of tongue, front and crown whitish with some intermixed grayish, occipital tufts black at middorsum, white laterally. Thorax: Dorsal scaling grayish, collar and tegula unspotted, pronotum with paired blackish spots adjoining collar, under tegulae near middle, at apices of tegulae, and at sides of scutellum, a single spot at middorsum preceding scetellum. Underside whitish, prothoracic leg mostly blackish exteriorly, mesothoracic and metathoracic legs marked with paler gray; hind tibial fringe elongate, dense, whitish ochreous. Forewing: Broad, length about 2.8–2.9 times width; costa gently, nearly evenly curved from base to apex, termen rather strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white, largely replaced by grayish and dark brown (probably blackish when fresh) irregular and indistinct markings, forming elongated spots and streaks, which are at times somewhat distinct; the most conspicuous mark usually an irregular streak from a spot at end of cell to termen below apex; at times the dorsal area before middle somewhat less marked, but not showing the two distinct, small spots, as in confusella at least the outer one, usually both, obscured by brownish mottling; a row of about ten blackish dots around margin from before costa to tornus. Fringe whitish except just below apex interrupted by the longitudinal streak through terminal area. Underside pale brownish, dorsal area and fringe whitish; subcostal area and R near base with specialized, erect scaling. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; base of costa with a double, thin, elongate, ochreous-white hairbrush which is divided at base, the anterior portion free, arising on the outside (ventral side of wing) of a short costal fold, posterior portion enclosed in a small pinch-fold between C and Sc; costal margin as a result nearly straight, slightly convex beyond middle, apex acute, termen straight, tornal angle recognizable. Ground color pearly white, becoming brown at the margins; fringe whitish. Underside similar, irregularly brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brown, ventral whitish, genital bright to dark ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 138 (drawn from plesiotype, Gorgona Island, Colombia, JAP prep. no. 1199; seven preparations examined); uncus short, not well defined, hoodlike, bearing an elongate, dense, persistent scale brush; gnathos rudimentary, not heavily sclerotized, cucullar area of valva drawn out apically into a membranous lobe with a dense scale “plume” exteriorly, distal end of sacculus with a dense row of flat spines subequal in length followed by a triangular projection bare or hairy to outer margin; vesica with a weakly sclerotized longitudinal band.

MAP 48.–Geographical distribution of members of the Baliostola group of Ethmia.

E. baliostola Walsingham E. cubensis Busck

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 11.3 to 14.1 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye smaller but labial palpus equally elongate (second segment length over 1.6 times eye diameter); antenna not dilated, width of shaft 0.80–0.85 that of male. Underside of forewing without specialized scaling on subcostal area and R; hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia as in Figures 257, 258 (drawn from plesiotype, Yucatan, JAP prep. no. 2550; two preparations examined); anterior and posterior apophyses long, sterigma rather simple, a narrow plate protruding ventrally, ductus with a long, strongly sclerotized, flat antrum subtended by a lightly sclerotized, recurved-flaplike accessory sac, signum a double-flanged, shallow fold with a single row of teeth.

TYPE DATA.–Costa Rica, Banana River, March 1906 (W. Schaus); unique male type in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Northwestern South America (Colombia coast) to southern Mexico (Chiapas; Yucatan).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–At least two generations; March-April (Costa Rica), May-July and September-October (Panama, Mexico), November (Colombia).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–The South American record is represented by two males from Gorgona Island, Colombia, which are superficially distinguishable by more extensive, darker wing markings. The genital characters, however, are identical to those shown in other parts of the range.

Ethmia cubensis Busck

Ethmia cubensis Busck, 1934:164, pl. 23, fig. 2; pl. 26, fig. 3.

A moderately large Antillean Ethmia related to E. baliostola, with similar, less distinctly marked, gray-streaked forewings and the same kind of double hair pencil of the hindwing.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.8 to 11.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.35–1.45 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length about 0.75–0.85 that of second (1.1–1.2 times eye diameter); smooth scaled, second segment whitish gray, with broad blackish exteriorly becoming narrow bands at middle and before apex interiorly, third segment blackish except narrow basal, median and apical white bands. Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally 0.21–0.24 eye diameter; dorsal scaling gray, scape white below. Scaling of tongue, front and crown interspersed whitish and grayish, becoming darker at back of crown, particularly medially. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale grayish, collar dark basally, dark brownish markings outlined with whitish as follows (all markings probably blackish when fresh, all specimens examined collected more than 40 years ago): at base of tegula, two pairs of spots on pronotum, adjoining tegulae anteriorly and at tips, three spots at sides of and anterior to scutellar area. Underside white; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs spotted with brown or blackish. Forewing: Moderately broad, length 3.1–3.2 times width; costa evenly, gently curved from base to apex; termen rather strongly angled back, tornal angled scarcely evident. Ground color pale grayish, heavily mottled with darker, especially longitudinal streaks, the most conspicuous of which are a basal streak in cell on fold, a dark shade in outer half of cell (at times subtended by a rather distinct bar in dorsal area adjoining outer third of cell) an ill-defined spot at end of cell which is usually the darkest mark of the wing, and a streak through terminal area below apex; two pale areas, more whitish than the general ground color, beyond basal and median dark shades; a row of eight or nine blackish dots around margin from before apex to tornus. Underside pale brownish; Sc and Cu with roughened, pale ochreous fringes basally. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; base of costa with double, elongate, pale yellowish white hair brush which is divided at base, the anterior half free, basad, originating on outer side of a short costal fold (ventral surface of wing), posterior half enclosed in a pinch-fold between costa and Sc; costal margin as a result nearly straight. Ground color white, distal margin and apical area narrowly brown. Underside similar, costal area slightly brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brown, lateral and ventral white, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 139 (drawn from plesiotype, Mandeville, Jamaica, JAP prep. no. 1510; seven preparations examined); similar to baliostola, differing principally by the shape of the cucullus, and by possessing two large, flat spines at the end of the sacculus and a hooklike cornutus in the vesica.

FEMALE.–Not examined. Busck (1934) figured the signum, which does not differ from that of baliostola.

TYPE DATA.–Cuba, Sierra Maestra, Comaquey (W. Schaus, O. Querci, and J. Acuna). Holotype male in U.S. National Museum bears the additional information “Apr. 28, 1930,” and “1000 ft.” and indicates Querci as the sole collector.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Cuba and Jamaica.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Evidently multivoltine; records from Jamaica for April, May, July, and December.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–Superfically, E. cubensis most closely resembles the Caribbean E. confusella (Walker) and E. catapeltica Meyrick in Central America, but in structural characters the present species relates to baliostola. In addition, the dark mark at the end of the cell serves, along with the two distinct dots borne by E. confusella in the dorsal area basally, to distinguish that species from the present one. E. cubensis differs superficially from E. catapeltica by the divided pale hindwing costal brush in which the enclosed portion is white in the latter species and in E. flavicaudata, while the outer surface of the fold bears a blackish fringe.

The Confusella Group

Eye index 1.1–1.2. Maxillary palpus moderately large, four segments, lengths about 4:4:3:7. Labial palpus elongate, II segment index 1.1–1.8; smooth scaled. Antenna of male not dilated to dilated, index 0.18–0.30. Forewing moderately broad; pattern longitudinal gray or black streaks. Hindwing of male unmodified or with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold. Abdomen scaling undifferentiated or wholly ochreous or genital scaling weakly ochreous. Uncus membranous; gnathos absent; basal processes narrow, membranous, rarely ridged; valva with dense setation on inner side and cucullus “plume” bearing scalelike setae that are bifid apically; fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged, usually with sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous, straight or six to nine tight coils; signum a dentate bar or lacking.

A fairly closely knit group of eight nocturnal species distributed primarily in the Caribbean region for which phenetic assessment indicated only weak justification for retention separate from the Longimaculella group. However, the densely haired valva, a cohensive feature of the Confusella group, was not used as a character in the phenetic clustering. Ethmia farrella is a marginal member, with varying relationships indicated by clustering techniques. These superficially similar gray moths have no Old World relatives.

Ethmia confusella (Walker)

Hyponomeuta confusellus Walker, 1863:531.

Psecadia confusella.–Walsingham, 1892:527, 546 [synonymy].

Ethmia confusella.–Walsingham, 1897:89 [synonymy].–Dyar, 1902:205.–Grossbeck, 1917:143.–Wolcott, 1923:203.–Forbes, 1930:134.–Busck, 1934:163, pls. 33, 36.–McDunnough, 1939:83.–Kimball, 1965:286.

Cryptolechia strigosella Walker, 1864a:710.

Psecadia strigosella.–Walsingham, 1892:527 [synonymy].

Psecadia ingricella Moeschler, 1890:343, 354, fig. 19.–Walsingham, 1892:527, 546.

Ethmia ingricella.–Walsingham, 1897:89 [synonymy].

Psecadia (Cryptolechia) strigosa [error] Cockerell, 1891:33.

A widespread Caribbean species having gray forewings marked by blackish longitudinal streaks and two distinct spots in the dorsal area toward the base.

MAP 49.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia confusella (Walker).

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.0 to 10.7 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.25 to 1.5 times eye diameter; third segment 0.9 to 1.0 the length of second; smooth scaled, whitish, second and third segments with median and subapical black bands. Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.25 eye diameter; dorsal scaling grayish, scape whitish with a dorsal blackish spot or mostly dark. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white or grayish, a black spot at mid-dorsum of occipital tufts. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish or pale gray; bases of tegulae blackish and seven blackish spots on pronotum, three pairs laterally, near collar, adjoining tegulae apices, and at sides of scutellum, and a single median one preceding scutellum. Underside white, protibiae and mesotibiae and tarsi marked with blackish. Forewing: Length 3.2 to 3.5 times width; costa gently curved, appearing slightly flattened beyond middle; termen strongly angled back, straight or very slightly concave, tornal area a broad curve. Ground color whitish, usually mostly dusted by pale grayish; markings blackish or dark gray-brown, as elongated longitudinal spots, more or less uniformly placed over costal half, at times tending to form a somewhat more conspicuous line through end of cell and termen; dorsal area below cell to tornus unmarked except two spots on basal one third, the inner one closer to cell; a row of darker dots around termen subtending fringe. Fringe whitish, interrupted by the dark line just below apex. Underside uniform pale brown. Hindwing: Costal area with an external fringe and a fold containing a thick, elongate, white hair pencil; costal margin slightly convex beyond middle; apex acute, termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, semitranslucent, brownish at apex; fringe white. Underside similar, costal area pale brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish gray, lateral and ventral scaling white, genital whitish slightly tinged with ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 123 (drawn from plesiotype, Jamaica, JAP prep. no. 1195; 14 preparations examined); uncus lightly sclerotized, valva broad with dense, elongate setation on inner face, apex of valva with a bunch of about 4–6 short spurs, vesica with an ornate cornutus bearing many small spines.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.0 to 10.8 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye relatively smaller; labial palpus segments as long. Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia (Figures 244, 245, drawn from plesiotype, Florida, JAP prep. no. 2553; two preparations examined); anterior and posterior apophyses elongate, thin; sterigma a narrow, single plate, antrum with sclerotized sleeve and lateral pouch; ductus membranous, with about 11 coils; signum a narrow, shallow fold with short inner teeth.

TYPE DATA.–Santo Domingo, Tweedie collection, described from two males in the British Museum, the paratype bearing the additional data “55.1” (confusellus); Santo Domingo, Tweedie collection, unique type in British Museum (strigosella); Puerto Rico, types in Moeschler collection (ingricella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Florida Keys and Bahama Islands, through the Greater Antilles to the Yucatan Peninsula, and through the Lesser Antilles to Trinidad. An old record for Bogota, Colombia (Walsingham, 1892) is represented in the material examined only by a male and female which lack abdomens.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Probably multivoltine; July and December (Jamaica), April and June (Puerto Rico), July and October (Virgin Islands), March, May, and August (Dominica); most other records are for June and July.

FOOD PLANT.–Bourreria ovata (Boraginaceae) in Florida. Specimens were reared from larvae collected by D. H. Habeck at Plantation Key in May 1969. The U.S. National Museum has larvae which are indistinguishable from a larva preserved by Habeck, collected on Bourreria at Coral Gables.

REMARKS.–The typical form, with more or less uniformly streaked, gray forewings, occurs from Hispaniola southward. Specimens from the Florida Keys and eastern Cuba (Santiago) differ by having a more extensive whitish ground color with more contrasting black markings. Those from western Cuba (Pinar del Rio) and Jamaica are generally smaller (♂ ♂ forewing length 8.0–8.8 mm) and have less well defined markings than the typical form. Those from Jamaica have the hindwing costal brush reduced. In a series from Chichen Itza, Yucatan (the type locality of E. confusellastra, described below), the individuals are small (forewing 8.7–9.9 mm) and pale. The ground whitish although not as immaculate as on Florida examples, is more extensive, with the major markings reduced and paler. The Mexican specimens thus more closely resemble confusellastra than Caribbean confusella in forewing pattern.

The species is superficially quite similar to E. catapeltica of Central America and the Caribbean species, E. cubensis, but can usually be recognized by the two distinct spots in the dorsal area of the forewing basally.

Ethmia striatella Busck

Ethmia hiramella is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is found in Cuba.

The length of the forewings is 11.9–12 mm (0.47–0.47 in). The ground color of the forewings is white or pale cream-white, with brownish black markings reflecting metallic greenish blue. The ground color of the hindwings is semitranslucent white basally, becoming opaque ocherous on the distal half and brownish at the apex. Adults are on wing in April, June and October.