Ethmia chalcodora Meyrick 1911

Ethmia chalcodora Meyrick, 1912:718; 1914:28.–Clarke, 1955a:81; 1965:422

A southern South American species superficially similar to E. bittenella owing to elongate black markings through the white forewing ground color. The dorsal blotch is leaden blue, the apex coppery. The following description is based on a single specimen from Paraguay determined by J. F. G. Clarke after comparison with the type.

MALE.–Unknown.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.6 mm. Head: Labial palpus only moderately elongate, second segment moderately curved, about equal to eye diameter (head and eyes damaged); third segment slightly curved, about 0.7 the length of the second; smooth scaled, white, irregularly blotched with brown exteriorly. Antenna not dilated, width of basal area of shaft about 0.17 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray, scape white. Scaling of head mostly lacking, apparently entirely white. Thorax: Collar white, tegula white, steel-blue at base; dorsum white with two pairs of broad steel-blue lateral spots, separated by a thin white longitudinal line. Underside shining whitish, legs tinged with ochreous exteriorly, prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae brownish. Forewing: Length 3.2 times width; costa slightly curved from base to apex, a little more strongly so near base; termen only slightly angled back, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white, markings dark brown, reflecting metallic steel-blue: about eight irregular spots on basal one-third, a large spot in cell at distal end, subtending a gray streak along costa which is paler than other markings; a large dorsal blotch from before middle nearly to tornus, extending to lower edge of cell and containing a coppery streak in its upper half; a series of partially fused spots in terminal area connected to the dark termen by a second copper colored area. Fringe paler gray, separated from the concolorous costal area by ground color only in outer one fourth. Underside mostly dark brownish, streaks of white along veins in terminal area. Hindwing: Costa rather excavate before apex, latter acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum. White, brown at apex; underside white, costa and apical areas brown. Abdomen: Dorsum brown with a white median longitudinal streak; second segment and genital scaling ochreous. Underside white basally becoming ochreous distally. Genitalia figured by Clarke (1965); sterigma similar to that of E. elutella; signum elongate as in E. delliella and E. notomurinella.

TYPE DATA.–Argentina, La Plata; two specimens (♀ ♀); location of type unknown according to Clarke (1955a), who later designated a lectotype at the British Museum (Clarke, 1965).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Known only from northern Argentina and Paraguay.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–One specimen collected in October in Paraguay.

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–In addition, two males in rather poor condition from western Brazil (Isla Cauropot, Rio San Francisco, XII–3–1907; Haseman) have been examined which are superficially very similar to chalcodora and may represent that species. The forewing pattern differs only by lacking the coppery streaks of the dorsal blotch and termen. Fresh examples might reveal presence of some coppery scaling in the Brazilian moths; moreover, males of chalcodora may not be as conspicuously marked with bluish and coppery as are the females. Owing to the poor condition of the present specimens, it seems best to provisionally refer them to chalcodora, pending study of more material, particularly from intervening geographical areas. The genital characters shown by these males are most similar to E. elutella among described species. The Brazil male has a broader spined portion of the gnathos, slightly narrower basal processes, and a similar aedeagus armature. The valva bears a flaplike preapical extension of the saccular margin, which is not developed in other members of the complex except in elutella where it is much shorter than on the Brazilian chalcodora.

Ethmia cellicoma Meyrick

Ethmia cellicoma Meyrick, 1931a:89.–Clarke, 1955a:79.

A member of the Chalcodora complex described from Paraguay, for which material has not been available in the present study. The following description is based on the original description.

MALE.–Length of forewing about 8.4 mm. (expanse 18 mm.). Head: Labial palpi lacking. Scaling whitish. Thorax: Whitish, dorsum tinged gray, a small black spot within the base of each tegula. Forewing: Somewhat elongate, costa gently arched, termen rather oblique. Ground color whitish gray, costal edge whitish toward middle; about 14 small blackish or gray spots arranged in a longitudinal median band from basal part of costal area to middle of termen; an irregular deep coppery blotch on dorsum beyond middle, reaching fold; a coppery apical blotch preceded on costa by a gray blotch. Fringe whitish (damaged). Underside with fringe of long, whitish hairs projecting obliquely downward from beneath in median area of wing. Hindwing: White, apex suffused pale gray; fringe white. Abdomen: Light gray; two apical segments (genital scaling) white. Genitalia not examined.

FEMALE.–Unknown.

TYPE DATA.–Paraguay, Chaco, February; the unique type stated to be in the Vienna Museum.

REMARKS.–From the description, it seems as though E. cellicoma is a member of the Chalcodora complex but quite distinct from any other described species.

Ethmia chalcogramma Powell, new species

A Bolivian species superficially quite similar to E. notomurinella but with a longitudinal coppery streak through the distal portion of the forewing.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate; second segment slightly curved, length about 1.1 times eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, length about 0.7 that of second; smooth scaled, white, a few scale tips and base of third segment brown exteriorly. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter; dorsal scaling white basally becoming dark gray distally, scape shining gray above reflecting metallic green, white below. Scaling of front white, lightly tinged with brownish, remainder of head scaling white. Thorax: Collar white, brownish basally; tegula white basally with a large spot of blackish, reflecting metallic green; scaling of notum white interrupted by two large spots, concolorous and nearly contiguous with those of tegulae, separated by a thin median longitudinal line, tapering posteriorly, scutellar area concolorous blackish green. Underside shining white, coxae marked with bright ochreous, prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae and tarsi marked with grayish brown exteriorly (metathoracic legs lacking from holotype). Forewing: Length about 3.2 times width; costa curved near base, very slightly curved beyond; termen slightly angled back, somewhat convex; tornal angle distinct. Ground color white, largely replaced by gray-brown markings; an elongate coppery spot in subcostal area at base and another streak of copper through middle of cell from about middle of wing nearly to termen; pattern superficially like E. notomurinella but only two spots as in bittenella, at base and basal one-fourth in cell, blackish reflecting metallic greenish; remainder of markings gray-brown; costa narrowly margined, the margin broadened at about middle to include most of midcell to terminal area except irregular spots of white at about end of cell above and below; terminal area white except termen narrowly gray-brown; fringe white beyond. Underside mostly pale brown; Sc with a moderately well developed fringe directed mesad. Hindwing: A closed subcostal pinch-fold present, no brush evident from it (not dissected); costal margin only slightly sloped off toward apex; termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, becoming brownish at distal margins; fringe white. Underside white, subcostal fold ochreous with pale grayish brown overscaling; distal one-third irregularly brownish. Abdomen: Scale coloring not recorded. Genitalia as in Figure 107 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1652; one preparation examined); gnathos short with fine teeth, basal processes short, valva elongate, shallowly emarginate and dentate distally, fultura large, ornate.

FEMALE.–Unknown.

TYPES.–Holotype male: Bolivia, Boyuibe, November 5, 1959 (P. Koehler); unique, deposited in Bavarian States Museum, Munich.

REMARKS.–Described from a single specimen in poor condition, this species will probably be found to be nearest chalcodora among described Ethmia when males of the latter species are known.

Ethmia phylacops Powell, new species

A Mexican species having the forewing pattern of the Elutella-Ungulatella series but with colors similar to E. phylacis, the dorsal blotch reddish bronze and the termen golden and a single black dot in the dorsal area before the dorsal blotch.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.9 mm. Head: Labial palpi lacking from holotype. Antennae (mostly lacking) slightly dilated, width of shaft about 0.22 eye diameter; dorsal scaling pale grayish, of scape whitish. Scaling of front brownish, of crown white. Thorax: Scaling of scape and collar whitish, of pronotum largely blackish owing to three pairs of large, fused spots. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs pale brownish, tinged with ochreous; hind leg mostly whitish. Forewing: Broad, length about 2.9 times width; costa nearly straight toward middle, strongly curved beyond; termen strongly angled back. Ground color white, costal half from base to end of cell heavily clouded with pale grayish brown, followed by two separated spots of the same color in terminal area; a slightly darker spot at base and another, larger, conspicuous one in white dorsal area at one-fourth; a large blotch on dorsum from before middle to before tornus, reddish or purplish copper colored, containing a rather distinct, transverse, bluish white zigzag line; apical area concolorous reddish coppery, blending to golden ochreous at apex, the subtending termen yellow. Fringe yellowish white. Underside pale brownish, becoming ochreous brown in terminal area; subcosta with a rather broad, whitish fringe extending to upper margin of cell. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; subcostal area with closed, bulky pinch-fold extending to termination of Sc at costa; containing an elongate, whitish hair pencil; costal margin bowed outward at apex of fold; termen moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle evident. Ground color white, becoming pale ochreous at apical margin; cubital and anal tufts pale ochreous. Underside whitish, costal area pale brownish, terminal margin pale ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of first segment of shaggy, elongate, pale ochreous hair scales; of second segment smooth, dark ochreous; remainder gray-brown. Underside brown, broadly whitish laterally and on last two segments. Genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 108 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1828; one preparation examined), apparently most similar to E. chalcogramma, basal processes narrow, elongate; fultura armature less well developed than in related species.

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 8.3 mm. Head: Eye diameter about 0.9 that of male; labial palpus moderately elongate, not strongly upcurved, second segment only slightly curved, length about equal to eye diameter; third segment straight, length about 0.8 that of second; smooth scaled, whitish. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of male. General appearance and coloration essentially as described for male (allotype grease-stained). Hindwing costal area simple. Abdomen apparently without the shaggy scaling of first tergum. Genitalia as in Figures 222, 223 (allotype, JAP prep. no. 2393; two preparations examined); anterior apophyses thin; sterigma without lateral lobes; ductus basally sclerotized through a broad, double circle followed by about five membranous loops; signum a moderately elongate, narrow, strongly dentate fold.

TYPES.–Holotype male and allotype female: Mexico, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, February 28 and April 6, 1956 (E. C. Welling); deposited in California Academy of Sciences.

REMARKS.–According to genital characters this species is most similar to E. chalcogramma, described above from Bolivia. The specimens of E. phylacops were for some years mixed with a series of E. phylacis from the same locality owing to the close superficial similarity of the two.

In addition to the above, I have examined two specimens from Cuba in the Moravia Museum, Brno, which probably represent a race of phylacops: Prov. Habana, Guajayabon, 1♀, VI–66 (F. Gregor); Prov. Pinar del Rio, Los Jazmines, 200 m, 1♀, VI–16/17–66 (F. Gregor). These specimens differ from the Mexican examples in having the forewing nearly white, with the typical pattern washed out and only faintly indicated. The female genital characters do not differ between the Cuban and mainland populations, and these features place E. phylacops as markedly distinct from all known Ethmia.

The Exornata Group

Eye index 1.0. Maxillary palpus very small, three segments, the apical one tiny. Labial palpus moderately short to moderately elongate, II segment index 1.0–1.3; smooth scaled. Antenna of male not dilated to moderately dilated, index 0.18–0.25. Forewing broad; pattern dorsal blotch, metallic colors. Hindwing of male unmodified. Abdomen with genital scaling ochreous. Uncus sclerotized, narrow; gnathos dentate posteriorly, rarely anteriorly; basal processes narrow, ridged; valva with distal notch; fultura and vesica simple. Papillae anales sclerotized basally, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses narrow, short; sterigma simple or ornate with lateral lobes; antrum sclerotized, with or without inner spurs; ductus bursae membranous, four to eight tight or loose coils; signum a dentate keel.

Four species of brightly colored, nocturnal moths make up the group, which is widespread in the Caribbean region. Although phenetic assessments indicate relationship to the Cypraeella group, the uncus and highly modified antrum suggest affinities to the Hagenella group.

Ethmia exornata (Zeller)

Psecadia exornata Zeller, 1877:238 [in part], pl. 3, fig. 73.–Walsingham, 1892:528 [in part].

Ethmia exornata.–Walsingham, 1897:90 [in part]; 1912:147.–Meyrick, 1914:27.–Busck, 1934:168, pl. 35, fig. 3.

Ethmia exornatella [error].–Busck, 1906b:729.

A rather large South and Central American member of the genus having the forewings ornamented with a large dorsal blotch of bronzy purplish, a golden ochreous termen, and conspicuous metallic blue-green dots at the base, two of which are on the dorsal half.

MALE.–Length of forewing 9.7 to 11.8 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment curved, length 1.1–1.3 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.70–0.85 that of second (both variable independently, third segment 0.88–1.04 eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment tinged with dark brownish exteriorly on basal half. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling present only basally, whitish; scape steel blue-gray above, white below. Scaling of tongue dark metallic gray, remainder of head white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white with dark gray markings, reflecting bluish green: base of collar narrowly, base of tegula broadly, two anterior pronotal spots adjoining bases of tegulae, a large spot on scutellum sometimes split longitudinally by white. Underside shining white, prothoracic leg, mesothoracic and metathoracic trochanters dark brown exteriorly, tarsi ochreous and brownish. Forewing: Broad to moderately broad, length 2.8 to 3.1 times width; costa gently curved from base to apex, slightly flattened toward middle, curved abruptly just before apex; termen rather strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white; several dark brown spots near base on costal half, strongly reflecting blue-green, at times partially fusing; two concolorous, distinct spots in subtending dorsal area; costa beyond to end of cell narrowly or broadly gray, or white; a large dorsal blotch, purplish copper or bronze colored, from before middle nearly to tornus, extending through cell, fusing with costal gray when latter present (otherwise separated from costa by white above cell); bluish white scaling in dorsal blotch forming a more or less distinct transverse zigzag line; termen broadly golden ochreous, preceded by some variable gray spotting, often forming three well-defined spots in white subterminal area; some bluish white scaling in apical area tending to form a marginal line of spots. Underside dark brown, dorsal area whitish, termen ochreous. Hindwing: As broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa gently angled to apex from before middle or excavate in apical one-third only, apex acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish becoming brownish toward distal margins or entirely brownish; apical area ochreous. Underside correspondingly variable; entirely brownish or whitish except costal area brownish; apical and terminal margins pale ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling shining brownish or bronzy, segmental bands paler; whitish laterally, brown ventrally; genital scaling pale ochreous laterally to whitish dorsally. Genitalia as in Figure 109 (drawn from plesiotype, Venezuela, JAP prep. no. 1245; seven preparations examined); uncus with lateral “arms” basally, gnathos and basal processes variable (at times larger than in Figure 109), valva apex pointed, broadly notched at distal end of sacculus; vesica with a triangular sclerotized plate.

MAP 43.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia exornata (Zeller).

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 10.0 to 12.4 mm. As described for male, eye slightly smaller, labial palpus as elongate; antenna nearly the same width as male. Forewing pattern tending to be somewhat brighter and more distinct than male. Genitalia as in Figures 227, 228 (drawn from plesiotypes, Nicaragua, JAP prep. no. 2269, and Brazil, JAP prep, no. 2551; two preparations examined); sterigma a simple ring with anterior enlargement around ostium weakly attached to posterior margin of VII sternite which bears weakly sclerotized lateral ridges, an elongate sclerotized sleeve on base of ductus which is without enlarged antrum, signum a narrow fold with numerous fine teeth in a single row.

TYPE DATA.–Peru, Chanchamajo; described from two males, location of types unknown.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Widespread in northern South America and Central America, from Brazil (Rio de Janiero) through Central America to the west coast of Mexico (Sinaloa). As discussed below, however, more than a single species may be involved.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–Taken at various times of year in different parts of the wide range; January (Peru), February (Trinidad), May and December (Brazil), June and November (Venezuela), June-July (Guatemala), August (Ecuador; Mexico), September (Nicaragua).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

REMARKS.–The fragmentary sample available for study, 22 specimens representing 15 collections from eight countries, limits conclusions on the assemblage. The broad range of variation in both wing pattern and genitalia, some of which are correlated, suggests that two species are involved. The narrower forewing (length 3.1 times width) as shown by three male specimens from Venezuela is accompanied by absence of the costal gray which joins the dorsal blotch, and by genitalia with less ornate gnathos and shorter basal processes. Males from other areas (Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico) have a broader forewing (2.8–2.9 times width), usually with well-developed gray along the costa. In addition the individuals with broader forewings share genital characters which differ, particularly the elongate basal processes.

E. exornata as originally described has the costal area white, but the figure given by Zeller shows a wing length:width ratio of about 3.0, so it cannot now be stated for certain that the Venezuelan narrow-winged form represents typical exornata. Females from Brazil are mostly of the white costal area phenotype, but are broad winged; males are variable in costa color and are narrow winged (3.1). A single male from Peru appears to have an intermediate condition with regard to costal gray but has a relatively broad (2.9) forewing.

The variation in labial palpus length is also unusually great in this case, but the variation is not correlated with the above differences. The relatively largest and smallest second segment occur on specimens from the most northern areas.

It seems best to retain the assemblage under the name until more material can be examined and compared with the type of E. exornata. All of the above specimens share the two blue spots in the dorsal area basally, as described by Zeller, which will serve, with the genital characters (variation notwithstanding), to separate exornata from the other members of the species group.

One aditional male from the Dognin collection at the U.S. National Museum has been examined; it probably represents another species and is not included in the above description and discussion. This specimen is the largest studied of this complex (forewing 12.4 mm); it is worn and bears only the fragmentary data “Equateur, c. de Labonnefon.” The forewing, which is rather broad (length just under 3.0 times width), has the dorsal area basally too rubbed to enable recognizing the spot pattern; the costal area is gray. The genitalia differ as shown in Figure 110 (JAP prep. no. 1233). I prefer not to name the species on the basis of a single specimen in this condition.

Ethmia phylacis Walsingham

Ethmia phylacis Walsingham, 1912:147, pl. 5, fig. 12.–Meylick, 1914:28.

A moderately large Ethmia similar to E. exornata but distinguishable by having a single or no dot in the dorsal area near the base of the forewing. The typical subspecies, with one basal dot, occurs in Mexico.

Ethmia phylacis phylacis Walsingham, new status

MALE.–Length of forewing 8.7 to 10.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second segment curved, length about 1.2 times eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, about 0.62–0.75 as long as second; smooth scaled, white, first and basal half of second segment slightly to mostly dark brown exteriorly. Antenna dilated near base, width about 0.25 eye diameter; dorsal scaling sparse, dark brown; scape shining metallic green above, white below. Scaling of tongue dark brown, of remainder of head white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, base of collar narrowly, tegula broadly, and scutellum dark metallic green or brown reflecting greenish. Underside shining white, legs blotched with dark brown exteriorly, tarsi tinged with ochreous ventrally. Forewing: Broad, length 2.7–2.8 times width costa apparently (owing to fringe) straight toward middle, slightly concave before apex, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white, costal area on basal one-fifth densely spotted dark gray brown, blending to metallic green, a single small spot of the same color in dorsal half below outer edge of costal spotting; costa gray to beyond middle, subtended by irregular grayish into distal area of cell; a large, median dorsal blotch of shining bronzy purple extending through cell nearly to costa, fusing with and at times partially broken in cell by costal grayish; considerable bluish white scaling through dorsal blotch, in part forming a more or less distinct zigzag line; apical area concolorous bronzy-purple, largely infused with bluish-white; termen golden ochreous from tornus to above middle, blending with apical purplish. Fringe concolorous with subtending areas, paler; white at tornus. Underside dark brown to beyond end of cell, becoming bright ochreous beyond. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa rather deeply excavate before the acute apex, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish basally, becoming brownish before margins, ochreous at distal margins including fringe. Underside whitish, costal area dark brownish, termen and apex bright ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark gray-brown, underside whitish with a median, longitudinal dark band; genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 111 (drawn from plesiotype, Yucatan, JAP prep. no. 1087; five preparations examined); uncus simple, without lateral extensions, basal processes with variable, broad lateral flanges; valva deeply notched at apex of sacculus.

MAP 44.–Geographical distribution of Ethmia phylacis Walsingham.

E. p. phylacis E. p. ornata Busck

FEMALE.–Length of forewing 9.7 to 12.0 mm. As described for male, eye slightly smaller, palpus as elongate, antenna not dilated basally, width of shaft about 0.8 that of male. Genitalia similar to E. exornata but with sterigma a broad ring with shallow, lateral depressed lobes fused with posterior margin of VII sternite which bears strongly developed lateral ridges, ostium subtended by a short sclerotized sleeve, antrum enlarged sclerotized, with many inwardly directed spurs; ductus membranous with about six loops, signum a narrow crease with numerous inwardly directed teeth (Figure 226, drawn from plesiotype, Sinaloa, JAP prep. no. 2782; three preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.–“Mexico: Durango: Presidio (A. Forrer).” According to Selander and Vaurie (1962), this locality is erroneously ascribed to Durango and should read Presidio de Mazatlan, Sinaloa, referring to an area a few kilometers east of the present Mazatlan. The species has not subsequently turned up at localities in the high interior of Mexico, but it has been taken along the coast in Sinaloa.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Mexico, southern Sonora and Sinaloa on the west coast to Veracruz and Yucatan on the east coast.

FLIGHT PERIOD.–April-May (Yucatan), June (Chiapas), July (Veracruz), July-August (Sonora, Sinaloa).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia phylacis ornata Busck, new status

MAP 44

Psecadia exornata Zeller, 1877:238 [in part].–Walsingham. 1892:528 [in part].

Ethmia exornata.–Walsingham, 1897:90 [in part].

Ethmia ornata Busck, 1934:168, pl. 35, fig. 2.

This is a Cuban form which may be provisionally regarded as a subspecies pending study of additional material. The two examples mentioned by Zeller were not seen during this study, and I have examined only a few specimens other than Busck’s type. E. ornata evidently is distinguishable from phylacis only by the lack of a spot on the basal part of the dorsal area of the forewing. Male genitalia characters shown by phylacis in Mexico are somewhat variable (gnathos; basal processes) and the type of ornata falls within this range of variation. The female genitalia do not differ from the mainland race (two preparations examined).

Busck differentiated ornata from exornata as Zeller had done, but chose to ignore phylacis, possibly because specimens of the latter were not available for study.

TYPE DATA.–Cuba; unique type in U.S. National Museum. The specimen bears an additional, handwritten label which I was unable to decipher and possibly has been partially cut away.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.–Cuba (Cienfuegos).

FLIGHT PERIOD.–August (based on one record).

FOOD PLANT.–Unknown.

Ethmia mnesicosma Meyrick

Ethmia chalcodora is a moth in the family Depressariidae. It is found in northern Argentina and Paraguay.

The length of the forewings is about 9.6 mm (0.38 in). The ground color of the forewings is white, with dark brown markings, reflecting metallic steel-blue. The ground color of the hindwings is white, but brown at the apex. Adults have been recorded in October.