Cynthia annabella Field 1971

Cynthia annabella

Vanessa carye (Hubner), Doubleday not Hübner [a misidentification], 1844, p. 79.—Dyar, 1903, p. 24.—Barnes and McDunnough, 1917, p. 11.—Coolidge, 1925, pp. 146–147.—Comstock, 1927, pp. 134–135, fig. A 42 (p. 135), pl. 44: figs. 1–3.—Holland, 1931, p. 154, pl. 20: fig. 12.—Davenport and Dethier, 1938, p. 164.—McDunnough, 1938, p. 21.—Field, 1940, pp. 81, 87–88, 274.—Hoffmann, 1940, p. 681.—Leighton, 1946, p. 59.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.—Carrillo, Ortego, and Gibson, 1966, p. 78.

Pyrameis carye.—Morris, 1860, p. 8.—Behr, 1864, p. 125.—Strecker, 1878, p. 138.—Godman and Salvin, 1882, p. 219.—Dyar, 1889, pp. 237–238.—Dixey, 1890, pp. 107, 117, 122.—Maynard, 1891, p. 93, fig. 32a (p. 95).—Skinner, 1898, p. 25.—Wright, 1905, p. 178, pl. 22: fig. 231.—Schrader, 1929, pp. 8–11, pl. 4.

Cynthia carye.—Barnes and Benjamin, 1926, p. 15.—Gunder, 1927c, p. 270, pl. 8: fig. 4, pl. 9: fig. 1; 1929, p. 9, pl. 17: figs. [1] [2].

Pyrameis caryae Edwards [misspelling of carye] not Hübner [a misidentification], 1874, p. 329; 1889, p. 26.—Holland, 1898, pp. 170–171, pl. 20: fig. 12.—Huguenin, 1921, pp. 216–217.

Vanessa caryae.—Grinnell, 1918, p. 111.—Brown, 1955, p. 103, 2 figs.

Pyrameis carye variety muelleri Letcher [as an individual variant, excluded name, type 3], 1898, p. 38, pl. 3.

Pyrameis carye aberration muelleri.—Skinner [excluded name, type 2], 1898, p. 25.

Vanessa carye aberration muelleri.—Barnes and McDunnough, 1917, p. 11.—Gunder, 1925, p. 198.—Comstock, 1927, p. 135, pl. 44: figs. 5, 6.—McDunnough, 1938, p. 21.—Field, 1940b, pp. 87, 88.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.

Vanessa caryae variety muelleri.—Grinnell [as an individual variant, excluded name, type 3], 1918, p. 111.

Vanessa caryae form muelleri.—Fox [excluded name, type 3], 1921, p. 46.

Cynthia carye aberration muelleri.—Barnes and Benjamin, 1926, p. 15.

Cynthia carye transition form muelleri.—Gunder [excluded name, type 2], 1927a, p. 133, pl. 2: fig. 2b; 1927c, p. 270, pl. 9: figs. 2–5; 1929, p. 9, pl. 17: figs. [3], [4].

Vanessa caryae variety intermedia Grinnell [as an individual variant, excluded name, type 3], 1918, pp. 111–112, pl. 4: fig. 6.

Cynthia carye aberration intermedia.—Barnes and Benjamin [excluded name, type 2], 1926, p. 15.

Vanessa carye aberration intermedia.—Comstock, 1927, p. 135, pl. 44: figs. 4, 5.—McDunnough, 1938, p. 21.—Field, 1940b, pp. 87, 88.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.

Cynthia carye transition form intermedia.—Gunder [excluded name, type 2], 1927, p. 270.

Vanessa caryae variety letcheri Grinnell [as an individual variant, excluded name, type 3], 1918, pp. 112–113, pl. 4: fig. 8.

Cynthia carye aberration letcheri.—Barnes and Benjamin [excluded name, type 2], 1926, p. 15.

Vanessa carye aberration letcheri.—Comstock, 1927, pp. 135.—136, pl. 44: figs. 7, 8.—McDunnough, 1938, p. 21.—Field, 1940b, p. 87.—Leighton, 1946, p. 59.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.

Cynthia carye transition form letcheri.—Gunder [excluded name, type 2], p. 270.

Cynthia carye transition form nivosa Gunder [excluded name, type 2], 1927, p. 53.

Vanessa carye aberration nivosa.—McDunnough [excluded name, type 3], 1938, p. 21.—Field, 1940b, pp. 87, 88.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.

Cynthia carye transition form schraderi Gunder [excluded name, type 2], 1929, p. 9, pl. 17: figs. [5]–[10].

Vanessa carye aberration schraderi.—McDunnough [excluded name, type 2], 1938, p. 21.—Dos Passos, 1964, p. 77.

This species and C. carye are easily distinguished from all other species of Cynthia, except C. terpsichore and some females of C. virginiensis, in having the bar just beyond cell on upper side of forewing tawny instead of white. From C. terpsichore and C. virginiensis they are easily distinguished by having four, instead of two, blue-centered ocular markings on upper side of each hindwing.

MALE (Figures 143–148).—Forewing above with tawny subapical bar just beyond cell slightly larger in C. annabella than in C. carye; subapical white spot at costa and interspaces R1 and R2 slightly larger than in C. carye; basal transverse bar in cell more distinct in C. annabella; bar below case of Cu2 usually very small, sometimes absent in C. carye, present and distinct in C. annabella; usually with a small tawny spot in interspace M3 just above the large tawny quadrate spot in interspace Cu1 in C. annabella, which is absent in most specimens of C. carye; submarginal white line composed of three slender bars on apex of forewing, usually more distinct in C. annabella than in C. carye.

Hindwing above with white spot in middle of costal margin larger and more distinct in C. annabella, otherwise as in C. carye.

Forewing underneath with the pale yellowish-white postmedial and marginal bar slightly larger in C. annabella; with dark spot at base of interspace Cu1 smaller and usually separate from postmedial black bar in this interspace in C. carye, while in C. annabella it is larger and always connected to the postmedial black bar.

Hindwing underneath with whole aspect lighter in color in C. annabella; with pure white spot in middle of wing opposite end of cell more triangular in shape in C. annabella and somewhat hourglass shaped in C. carye.

Length of forewing, 17–27 mm (average 23 mm).

Male genitalia as illustrated by Figure 15 (drawn from my preparation no. 3716), with uncus in lateral view downward curved at distal end, in ventral view large and triangular, with distal end acute and greatly extended; gnathos with lateral arms smaller than those of C. carye, gradually curved upward along dorsal margin and abruptly bent along ventral margin, forming a distinct “heel” near middle of this margin; ventral process of lateral arms not showing in lateral view; valva with a large rounded lobe on middle of dorsal margin, with a large acute lobe at junction of dorsal and distal margins, instead of the large clublike process found in C. carye, margin beyond this acute lobe short and nearly straight; lower margin of valva gradually and broadly rounded, forming nearly a right angle at junction of distal margin; clasper a large flaplike lobe, directed toward lower angle (junction of distal and lower margins); cuiller heavily armed with large spinelike teeth along inner surface; aedeagus sharply constricted just before middle of ventral margin so that distal half is very thin and needle-like, base thick and slightly downward bent; saccus with a caudal element that projects outward a great distance past base of lower margin of valva.

FEMALE (Figures 155–160).—Not distinguishable from the male sex except by examination of the genitalia where the large podlike ostium bursae lobe can be seen after the scales are brushed off of the underside of posterior surface of abdomen.

Length of forewing 17–26 mm (average 22.8 mm).

Female genitalia as illustrated by Figure 31 (drawn from my preparation no. 6445), differing from all other species of Cynthia, except C. carye, in lacking the undulated margin between seventh and eighth sternites and in having the seventh sternite projected posteriorly near middle; it differs also from those species in having two heavily sclerotized laterally placed ridges near spiracles of seventh sternite and in having the eighth sternite heavily sclerotized with a very large podlike ostium bursa lobe, this podlike lobe not swollen at its base as is C. carye.

METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION.—When it was discovered that there were two distinct species going under the name of C. carye Hübner, a North American species and a South American species, an unsuccessful effort was made to locate the type material of C. carye. Unfortunately none could be found. The lack of this material was not of great importance as Hübner's original colored figures of the upper and under surfaces ([1812], pl. [45], figs. 1, 2) were found to quite accurately, and in fact beautifully, portray his species. This turned out to be the one found in the Andes of Peru, in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. See further notes under C. carye.

TYPE LOCALITY.—First valley west of Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura, Ventura County, California.

ADDITIONAL TYPE DATA.—Described from the holotype male (USNM 71044), allotype female, and five male and fifteen female paratypes with data as follows: holotype, locality as given above, elevation 500 feet, reared from last instar larva, emerged 17–24 January 1965, Thomas Dimock collector; allotype, same data as holotype except emerged 21–31 March 1965; one male and six female paratypes, same data as holotype; two male and three female paratypes, same data as allotype; two female paratypes, same data as holotype except emerged February 1965; one female paratype, same data as holotype except collected in flight, not reared, 22 March 1965; one female paratype, collected in flight, above Arroyo Verde Park, elevation 780 feet, other data as in holotype; two male and two female paratypes, Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura, Ventura County, California, elevation 750 feet, 27 March 1970, Thomas Dimock.

LOCATION OF TYPES.—Holotype (USNM 71044), allotype, and one pair of paratypes in the National Museum of Natural History, one pair of paratypes in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco). The remainder of the paratypes to be deposited in various museums by Thomas Dimock of San Jose and Ventura, California.

LIFE HISTORY.—The larvae of this species have been reported feeding upon the following Malvaceae: Althaea, Lavatera assurgentiflora, Malva horealis, M. parviflora, Malvastrum exile, M. fasciculatum, and Sphaeralcea ambiqua. Larvae have also been reported feeding upon Ligustrum (Oleaceae, order Oleales), Lupinus arborens (Leguminosae, order Rosales), and Urtica holosericea (Urticaceae, Urticales).

Notes on the life history and immature stages have been given by Behr (1863, p. 125), Edwards (1874, p. 329), Dyar (1889, pp. 237–238), Coolidge (1925, pp. 146–147), Huguenin (1926, pp. 216–217), and Comstock (1927, pp. 134–135). References to the literature on the life history and immature stages were given by Edwards (1889, p. 26) and Davenport and Dethier (1938, p. 164).

Mr. Thomas Dimock, the collector of the type series, has offered (in a letter) the following information about the type locality and the species association therein:

Most of the specimens were taken in the first valley west (by about one-eighth of a mile) of a city park named Arroyo Verde Park (Ventura, Ventura County, California). This place is located in the foot-hills north of eastern Ventura, and about a half mile from my residence. Costal sage brush associations are on most northerly facing slopes, and a “weedy annual grassland” group occupies the south-facing exposed areas. In this valley west of the Park, mallow, the imported annual “weed”, usually grows lushly on the flat valley bottom, provided cattle aren't pastured there, and the larvae of this butterfly can be found in abundance in very early spring (January to March), occupying the exact same niche as cardui, also on mallow. When the adults emerge they hilltop. Both species, and less frequently atalanta, can be found all year round on some of the hilltops, which are mostly 800 to 1200 feet in elevation. There are two main broods (both species): a late January and early February brood, and a late February-March brood, after which both are less common. In fall and early winter fresh adults of “carye” become slightly more frequent in backyards.

DISTRIBUTION.—Vancouver Island and the main-land of British Columbia east into Alberta and south through California and Mexico (all parts according to Hoffmann, 1940, p. 681) into Guatemala, and from California east through Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. It has strayed into Scott County, Kansas, from Colorado.

MATERIAL STUDIED.—In addition to the type series recorded above, I have studied one hundred eightytwo males and one hundred and seven females from the following localities: ALBERTA: near Mount Assinboine (August). WASHINGTON: Bellingham; Brewster (August); Godman Springs, Blue Mountains (July); Seattle (July); Seguin (September); Toroda (August). OREGON: Newport (September). CALIFORNIA: Alameda County (January, March, September, December); Albany, Alameda County (June); Albany Hill, Contra Costa County (March); Alum Rock Park, Santa Clara County (May); Antioch, Contra Costa County (May, October); Beverly Hills; Berkeley, Alameda County (March, May); Bethel Island, Contra Costa County (May); Buttonwillow, Kern County Qune); Cherry Flat, Santa Clara County (September); Chula Vista, San Diego County (January, March, April, May, August, September, October, December); Claremont (April); Concord (May, October); Davis (October); Deerpark, Placer County (August, 6,200 ft); Fairfax, Marin County (May); Fillmore (June); Glen Alpine Creek, El Dorado County (July); Glendora (February); Golden Gate Park, San Francisco (January, February); Griffith Park, Los Angeles County (February); Humbug Mountain, Siskiyou County (September); Indian Flat, Mariposa County (May); Inverness, Marin County (August); Laguna Beach (July); Lake Alpine, Alpine County (July); Lake Chabot Road, Alameda County (May); Las Uvas, Santa Clara County (June); Los Alamitos (July); Los Angeles (January, February, June, November); Mariposa Grove, Mariposa County; “Middle California”; Mill Valley (December); Mitchell Canyon, Contra Costa County (May); Mocho Canyon, Livermore (April); Mokel Hill; Mount Bruno Ridge, San Mateo (April); Napa County (September); Novato, Marin County (February); Oakland Hills, Alameda County (September); Ontario (March); Palo Alto (May, September, November); Pasadena (June); Petaluna (June); Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County (March—July); Plumas County; Redwood Canyon, Contra Costa County (June, July); San Diego (September); San Francisco (January—March, May, July—October, December); San Jose; San Juan (August); San Leandro, Alameda County (May, June—August); San Mateo County; Santa Barbara Islands; Santa Cruz (May, June, August, September, October, December); Santa Rosa, Riverside County (April); Sherman Island, Sacramento County (September); Sierra County; “Southern California”; Warner Mountains, Modoc County (July); Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park (August). NEVADA: Del Monte Ranch, Reno (August); Reno (September). UTAH: Bellevue, Washington County (June, 4,000 ft); Vineyard (July). MONTANA: Deerlodge, Powell County (August). COLORADO. NEW MEXICO: Bear Trap Camp, 26 miles southwest, Magdalena, Socorro County (July, 8,500 ft); Cedar Creek Camp, 2 miles north Ruidosa, Lincoln County (June, 7,000 ft); McMillan Camp, 13 mites north Silver City, Grant County (July, 6,800 ft); Mogollon, Catron County (July, 7,200–7,600 ft); Pine Camp, 2 miles northeast Cloudcroft, Otero County (July, 8,600 ft); Signal Peak, 22 miles northeast Silver City, Grant County (July, 8,600–8,900 ft); Willow Creek Ranger Station, 25 miles east Alma, Catron County (July, 8,000 ft). ARIZONA: Alpine Divide Camp, 4 miles north Alpine, Apache County (July, 8,500 ft); Chiricahua Mountains (May, 9,000 ft); Coconimo County, 17 miles north Williams (August, 6,700–6,800 ft); Flagstaff (July, August, 7,000 ft); Graham Mountains, Graham County (September, 9,000 ft); Jacob Lakes, Coconino County (July); Keyanta, Navajo County (July); North Rim, Grand Canyon (July, 8,000–9,000 ft); Pinal County, near Superior (August); Slade Ranch, near Greer (July). TEXAS: Alpine, Brewster County; El Paso. MEXICO: Chiapas; Jalapa (February); La Boguilla (July); Llamas Peñon, Federal District (May); Mexico City (June, November); Morelia, Micoacan (March); Presidio, Vera Cruz (May, June); San Pedro de los Pinos, Federal District (October); Tuxtepec, Oaxaca (June); Yerbanis, Cuencamé, Durango (August, 6,700 ft). GUATEMALA: Mpio, Acatenango, Quisache, Chimaltenango (December, 1,750 m).