JERRY A. POWE A Systematic Monograph

_ of New World Ethmiid ,

f Moths (Lepidoptera:

Gelechioidea)

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SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO

ZOOLOGY

NUMBER 120

jerry A. Powell A Systematic Monograph

of New World Ethmiid

Moths (Lepidoptera:

Gelechioidea)

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS

CITY OF WASHINGTON
ABSTRACT

Powell, Jerry A. A Systematic Monograph of New World Ethmiid Moths (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 120,

302 pages, 294 figures, 22 plates, 68 maps, 1973.—The family Ethmiidae is represented in the Americas by 133 species, or about half the world fauna. A classification is proposed, based on correlation of a traditional biosystematic approach

with a numerical phenetic analysis of adult characters. The 133 species are

assigned to 3 previously existing genera; 49 species are described as new, 11 from

Nearctic North America, 4 from the West Indies, 25 from Neotropical Mexico

and Central America, and 9 from South America. Keys to the species are provided, based on external features of the moths. Literature synonymy, descriptions

of morphological aspects, type data, geographical ranges, and flight periods are

given for each species. All knowledge of geographical distribution patterns, behavior and biology, and morphology of the larva, pupa, and adult of the world

ethmiid fauna is analyzed in development of speculation concerning the systematic position and phylogenetic relationships of these moths (see summary at

end of text).

Official publication date is handstarnped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded

in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Powell, Jerry A.

A systematic monograph of New World Ethmiid moths.

(Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 120)

Bibliography: p.

I. Ethmiidae. 2. Moths—America. 3. Lepidoptcra—America. I. Title. II. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 120.

QL1.S54 no. 120 [QL561.E85] 591.08S [595.7'81] 72-13716

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Goverment Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402

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Contents

Page

Introduction 1

Acknowledgments 2

Taxonomy 4

Nomenclatural Review 4

Materials and Descriptive Methods 6

Evaluation of Taxonomic Characters 7

Taxonomic Procedures 13

Results, Discussion, and Taxa 17

Systematic Position of the Ethmiidae 22

Biology 29

Host-Plant Relationships 30

Seasonal Life History 33

Adult 34

Egg 37

Larva 38

Pupa 40

Natural Enemies 41

Geographical Distribution 42

Worldwide Fauna 42

New World Fauna 42

Phylogeny 53

Systematic Treatment 54

Family Ethmiidae 54

Pyramidobela 55

Ethmia 61

Section I 69

The Albitogata Group 69

The Charybdis Group 80

The Semilugens Group . 81

The Papiella Group 95

The Macelhosiella Group . 97

The Piperella Group .. . 101

The Bipunctella Group 102

The Hagenella Group 108

The Kirbyi Group 113

The Mulleri Group . . 121

The Cypraeella Group 122

The Exornata Group 144

The Notatella Group 150

Section II 159

The Baliostola Group 159

The Confusella Group . 162

The Longimaculella Group 171

The Conglobata Group 185

iii
iV S\fITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Page

Systematic Treatment—Continued

Ethmia—Continued

Section II—Continued

The Cyanea Group 186

The Gigantea Group 187

The Trifurcella Group . 188

The Prattiella Group 209

The Joviella Group 210

The Hammella Group . . 212

The Punctessa Group . . 213

Pseudethmia 215

Systematic List of New World Ethmiidae . . 216

Summary 218

Literature Cited 220

Illustrations 226

Index 299
jerry A. Powell A Systematic Monograph

of New World Ethmiid

Moths (Lepidoptera:

Gelechioidea)

Introduction

The Ethmikiae are a family of small to moderatesized moths that is of worldwide distribution, consisting of some 250 described species. The group

occurs in all faunal realms, reaching its greatest

diversity in the northern Neotropical region. In

general ethmiids occupy areas of seasonal drought

and are dependent upon plants of the large family

Boraginaceae and to a lesser extent the Hydrophyllaceae, a much smaller family that is restricted

primarily to North America.

As presently denned the New World fauna of

Ethmiidae is composed of 133 species in 3 genera,

of which 49 species are described as new. The state

of knowledge is thought to be relatively complete

for the Nearctic, with only about 9 species having

been collected for the first time during the past 15

years and with something known of the biologies

of about half the species. By contrast, the picture

in Neotropical Mexico and Central America is less

well defined with many new forms having been

discovered during the past decade and with little

information available on biologies. The South

American fauna is incompletely known; any sizable

collection from any place other than the extreme

northern perimeter can be expected to include additional undescribed species.

No previous classification has been proposed for

the Neotropical ethmiids that comprise the center

of diversity, both in numbers of species and in

/. A. Powell, Department of Entomology and Parasitology,

University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.

morphological development for the New World

fauna.

This study had its origin in early 1959, when in

attempting to identify some small collections from

California and Mexico, I found that little had been

recorded about geographical distributions of the

previously described species and almost nothing

was known of their biologies. A preliminary report giving some of this information and describing three new species was published (Powell, 1959).

However, no sooner was that manuscript prepared

than I collected another new species near my home

in central California, one of the best sampled areas

for insects in the western United States. This, together with collections made the following year,

led me to propose a California insect survey bulletin project on ethmiids in 1961, and I began to

investigate the distribution and biologies of several species in detail. The following year I studied

at eastern North American museums to assess western material and to survey the Neotropical fauna

in order to gain some appreciation of an overall

classification of the group. Unexpectedly, I found

that nearly all of the previously described species

were recognizable at the National Museum of

Natural History, through Busck types, Walsingham

material from the Biologia Centrali-Americana project, and through illustrations of Meyrick types which

were then in preparation for publication (Clarke,

1965) and were made available to me by Dr. Clarke.

There were only about 45 species described from

the Neotropical region, mostly known only from

few specimens, and a classification of all New

World species thus seemed practical at that time.

1
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Through Walker paratypes and photographs

sent from the British Museum, the few remaining

species were nearly all incorporated, and a review

was essentially completed by the end of 1963.

At about that time, however, there began a series

of expeditions to Mexico, Central America, and

northern South America that emphasized collection of smaller moths; these were primarily by the

Duckworths, Flint, Spangler, and others of the

Smithsonian Institution, and by Chemsak, myself,

and others from the University of California,

Berkeley. During 1963—1967 inclusive, no fewer

than 20 separate moth-collecting expeditions were

made from these two institutions alone. At the

same time, collecting generally had increased in

Neotropical regions, and many significant additions

to the ethmiid data have been made by nonspecialists, such as those in connection with the develop

mem of the Organization for Tropical Studies in

Costa Rica.

As a result, the first really major accumulation

of Neotropical Microlepidoptera occurred after the

early years of this century when material was gathered for the Biologia Centrali-Americana study. I

estimate that nearly 50 percent of all collection

records of Neotropical ethmiids (some 475 records),

exclusive of the Caribbean Islands, are the result

of fieldwork during the past decade, or since the

present study began. No less than 60 percent have

been produced by collections during the past 15

years. In terms of specimens, the proportions

would be much higher, since collection techniques

in recent years have resulted in larger series than

in earlier times. The Antilles, by contrast, were

more heavily worked in prior years, and only about

30 percent of available records have accumulated

during the last 10 years. Nonetheless, the West

Indies, like the mainland of Central America, have

remained poorly sampled for Microlepidoptera.

Thus the material basis for the present project

has more than doubled since work began, and the

study has been prolonged, as well as having been

rendered more complete by the added data. In

many instances my earlier descriptions had to be

revised or added to, while in others only geographical and seasonal data were added as specimens in

better series became available.

My studies on the biology and life histories were

concentrated on 14 species in California. The details and techniques involved are reported elsewhere (Powell, 1971), and the information is

summarized in the present report. In general only

the flight period, given as months of capture, and

the food plant, where known, are reported in the

systematic treatments of individual species. Further

biological information is summarized in the introductory biological section. Biological data from

the literature for the American species has been

thoroughly treated, while that concerning Old

World species has not been systematically reviewed.

Acknowledgments

Considering the duration of this study, I am unable to acknowledge individually all persons who

have given assistance. However, I extend my hearti'elt thanks to all contributors of specimens or information, both those persons mentioned here and

elsewhere in the text, as well as the many others

who have contributed indirectly in one capacity

or another. I especially thank the following.

My colleagues, J. F. Gates Clarke, W. D. Duckworth (Smithsonian Institution), R. W. Hodges

(U. S. Department of Agriculture), and Klaus Sattler (British Museum) helped immeasurably during development of interpretations of systematics

and biogeography of ethmiids and through discussions and review of portions of the manuscript. It

is a rare opportunity to have five specialists actively

working in one superfamily of Microlepidoptera,

all of whom are cooperating in synthesizing concepts of the fauna on a worldwide basis.

Annette Braun (Cincinnati, Ohio) and D. H.

Habeck (University of Florida, Gainesville) supplied unpublished data on biologies of several eastern Nearctic species, which proved particularly significant in synthesizing biosystematic concepts.

Numerical analyses were made possible through

cooperation by W. W. Moss (Academy of Natural

Sciences, Philadelphia), who reviewed pertinent

sections of the manuscript, J. W. Carmichael (University of Alberta), and J. T. Doyen (University of

California, Berkeley), and by the U. C. Computer

Center, which provided computer time through

National Science Foundation support.

National Science Foundation Institutional

grants to the University of California, Berkeley,

supported my studies in 1962 and 1965 at several

eastern U. S. institutions. Travel in 1964 in north-
NUMBER 120

western Mexico, during which J. A. Chemsak and

I made important collections of ethmiids as a byproduct to other fieldwork, was funded by the

N. S. F. grant "Carpenter Bees of the World" (P.

D. Hurd, Jr., principal investigator). N. S. F.

grants GB-4014 (1965-1967) and GB-6813x

(1967-1970) "Comparative Biology in Relation to

Systematics of Microlepidoptera" funded all of my

biological studies during those years (Powell,

1971), as well as travel to eastern museums in 1967

and much of the assistance with technical aspects

of this study. A grant to me from the Associates

in Tropical Biogeography, University of California, Berkeley, enabled travel and fieldwork by J. S.

Buckett and M. R. Gardner in Veracruz during

1966, resulting in many valuable collections. Finally, a fellowship from the Office of Academic

Programs, Smithsonian Institution, in support of a

visiting research associateship during 1970—1971,

has resulted in a more thorough development of

theoretical concepts through association with personnel of the Division of Lepidoptera of the National Museum of Natural History.

Collectors who have helped are too numerous to

mention individually, but among those who have

made special efforts on my behalf over the years, I

particularly thank the following: J. A. Chemsak

(University of California, Berkeley); H. F. Howden

(Carleton University, Ottawa); D. H. Janzen (University of Chicago); R. L. Langston (Berkeley,

California); C. D. MacNeill (Oakland Museum,

California); P. A. Rude (Berkeley, California);

Catherine Toschi Tauber (Ithaca, New York); and

D. F. Veirs (Berkeley, California).

Cooperation by the following enabled use of facilities, data, and or specimens in institutional or

private collections in their care: A. Blanchard,

Houston, Texas; Annette Braun, Cincinnati, Ohio;

H. K. Clench, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; P. J. Darlington, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge,

Massachusetts; W. Dierl and K. Sattler, Bavarian

States Museum, Munich, Germany; T. H. Fan,

Scientific Museum, Institute of Jamaica; F. Fernandez-Ypez, Universidade Central de Venezuela,

Maracay; J. G. Franclemont, Cornell University,

Ithaca, New York; T. N. Freeman, Canadian National Collection, Ottawa; K. Goeden, Oregon

State Department of Agriculture, Salem; C. F.

Harbison, San Diego Museum of Natural History,

California; R. W. Hodges, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C; P. Jump, Ventura,

California; H. H. Keifer and G. T. Okumura, California State Department of Agriculture, Sacramento; C. P. Kimball, Sara^ota, Florida; C. D.

MacNeill and P. H. Arnaud, Jr., California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; L. M. Martin and

J. P. Donahue, Los Angeles County Museum, California; P. W. Oman, Oregon State University,

Corvallis; C. L. Remington, Peabody Museum of

Natural History, Yale University, New Haven,

Connecticut; F. H. Rindge and A. B. Klots, American Museum of Natural History, New York City;

K. Sattler and G. Tremewan, British Museum

(Natural History), London; R. O. Schuster, University of California, Davis; J. Stehlik, Moravian

Museum, Brno, Czechoslovakia; J. W. Tilden, San

Jose, California; P. H. Timberlake and S. Frommer, University of California, Riverside; and J.

Travossos Filho and H. Reichardt, Departmento

de Zoologia, Secretaria do Agricultura, Sao Paulo,

Brazil.

Plant identifications were provided by personnel

of the University of California, Berkeley, herbarium, especially Helen K. Sharsmith and Lincoln

Constance, and through their efforts by Francia

Chisaki Hommersand, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Pollen analyses were performed by R. W. Thorp,

University of California, Davis.

Most of the art work was done by Celeste Green,

Department of Entomology artist, University of

California, Berkeley. Mrs. Green produced most

of the drawings of male genitalia from preparations on microscope slides and inked most of the

other drawings of adult structures, which I drafted

from preparations in cellusolve, while I did those

of the early stages.

The maps were prepared almost entirely by

Bruce Manion, who assisted me on the National

Science Foundation Project during 1966—1967 and

1970. The maps are the Goode Base Map Series,

produced by the University of Chicago, which owns

the copyright.

Photographic work was done by various persons

over the past 10 years. Photographs of eggs and

detailed parts of the moths were executed by A. A.

Blaker, Scientific Photographic Laboratory, Uni-
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

versity of California, while either Bruce Manion or

I produced those of the whole moths, using a

Nikon 35—mm camera with Micro-Nikor lens and

a single overhead electronic flash. Stereoscan Scanning Electron Micrographs were executed through

the cooperation of T. E. Everhart, Electronics Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, through support from National Science

Foundation grant GB—6428 and grant No. 15536

from the National Institutes of Health.

Finally, my wife Frances provided help and encouragement in many ways and tolerated not only

the seemingly endless prolonging of the project but

the proofreading of drafts of large parts of the

manuscript as well.

Taxonomy

NoMENCLATURAL REVIEW

The history of concepts and nomenclatural treatment of ethmiid moths has been a curious one.

Since the time of conception of the genus Ethmia

in the early 1800s, the genus has remained a consistent entity, with few species having been described elsewhere and later transferred to Ethmia,

and with virtually no species ever having been

described under Ethmia or any of its synonyms and

later reassigned to other genera. Yet as discussed

below, no one character, by which the genus can

be characterized, can be cited as unique to Ethmia

and present in all its species. At the family level,

by contrast, there has been neither validity nor

consistency in the treatment of included genera

and characters that defined them as members of

the alleged family.

The genus Ethmia was proposed by Hiibner in

1819 to accommodate pyrausta Hiibner (not Pallas,

1771) (=aurifluella Hubner, 1825), a European

species which differs in many superficial respects

from the bulk of the Palearctic fauna. This species

comprises a monobasic species group in Sattler's

(1967) treatment. Most of the species described

during the remainder of the nineteenth century

were assigned to either Psecadia Hubner, 1825, or

to Anesychia Hubner, 1825, names which were

proposed for the closely related European species,

decemguttella Hubner, 1810 [invalid] (=dodecea

Haworth, 1828) and pusiella Linnaeus. These species evidently were more familiar to European

workers, and as a result the later generic names

carried the concept of the genus during the following several decades. Thus between 1830 and

1890 some 20 Palearctic species were described as

members of Psecadia and Anesychia, along with 5

assigned to Hyponomeuta (=Yponomeuta).

The first New World members of Ethmia were

from the West Indies and South America and were

described in 1863 and 1864 by Walker and Zeller,

and were assigned to Psecadia and Hyponomeuta.

At the same time Walker proposed the new genus

Tammarha for his nivosella, a superficially bizarre

species. This genus was defended and returned to

the Yponomeutidae by Walsingham (1897) and

Azinidae (Walsingham, 1906) on the basis of wing

venation and the costal hair pencil of the hindwing

in the male, a widespread character which apparently had been overlooked in all Palearctic species

up until then, as it has been generally by previous

American writers.

Babaiaxa Busck, 1902, with delliella Fernald as

its type species, is the only other synonym of Ethmia based on American species. The synonymy

with Ethmia was suggested by Busck (1906b) and

with Tammarha (Busck, 1908b) and of both Tamtnarha and Babaiaxa with Ethmia by Busck

(1909a).

During the 1870-1890 period, Chambers, Zeller,

and Walsingham described some 23 species, including the early Nearctic ones, in Psecadia, Anesychia,

and Hyponomeuta.

Reviews of the genus were presented by Walsingham (1897), for the West Indies, who first recognized the validity of the name Ethmia and treated

Psecadia as a synonym; by Dyar (1902) for the

Nearctic species; and by Walsingham (1912) for

Central American species. All subsequently described species have been assigned to Ethmia or

more recently proposed genera, and I have no new

generic combinations in this study.

The greatest flurry of New World species descriptions occurred during the first two decades of

the present century, with more than 40 names appearing, mostly in the works of Busck and Walsingham, including 12 species in the United States

during 1900—1910, and some 25 species in Central

America during 1910-1920.

Barnes and Busck (1920) illustrated the Nearctic

species (including one previously undescribed), but
NUMBER 120

with that review available no further additions to

the Nearctic Ethmia were made until Clarke (1950)

described two species from California. During the

interim only a scattering of Central and South

American Ethmia were described, all by Meyrick.

The following additional generic entities have

been defined as ethmiids in the New World.

The genus Pyramidobela Braun, 1923, was proposed to accommodate the Nearctic species, quinquecristata Braun, 1921, originally assigned to

Enicostoma of the Oecophoridae. The change was

made principally at the suggestion of Busck, on thebasis of male genital characters. The genus as now

defined consists of seven closely similar species, and

I have retained its association with Ethmia despite

the probability that its relationships will be shown

elsewhere in the Oecophoridae when more is

known of the Neotropical fauna.

Probolacma melanoclista Meyrick, 1921, was

based on the female only and considered along

with Lotisma Busck, 1909, to be related to Ethmia

by Meyrick (1927), who assigned the group to

Yponomeutidae. McDunnough (1939) followed

this concept for Probolacma and Lotisma but not

for Ethmia. Finally Clarke (1965) treated Probolacma as a synonym of El lab e Ha Busck, 1925, and

placed the genus in Ethmiidae. I have examined

both sexes of the two type species, Lotisma trigonana (Walsingham) and Ellabella editha Busck

and see no close relationship to Gelechioidea in

structure of the mouthparts and genitalia. However, the male genitalia do not at all resemble

Yponomeuta or typical plutellids. Moreover, I

have reared L. trigona in California, where the

larvae feed in flowers and fruit of Arctostaphylos

and Arbutus (Ericaceae), and neither larval nor

pupal structure and habits resemble Ethmia. Although they may be allied to some Gelechioidea,

I have found no evidence that either Lotisma or

Ellabella is related to Ethmia and exclude treatment of them.

Eumeyrickia Busck, 1902 (type: trimaculella

Fitch, 1856 (=Eido albapalpella Chambers, 1872,

?), was transferred from Oecophoridae to Ethmiidae by Clarke (1941), who also indicated that

Oecophora coloradella Walsingham, 1888, is an

ethmiid, primarily on the basis of wing venation

and male genitalia. Later Clarke (1963) transferred coloradella back to Schiffermiilleria in the

Oecophoridae. I have elsewhere (in Lawrence and

Powell, 1969) discussed morphological and biological bases by which these two species (both are

fungus feeders) should be considered typical oecophorids (i.e., members of Oecophorinae when a

higher classification of that family is realized),

rather than relatives of Ethmia.

Pseudethmia Clarke, 1950, was described for protuberans Clarke, a species of the California desert.

I have retained this monobasic genus on the basis

of external characters (principally the protuberant

front), which are equally well developed in both

sexes, rather than as secondary characteristics of

the male, as is the case with most morphological

peculiarities in Ethmia.

A family concept for ethmiids was suggested by

Busck in 1908 and formally proposed a year later

(Busck, 1909a; Meyrick, 1909). The idea was followed by Walsingham (1912) and most subsequent

North American authors, although Remington

(1954) used a subfamily level for the same taxon

without characterizing the remainder of the Oecophoridae into subfamilies. Meyrick, in the Lepidopterorum Catalogus and elsewhere (1914, 1927,

etc.), assigned Ethmia to the Yponomeutidae, failing to explain his logic, and thus omitted the genus

from the Oecophoridae in the Genera Insectorum

(1922). The most recent taxonomic treatments

have returned ethmiids to a family status within

the Gelechioidea (Sattler, 1967; Common, 1970).

Walsingham (1906) mentioned Azinidae as a

family including Tammarha and Azinis Walker,

1863. Although the latter is now considered a synonym of Ethmia, Walsingham used the family as a

concept differentiated from Ethmia, and for this

reason I do not consider the Ethmiidae of Busck,

1909, to be synonymous with Azinidae of Walsingham.

I have retained a family level for ethmiid moths

merely for convenience. There seems little point

in treating the group as a subfamily of Oecophoridae, the most logical position according to present

knowledge, when no higher classification exists for

the bulk of the world oecophorid fauna.

The present work includes the following new

names and nomenclatural changes:

49 new species (1 in Pyramidobela, 48 in Ethmia)

4 new subspecies (in Ethmia)
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

1 new synonym (abdominella Busck, 1912, of

coronata Walsingham, 1912)

1 new status as species (albicostella Beutenmuller from synonymy)

6 new statuses as subspecies (fuscipedella, clarissa, ornata, coranella from species; caerulea,

Josephinella from synonymy)

No new genera, subgenera, or generic combinations are proposed.

MATERIALS AND DESCRIPTIVE METHODS

SPECIMENS.—I studied field biologies and laboratory behavior of 14 species of Ethmia (Powell,

1971) and one Pyramidobela, examined eggs of 12

of these species, larvae of all 15, and pupae of 9.

Museum specimens representing larvae of 9 and

pupae or pupal shells of 12 additional species were

compared. Among these, only E. confusella from

the Florida Keys and E. delliella, E. bittenella, and

E. semiombra from southern Texas are Neotropical

species. A detailed diagnosis of known larvae and

pupae has not been prepared, but data from them

is incorporated into the assessment of relationships

of ethmiids.

About 9,000 specimens of adults were examined,

representing the 133 species in this study. This included the material available in all major collections of North America, and a few in Europe and

South America (see acknowledgments). Sixty percent of the specimens are Nearctic species, nearly

all from the western United States. The five species that occur in the eastern United States and

Canada are comparatively rare in collections, there

being fewer than 50 specimens of each. In fact,

more than 20 percent of all New World ethmiids

in collections are one widespread species, Ethmia

discostrigella.

By contrast, Neotropical species (60 percent of

the fauna) are represented by about 3,400 specimens, of which more than 1,300 are the four most

commonly collected species, E. delliella, E. elutella,

E. confusella, and E. playa. Thus the 75 species

most critical to evaluation of morphological diversity are known from around 2,000 specimens. Many

species are very poorly collected; among 133 species, 6 are known only from females, 17 only from

males, and a number known from both sexes were

available by only a few specimens—too few for all

needed measurements and dissections. About 25

species and subspecies are known only from the

type localities.

DISSECTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS.—Slide mount

preparation and measurement techniques were essentially those described elsewhere (Powell, 1964),

modified as discussed below in evaluation of taxonomic characters. Measurements were made via a

micrometer disc, for head parts at 54 X, for wings

at 9x magnification. Generally measurements were

made from five individuals of each sex where material permitted. Quantitative data are expressed

as ranges in the descriptions, but each range was

represented by the mean in tabulating data for

numerical comparisons. The number of genital

preparations varied with the relative similarity of

species and the material available; the number is

given for each sex in the description of each species. Head and wing preparations were executed

only for representative species from the various

groups. Drawings were prepared from individual

slides, as noted in the descriptions, and are not

composite. Size was not considered a factor in appraisal of genital characters. Larger specimens are

drawn to smaller scale and figures of different enlargement appear on the same page in some instances.

DESCRIPTIONS.—All descriptions are composite,

based on the series available at the time of writing.

Similarly, text diagnoses of genital features are

composite, in contrast to the drawings, based on

the number of preparations reported. Most of the

descriptions were written early in the study, and

in many cases additional material which became

available has been used for geographical data but

not in rewriting descriptions.

Application of the term "plesiotype" follows the

broad definition given by Mayr, Linsley, and

Usinger (1953:239), and its usage here is merely

for convenience in discussing specimens from which

the present illustrations were prepared. Those

photographed are designated by labels (e.g.,

"photo JAP 65"), those from which genitalia

drawings were made bear the preparation labels

(e.g., "genitalia 2760 JAP '70") corresponding to

the numbers given in the descriptions.

DATA.—Locality, date, collector, and collection

data were recorded for all specimens examined but,

with the exception of new taxa, are not given in the

text. (Data are available in files of the California

Insect Survey, University of California, Berkeley.)
NUMBER 120

For previously described species the flight period is

summarized by months of capture of specimens

examined; localities are depicted on the species

maps (Maps 13-70). No attempt has been made to

summarize in detail the distributions and life cycles

of Neotropical species. The majority of these are

known from too few records to permit intelligent

summary of them.

EVALUATION OF TAXONOMIC CHARACTERS

SELECTION OF CHARACTERS.—Owing to the premature state of knowledge of the majority of Neotropical species of Ethmiidae, phenetic assessment of

similiarities was limited to attributes of dry, preserved, adult specimens. I selected 42 characters

(Table 1) that may be grouped as follows: external

features of both sexes (13), secondary characters of

the male (6), male genitalia (11), secondary

characters of the female (4), and female genitalia

(8). Among these 13 were multistate characters.

For some programs the multistate characters were

converted to two-state by standard methods (Sokal

and Sneath, 1963:76), rendering a total of 64 attributes.

These characters were selected primarily as those

which I knew to consistently show interspecific and

relatively little infraspecific variation. Thus these

structures individually and by sets (e.g., male

genitalia) are weighted by omission of others. I

eliminated characters that were either too difficult

to study to be practical (e.g., head and thoracic

sclerites, maxillary palpi) or that were difficult to

quantify satisfactorily (e.g., curvature of labial

palpus, head vestitute, hind tibial brush, vestiture

of the valva, shapes of the sterigma), or those for

which infraspecific variation could not be effectively

assessed without study of specimens in series (e.g.,

certain wing venation features, dentation of

gnathos). Also omitted was any character believed

to be correlated with one already used (e.g., tibial

spur size with tarsal claw, head and thorax color

with forewing color, certain wing venation features

with breadth of wing). Finally, characters which

appeared to vary completely randomly among

species were omitted (e.g., absolute size, number of

antennal segments, certain wing venation features,

emargination of uncus when hoodlike, length of

basal processes, number of loops in ductus bursae).

The following evaluation includes characters

used in the numerical study (Table 1), as well as

other characteristics such as color, structural shapes,

and certain measurement ratios, which were primarily employed in differentiating species and

which are useful in making species identifications.

Character states indicated by an asterisk (•) were

not differentiated in analyses in which multistate

characters were converted to two-state.

SIZE.—The length of the forewing, measured on

a straight line from base to apex (including fringe),

TABLE 1.—Characters employed in phenetic assessments of similarity, with the number of states given

at right (m, male only; f, female only)

1. Eye size 2

2. Antennal scape modification 2

3. Labial palpus II segment length 5

4. Labial palpus III segment length 2

5. Labial palpus vestiture 2

6. Front protuberance 2

7. Crown protuberance 2

8. Tegulae modification (m) 2

9. Tarsal claw enlargement 2

10. Forewing breadth 4

11. Forewing color pattern 6

12. Abdomen color pattern 2

13. Abdomen color 4

14. Abdomen scale modification 2

15. Uncus form (m) 5

16. Gnathos development (m) 4

17. Basal processes development (m) 6

18. Valva form (m) 2

19. "Clasper" development (m) 2

20. Cucullus development (m) 2

21. Distal "seta-bunch" of valva (m) 2

22. Costal "plume" of valva, development (m) 3

23. Sacculus ornamentation (m) 2

24. Fultura ornamentation (m) 2

25. Vesica-manica armature (m) 2

26. Antennal enlargement (m) 4

27. Thoracic brushes (m) 2

28. Prothoracic leg vestiture 2

29. Costal brush of hindwing (m) 2

30. Costal fold modification of hindwing (m) 3

31. Papillae anales setation (/) 2

32. Papillae anales sclerotization (/) 2

33. Posterior apophyses length (/) 2

34. Anterior apophyses breadth (/) 2

35. Sterigma development (/) 3

36. Antrum development (/) 4

37. Ductus bursae form (/) 2

38. Signum form (/) 6

39. Labial palpus sexual dimorphism 2

40. Hindwing color sexual dimorphism 2

41. Abdominal sternite VI form (/) 2

42. Abdominal sternite VII form (/) 2
8 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

was used as a general size indicator for each species.

This is expressed as a range, and no significance

was given absolute size in the classification. Most

species exhibit some sexual dimorphism in size, but

whether male or female is larger varies among

species. Most species are rather constant in size,

while a few vary considerably, up to 35—40 percent

(e.g., Ethmia phoenicura).

COLOR—Ethmiids are generally constant in color

patterns, and most species can be recognized by

forewing pattern. There are no polymorphic species,

and few are sufficiently variable that the extremes

would not be recognized as conspecific by nonspecialists. On the other hand, seasonal variation

is marked in a few species, for example in E.

arctostaphylella where differences in wing shape

and size are correlated with color. Geographical

variation in color and wing pattern is well defined

in some species. Such variation may or may not be

correlated with size differences in certain structures,

such as labial palpi. Postmortem changes in color

are slight (e.g, gradual paling of black), but considerable change in color pattern and general appearance may occur through loss of scaling while

the moths are alive, especially in the dark diurnal

species that have white "overscaling."

HEAD.—Shape: The basic head structure and

shape is the same in all but a few species. Exceptions include the diurnal species, which have a

bulging front that is correlated with the small eyes.

These species and a few others have produced gular

ridges toward the upper part of the front, but this

development varies between species gradually to the

state of being absent, and it was not employed in

the classification. The male of Ethmia mulleri has

the crown produced into a pronounced dome

(Plate 2a) so that the front appears abnormally

reduced. The female of E. mulleri is unknown.

In Pseudethmia protuberans the front is strongly

produced into a flat-conical structure with specialized

scaling (Plate 2/). This development is equal in

both sexes and it has been the primary criterion for

retaining the generic level separation of this species.

Eye: Owing to its ease of accessibility, the eye

has been the standard in most of the measurement

ratios used in species differentiation. "Eye diameter"

is equivalent to the greatest eye diameter, measured

vertically from just behind die antenna, since the

eye is flattened or a little concave on its dorsal rim

and is slightly produced behind the antenna. The

eye size varies between species and between sexes,

however, so that ratios computed directly from eye

size were not used in assessment of phenetic

similarities. For this purpose, an "eye index" was

computed, a numerical relationship of the eye

diameter to the height of the front. The frontal

height was measured on a straight line from the

shortest horizontal line between the antennal

sockets to the ventral margin of the clypeus

(Figure 3). This index is about 1.0 in most species,

varying between 0.9 and 1.2 in moths known or

presumed to be nocturnal, but ranges from 0.7 to

0.8 in the diurnal species. This index is also somewhat variable and is difficult to measure accurately, so that only two states were defined, to

quantify the diurnal behavior (0.8 or less vs. 0.9

or greater). Ratios comparing eye diameter: head

appendage were modified by a factor of the eye

index for purposes of standardizing ratios used in

assessing relationships. Constancy in eye index was

evaluated, using E. arctostaphylella as an example.

This species exhibits a comparatively high degree

of sexual dimorphism in antennal size, and both

seasonal and geographical variation in wing shape

and color. Moreover, it appeared by empirical

comparison with other species that this is a species

with sexual dimorphism in eye size. Ten specimens

each of male and female from northern and

southern populations and from spring and summer

flight periods were measured. In this example the

average absolute eye size was 0.66 mm for males

(range 0.62-0.70) and 0.63 mm for females (range

0.59—0.66); and the average eye index was 0.93 for

males (range 0.87-0.98) and 0.90 for females (range

0.84-0.92). Nonparametric tests (Wilcoxon, 1949)

indicated that these differences were significant,

while there were no significant differences between

seasonal and geographical pair samples. Therefore

the eye index was computed separately for the two

sexes for all species, using three examples of each

except where fewer specimens were available.

Indices were rounded to the nearest 0.1 for purposes

of standardizing eye:head appendage ratios.

Ocelli: Lacking in all species.

Labial palpus: The labial palpus is threesegmented (Figures 12, 17, etc.), usually strongly

upcurved, and clothed with appressed (smooth)

scaling in most species. The basal (first) segment

is short and least variable among species and was

not employed as a taxonomic character. The lengths
NUMBER 120

of the second and third segments, measured on a

straight line from base to apex, were separately

compared to the eye diameter. The segment lengths

are variable between individuals of a species

(usually by a factor of 0.1, rarely to 0.3). Five states

for segment II were defined: vestigial (less than

0.2 eye index), short (0.5—0.9), moderately elongate

(1.0—1.3), elongate (1.4-1.7), and greatly elongate

(1.8—2.0). Segment III varies independently and

was assigned two states: normal (0.5—0.8 the length

of segment II) and elongate (0.9—1.1). Color pattern of the scaling is useful in species identification.

In a few species the labial palpus is only slightly

curved, a variable which was not assessed. In one

group the vestiture includes erect, stiff hairs

(bristled), while in certain species all of the scaling

is erect (roughened). The two types were not

differentiated from one another in the quantitative

treatment but were separated from smooth scaling.

Maxillary palpus: This structure varies from

minute, two-segmented (Figure 13) in diurnal

species to well developed, four-segmented (Figures

18, 26, etc.). A full head preparation should be

executed for any specimen from which the maxillary

palpus is to be examined, and material was not

available to enable this for some of the unique

Neotropical species. Thus the maxillary palpus

was omitted from the characters used in phenetic

assessment. Example species provided the diagnosis

of the structure for species groups.

Pilifers: Present and well developed in all species,

these structures were not used in classification.

Proboscis: The tongue is scaled basally, unsealed

in its coiled portion. It distorts on drying and no

measurements were attempted. Sattler (1967) has

shown remarkable differences among some Palearctic Ethmia in fine structure of the proboscis apex,

through scanning electron microscopy. I examined

examples of various species groups only by conventional, transmitted light (X 54), and found no

usable differences.

Antenna: The antennal shaft (flagellum) is

broadened (dilated), serrate, and setate differently

in males than in females of most species (Figures

6, 7, etc.), and the width of the basal few segments

was used as an indicator of the degree of dilation

with four states: not dilated (0.16—0.19 eye index)*,

slightly dilated (0.20-0.22)*, moderately dilated

(0.23-0.26), and strongly dilated (0.27 and greater).

In some species the scape is modified, enlarged, and

sometimes provided with specialized scaling. In

these species the females also have an enlarged

scape, although not as greatly as in the male. The

length of the scape ranges from 0.5 to 0.75 eye

index for most species but up to 0.9-1.5 in species

defined as having a modified scape. (Figures 10,

11; Plate 3a-c). The number of segments in the

flagellum varies considerably, but this evidently is

correlated with the absolute size of the moth. Small

Ethmia, which are unrelated according to other

structures, and Pyramidobela have 45—50 segments,

while larger moths of various species groups have

70 or more segments. Therefore the count was not

used in determining relationships.

Vestiture: The scaling is appressed on the front

and crown, becoming raised tufts at the occipital

margins except in a few species (e.g., E. scythropa,

E. nivosella) which have elongate, erect scaling over

the whole crown. The head scaling is unicolorous

or has a dark spot at the middle of the occipital

margin. Vestiture was not employed in numerical

comparisons.

THORAX.—Vestiture: The pronotum and tegulae

are smooth scaled in all species except E. scythropa

and E. nivosella, which have normal scaling exteriorly, but in the male the tegulae and pronotum

enclose tufts of matted, wavy hair that can be teased

out into enormous, fluffy masses. The color pattern

of the notum is of value in species identification

but was not used in species relationships comparisons. The metanotum is nearly entirely unsealed

except for lateral brushes. The venter is smooth

scaled and unicolorous. A few species (E. notatella

and allies) have in the male, elongate, posteriorly

directed scale brushes that originate from the

pleural area of the metathorax, just above the

coxae, and extend along the sides of the abdomen

(Plate 4e). These are completely lacking in all

other species.

Legs: The foreleg is usually smooth scaled and

more brightly colored than the others. The

epiphysis is well developed and not differentiated

among the species for which leg preparations were

made, representing the major species groups. The

fore tibiae are provided with elongate, shaggy

vestiture in one species, Ethmia mulleri. The hind

tibia is clothed with elongate hair scales in most

species, and this varies in development, but no
10 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

attempt was made to assess the variation. The

tibial and tarsal spines and tarsal claws are thin in

Pyramidobela and Ethmia, strong in Pseudethmia.

The legs are abnormally elongate in Ethmia

charybdis. The foreleg, which is disproportionately

longer than the others, is nearly 50 percent longer

relative to the eye index than in other species.

Forewing: The shape of the forewing varies

between species, and this was expressed by a length:

width ratio. Length was measured on a straight

line from basal attachment to apex, including the

fringe; width along a perpendicular line at the

end of the cell, excluding fringe. The ratio is

variable within species, but usually by not more

than a factor of 0.1. Four states were defined:

broad (length 2.6-3.0 times width; Figure 45),

moderately broad (3.1-3.4; Figure 44)*, moderately

narrow (3.5-3.8; Figure 42)*, and narrow (3.9-4.2;

Figure 43). The wing venation (Figures 42-45) is

relatively constant throughout the group, and does

not differ from certain oecophorid genera. A number of characters differ among species, but wing

preparations should be examined in order to measure some of the differences; insufficient material

was available, especially for several of the unique

Neotropical species, to enable assessment of variation. Moreover, some features vary at random

throughout all species groups. Characters found to

differ among species include the following:

1. Length of discal cell, 0.66 to 0.75 of forewing

length (to 0.80 in Ethmia dentata Diakonoff and

Sattler, a Palearctic species); there is a tendency

for long cell in the Cypraeella group, but the

ratio varies widely in most groups.

2. Relative spacing of R,, R2, and R3 at their

origins; the ratio of the two intervein distances,

R!-R2: R2-R3 ranges from 2.0 to 6.0 among most

species (but up to 12.9 in E. charybdis, Figure 43),

with no consistent correlation to forewing breadth,

cell length, or to species clusters based on other

characteristics.

3. R5 to apex or costa before apex; always to

apex in species with elongate cell, but otherwise

the variation is random among species.

4. Ratio of branched portion to unbranched

portion in An1+2, 0.25 to 0.45, in part correlated

with wing breadth (i.e., wing elongation evidently

has affected venation distally, not basally).

The forewing is smooth scaled except in

Pyramidobela. Pattern and color are fairly constant

within species and have been used for species

differentiation. For purposes of relationships comparison, color per se was deemphasized, but six

basic patterns were defined: (1) dark gray ground

with black markings; (2)* dark gray costal and

white dorsal areas; (3)* dark brown costal and pale

dorsal areas; (4) white ground with linearly

arranged black markings; (5) white ground with

essentially transverse metallic blue markings; (6)

white ground with dorsal blotch and terminal band

of metallic color. There are various additional

patterns displayed by isolated species that were

considered not comparable.

Hindwing: Differences in shape appear to be

correlated with either forewing shape or costal

modifications of the male, so were not defined as

character states. Wing venation is variable, subject

to the reservations discussed for the forewing.

Characters found to differ among species but not

employed in phenetic assessments are as follows:

1. Presence of crossvein between Sc and R (Figure

44); this appears to be limited to the Kirbyi,

Cypraeella, and Exornata groups, although the vein

is lacking or only partially developed in some

species; it is totally lacking in all other species

examined.

2. Relationship of M2 to Ma and M3 at origin;

Mo rarely arises slightly nearer M3 (Figure 43) but

usually equidistant (Figures 42, 45) or nearer,

often approximate, to Mx (Figure 44) or even

Mj and M2 connate. There seems to be a tendency

for equidistant placement in Nearctie groups and

approximation toward Mx in Neotropical groups,

but there are random exceptions.

3. M3 and Cuj relationship at origin—given in

the past as a consistent character for the genus,

the veins are usually connate in Nearctic species

groups (Figure 42) but often clearly stalked in

Neotropical species (Figure 44); they are separate

or connate in E. charybdis (Figure 43).

4. Curvature of Anx—usually strong in Nearctic

species groups, moderate to slight in Neotropical

species.

Males frequently exhibit modifications of the

costal area. When present in the simplest form, this

consists of an elongate scale brush arising near the

base of the dorsal surface (Plate 4c); more complex

forms have the costal brush enclosed in a costal
NUMBER 120 11

fold (Plate 4a) (which sometimes bears an external

fringe, Plate 4b) or in a "pinch-fold" between veins

Sc and R. In examples with the pinch-fold the

brush may be weak or well developed or of double

origin, with a portion exposed and a portion enclosed. In addition, appressed, specialized scaling

may be present under tlie brush, whether or hot a

fold is developed. Costal fold modifications result

in a straight costal margin and slightly more narrow

wing. The brush and fold are normally hidden

beneath the forewing on spread, museum specimens.

I assigned two characters: (1) brush (present vs.

absent); and (2) fold, with three states, absent

(NC = no comparison, if brush absent), costal

fold, and pinch-fold.

ABDOMEN.—Structural modifications: Basically all

species have the same abdominal structures, but

several minor modifications of unknown function

have developed in scattered species. Members of

the Ethmia notatella complex that bear metathoracic

pleural scale brushes in the male have the second

abdominal segment modified, either with a bulging

flap which folds over, forming a pouchlike receptable for reception of the thoracic brush, or with

specialized scaling at this spot (Plate 4e.) Ethmia

lichyi (Longimaculella group) has a comparable

patch of specialized scaling which forms a pouchlike structure at this spot, but this species does not

have the metathoracic brushes.

Some species possess a deep, rounded emargination on the posterior margin of either the sixth

(Bipunctella group) or seventh (Hagenella group)

sternite, which is not correlated with specialized

scaling or otherwise visible on the whole moth. The

development is pronounced in females and is

weakly exhibited by males. In a few species (e.g.,

E. notomurinella) females have sclerotized ridges

on the seventh sternite that bear specialized scale

tufts and are fused to the sterigma. In other species

there are weakly developed modifications which

appear to be homologous, but character states were

not defined for them.

Vestiture: The abdomen is smooth scaled except

on the genital segments. In many species the dorsum

bears short, differentiated scaling, usually on the

basal two or three segments, which renders a velvetlike appearance. This scaling may be concolorous

with the rest of the abdomen or it may be a different color (usually ochreous) and usually it is well

defined in the male, weak in the female. The

abdominal scaling is either concolorous with the

thoracic, entirely a different color (yellow or pink),

or it may be concolorous except for the genital

scaling which is differentiated (ochreous or red).

Male genitalia: Members of the genus Ethmia

display a remarkable array of structural variation

in genital structure. Within species there is little

variation in male genital characters, even in

geographically widespread species. These structures, taken as a unit, received the most weight in

development of the present classification.

Six structures of the male genitalia vary independently between species and were employed as

separate characters in the relationships comparison:

uncus, gnathos, basal processes (labides), valvae

(with four characters), fultura (anellus), and

aedeagus.

The uncus shows the most profound range of

development. Five states were defined: (1) hoodlike; (2) divided; (3) sclerotized, narrow; (4) membranous; (5) lacking. Among species with the

hoodlike uncus, the hood may be entire or shallowly

or deeply emarginate medially and variously shaped,

differences which show good interspecific constancy

but were not used in the phenetic analysis.

The gnathos is divided into anterior and posterior

parts, both of which may be variously dentate or

ornate (e.g., Figures 66-69). The anterior part or

both may be completely lacking. Four states were

defined: (1) anterior and posterior parts well developed; (2) anterior lacking, posterior dentate,

short, not or only slightly exceeding base of uncus;

(3) anterior lacking, posterior elongate, extending

nearly the length of uncus (e.g., Figures 115—119);

(4) both lacking. The number and development of

teeth on the posterior gnathos is variable within

species, and only major differences in gnathos form

were used in species differentiation.

The basal proceses (labides of Sattler, 1967) are

digitate projections that appear to originate from

the lateral margins of the diaphragma near but

anterior to the base of the costal margin of the

valva. In PyramidobeTa they are lacking; in Ethmia

and Pseudethmia they are constant in form and are

useful both in species differentiation and in relationships comparison. Six states were defined: (1)

rudimentary (Figures 54-55); (2) membranous,

narrow (e.g., Figures 83-87); (3) membranous.
12 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

broad (broader than long, Figures 51-53); (4)*

partially sclerotized, with angulate edges (Figures

109-112); (5)* geniculate (Figures 75-76); (6)»

sclerotized, broad (Figure 171).

The valva is always well developed but exhibits

an assortment of accessories, absence or preserlce

and details of which are of value both in relationships comparison and in species differentiation.

These features were treated as six separate characters: (1) distal margin of valva simple vs. distinctly

emarginate (e.g., Figures 83—97); (2) clasper

absent vs. present (Figures 71-72); (3) cucullus

distinct vs. not differentiated (i.e., Bipunctella

group, Figure 76); (4) distal "seta-bunch" absent

vs. present; this is a patch or row of large, flat,

heavily sclerotized setae, the number and development of which represent useful species differences

in some groups; (5) costal "plume" (Figure 126),

with three states; this is a membranous extension

originating from the costa in the distal area which

may be (a) absent or present with, (b)* thick setae

along its full length (e.g., Figures 125—128), or (c)

toward the apex only (Figures 156-160); (6)

sacculus simple vs. ornate (i.e., armed with

sclerotized ridges, spurs, or various projections).

Sclerotization of the fultura superior and inferior

is combined in ethmiids to form a sheath around

the aedeagus. This is homologous with the anellus

and probably the transtilla combined. In phenetic

comparison it was treated as a two-state character,

simple vs. ornate. The ornamentation or armature

is highly variable within species in some instances,

perhaps geographically, yet it forms the most

obvious structural differences in some members of

the Cypraeella group.

The vesica of the aedeagus is often wholly membranous, but in many cases is variously armed with

cornuti (sclerotized structures, spiral rows of spurs,

etc.). These were treated as representing a single

character, cornuti absent vs. present, even though

it is probable that the structures are of more than

one origin, with attachment to the fultura in some

instances (rnanica).

Female genitalia: Structures associated with

oviposition and mating in female ethmiids offer a

spectrum of good species characters, but these are

more difficult to define in terms of species relationships than are the male features. In females seven

structures were employed in the taxonomic assessment, but these do not take into account some of

the more obvious differences between species, such

as the form of the sterigma, which are difficult to

quantify.

The papillae anales are oriented so that the

setate surfaces face lateral and the ovipositor is

conical or "bladelike," evidently adapted for inserting the eggs into hairy or roughened plant surfaces. The lateral surfaces are usually densely

setate but rarely bare (e.g., Ethmia minuta) and

are lightly to heavily sclerotized. The heavier

sclerotization seems to be correlated with a general

darkening of the integument and vestiture, as in

the diurnal species.

The posterior apophyses represent by their length

the degree to which the female can extend the

VIII-IX intersegmental membrane and therefore

exsert the ovipositor. An arbitrary division between

"normal" and elongate (2x or more the length of

the combined sterigma and antrum) was made for

purposes of relationships comparison. The structure was not employed in species differentiation.

The anterior apophyses are more variable in

development, being either broadly attached (sometimes very short) or thin and narrowly attached,

without intergrade. When thin, they may be short

to elongate, but this variation is in part correlated

with the length of the posterior apophyses and was

not used in the taxonomic assessment.

The sterigma offers the most obvious species

differences, the only differentiation among females

of some closely related species, but division of its

variation into meaningful categories with regard

to relationships is difficult. Therefore only three

states were defined: sterigma simple vs. ornate

(with folds or projections which protrude beyond

the plane of the ostium, e.g. Figures 229, 234), and

in ornate species, lateral lobes present vs. absent

(NC for species with sterigma simple). Although

nearly every species can be recognized by its

sterigma form, intraspecific variation occurs,

evidently geographically in some instances (e.g.,

see discussion of the Ethmia penthica complex),

and single-specimen samples are not as reliable as

in males.

The antrum is not always present as a defined

enlargement but when present ranges in development to that of the Hagenella group, a large,

sclerotized, oval chamber with flaplike inner struc-
NUMBER 120 13

tures and many inwardly directed spurs (Figures

202-205). Four states were defined: (1) not enlarged; (2) membranous enlargement; (3) enlargement with sclerotized structures; (4) sclerotized

chamber with inner spurs. The structures are little

variable and serve with the sterigma as the best

characters by which females can be identified to

species.

The ductus bursae (exclusive of the antrum and

corpus bursae) is a membranous tube that is nearly

always spiral in Ethmia. The number of coils

ranges from 1-12, differing among species. No attempt was made to categorize the number of coils,

but a division was defined between thick ductus

with tightly appressed coils (Figures 185—189) and

thin ductus with "loose" coils (with space between

adjacent coils equal to the ductus diameter, Figure

177). The form and number of coils does not vary

between virgin and mated individuals of one

species (based on a few Nearctic species). Some

species possess varying types of sclerotization in the

basal portion of the ductus bursae which are of

value in species differentiation, but the different

types were considered to be of separate origins and

were not employed in numerical assessment.

The signum is a sclerotized depression or invagination that occurs on the dorsal half of the corpus

bursae, usually near the juncture of the ductus.

The signum is variable within species, especially in

development of the "lateral flanges," number of

teeth, etc., but the basic form differs between

species. Thus the signum is of more value in relationships comparison than in differentiation of

closely related species. It presumably has been lost

independently in several unrelated groups (e.g.,

Ethmia minuta, E. brevistriga, E. humilis), and

signum lacking was considered NC, along with a

few isolated, unusual types (e.g., E. albitogata, E.

apicipunctella, E. chemsaki). The following six

states were defined: (1) "dentate bar," a shallow

crease with many short, more or less equal-sized

teeth (Figure 187); (2) "dentate keel," a deep

crease with prominent median fold or row of spurs

forming an inwardly directed, toothed ridge

(Figure 237); (3) "dentate long crease," a narrow,

elongate, shallow crease, close set with similarly

sized teeth (Figure 225); (4) "notched keel," a deep

crease with median fold having a single, median,

rounded emargination (Figures 261, 263); (5)

"broad cone," a single, deep, cone-shaped keel from

a broad, more or less round sclerotized invagination

(Figures 279, 282); (6)* isolated teeth only

(Figure 281).

TAXONOMIC PROCEDURES

The present classification is the result of an attempt

to correlate a conventional biosystematic approach

with an assessment of phenetic relationships using

numerical methods. Basically the study is a traditional one, since decisions about species limits were

made deductively, partly on the basis of my previous experience with taxonomic characters and their

variation in Microlepidoptera, especially Tortricoidea, and partly on biological aspects of coexisting

species of Ethmia in the southwestern Nearctic.

Moreover, characters employed in the morphological phenetic assessment were not a random representation of all parts of the insect's body but were

selected as objectively as possible, representing

those which I knew to differ among species and to

be relatively easy to measure.

Most of my observations on the living animals

were made in California, which is one of the best

areas for New World ethmiids in terms of species

diversity. Up to seven species reside within a few

miles of one another, and studies on them have

formed the basis of my knowledge of biological

integrity and the correlation of behavioral and

morphological features in the group. Aspects of

diel periodicity and seasonal displacement in adult

activity, hostplant specificity in selection by females

and acceptance by young larvae, and behavior and

morphology of the larvae were found to be operating in patterns of isolating mechanisms among

comparatively closely related species (Powell,

1971). Extrapolating from knowledge of morphological variation in these species, decisions on

species limits in other parts of the fauna were

based on adult morphology, primarily male genital

characters. Populations represented by different

forms with essentially identical male genitalia

(subject to variation discussed above in evaluation

of characters) were considered to be conspecific. In

cases where such populations differed conspicuously

in easily visible features, especially wing color

markings, the subspecies concept was employed.

CONVENTIONAL METHODS.—All species were described and defined to a comparable level so far as
14

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

available material permitted. Previously described

species were taken into account even if no specimens were examined during this study. Previously

undescribed species in material examined were described no matter how poorly represented, so long

as a male was extant. Female specimens which appeared to be additional undescribed species usually

were omitted from the treatment. A preliminary

arrangement of species groups was drawn up, based

primarily on a sequence in male genitalic types,

from the most complete, considered to be ancestral,

to most reduced, considered to be derived.

However, because of the large number of species

and the extent of morphological radiation, I was

unable to rationally comprehend the similarity or

disparity shown by other attributes, such as secondary features of males and female genitalic

characters, among these groups. Relationships of

some of the more distinct types, (both isolated

unique species and closely knit species groups) to

the larger groups were not evident. Therefore a

series of morphological phenetic comparisons was

executed and the results compared to my original

groupings.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS (computational techniques).—Numerical taxonomic techniques were

carried out using NTPAK (Numerical Taxonomic

Package), a system of programs developed by W. W.

Moss and L. N. Bell at the University of California,

Berkeley, for use with the CDC-6400 computer.

NTPAK included programs for character standardization by range and variance, computation and

ranking of similarities, cluster analysis, phenograms,

and Prim network generation (Prim, 1957), as well

as an adaptation of J. W. Carmichael's program for

taxometric analysis (TAXMAP; Carmichael and

Sneath, 1969). Prim networks and taxometric maps

are abbreviated subsequently in this paper as

Primnets and taxmaps, respectively. The following

steps were executed in data assembly and analyses.

1. Measurements and qualitative characters as

given in the descriptions were tabulated for all

species. Character states were then defined for

quantitative and qualitative features. Data which

were unavailable (e.g., female not studied) were

recorded as No Comparison (NC), as were states

logically defined as such in the evaluation of

taxonomic characters (e.g., signum lacking). Their

values were ignored during computations. After

data were tabulated and transferred to IBM cards,

the following were executed for each character set:

2. Similarity values (Simple matching S.m, Sokal

and Sneath, 1963, for two-state versions; and S«,

Colless, 1967, for versions including multistate

characters) were computed between all species pairs

(species = Operational Taxonomic Units, OTU's),

generating a simple matching similarity matrix.

3. A hierarchical partitioning of the similiarity

matrix was computed (Unweighted Pair-Group

Method, Sokal and Sneath, 1963), and the results

were summarized in a phenogram.

4. Similarity and cophenetic values were plotted

on a scattergram and a cophenetic correlation value

was generated as an indicator of degree of distortion in conversion from the similarity matrix to the

two-dimensional phenogram.

5. The six highest similarity values were found

and ranked for each OTU.

6. A minimally connected network (Primnet)

was found. The results were diagrammed, illustrating each OTU connected by a straight line to

its nearest neighbor.

7. Taxometric maps were generated and diagrammed.

Phenograms are two-dimensional dendrograms

representing phenetic similarities among OTU's.

Although phenograms superficially resemble traditional "phylogenetic tree diagrams," they do not

imply evolutionary descent, only the level of

phenetic relationship. The sequential order of

OTU's in a phenogram is more or less arbitrary,

dictated by the two-dimensional, linear arrangement; and the order may be altered by the rotation

of any stem and its subtending vertical connectors.

The phenogram permits the viewer to perform

visual cluster analyses, the ordering together of

sets of OTU's which are close to one another and

distant from others.

Primnets are two-dimensional, minimally connected networks in which each point (OTU)

is joined to its nearest neighbor by a line, the

length of which represents the magnitude of

similarity. It is presumed that the network reflects

the underlying structure of the data, but neither

hierarchy nor clusters are implied. As with

phenograms, cluster limits may be superimposed

(e.g., Figure 2). One advantage in such a scheme

is that in summarizing results of a phenetic analysis,
NUMBER 120 15

there is no assumption that an OTU must be

placed in a nested series of clusters. Therefore the

distortion in representation of similarities between

nearby OTU's is reduced. No attempt is made to

show relationships between clusters at all except

through nearest neighbor members of adjacent

clusters. Thus there is no error in similarity between any pair of connected OTU's, but no other

kind of relationship can be interpreted from the

diagram except secondarily.

The taxometric map is a nonhierarchical method

of cluster analysis which uses the frequency distribution of similarities to derive a discontinuity

constant which is then applied to measures of

simple and average linkage to delimit clusters. The

results are used to produce a diagram of relationships, the taxmap. An index of cluster membership

is provided, together with a peripherality order of

the clusters. Beginning with the most central

cluster, one diagrams by triangulation, using the

highest and second highest similarity values (i.e.,

lowest distance of cluster A radius -f- cluster B

radius -\- distance between nearest neighbors in

A and B). One could add third and lower similarity

values to the diagram by employing bent or zigzag

lines, but for purposes of clarity, I felt that first

and second order vectors were adequate. Each

cluster is indicated by a circle, the diameter of

which represents the similarity between its least

related members. Lines connecting clusters represent center-to-center distances of similarity. Although two-dimensional, taxmaps can be envisioned

by the viewer as being three-dimensional.

QUANTITATIVE METHODS (OTU and character

sets).—Among 133 species of Ethmiidae, 123 were

selected as OTU's for assessment (Table 2). Three

species of Ethmia, E. orestella, E. cypraspis, and E.

cellicoma, known only from females, were omitted.

Pyramidobela (7 species) was also considered

separately. Owing to lack of close relationship to

Ethmia and Pseudethmia, members of Pyramidobela

are not comparable for most characters used to

differentiate species of Ethmia.

Of the 123 species that were included, 34 are

known only from males or are species for which I

did not study female genitalia. Thus for character

numbers 31-42 in Table 1 (numbers 47-64 in

two-state sets), there were a large number of NC

values. Therefore duplicate runs of each analysis

were executed, excluding female characters. I

obtained a female of E. piperella after running the

earlier analyses and was able to incorporate its

data for the taxmap analyses. Ethmia chalcodora

is known only from the female, and much of its

high similarity with other species is due to the

high NC count corresponding to male characters.

Therefore this species was omitted from the

16-character (male only) appraisals.

Each analysis except taxmap was repeated for

four sets: 42-character (Table 1), 30-character

(Table 1, numbers 1—30, exclusively female characters omitted), 16-character (Table 1, numbers 15—30,

male characters alone), and 64-character (all converted to two-state). Nonzero differences between

states of multistate characters were set equal to 1.0

during computation of SG similarities. At the

onset of data processing this alternative was not

available, and the two-state data set was designed

to eliminate possible effects of exaggerated differences spanning qualitative characters such as wing

pattern and signum form. In the results, however,

there still were appreciable differences between 42

character (which used St similarity coefficient) and

64-character (S.m similarity coefficient) sets in

phenograms and Primnets of clustering. In general

those with the two-state characters tended to show

greater agreement with one another and with my

provisional groups than did the 42 character sets.

As a result, I employed only the two-state sets in

the taxmap programs.

A 120—OTU version of the computer program

TAXMAP provided by J. W. Carmichael was

initially adapted to the University of California

IBM 360/40 computer. However, the version of

this program available at the time proved to be too

inefficient on this equipment to be practical. A

120-OTU study (Ethmia nadia, E. baja, and E.

mimihagenella were omitted) ran 35 minutes before the run was terminated by a technician, with

the results incomplete. It was difficult to adapt

this version of TAXMAP to the CDC 6400 because

it required excessive core space, but a smaller

(75-OTU) version was adapted and two data sets

comprising 75 OTU's with 64- and 46-characters

were run successfully on this machine. The 45

additional species which I eliminated (Table 2)

were selected as representing central members of

clusters generated by previous programs, according
16

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

TABLE 2.—List of 123 species (OTUs) used in assessments of morphological phenetic similarities, with fourletter designations employed in Figures 1 and 2 (The species indicated by an asterisk (*) were used in

the 75-OTU versions of taxometric map analysis.)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

CHAR* : Ethmia charybdis

UMBR : E. umbrimarginella

LASS : E. lassenella

COQU* : E. coquillettella

MINU* : E. minuta

TRIC# : E. tricula

ALBT : E. albitogata

PLAG# : E. plagiobothrae

BREV : E. brevistriga

SCYL* : E. scylla

MONA : E. monachella

ALBS* : E. albistrigella

NADI : E. nadia

SEMT- : E. pemilugens

EPIL* : E. epileuca

ARCT# : E. arctostaphylella

MANS* E. mansita

DISC : E. discostrigella

SEMT : E. semitenebrella

PAPI* : E. papiella

VOLC* : E. volcanella

APIC# : E. apicipunctella

MACE* : E. macelhosiella

MACN : E. macneilli

GERA : E. geranella

TIMB* : E. timberlakei

PIPE* : E. piperella

BIPU* : bipunctella

MONT*: E. m. monticola

FUSC : E. m. fuscipedella

CALG

DELL :

DAVS :

LINS*

CLRK

SUBS*

KIRB :

E. caliginosella

E. delliella

E. davisella

: E. linsdalei

E. clarkei

: E. subsimilis

E. kirbyi

BITT* : E. bittenella

PROX* : E. proximella

MULL* : E. mulleri

FEST* : E. festiva

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

CYPR : E. cypraeella

ABRX* : E. abraxasella

SCYT* : E. scythropa

NIVO* : E. nivosella

TERP* : E. terpnota

IRID : E. iridella

PERP : E. perpulchra

ELUT* : E. elutella

JANZ : E. janzeni

SUBM : E. submissa

FRIT* : E. fritillella

EPLG : E. epilygella

UNGU* : E. ungulatella

CHLD : E. chalcodora

NOTO* : E. notomurinella

CHLG* : E. chalcogramma

PHYP* : E. phylacops

EXOR* : E. exornata

PHYC : E. phylacis

MNES* : E. mnesicosma

GELD : E. gelidella

PHOE : E. phoenicura

ZEBR* : E. zebrata

CHEM* : E. chemsaki

NOTA* : E. notatella

HIRA : E. hiramella

PAUC* : E. paucella

WELL* : E. wellingi

BALI* : E. baliostola

CUBE : E. cubensis

FLAV : E. flavicaudata

LICH* : E. lichyi

CALM : E. calumniella

PLAU : E. plaumanni

HIER : E. hieroglyphica

OMEG : E. omega

TRAN : E. transversella

CONF : E. confusella

STRI* : E. striatella

CONT* : E. confusellastra

DUCK* : E. duckworthi

83. FARR* : E. farrella

84. SAND* : E. sandra

85. HUML : E. humilis

86. JULI* : E. julia

87. CORO* : E. coronata

88. NIGR* : E. nigritaenia

89. SUBN* : E. subnigritaenia

90. CATP : E. catapeltica

91. HOWD* : E. howdeni

92. LONG*

93. CONG*

94. CYAN*

95. GIGN* :

96. SEMO*

97. ALBC*

: E. longimaculella

: E. conglobata

E. cyanca

E. gigantea

E. semiombra

E. albicostella

98. MIRU : E. mirusclla

99. TRIF* : E. trifurcella

100. MARM : E. marmorea

101. HODG : E. hodgesella

102. PLAY* : E. playa

103. BAJA : E. baja

104. PENT* : E. penthica

105. SIML* : E. similatella

106. CORD : E. cordia

107. SCUT : E. scutula

108. PALA* : E. pala

109. CLAV* : E. clava

110. HEPT* : E. heptastica

111. SPHN* : E. sphenisca

112. OTER* : E. oterosella

113. PRAT* : E. prattiella

114. HAMM* : E. hammella

115. LIND* : E. linda

116. JOVI : E. joviella

117. PUNC* : E. punctessa

118. ANGS* : E. angustalatella

119. HAGN* : E. hagenella

120. MIMI : E. mimihagenella

121. BURN : E. burnsella

122. ZELL : E. zelleriella

123. PROT* : Pseudethmia protuberans

to ranked similarities. In essence this eliminated

every OTU which had a sister OTU at or higher

than the 0.950 similarity level. A few additional

species with lower similarity values than this were

withdrawn from clusters, which although not

closely knit, had retained their integrity in previous programs (E. cubensis, E. umbrimarginella, E.

cypraeella, E. phylacis, E. hiramella, and E.

mirusella).

Finally, through Dr. Moss, the cooperation of

Professor Carmichael was enlisted, and he ran

120—OTU versions using 64- and 45-character sets

on the IBM 360/67 computer at the University of

Alberta. Without knowing the meaning of the

data, Professor Carmichael eliminated 19 characters

(numbers 46-64) on the basis of high NC count,

retaining all male characters except hindwing

costal fold, and thus using nearly the same attributes as my 75—OTU X 46-character version.
NUMBER 120 17

RESULTS, DISCUSSION, AND TAXA

QUANTITATIVE SUMMARIES.—It is inevitable that

any attempt to summarize the multidimensional

relationships of a similarity matrix will result in

some degree of distortion and loss of information.

However, in a study of a large number of OTU's,

the matrix is too complex to be assessed directly

by the reader (there were some 2,700 to 7,500 similarity values in the present half-matrices). Thus

various schemes have been developed for representing clustering of values in matrices by twodimensional diagrams (see reviews by Moss, 1967;

Carmichael and Sneath, 1969; Michener, 1970;

Rholf, 1970). Many such diagrams are easily comprehensible to the viewer, but the degree and kind

of error which they represent varies. Therefore I

selected three summary techniques which involve

differing clustering methods: phenograms, Primnets, and taxmaps.

Phenograms obtained in this study showed rather

low cophenetic correlation coefficients, indicating

rather high information loss in transfer from the

similarity matrices, a loss which interestingly, increased with reduction of character numbers: 64-

character = 0.862; 42-character = 0.833; 30-character = 0.816; 16-character = 0.761.

It has been generally stated that phenograms

represent relationships better among OTU's of

terminal branches than they do for groupings connected by their main branches, since cluster analysis begins with the most similar and works toward

the least similar (e.g., Moss, 1967). For this study,

however, the reverse seemed to be true in most

cases. Species within and between related groups

were generally scrambled (compared to relationships shown by Primnets and taxmaps), while the

major sections of the genus and more distant cluster groupings usually were represented in a manner

more comparable to other analyses. Thus results

obtained from phenograms generally were less satisfactory for displaying clusters equivalent to my

species groups but comprised the most helpful

method in illustrating major divisions.

For my purposes Primnets provided the best-fit

representation of a linear arrangement of the

groups. They were not as useful in interpreting

relationships among some of the intermediate species, such as Ethmia piperella and E. baliostola,

and some of the peripheral species such as E. apicipunctella, E. prattiella, E. hammella, and E. conglobata. The greatest disadvantage in a Primnet

seems to be the lack of indication about relationships between fairly closely related clusters, for

example the Kirbyi and Exornata groups in Figure

2. As with phenograms the two-dimensional format results in arbitrary placements, and the viewer

must bear in mind that nearby clusters which are

not connected by lines could be rotated on their

stems, and no relationship among them is indicated

by direct, spacial distances in this diagram.

In results obtained from my data, particularly

using partial sets of attributes, there was a physical restriction of correct portrayal in the diagram

due to clumping of species with high similarity

values around central hubs. Thus bent or zigzag

lines had to be employed in some instances to depict similarities, and this tended to detract from

the visual comprehension.

Taxometric mapping produced illustrations

which were more representative of overall relationships, since in my diagrams many groups occupied "hub" positions, with similarities to several

other clusters indicated. One of the principal disadvantages of taxmaps is the fact that species relationships between and within clusters are not

shown (the antithesis of Primnets). However, nearest neighbor distances for individual species to

level 9 are provided separately by the program, and

these were used in analyzing relationships of oneand two-species groups.

Another disadvantage of taxometric maps is the

complexity of the diagram; inclusion of multidirectional similarities results in greater difficulty in

visual interpretation. In order to assess likeness

and to draw conclusions about groupings, I found

it useful to compare copies of taxmaps, Primnets,

and phenograms that were coded with a color

scheme representative of the groupings.

In contrast to the two preceding techniques,

there was fairly good agreement between taxmaps

produced from full attribute sets (64 character)

and partial sets (45, 46 character) and also between

full species sets (120 OTU) and partial sets (75

OTU). Larger species groups tended to split or to

combine in the same manner, distinct groups and

unique species isolated uniformly and tended to

show relationships to the same clusters, and the

hub species were generally similar in all taxmaps
18

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

(i.e., Ethmia piperella, Kirbyi group, E. baliostola,

and E. semiombra).

Two of the techniques employed intuitive cluster analysis imposed on the summaries. In addition, I attempted to select "best-fit" clusters

compared to my original groups. Thus there was

agreement in a general way in clustering formed

by the various studies. However, there were some

striking exceptions, particularly where "ex-group"

species were involved (species which possess several unique characters, causing them to generate

low similarity values to all other members of the

study, including their nearest neighbors, these similarities being approximately equal; cf., Moss and

Webster, 1969). Examples in the present work were

Ethmia minuta and E. scythropa-nivosella complex.

As might be expected on theoretical grounds,

analyses based on more characters tended to produce results more comparable to one another, but,

interestingly, also results which were more similar

to my provisional groupings, than did those employing fewer characters. I did not expect this

because my rationally proposed groups were based

principally upon male genitalia, and I supposed

that female characters were not wholly coincident

and that their inclusion in similarity assessment

would tend to dissolve groups. On analysis, however, it appears that when female characters were

removed (30-, 16-, and 45-, 46-character sets), secondary features of the males tended to "swamp-out"

patterns displayed by male genitalia. This was

particularly true in the 16-character version, where

results were too scrambled to be comparable at all

in some subsets. Evidently there is better concordance among male genitalia, female genitalia, and

certain external features such as labial palpus size

than there is between male genitalia and secondary

male characters. The enlargement of the antenna,

hindwing costal area modifications, etc., appear to

have been developed or lost many times within

closely related species groups or pairs.

COLLATION OF CONVENTIONAL AND NUMERICAL ASSESSMENTS.—After all phenetic analyses were completed, I tabulated correspondences among the 12

two-dimensional representations of relationships (4

phenograms, 4 Primnets, 4 taxmaps) for each of

my originally proposed species groups. Tabulations included nearest neighbor groups and assignment to one of four states: (1) distinct cluster; (2)

single cluster mixed with another group; (3) split

clusters retaining the group integrity; and (4) split

clusters mixed with other groups. Species that appeared separately as isolates repeatedly were considered to represent distinct species groups. Each

species group was then ranked according to its

degree of clustering in both full character and

non-female character versions. Groups which consistently mixed were combined and ranked as single

units.

Finally, the originally proposed groups were altered according to the rankings, resulting from

comparison of the phenetic clustering procedures.

In addition, certain aspects of the species, such as

biological characteristics, that had not been employed in the computation of morphological phenetic similarity were taken into account where data

permitted. The conclusions are described below

for the respective groups.

SECTIONS OF Ethmia.—A major division of Ethmia into two sections (exemplified by presence vs.

absence of well-developed uncus and gnathos) was

indicated by the hierarchical partitioning of the

phenograms (Figure 1). This separation could be

imposed on Primnets (e.g., Figure 2), but it was

not clearly defined on taxmaps. The division was

not envisioned in conventional taxonomic procedure, partly owing to diverse variation in uncus

form and partly because Ethmia baliostola and E.

cubensis possess an intermediate kind of uncus,

while lacking the gnathos. Also there is strongly

suggestive, albeit fragmentary, evidence from larvae and pupae to support this division. Section

II, the nonuncus section, is a New World taxon of

almost exclusively Neotropical distribution. As a

result, biological data are available on only three

species, E. confusella (Confusella group), E. longimaculella (Longimaculella group), and E. semiombra (Trifurcella group). These species share larval

and pupal features of morphology and habits that

are very different from all of the 30 or so Holarctic

species of Section I for which larval and pupal

characteristics have been recorded. These aspects

are developed in more detail in succeeding discussions of relationships and biology of ethmiids.

ALBITOGATA GROUP.—This complex of southwestern Nearctic species mixed with the Semilugens

group (especially Ethmia mansita and E. epileuca)

in all clustering analyses except two Primnets. The
NUMBER 120 19

moths exhibit heterogeneous morphological traits,

particularly in labial palpus size, secondary male

features, and female genitalia, causing them to appear unrelated compared to the indication by male

genitalia. However, I believe the correlation of

small size, dark integument and vestiture, diurnal

behavior, early spring flight, and larval reliance on

seed rather than leaves (biologies of 6 of 10 species

are partially known) indicates a monophyletic

origin with subsequent rapid divergence during

speciation under conditions of rigorous environmental situations. These attributes were represented in morphological phenetic comparisons only

by small eye. Further dissimilarity in aspects, such

as loss of signum in E. plagiobothrae, and use of

Scrophulariaceae and loss of pupal "anal legs" in

E. scylla, support this theory. A consistent relationship to the Charybdis and Macelhosiella groups

was indicated, primarily due to male genitalia.

CHARYBDIS GROUP.—Several unique features of this

species were not included in the assessment of

phenetic similarity: rudimentary tongue, elongation and slenderness of legs (and disparity of the

foreleg in this regard), and approximation of R2

and R3 relative to Rx in the forewing. Moreover,

the brachypterous female was not recognized until

after the numerical analysis was completed. Even

so, Ethmia charybdis precipitated as a distinct cluster in two-thirds of the summaries. It combined

with the Semilugens and Albitogata groups in most

phenograms and showed consistent relationship to

these groups. In male genitalia the species appears

closely related to the diurnal (Albitogata) group,

while in behavior and life cycle it parallels members of the Macelhosiella group, with which it is

in part sympatric.

SEMILUGENS GROUP.—This assemblage mixed with

representatives of either the Albitogata or Macelhosiella group in nearly every analysis. The most

peripheral member of the Semilugens group is

Ethmia epileuca, which tended to separate and

combine with E. macelhosiella. I attribute the

similarity of the three groups to emphasis of male

genitalia and justify their separation primarily on

biological bases, as described below. The albistrigella-nadia complex remains an anomaly. I originally thought these two species might be related to

the Albitogata group, on the basis of the small eye

size, but phenetic appraisal showed almost no indication of this, usually ranking the complex nearest

E. semilugens and E. discostrigella. It is interesting that field and laboratory studies did not conclusively show these species to be strictly diurnal

as would be expected, and indicated that larvae

prefer leaves rather than seed (Powell, 1971). The

data suggest that small eyes and dark color in these

species may be effects of more recent adaptation

to diurnal behavior during invasion of high elevation habitats (these remarks also apply to E.

orestella which was not included in the phenetic

evaluation). The whole group is loosely tied, often

with E. apicipunctella as well as E. epileuca clustering separately.

MACELHOSIELLA GROUP.—Pupal estivation, autumnal flight, hardiness to desiccation by adults,

and egg (or adult?) diapause or prolonged quiescence are correlated biological features which corroborate minor attributes of the male genitalia

(shape of valva, shape of uncus, etc.) and external

features of the moths, indicating the integrity of

this group. None of these characteristics was considered in the numerical summaries. As a result,

the group almost invariably mixed with members

of the Semilugens group (especially E. macelhosiella with E. epileuca) and the Albitogata group.

It is noteworthy that although parallel aspects of

the life cycle were not employed, relationship to

E. charybdis was shown in more than half the appraisals. This was due to basic features of male

genitalia and external traits such as wing pattern

and elongate wings, which probably represent convergence.

PAPIELLA GROUP.—This pair of species is unique

in its possession of a pink abdomen and several

morphological peculiarities of genitalia of both

sexes, yet the two species show strong divergence,

especially in secondary features of the male. The

complex was set off as a distinct cluster in twothirds of the analyses and expressed relationship to

the Semilugens group in three-fourths of them.

Moderate affinity with the Macelhosiella and Hagenella groups was also indicated.

PiPERELLA GROUP.—As noted, female genital attributes of E. piperella were not employed in the

early assessments but were incorporated for the taxmap programs. I assumed that this species' apparent relationship to a number of groups in early

comparisons was in part due to the NC values for
20

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

missing female characters, but in the taxmaps E.

piperella assumed an even greater role as a "hub"

species. This is the only Antillean species with

appreciable similarity to Nearctic groups. It displayed relationship to members of the Semilugens

group, especially E. mansita, in two-thirds of the

analyses. Although there was apparent dilution of

affinities, absence of the Sc-R crossvein in the hindwing indicates that E. piperella may be an island

derivative of a Nearctic group, despite the fact that

it was clustered with the Cypraeella group in the

75 OTU X 46 character taxmap.

BIPUNCTELLA GROUP.—Nearctic representatives of

this Holarctic group assembled in nearly every test

as a distinct cluster relative to the rest of the New

World fauna. The only consistent relationship indicated was to the Semilugens group, with secondary affinity to all other Nearctic groups.

HAGENELLA GROUP.—These four similar species

are so distinctive in both male and female genitalia that I was uncertain of their relationships to

other OTU's in my preliminary arrangement of

the groups. Thus it was not surprising that the

group was a distinct cluster in all numerical summaries. Phenetic relationships were not concentrated, but affinity to the Papiella group was shown

in half the analyses, with indication of a slightly

lesser resemblance to the Piperella, Kirbyi, and

Semilugens groups.

KIRBYI GROUP.—The striking similarity in male

genitalia among six species intuitively indicated

them as a clear-cut species group. However, the

distinctive valva shape and manica armature were

not considered in quantitative evaluation, and

phenetic similarities based on the characters used

failed to differentiate these species from parts of

the Cypraeella group in two phenograms and one

taxmap. A consistent relationship between the two

groups was always indicated. Moreover, the Sc-R

crossvein of the hindwing is present in all species

of the Kirbyi group, a feature which might have

further clouded the picture of resemblance to the

Cypraeella group (in which this character is not

consistent) had it been included in the numerical

assessment. Secondary strong likeness to the Mulleri and Notatella groups, and but little agreement

with the Exornata group, which resulted, would

also have been altered by consideration of this venation character. Ethmia bittenella, which possesses unique male genital features, appeared as a

marginal member of the Kirbyi group in each summary.

CYPRAEELLA GROUP.—Although this heterogeneous assemblage did not mix with other groups

(except with the Kirbyi group, as noted above),

it generally failed to congregate in a single cluster.

The cypraeella-festiva-abraxasella complex collected separately in more than half the analyses, a

position which is enhanced by absence of the Sc-R

crossvein in the hindwing in these three species.

The degree to which the male secondary peculiarities of Ethmia scythropa and E. nivosella should

be weighted also determines whether these species

are a distinct group, a position which they occupied in one-third of the phenetic analyses. Retention of the Cypraeella group as presently defined

reflects a conservative treatment (as expressed in

Figure 2) which is correlated with that of the rest

of the Neotropical fauna (e.g., Longimaculella

and Trifurcella groups). In part this is the result

of our lack of knowledge of the biological roles of

these species.

EXORNATA GROUP.—Nearly uniform appearance as

a distinct cluster and consistent relationship to the

Cypraeella group in numerical assessment confirmed my preliminary appraisal of the complex.

A weaker similarity to the Kirbyi group was exhibited. Presence of the Sc-R crossvein in the

hindwing further corroborates the group's position.

NOTATELLA GROUP.—Although diverse, particularly in development of male secondary characters,

this group retained its identity throughout the

phenetic evaluation (it was split only in the 16

character versions). A nearly uniform relationship

to the Kirbyi group was displayed, along with secondary resemblance to the Cypraeella group (in

most summaries except taxmap) and the Baliostola

group (in taxmaps).

BALIOSTOLA GROUP.—Although similar in external

appearance to members of the LongimaculellaConfusella groups, this pair of species was placed

by numerical methods as a distinct cluster in nearly

every evaluation. In phenograms using multistate

characters the group combined with Ethmia conglobata, with highest ranked similarity to that

species, cyanea and lichyi in other analyses. In Primnet and taxmap summaries E. baliostola and E.

cubensis tended to occupy a bridge position be-
NUMBER 120 21

tween Section I, the groups with well-developed

uncus-gnathos, and Section II, the groups which

lack the uncus-gnathos, a position that is suggested

by the uncus of E. baliostola and E. cubensis itself.

Clustering was not consistent for the following

eight groups, with each mixed with members of

others, varying between different programs. Apparently morphological divergence in male genital

features has been more rapid than in other characteristics, and groupings suggested by male genitalia did not compare well with clusters based on

numerical evaluations of all attributes. The result

has been that the Longimaculella and Trifurcella

groups are more inclusive than I would have intuitively proposed, while the other groups are

justified on features which were not employed in

the phenetic assessment.

CONFUSELLA GROUP.—Retention of this complex

of eight species as a separate group relies on my

weighting details of male genitalia (vestiture,

shape, and armature of the valva) which were not

evaluated in numerical analyses. There was a consistent tendency to split off Ethmia confusellastra

and E. duckworthi as a unit and E. confusella as

another, or all three of these as one, variously

associated with members of the Longimaculella

group. Thus the separation of this group must be

reappraised when more data become available, for

example, likeness or disparity of larval and pupal

characters to those of E. confusella.

LONGIMACULELLA GROUP.—Male genital characters

indicate two sets of species, exemplified by E.

flavicaudata and E. longimaculella, but no tendency for comparable clustering developed from the

quantitative study. By contrast, £. coronata and E.

subnigritaenia paired as a distinct subgroup in

most of the analyses, a situation that would not

have been expected from male genital characters

and may have been an artifact of high NC count,

since females of both were not included.

CONGLOBATA GROUP.—This species was a distinct

cluster in all quantitative assessments except multistate character phenograms, where it paired with

the Baliostola group. In most programs similarity

was shown to either the Longimaculella group

(taxmaps) or Trifurcella group (most Primnets).

Individual ranked similarities displayed comparable diversity, with Ethmia scutula (Trifurcella

group) and E. lichyi (Longimaculella group) each

the nearest neighbor twice in the full attribute sets.

CYANEA GROUP.—In giving weight to several morphological features which were not used in the

phenetic analysis, the bizarre external structure of

Ethmia cyanea is emphasized. I consider this species an evolutionary spin-off of the Trifurcella

group that has diverged to a level comparable with

other groups, although it failed to cluster separately in numerical programs. It was a peripheral

isolate to Confusella or Longimaculella group elements in Primnets but combined with these or

Trifurcella group members in other summaries. In

ranked similarities of the four programs employing all attributes, the closest relative was E. julia

(Confusella group) twice, but all other nearest

neighbors to level five were members of the Trifurcella group. The characters justifying E. cyanea's separation are: strongly arched costa and

extraordinarily elongate stalked portion of vein

An! in the forewing (at 0.45 the highest proportion of any species examined); the metallic blue

color (which was treated as NC in forewing pattern), the only species with unicolorous body and

wings; and the intermediate scape size in the female, which indicates it is modified in the male.

Moreover the intermediate eye size and the moths'

color suggest the adults may be diurnal.

GIGANTEA GROUP.—This species failed to separate

distinctly or to demonstrate consistent relationship

to one group. It united with elements of the Trifurcella and Longimaculella groups in about equal

numbers. In full attribute programs, ranked similarities showed members of the latter group nearest

in multistate sets, but nearest neighbors to level

two were in the Trifurcella group in two-state sets.

This combination plus the extraordinary superficial appearance through large size and robustness

indicate a position as an intermediate group.

TRIFURCELLA GROUP.—Although this group is

composed of superficially similar species which also

share the same general features of male genitalia,

other characters were sufficiently diverse to split

the assemblage into two or three clusters in most

numerical assessments. The fragments mixed variously with parts of the Longimaculella group, with

Ethmia gigantea, and with E. hammella. Most

often separated was E. semiombra, with the E. bajaplaya complex isolated in most Primnet and

taxmap summaries, and E. mirusella in most
22

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

phenograms. By contrast E. oterosella, the only

Antillean species, is only marginally related according to wing pattern and male genitalia, but it clustered with some part of this group in all analyses.

PRATTIELLA GROUP.—The obvious uniqueness of

this species was emphasized by its consistent appearance in phenetic summaries as a distinct cluster, showing no close relationship to other groups.

Similarity to the Confusella group was usually indicated, and to the Punctessa group, its nearest

geographical relative, in nearly half the analyses.

The species' isolation was further displayed by its

nearest neighbors, which were various Confusella

group members, E. cyanea, and E. hammella, in

the ranked similarities to level three in full attribute set analyses.

JOVIELLA GROUP.—These species exhibited uniqueness by clustering as a distinct pair in all programs

except the 16 character phenogram. Consistent relationship was indicated only for the Trifurcella

group (E. playa-baja complex).

HAMMELLA GROUP.—This unusual species failed

to segregate as a distinct cluster in most assessments, combining with portions of the ConfusellaLongimaculella groups. It did isolate in three of

the six versions employing all attributes, with

ranked similarities indicating Ethmia julia the

nearest and other nearest neighbors varying among

Longimaculella group and Punctessa group members.

PUNCTESSA GROUP.—Although this species pair rationally seems to represent a monophyletic, biogeographical segregate, on the basis of male

genitalia and general facies, the two differ in several respects. As a result they did not consistently

cluster as a distinct group, and in two instances the

pair was split. A generally diluted similarity to

most of Section II was shown, with only the Trifurcella group represented in more than half the

analyses.

PSEUDETHMIA PROTUBERANS.—This species was included in the phenetic assessments, although no

attempt was made to exploit all the features by

which it differs from Ethmia. Aspects of vestiture,

robustness of body and appendages, thick spurs,

etc., were considered to be correlated with appraised characters. Nonetheless the species always

isolated as a distinct cluster, usually producing the

lowest similarity values. The relationships most

frequently indicated in two-dimensional summaries were with the Punctessa and Trifurcella

groups, and ranked similarities in full attribute

versions were highest among members of these two

groups.

CONCLUSIONS.—Numerical taxonomic procedures,

enabling incorporation of the diverse characteristics of secondary male features, female genitalia,

etc., were effective in three general ways in formation of decisions on taxa:

1. The larger Neotropical species groups (for

which I had little other than morphological phenetic evidence) were rendered more encompassing

concepts than would have been the case on the

basis of male genitalia. The Cypraeella group,

Longimaculella group, and Trifurcella group each

encompasses greater variation in male genital characteristics than in Nearctic Ethmia, where I used

biological traits to help define groups. Two or

more clusters within each of these Neotropical

groups, each originally envisioned as a species

group on the basis of male genitalia, were deemphasized after numerical assessment.

2. Relationships of several unique species or

clusters were indicated, where there had been no

convincing rational placements in the preliminary

scheme (i.e., Ethmia piperella, Hagenella group,

Exornata group, Baliostola group, E. conglobata,

Joviella group). For example, although the Hagenella group is clearly a distinct, close-knit cluster,

I had no logical assignment for it. In my original

classification the Hagenella group was placed at

the end of the linear arrangement, a concept which

also contributed to the masking of recognition of

the major sections of the genus until phenetic

studies were carried out.

3. A division of New World Ethmia into two

sections was suggested, a concept which is corroborated by fragmentary biological and morphological evidence from larvae and pupae.

SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE ETHMIIDAE

During the nineteenth century ethmiids were associated with the Yponomeutidae (=Hyponomeutidae) because of superficial resemblance, especially

in wing shape and color. According to Friese

(1960), this concept is attributable to Stainton

(1854) who treated British Ethmia (as Anesychia)

in the Yponomeutidae despite the close resem-
NUMBER 120 23

blance to certain oecophorid genera (then considered Gelechiidae) in labial palpus and wing

venation. As pointed out by Busck (1914a), Stainton had carefully prepared illustrations of wing

venation in his Insecta Britannica, but neither

there nor in later works did he use venation characters in determining generic relationships.

Von Heinemann (1870) seems to have been the

first to associate ethmiids with the Gelechioidea,

treating Ethmia (as Psecadia) in the Gelechiidae,

along with the oecophorids—in effect proposing the

higher classification followed by Meyrick (1883,

1895) and others prior to the concept of Ethmiidae

as a family.

The ethmiids were assigned family status in the

Gelechioidea in 1909, and most workers have followed this concept. However, as late as 1932,

Meyrick listed Ethmia in the Yponomeutidae. Evidence described in the following paragraphs indicates affinity with various gelechioid groups and

none suggests relationship with Yponomeuta or related genera. This conclusion corroborates that of

Friese (1960), the most recent student of the Yponomeutidae.

An overall assessment of the world fauna of

moths comprising the Gelechioidea will be necessary before the precise relationships and taxonomic

status of the ethmiids are known. As has become

increasingly evident in recent years (e.g., Hodges,

1964, 1966; Duckworth, 1970), the means of defining families of the Gelechioidea has gradually disappeared as our view of extra-Holarctic faunas has

begun to focus. In particular, Clarke's (1955b,

1963, 1965) illustrations of Meyrick's types in the

British Museum have shown that for the centers of

diversity of the major taxa we have neither usable

generic concepts nor definitions of higher categories.

The two major groups in the world fauna are

the Gelechiidae and the Oecophoridae, each with

something on the order of 4,000 described species.

The gelechiids may be the better known, since they

are better represented in North Temperate zones,

although a large fauna is to be expected anywhere

arid or seasonally dry regions are exploited. Even

in the Nearctic the picture is incomplete, both at

the species level and in higher categories. Oecophorids comprise a more poorly known assemblage

because the great centers of diversity, Australia

and South America, are relatively unworked. There

are 2,500 species described from Australia alone

(Common, 1970), virtually none of which has been

fully illustrated. Clarke's (1963) work has given

us some preview of the South American fauna, but

the whole group is without any higher taxonomic

framework on a world basis.

The Stenomidae, a primarily New World group,

with more than 1,500 described species in the Neotropical Region (Duckworth, 1965), appears to be

somewhat better defined with stronger morphological divergence from oecophorids and gelechiids

than is shown by the ethmiids. Stenomids are

characterized particularly by long-ciliated antennae in the male; forewing with veins R4 and R5

separate, with R5 running to the termen; hindwing with Rs and Ma stalked; valvae of male divided into lobes, bearing bifurcate or palmate

setae. All of these features distinguish the group

from Ethmiidae but not from every oecophorid,

so that it appears the Oecophoridae is a more ancestral group.

Ethmiids are best characterized by the following

combination of characters: labial palpus usually

uniformly slender, strongly upcurved, tapering;

veins R4 and R5 in forewing stalked with R5, running to the apex or costa; veins Rs and Mx in

hindwing separate; M2 originating about equidistant between Mx and M3 or nearer to Mx; male

genitalia (except in Pyramidobela) with well-defined "basal processes" (labides of Sattler, 1967;

everted lobes of the diaphragma that originate anteriorly of the base of the costa); gnathos when

present single (joined), median, dentate; valva divided; phallobase usually strongly recurved; larva

with elongate prolegs and secondary setae, particularly in SV group; pupa with lateral condylic

movement of abdominal segments V—VII (Pyramidobela) or V—VI (Ethmia). However, each of these

characters is shared with at least a few oecophorids,

so that no one feature is exclusively diagnostic for

Ethmiidae, unless one excludes Pyramidobela.

The genus Pyramidobela1 differs from Ethmia,

1

 After completion of the present manuscript, it was discovered that Pyramidobela is closely related to Ectaga

Walsingham, 1912, and to Atopotorna Meyrick, 1932, which

are currently assigned to the Oecophoridae. Members of this

Neotropical group are essentially indistinguishable in external characteristics of the adult and pupa from Pyramidobela. The genitalia, however, differ appreciably and may
24

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Pseudethmia, and Old World ethmiids of other

genera by having the second segment of the labial

palpus much larger than the third (Figure 40), by

having upraised scale tufts on the forewing, by

possession of an extra lobe on the valva, by absence of the "basal processes" (Figures 46-50), and

by female genitalia that feature a short, straight,

ductus bursae which is sclerotized, contiguous with

the upper portion of the ductus bursae (Figures

173-176). The genus is retained within the family

concept primarily on the basis of vein M2 of the

hind wing slightly nearer to Mi than to M3, the

divided valva, strongly recurved phallobase, and

presence of secondary setae on the anal proleg of

the larva.

The following characteristics of ethmiids are indicative of gelechioid, and in particular oecophorid relationships.

LARVA.—Characters which known ethmiids share

are as follows: head with primary setae only, their

arrangement not differing from Gelechiidae and

Oecophoridae; adfrontal sutures usually ending before cervical triangle; prothorax with L group trisetose; meso- and metathoracic segments L group

unisetose; SD dorsad of spiracles on abdominal

segments 1—7, cephalodorsad on 8; Lx and L2 adjacent on 8; SV group on abdominal segments often

with secondary setae; abdominal crotchets a mesoseries, mesopenellipse, or circle; anal comb lacking.

This combination, particularly the approximate Lx

and L2 on abdominal segments, indicates lack of

relationship to Yponomeutidae, but it is not sufficient to distinguish ethmiids as a taxon from

other Gelechioidea.

As can be seen in Table 3, many features vary

considerably among ethmiid larvae, even within

species groups. In several ways there are two basically different kinds of larvae in Ethmia, corprovide some insight into the relationship of Pyramidobela

to other ethmiids. In the male of Ectaga the general form

is similar, but the basal processes are retained and the valva

is simple, without the accessory lobe. These features suggest that Ectaga has a closer relationship to Ethmia than has

Pyramidobela. The female also shows similarity to

Pyramidobela. It has a short, straight ductus (but it is not

strongly sclerotized as in Pyramidobela, and a simplified,

patchlike, scobinate signum is retained. An assessment of the

status and affinities of species of Ectaga and related forms

should be of value in interpreting ethmiid-oecophorid relationships.

responding to the sections defined by study of

adults: (a) Section I (uncus-possessing groups)

members have secondary setae that are not on welldefined pinacula, usually on SV group of abdominal segment 9, and sometimes 1, 2, 7, and 8, but

not on the abdominal prolegs, and have the crotchets in a mesoseries or mesopenellipse; while (b)

members of Section II (non-uncus groups; larvae

represented by 3 species in 3 groups) have numerous secondary setae on abdominal prolegs (on

a distinct pinaculum) and anal prolegs, but few on

SV of segments 1, 2, 7, 8, and none on 9, and have

the crotchets arranged in a circle.

Thus most features with which ethmiid larvae

were characterized by past writers were based on

examination of too few species. For example, Peterson (1948) relied heavily on arrangement of

abdominal proleg crotchets in a "mesoseries which

may resemble a penellipse" in his diagnosis of the

family. However, this generalization seems to have

been at least in part based on some kind of error

by Fracker (1915) who described but did not illustrate the larvae of Ethmia longimaculella and

E. zelleriella. Ethmia longimaculella represents

Section II and according to one larva examined by

me is like that of E. confusella and E. semiombra

(Trifurcella group) in having the crotchets in a

distinct circle and numerous secondary setae on a

distinct pinaculum on the abdominal prolegs (Figures 286, 287). Fracker stated that E. longimaculella had the crotchets arranged in a mesoseries and

that there were 8 or 10 secondary setae in the SV

(=Pi) group of the abdominal segments.

Similarly, Fracker found the short frons and adfrontal sutures to be characteristic for Ethmia he

examined, and this feature was cited by Peterson

(1948) as diagnostic for ethmiids, even though the

more elongate front with adfrontals reaching the

cervical triangle had been shown in E. macelhosiella by Busck and Heinrich (1922). A very short

frons apparently is characteristic of many stenomids (e.g., Busck and Dampf, 1929; Keifer, 1936b,

1937; Silva and Heinrich, 1946) which also have a

large, heavily sclerotized head capsule. This development is similar to that of Section II of

Ethmia, although the short frons appears in scattered groups (Table 3).

Other authors (e.g., Benander, 1937, 1965) have

emphasized the secondary setae, particularly those
NUMBER 120 25

TABLE 3.—Larval Characters in New World Ethmiidae

Species

group

Albitoeata

Charybdis

Semilugens

Macelhosiella

Bipunctella

ZellerieUa

Kirbyi

Confusella

Longimaculella ...

Trifurcella

Pyramidobela

(Species

examined)

(5)

\ /

(1)

(6)

\ /

(2)

(2)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

Adfrontals

reach

cervical

triangle

0.6 to nearly

yes

no

yes

no

no

nearly

no

no

0.5

nearly

Sclerotixed

depression

posterodorsal

to spiracle

no

no

no

no

no

no

yes

(no sclerot.)

yes

no

yes

no

SV

onAbd.

0-2

0

0-2

0

0

0

0

8-12,5

6-10

10,2-4

0

Secondary setae

SVAbd.

prolegs

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20-25

18-20

18-22

0

SV

Abd. 9

0-8

0-1

1-14

8

6-18

?

5-6

0

0

0

Anal

proleg

0

S

0-3

0

0

?

0

20-22

20-22

15

Crotchets

penellipse

r r

penellipse * *

penellips * * e

mesoserie ors

penellipse

penellipse

or

mesoseries

penellipse

r r

or

mesoseries

mesoseries

circle

circle

circle

circle

of the SV group on abdominal 9, as a diagnostic

character after study of Holarctic species. This is

neither a constant feature of Ethmia, nor is it

limited to ethmiids. Accessory setae of the SV

group occur occasionally in Oecophoridae (e.g.,

Apachea; Clarke, 1941) and on abdominal segment

9 in some Stenomidae (e.g., Antaeotricha manzanitae Keifer, 1937).

The presence of secondary setae in general is a

characteristic of most ethmiids, but the placement

and number of the accessory setae is highly variable. In addition to the range shown in Table 3,

Old World species of the Assamensis and Nigroapicella groups (of Sattler, 1967) possess secondary

setae in all setal groups, including the thoracic segments (Issiki, et al., 1969; specimens USNM). Secondary setae, especially on the anal proleg, occur

in isolated genera throughout the Gelechioidea.

According to Keifer (1936a), these are confined to

the lower series of primary setae and are only on

the lateral and anterior sides of the proleg in most

western Nearctic gelechioids, whereas there were

many accessory setae in both upper and lower series

on Ethmia and Pyramidobela examined by him. Occurrence of anal proleg secondary setae in species

I examined appeared to be as variable as any of

the other secondary setae placements (Table 3).

The extreme development of secondary setae

among Gelechioidea appears to be in Aetia

(=Chaetocampa)2, as indicated by A. bipunctella

Chambers (=crotonella Bottimer) and an undescribed species in Florida, which possess numerous

secondary setae all over the body (Bottimer, 1926;

specimens USNM).

PUPA.—As distinguished by Mosher (1916), pupae of Gelechioidea differ from Yponomeutoidea

by having the prothorax the same length on the

meson as at the sides (distinctly shorter in Yponomeutoids), by having the labial palpi concealed

(both maxillary and labial palpi exposed in

Yponomeutoidea), and by having the distal portion

of the antennae adjacent, often separated again at

the apex (usually entirely separate or scarcely adjacent well before apex in Yponomeutoidea). Although certain of these features may be more

variable than she appreciated on the basis of the

number of genera examined, and although some

groups share certain characteristics of both superfamilies (e.g., Scythrididae), the diagnosis seems to

be generally valid. Ethmiidae, which were excluded from Mosher's survey, possess features of

'Clarke (1962, 1964) has proposed that this and related

genera consitute a separate family, Blastodacnidae, in part

on the basis of larval and pupal characteristics. It is another

group in the Gelechioidea for which relationships have not

been defined.
26

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

the Gelechioidea and show no resemblance to any

genera of Yponomeutidae in these general characters.

Pupae of all Gelechioidea remain anchored in

place at emergence of the moth, usually within a

cocoon.

The ethmiids align with the Oecophoridae and

Stenomidae according to pupal structure. All have

relatively short appendages that are correlated with

a reduction in the number of movable abdominal

segments. The appendages extend caudad only to

the fifth or sixth abdominal segment and the abdomen has strongly movable fourth to sixth or

seventh segments, via deep incisions dorsally and

ventrally. This basic structure is common to all

genera of the three families that I have examined,

including many Nearctic and a scattering of Neotropical oecophorids and stenomids.

In certain oecophorid genera (e.g., Schiffermulleria, Esperia, Carcina) the incisions are equal all

around the abdomen, while in others the movement

is restricted to dorsoventral by means of constrictions called lateral condyles by Keifer (1936a).

This mechanism is partially developed in Psilocorsis and well developed in other spined-gnathos

groups of Oecophoridae (Agonopterix, Depressaria,

Apachea), as well as in Stenomidae (Antaeotricha,

Stenoma, Gonioterma, Setiostoma) and Ethmiidae.

It is interesting that the basic structure is retained even in the bizarre pupa of Gonionota

(Bourquin, 1945; specimens USNM, CIS). Members of this Neotropical genus possess curious pupal

shapes and ornamentation, the product of cryptic

resemblance through exposed pupation on foliage,

which is accomplished by a flat, stublike cremaster

arrangement formed of constricted VIII-IX segments.

Corroborating evidence in larvae, there are two

distinct types of pupae in Ethmia, corresponding

to the major sections defined by adult morphology

(Table 4). In addition to their mode of anchoring by condylic grasp (see Biology Section; Plate

20g-/i), pupae of the Confusella-LongimaculellaTrifurcella groups (Section II) are more cylindrical, with much heavier integument, and have

the appendages more elongate, extending caudad

to segment 6 (Figures 291, 292). This apparently

restricts movement in general, particularly that of

the 6-7 intersegmental incision. The structure appears to be correlated with a frail cocoon; although

diapause is not recorded with certainty in pupae of

these groups, the pupa shell appears to be the

protective mechanism, whereas the cocoon serves

this purpose in the other section of the genus

(Powell, 1971). Section I groups possess a dorsoventrally flattened pupa with relatively thin integument (not resistent to dessication), and in all

species except E. scylla (Figure 290) anchor by

means of the peculiar caudal extensions that I

have termed "anal legs" (Figures 288, 289). This

structure, which is well developed on all previously

described species, had been thought of as perhaps

the single most distinctive characteristic of the

genus. The seventh and eighth segments are constricted ventrally, and the ninth forms an expansion. From the anterior portion of the ninth

segment two broad, boot-shaped structures extend

anteriorly, reaching the sixth segment. Distally, the

TABLE 4.—Pupal characters in New World Ethmiidae

Species

group

Albitogata

Charybdis

Semilugens

Macelhosiella .

Bipunctella

Zelleriella

Kirbyi

Confusella

Longimaculella

Trifurcella

Pyramidobela .

(Species

examined)

Spiracular

grid/pit

Condylic

segments

Anal

"prolegs"

Condylic

grasp to

anchor Setaceous

(3)

(1)

(6)

(2)

(2)

(1)

(2)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(2)

no

no

no

no

shallow

deep

very deep

shallow

deep

no

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

VI-VII

V, VI, VII

yes

(no scylla)

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

yes
NUMBER 120 27

anal legs bear a series of strong, hooked setae that

act as a cremaster in anchoring the pupa at emergence of the moth. The size and divergence of the

anal legs and the number of setae vary somewhat

within species, but some general species differences

are exhibited (Powell, 1971).

The pupa of Pyramidobela lacks any development of these caudal structures. (The pupa of

Pseudethmia is unknown.) Moreover, as pointed

out by Keifer (1936a) Pyramidobela has three flexible sutures (making segments 5, 6, 7 movable), a

trait similar to Depressaria, Agonopterix, and related Oeophoridae, whereas the flexible sutures are

restricted to two in Ethmia. Thus, although one

might expect the pupal structure to be a conservative character, the two specialized types in Ethmia,

one worldwide, the other apparently of New World

derivation, restrict use of the pupa as a source of

information on family relationships.

Although the anal legs are unique as compared

to Lepidoptera in general, apparently homologous

structures occur in scattered genera of Gelechioidea

in other families. For example, Fletcher (1933)

illustrated them in species then referred to three

families: Microcolona technographa Meyrick (a

momphid of the blastodacnid type), Aeolanth.es

sagulata Meyrick (Xyloryctidae), and Cladobrostis

melitricha Meyrick (which was called a blastobasid

but said to be a curious form of uncertain affinities, and figures of it suggest that it also may be a

blastodacnid). Two of these pupate in twig galleries, but Aeolanthes pupates in the larval shelter

formed between two leaves. None diapause as

pupae. The same structural development is shown

in Aetia (=Chaetocampa) bipunctella (=crotonella) and an undescribed species from Florida

(Bottimer, 1926; specimens USNM), which have

been considered Blastodacnidae.

By comparison, most Oecophoridae possess a

generalized pupal anchoring structure, consisting

of setae on the relatively unspecialized ninth segment. This may be either unmodified with about

eight caudal setae (Carcina, Psilocorsis, some

Agonopterix), with a rodlike caudal extension

bearing the hooked setae at its apex (Esperia,

SchifJermiiUeria, some Neotropical species currently

without proper generic assignments), or may be a

ventrally modified segment with caudal and lateral

rows of setae (some Agonopterix, Depressaria, Apachea) (Keifer, 1936a; specimens USNM, CIS). In

the recently described South American genus Maesara (Clarke, 1968), the pupal features and anal

legs are quite similar to Ethmia (specimens

USNM).

The Stenomidae exhibit the greatest range of

cremaster modification of any group mentioned

here, but no species examined has anal legs as in

Ethmia (Busck and Dampf, 1929; Keifer, 1936b,

1937; Silva and Heinrich, 1946; specimens USNM).

Some stenomids have a generalized type with a

produced, attenuated caudal structure bearing

apical setae, while others possess both this and

hooked setae along the anterior margin of the ninth

segment (e.g., Antaeotricha, undescribed species

from Venezuela) or only the anterior setae, such

as A. manzanitae Keifer, A. frontalis (Z.), while A.

virens Meyrick displays strong, anteriorly produced,

attenuated structures comparable to the anal legs

of Ethmia. Setiostoma has a further derivation,

with hooked structures on the anterior margin of

the seventh segment (Keifer, 1936b; Duckworth,

1971).

Thus a variety of cremaster mechanisms has been

developed from the less movable pupal type that

is common to the depressariine oecophorid-ethmiidstenomid line, and the peculiar anal legs appear

to have been independently developed in Ethmiidae, Blastodacnidae, Oecophoridae, and Xylorictidae.

ADULT.—The tapering, strongly upcurved labial

palpus is common to all ethmiids except a few reduced forms such as Ethmia charybdis, E. scylla,

and E. mulleri. Though not stable throughout,

this feature is characteristic of most Gelechioidea,

distinguishing them from Yponomeutoidea. The

maxillary palpus is well developed, 4-segmented

and scaled, folded over the base of the haustellum,

in most Ethmiidae as in most Gelechioidea; but it

is minute, 1- or 2-segmented, presumably a derivative reduction, in the certain Ethmia of both

Palearctic (Sattler, 1967) and Nearctic. The base

of the haustellum is scaled in ethmiids, as in most

Gelechioidea but not Yponomeutoidea. The antenna is short ciliated in all New World ethmiids;

in the Australian species, Ethmia sphaerosticha

(Meyrick), the male antenna bears a large, expansible tuft of long silky hairs (Common, 1970).

Probably this is an isolated kind of male secondary
28

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

character not homologous with the long ciliation

of stenomids. The pecten of the scape, two types

of which are characteristic of many oecophorids, is

lacking in ethmiids.

The wing venation in general does not differ

much from many genera of oecophorids. The forewing has R4 and R5 stalked, with the basal stem

absent in the cell (present in Yponomeuta) and

R5 terminating at the apex or on the costa (on

the termen in Yponomeutoidea). The origin of

hindwing vein M2 was used by Busck and others

to distinguish ethmiids, nearer to Mx than to M3,

in contrast to nearer M3 in stenomids and oecophorids. This character is consistent in a general sense.

In Ethmiidae it varies from distinctly nearer to Mx

in Pyramidobela and some Ethmia (Figure 44), to

essentially equidistant in Pseudethmia and most

Ethmia (Figures 43, 45), to slightly nearer Mx in occasional Ethmia; whereas in Oecophoridae, M2

is usually near M3 -(- Cuj (e.g., see figures given

by Clarke, 1941, 1963) or even stalked with M3

(e.g., in Arctoscelis), but often the veins are equidistant, and occasionally M2 is closer to Mi (e.g.,

slightly in Anchonoma and Eomichla, distinctly so

in the Australian Eupselia and in the South American Maesara Clarke, 1968). Veins M3 and Cux may

be stalked, connate, or separate in Oecophoridae,

and in Ethmiidae stalked or connate (Figures 42,

44), varying to slightly separate in Ethmia charybdis (Figure 43), despite the fact that this character

was used to distinguish Ethmia (connate) in some

keys. The occurrence of a crossvein in the hindwing between Sc and Rs in the Delliella, Cypraeella, and Exornata groups (Figure 44) is a

curious anomaly, and this is rare in Oecophoridae

(e.g., tht African Epiphractis; see Clarke, 1963)

and in Gelechioidea in general, but is usual in

Yponomeutoidea (Forbes, 1923). This led Walsingham (1897, 1906) to separate West Indian moths

here referred to Ethmia into two families.

Characters of the male genitalia have long been

relied upon by microlepidopterists as primary criteria for differentiating species and defining higher

categories. Since these structures often provide the

most easily distinguished differences at the species

level, we can assume they are the most rapidly

evolving morphological features, and for this reason, in general, they provide better bases for distinguishing between families and superfamilies

than in indicating relationships among them. Ethmiids (and Gelechioidea in general) provide an

excellent example: species and species groups are

easily separable on genital morphology (relative

to the situation in many Microlepidoptera genera,

Tortricoidea for example), and some indications of

relationships between groups are displayed; but defining the family on the basis of genitalia is difficult, and indications of relationships on this basis

are almost nonexistent. In Ethmiidae the uncus is

of two wholly different kinds or completely lacking; the gnathos is characteristic, single and

strongly dentate, differing from all other Gelechioidea, but it is absent from one-third of the New

World species; the valva characteristically is divided, but the types of division may not be

homologous (basal part of costa or cucullus in

Ethmia, accessory lobe in Pyramidobela), and the

wide variety of ornamentations similarly are without apparent relationships to one another or to

other gelechioid forms. The basal processes provide perhaps the single most unifying character in

Ethmia and Pseudethmia but are lacking in Pyramidobela.3

 A comparable structure appears in

occasional Oecophoridae (e.g., Pseudodoxia and

Psaltica in Ceylon and India, Clarke, 1963), but

usually this appears to originate from a more

sclerotized region of the basal part of the valva itself

rather than from the membranous diaphragma posterior to the costa. The strongly recurved phallobase

is present in all ethmiids except the Notatella group,

but this feature is developed in occasional oecophorids, for example, the Oriental genus Eutorna and

Philomusaea in Argentina (Clarke, 1963), and the

Old World Tanyzancla (Diakonoff, 1967), as well

as elsewhere in the Gelechioidea.

The female genitalia are more conservative in

morphological diversity, and although species differences such as in sterigma form usually exist,

group relationships corresponding to those indicated by male genitalia are inconsistent. The form

of the papillae anales, with the setate surfaces rotated to face laterally, is common to many groups

of Gelechioidea, while the generally short posterior

apophyses, restricting extension of the ovipositor,

is a derivative type suggesting relationship with

depressariine Oecophoridae and Stenomidae. Ger1

 However, they are present in Atopotorna and some Ectaga

(see footnote 1).
NUMBER 120 29

tain of the more elaborate sterigma developments,

such as the lateral lobes in the Cypraeella group,

appear occasionally in oecophorids (e.g., the African Epiphractis; see Clarke, 1963), while other

specialized types like that of Zelleriella group

are unique to Ethmia. The strong tendency for

spiral loops in the ductus bursae in Ethmia is lacking in Pyramidobela, but sporadic in Oecophoridae

(e.g., Epiphractis, Tanyzancla), and rare in stenomids. The ethmiid signum is too variable to be

categorized, but the forms shown in nonuncus

groups believed to be of New World derivation

("broad cone," "notched keel") do not occur elsewhere in related families, while the "dentate bar"

characteristic of Holarctic Ethmia groups evidently

is a more ancestral type, appearing in many genera

of oecophorids and stenomids. The female genitalia

of Pyramidobela are unlike anything here discussed,

either in Ethmia or in oecophorids I have seen.

CONCLUSION.—In characters of larva, pupa, and

adult, ethmiids show relationships to Gelechioidea

and not to Yponomeutoidea, with which they have

been allied by some past workers.

Larvae exhibit different types of development of

secondary setae to a greater degree than in other

Gelechioidea except Blastodacnidae. Arrangement

of secondary setae and crotchets corresponds to the

two sections of Ethmia based on adult and pupal

characters.

The pupa is a specialized type common to

Depressaria and related genera of Oecophoridae

and to Stenomidae, wherein the movable segments

of the abdomen are reduced to 5, 6, and 7. A

further reduction occurs in Ethmia, to 6 and 7, and

functionally if not morphologically in the primarily

Neotropical nonuncus section, to segment 6 alone,

which is used to grasp the exuvium or cocoon in

anchoring. In the remainder of the genus, anchoring is accomplished by anteriorly directed "anal

legs," while the cremaster is of a simple type in

Pyramidobela.

Adult characteristics in Ethmiidae are most

similar to Oecophoridae, with similarity in each

feature shown sporadically in typical oecophorid

genera of both Old and New Worlds.

The monobasic oecophorid genus Maesara Clarke,

1968, described from Colombia (and its allies when

discovered), may provide a key to ethmiid relationships when more is known of tropical faunas. Although superficially and in most aspects of genital

morphology, this species is unlike any ethmiids,

the wing venation of Maesara gallegoi is similar to

Pyramidobela, and the pupa resembles Ethmia in

possession of anal legs but has the condylic flexion

of the 5—7 segments of other Oecophoridae. Moreover, the spiral ductus bursae and rudimentary

basal processes are unusual characters in oecophorids that suggest relationship to ethmiids.

Clarke found no close relative in the Neotropical

fauna and believed Maesara to be related to the

Australian genus Sphyrelata. Since Maesara gallegoi

is known only from agricultural situations, as an

associate of apple trees, an introduced plant in

Colombia, it is possible that the moth is also introduced in South America from the Old World.

It is possible that the Ethmiidae as presently

defined is not a monophyletic unit and certainly

probable that it does not comprise a taxon of comparable level to the Oecophoridae and some other

families of the Gelechioidea. Most likely the group

will best be considered a subfamily or tribe within

the Oecophoridae when some assessment of the

higher taxa in that family is available, and at that

time treatment of Pyramidobela as a separate taxon

of equivalent level may be realized, perhaps related

to different oecophorids.

Biology

Whereas our knowledge of the New World ethmiids

based on adults gradually decreases as one considers

the fauna successively southward, biological information on the group drops abruptly in the

Neotropical region. In fact, south of the United

States virtually nothing is known of the habits of

these moths. With the exception of two species

that have been reared in southern Texas, one in

southern Florida, and two in Cuba, for which little

other than the foodplant is known, life histories of

Neotropical Ethmia have not been studied.

Thus several species groups are wholly lacking

from the discussion which follows, i.e., the

Cypraeella group, the Exornata group, the

Notatella group, and several of the unique smaller

groups. This fact should be borne in mind in

considering generalizations about the family, since

several of these groups are New World derivatives

which are remote from other species groups in

adult morphology and may well exhibit biological
30

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

features that are equally distinctive. Moreover,

data on Pseudethmia and Pyramidobela are limited

to a little information on the latter, further emphasizing the incompleteness of the picture.

Biological data are available for a relatively good

representation of the taxonomic spectrum for

Nearctic species. Although only about 20 species

have been reared (in addition to the Neotropical

species in Florida and Texas mentioned above),

members of all the species groups in North America

are included. Therefore, the following discussion,

while omitting unique Neotropical species groups,

nonetheless encompasses most of the taxonomic

diversity in New World Ethmia, since the major

adult groupings are represented in the Nearctic.

Most of the following summary is based on my

study of 14 species in California (Powell, 1971),

although some species groups are represented only

by work done in the eastern United States and in

Europe. Additional information has been incorporated from Old World studies where these

seem pertinent, but no attempt has been made to

review literature on ethmiid biology on a worldwide basis. Food-plant information has recently

been summarized and assessed for the Palearctic

fauna by Sattler (1967). However, species groups

in the Palearctic are comparable with only a small

portion of our fauna.

HOST-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS

WORLDWIDE.—Most Ethmia are host specific on

some genus of Boraginaceae or Hydrophyllaceae.

Inasmuch as the latter family is restricted to the

New World, the Boraginaceae is the principal plant

family with which ethmiids are associated when

the group is considered on a worldwide basis. In

the Palearctic, Anchusa, Echium, Lithospermum,

and Symphytum are the most widely used among

some 15 borage genera recorded for various Ethmia,

while Nearctic species have been reared from

Amsinckia, Lithospermum, Cryptantha, Plagiobothrys, and Cynoglossum. Two Neotropical species,

four species in the Indo-Oriental region (Fletcher,

1921, 1933; Sattler, 1967), two species in South

Africa (Taylor, 1951), and one in Australia (Common, 1970) have been reared from Ehretia. Even

in the Pacific Islands a borage, Cordia, is used

(Swezey, 1944; LeGrand, 1965).

There are a number of exceptions to the use of

Boraginaceae, representing taxonomically diverse

plant families. In his summary of food plants used

by Palearctic species, Sattler (1967) has analyzed

the source literature and as a result has indicated

that most of the plant families which have been

recorded are not hosts of Ethmia. Most of these

are excluded on the grounds that either the larvae

or plants were misidentified or because some

erroneous assumption had been made, or that they

appeared through mechanical error in publication.

The most numerous examples of confirmed hosts

other than Boraginaceae are from the closely related family Hydrophyllaceae, which serves nearly

half of the Nearctic species for which biological

information is available. In Europe, the genotype,

E. aurifluella (Hiibner), and three other species

feed on Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), while in

other parts of the world this family is not known

to be used. The Rosaceae genus Cercocarpus is the

host of two closely related Nearctic species, and

Collinsia in the Scrophulariaceae harbors one. The

only two rearing records from the Caribbean

region are for Meliaceae (Trichilia) and Phytolaccaceae (Stegnospermum), both in Cuba.

Finally, Meliosma (Sabiaceae) is reported as a

host of E. assamensis (Butler), a species which also

feeds on Ehretia (Moriuti, 1963, cited by Sattler,

1967) and similarly, Lychnis (Caryophyllaceae) is

considered by Sattler as a validly recorded food

plant of E. pusiella (L.). This species is known to

feed on at least seven genera of Boraginaceae, while

most of the records for Caryophyllaceae, including

several for two genera other than Lychnis, are discredited by Sattler.

The host of Pseudethmia is unknown, while two

species of Pyramidobela have been recorded using

Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae) (Braun, 1921a) and

Buddleia (Loganiaceae), the latter in California

where the plant is introduced (Keifer, 1936a).

Among exceptional host records for American

species are several that are probably not valid

because the pupation site formed the basis of the

association. Owing to the habit Ethmia larvae

display in wandering and often burrowing into

soft wood or similar substrates for pupation, cocoon

sites should be considered suspect in deriving foodplant records. Thus, E. arctostaphylella received

its name from a supposed association with
NUMBER 120 31

Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae), but this species has

been shown to be specific on various members of

Eriodictyon (Hydrophyllaceae) (Powell, 1971).

This species has also been reared from a dry Yucca

(Agavaceae) inflorescence stalk. Similarly, E.

monticola fuscipedella, which has been taken feeding on Lithospermum, is represented by reared

specimens in collections labeled as having emerged

from burrows in young pine. Two Texas species,

at least one of which has Ehretia as a host, were

reared from pupae in aegeriid-infested stems of

Wissadula (Malvaceae) (Heinrich, 1921).

NEW WORLD.—There is no clear-cut pattern of

host relationships correlating plant taxa and species

groups which might indicate coevolutionary radiation among Ethmia. If we consider the Hydrophyllaceae to be a New World derivative, it appears

that no one line or group of Ethmia has proliferated

after adaptation to these plants. Species which have

adopted hydrophylls are scattered across the full

spectrum of Nearctic species groups, primarily

through use of various species of Phacelia.

In general, deviations from an alleged primitive

association with Boraginaceae seems to have occurred by species independent of one another,

adapting to several unrelated Nearctic plants,

especially endemic forms in arid parts of the

western states. In the Hydrophyllaceae, Eriodictyon,

a genus restricted to California and adjacent states,

is the host for E. arctostaphylella and all species of

the plant genus are used. Moths of closely related

species use not only Phacelia, but also western

endemics in Rosaceae and Boraginaceae. Thus,

members of the discostrigella complex are restricted

to Cercocarpus although they are among the more

widespread species of New World Ethmia. Of the

several endemic species in California, two use

Amsinckia, one depends upon Plagiobothrys, and

one feeds on Cryptantha. The latter example, E.

minuta, exhibits considerable morphological adaptation in specialized oviposition, associated with

this densely bristled, xeric annual. The most radical departure in this group is by scylla, which feeds

on Collinsia (Scrophulariaceae).

HOST SPECIFICITY.—In Palearctic Ethmia a pattern

seems to be emerging wherein a more or less

indiscriminate acceptance of Boraginaceae is revealed with increase of rearing records. Thus, of

18 species for which Sattler (1967) summarizes

records, 15 feed on Boraginaceae and three solely

on plants of other families; and 7 of 15 have been

recorded from more than one genus (up to seven

genera) of Boraginaceae. Moreover, of those known

only on one genus, seven of eight have been documented by only one report, suggesting that

in effect no information on specificity is available.

By contrast, three of four species associated with

Ranunculaceae (E. pyrausta (Pallas), E. chrysopygella (Kolenati), and E. flavianella (Treitschke))

have each been recorded on the one genus Thalictrum from two to seven times. The only species that

have been reported feeding on both Boraginaceae

and some member of another family are associated

with the nonborage by only a single record, and

these need to be confirmed.

For the North American fauna a similar pattern

of host ranges may obtain, but there are fewer field

larval records and these are scattered among a wider

array of species. However, this information is in

part corroborated by experimental data from my

studies with California Ethmia, which indicate

that host specificity is manifested to varying degrees

both in females' selection of oviposition sites and

in acceptance of food by larvae (Powell, 1971).

Thus, plagiobothrae females selected Phacelia

californica when the true host Plagiobothrys (confirmed by many field collections of larvae) was also

present. However, first instar larvae were unable to

feed on the Phacelia at all. Similarly, brevistriga

females failed to oviposit on Cryptantha when it

was offered alone, but accepted it in combination

with the known field host, Phacelia distans. The

newly hatched larvae selected Phacelia when both

these plants were available. Females of albitogata,

a species which in the field feeds only on Amsinckia

so far as known, refused to oviposit at all when

only Phacelia californica was provided, but showed

a weak oviposition response (35 eggs among 4

females) when offered Plagiobothrys. First instar

larvae mostly rejected the latter plant, but a few

fed on it, dying in an apparently starved condition,

in the second and third instars. Newly hatched

larvae of coquillettella, a species believed to feed

on Phacelia (based on one collection), accepted

both Phacelia tanacetifolia and Nemophila, a host

which appeared to be nutritionally adequate, but

probably is not used in the field owing to its rapid

maturation rate. However, larvae of coquillettella
32 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

in the second and third instars which had previously fed on Phacelia rejected Nemophila. The best

evidence of specificity was provided by scylla;

females refused to oviposit when offered Amsinckia,

displayed a weak reponse (35 eggs by 4 females) to

Plagiobothiys, and responded well to the confirmed

field host Collinsia (124 eggs by 4 females). First

instar larvae completely rejected Amsinckia and

Phacelia, both when offered as a choice with

Collinsia and in absence of Collinsia.

There are 23 North American species of Ethmia

for which we have reliable data on larval food

plant (Table 5) (including three essentially

Neotropical species in southern Texas and Florida),

TABLE 5.—Food plants of New World Ethmiidae

Species

Ethmia: Section I

E. coquillettella Busck

£. minuta Powell

£. plagiobothrae Powell

E. albitogata Walsingham

E. brevistriga Clarke

E. b. aridicola Powell

£. scylla Powell

£. chary bdis Powell

£. albistrigella (Walsingham)

£. nadia Clarke

£. arctostaphylella (Walsingham)....

£. discostrigella (Chambers)

£. semitenebrella Dyar

£. semilugens (Zeller)

£. timberlakei Powell

E. macelhosiella Busck

£. fuscipedella (Walsingham)

£. zelleriella (Chambers)

£. delliella (Fernald)

£. subsimilis (Walsingham)

Ethmia: Section II

£. conjusella (Walker)

E. I. longimaculella (Chambers)

E. semiombra Dyar

E. albicostella (Beutenmuller)

£. trifurcella (Chambers)

£. oterosella Busck

Pyramidobela quinqueeristata

(Braun)

P. angelarum Keifer

Field host

Phacelia distans

Plagiobothrys nothofulvus

P. tenellus

Amsinckia lunaris

A. spectabilis

Phacelia distans

P. distans var. australis

Collinsia heterophylla

Amsinckia tessellata

A. intermedia

Phacelia ramosissima

P. ramosissima var.

suffrutescens

Eriodictyon californicum

Cercocarpus ledifolius

C. parvifolius

Phacelia crenulata

P. calthifolia

P. ramosissima var.

suffrutescens

P. covillei

Lithospermum gmelini

L. canescens

Phacelia dubia

P. bipinnatifida

Ehretia elliptica

Trichilia hirta

Bourreria ovata

Lithospermum officinale

L. latifolium

Onosmodium

h ispidissimum

Ehretia elliptica (?)

Lithospermum sp.

Cynoglossum virginianum

Stegnospermum halimifolia

Penstemon confertus

P. deustus

Buddleia Tdavidii

Laboratory accepted

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Nemophila maculata

Cryptantha intermedia

Phacelia distans

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Cercocarpus montanus

Cercocarpus ledifolius

Source

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Dyar, 1902

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Powell, 1971

Busck and Heinrich, 1922

Braun, in litt. (Ohio)

Specimen (F. P. Ide, Ontario)

Dyar, 1904

Braun, in litt. (Ohio)

Busck, 1908b; specimens (Texas)

Busck, 1934, Bruner et al., 1945

Specimens (D. H. Habeck, Florida)

Specimen (Fletcher, Ontario)

Braun, 1921

Braun, in litt. (Ohio)

Specimen labels (Texas)

Braun, in litt. (Wyoming)

Braun, in litt. (Ohio and Kentucky)

Busck, 1934

Braun, 1921 a

present data

Keifer, 1936 a
NUMBER 120 33

but more than one-third of them (8) have been

studied at only one locality and therefore can be

eliminated from consideration in development of

generalizations on host specificity. The remaining

15 have been reared mostly at two sites (three

California species from numerous populations), so

that at best the apparent host specificity pattern is

tentative.

Only one Nearctic species has been reared from

more than one host genus. Larvae of E. trifurcella

have been taken twice each on Lithospermum and

Onosmodium (Boraginaceae).

Among those feeding on Hydrophyllaceae, good

evidence is available, indicating specificity to

Eriodictyon by E. arctostaphylella, with several

species of the genus used. The same appears to be

true of the Phacelia feeders, judging from evidence

provided by pairs of closely related species, i.e.,

albistrigella-nadia (three populations sampled), and

macelhosiella-timberlakei (one population in each

of two species).

In Boraginaceae feeders, western species which

have adapted to Cryptantha, Plagiobothrys, and

Amsinckia appear to exhibit specificity within each

genus, based in part on association of the adults of

these diurnal species. Similarly, several specimen

label records, although varying in completeness of

the identification, suggest that E. semiombra is

constant on Ehretia, at least in southern Texas.

Records are too few for any of the rest of the

Nearctic species, but those which have been reared

from Lithospermum and Cynoglossum may well

feed on other genera of Boraginaceae in the manner

of the Palearctic Ethmia.

SEASONAL LIFE HISTORY

The majority of New World species have been

collected too few times or only in such scattered

geographical areas that no conclusion about flight

periods can be made. Using the best known species

as representatives of their respective species groups,

it appears that the Neotropical groups are all

multivoltine. Many may breed more or less

continously. Included in species exhibiting this

indiscriminate pattern are members of the Kirbyi

group (E. davisella may be an exception), Cypraeella

group, Exornata group, Notatella group, Confusella

group, Joviella group, and E. hammella.

At least two groups appear to be composed of

species which are multivoltine and others that are

univoltine or bivoltine. Thus E. elutella and E.

janzeni have been taken only in the winter months

(dry season) at localities which have been sampled

at other times of the year, while the closely related

E. submissa flies throughout the year in the Caribbean. The widespread Longimaculella and Trifurcella groups include Temperate Zone members

with univoltine or bivoltine patterns and Neotropical species that are multivoltine. A series of

thorn-forest species may be single brooded, flying

in summer months, prior to, during, and just after

the rainy season and foliation of the deciduous

thorn forest.

In Nearctic species a more clear-cut pattern can

be seen, not only because the climate dictates narrower seasonal activity limits, but because more

documentation is available for most species. Both

univoltine and bivoltine life cycles are represented,

and at least two species, E. arctostaphylella and E.

discostrigella, probably have one generation in

parts of their range and are facultatively multivoltine elsewhere.

Among strictly univoltine species, whole groups

have usually developed as such together. Thus all

members of the Albitogata group are single

brooded, flying early in the season. They have

evolved diurnal flight habits presumably in response to low nighttime temperatures at that time

of year. By contrast, members of the Macelhosiella

group and E. charybdis have a single annual

generation, but fly in late fall, having developed

two-stage diapause in order to feed as larvae in

early spring when the annual hosts are available.

Whether uni- or multivoltine, diapause in

Nearctic species usually occurs in the pupal stage.

Pupation normally occurs within 10-12 days after

the cocoon is constructed, and if it is the overwintering generation, diapause evidently obtains

soon thereafter. An exception occurs in the

Macelhosiella group and E. charybdis where

aestivation takes place as a pupa, and the moths

emerge in late fall. In E. timberlakei and E.

charybdis oviposition takes place in November, and

the eggs enter diapause. With E. macelhosiella,

however, Busck and Heinrich (1922) were unable

to obtain oviposition, although mating was observed. They surmised that the adults hibernate.

California members of this group live in desert
34 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

areas, and may have their emergence, oviposition,

and diapause tied to winter rains, which result in

germination of the food plant. In the eastern

United States, E. macelhosiella would appear to

be governed by different factors, and hibernation

may occur in the adult through some type of arrest

in reproductive development.

ADULT

DIEL PERIODICITY.—On the basis of light attraction records, it appears that the majority of ethmiids

are nocturnal moths. This generalization probably

encompasses all of the Neotropical species, although

activity periods of many have not definitely been

recorded as yet, even by collections at light. In the

Temperate Zone a number of species are diurnal

in both the Old and New World. The Albitogata

species group, centered in the southwestern United

States, is comprised entirely of diurnal species that

fly in early spring. Evidently the correlation of

specialized seasonal and diel rhythms has set the

stage for adaptation to a niche which could not be

available later in the season when nighttime

temperatures are suitable for activity by the

majority of Microlepidoptera. The annual Boraginaceae and Hydrophyllaceae in this area are available for a relatively short time prior to the long,

dry season which coincides with the warmer

months.

None of these species has ever been taken at light

and when caged, their activities, including mating

and oviposition, are confined to a few hours between noon and sunset, the time of height of activity varying somewhat between species. As discussed

in the taxonomic section, these moths have relatively smaller eyes, with the "eye index" (a comparison of eye size to height of the front) ranging

0.7 to 0.8, whereas it is 1.0 to 1.2 in most of the rest

of the New World species, which are known or believed to be nocturnal.

There are a number of species which are somewhat intermediate in behavior, in eye size, or both.

Members of the albistrigella complex are evidently

primarily diurnal, with a small eye, and both field

and laboratory observations indicated an afternoon

flight in E. albistrigella. This species flies early in

the season at the higher elevation sites observed,

while there is still snow on the ground in some

situations, and presumably nighttime temperatures

would drop too soon after sundown to enable a

nocturnal activity period. The same is almost

certainly true of E. a. icariella and E. orestella, both

of which occur only above 11,000 feet, so far as

known. On the other hand, the closely related

species E. nadia lives at low-elevation stations for

the most part, flies relatively later in the season,

and has been taken at light at least once. Inconclusive field and laboratory observations indicate

the activity period may be late afternoon and

crepuscular (Powell, 1971). Isolated species in

other groups may have also adapted to high elevation life similarly, for example, certain members of

the Bipunctella group, especially E. caliginosella,

which has been recorded only above 11,000 feet

and has an intermediate eye size (index 0.9).

Ethmia arctostaphylella also has an intermediate

eye size, and this species is known to begin its

activity period early, at or before sundown in many

instances. One mating pair was taken at about 4:00

p.m. on a cool day early in the season. Under cage

conditions (uniform temperature) activity began

prior to sunset and was highest during the next

two hours. Some individuals remained active as

late as 11:00 p.m., and there have been a number

of light attraction records for this species in the

field. Presumably the early activity period has

enabled E. arctostaphylella to exploit a long season

in relation to its evergreen host. In central California it is active from February, when it flies along

with several of the true diurnal species, until

October, a longer season than is utilized by any

other Nearctic species.

Species in the Macelhosiella group which fly in

late fall, again at a time when one would expect a

low nocturnal temperature deterrent, have been

collected both during the day and at light at night.

Here too the eye size, especially in E. macelhosiella,

suggests the possibility of crepuscular activity.

In Neotropical species there have also been conflicting observations. For example E. phoenicura,

in southern Baja California, has been observed

active at flowers in bright sunshine, yet is commonly taken at lights, as are other members of the

Notatella group. These species and others in various Neotropical species groups have an eye index

tending toward intermediate, but whether this is

correlated with behavioral phenomena is unknown.

The diurnal aspect of Ethmia behavior seems to
NUMBER 120 35

have been only poorly documented in the Palearctir,

but at least E. pyrausta (Pallas) (Nolcken, 1871, cited

by Sattler, 1967) and E. chrysopygella (Kolenati)

(Thomann, 1923; Staudinger, 1879) are said to be

day fliers or active in afternoon or evening. On

the basis of my studies in California, it seems a

distinct possibility that all members of the Pyrausta

and Nigripedella species groups (of Sattler, 1967)

are diurnal, particularly in view of their generally

early seasonal flight periods. Moreover, from their

external appearance, E. rothschildi (Rebel) and E.

pseudoscythrella (Rebel) parallel members of the

Albitogata group in California. It seems likely that

these two Palearctic species, which have remained

exceedingly poorly known, will be rediscovered

when they are sought during the daytime in early

spring. The diurnal species of the Pacific coast are

similarly small and dull colored and seem nearly

always to occur in localized colonies, which, with

their early seasonal flight period, render them

amnesty from collectors. More than 80 percent of

the records for the California diurnal Ethmia have

accumulated during the past decade since we began

to recognize the habits of these inconspicuous day

fliers and to search for them.

MATING.—Courtship behavior has not been observed for any species. A study of this aspect of

their behavior should prove most interesting, since

males of nearly all species exhibit secondary

specialization. In addition to the genital scaling,

a remarkable array of structural and setation

modifications is displayed. Most universal among

secondary features are the enlarged antennae—the

diameter of the basal segments usually range from 10

to 20 percent greater than in the female, but in some

species up to 40 percent larger (Figures 6—9). The

costal area of the hindwing is simple, not differing

from the female in males of many species, but

others exhibit a range of specializations, from a

hair tuft or pencile to hair pencile enclosed in a

costal fold or a pinch fold between veins Sc and R,

sometimes with additional specialized scaling. In

males of the Notatella group, further specialization

of the antenna, through enlargement and scale

tufting of the scape, is accompanied in some species

by elongate, lateral scale tufts of the metathorax,

which are either exposed or provided with a receptacle formed by a pouch fold on the abdomen.

The function of none of these structures is known.

Mating has been witnessed primarily in the

diurnal species (Powell, 1971). A typical tail-totail position is assumed and the moths walk about

some, but probably only when disturbed by external factors. The duration of copulation has not

been defined for any species, but it seems to vary

widely, both between and within species, from

about 4 hours to at least 16 hours when it extends

into the inactive period of the diel rhythm. In

E. charybdis coition lasted 22-26 hours (based on

one observation). Multiple mating is common in

the field, judging from the occurrence of spermatophores in the females' bursae. In both Nearctic

and Neotropical species two spermatophores are

often found, and sometimes the remains of a third

and even fourth are visible. It is difficult to

differentiate any more than three, as the remains

of empty spermatophores deteriorate at the distal

end of the corpus bursae.

OVIPOSITION—The papillae anales are rotated so

that the two setae-bearing surfaces face laterally,

rather than ventrally, forming a somewhat bladeshaped ovipositor. The posterior apophyses and

associated intersegmental membrane are greatly

variable in length from one species group to

another, so that the depth to which females are

capable of probing during oviposition differs

among species. It appears the structural modifications are correlated with a general adaptation to

placement of the eggs into or between objects, such

as among plant hairs, between unopened buds, etc.

During oviposition females characteristically

crawl over foliage, move spirally up a stem, or on

other suitable substrates, with the ovipositor extended and turned ventrally. Movements occur

slowly, accompanied by a continuous vibrating of

the antennae. The substrate is tapped periodically,

and several times at one site prior to deposition of

an egg.

The eggs (Plates 21-22) are deposited singly.

The eggs are cemented to the substrate by an invisible adhesive, affixed on an area nearly as large

as the length and width of the egg.

Data are incomplete as to the range in number

of eggs and duration of production of which individual females are capable. With most species

that I studied, females were not individually caged,

but 200 eggs deposited by several females of E.

arctostaphylella was the highest total I obtained.
36

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Single field-collected females of E. plagiobothrae

and E. coquillettella deposited 62 and 70 eggs in

confinement, while a reared and lab-mated E.

charybdis produced 75 eggs. Females of various

species usually oviposited under cage conditions

only during the first two or three days, suggesting

that in the field, with adequate feeding, multiple

matings, etc., a much higher egg production probably obtains through succeessive egg maturation.

Busck and Heinrich (1922) found 20-40 eggs in

the abdomen of E. macelhosiella, and this total is

probably representative for mature eggs carried at

any one time by female Ethmia in general, according to dissections I have made.

With most species there seems to be a strong

stimulus to the specific food plant which is necessary to elicit oviposition. Thus in a few cases where

the food plant was not known, and I provided the

wrong plants, virtually no eggs were deposited.

For example, I tried unsuccessfully several times

with E. scylla females, offering a splendid menu of

Amsinckia, Phacelia, and other suspect BorageHydrophyll plants. When at last the unlikely

Collinsia was included the females were quite

responsive, depositing their eggs entirely in leaf

axils of Collinsia and in the mesh of the nylonstocking ceiling of the cage, ignoring Amsinckia

and Phacelia which were simultaneously offered.

Ethmia in general are more restricted in selection

of oviposition sites than are many other Microlepidoptera, limiting these sometimes to particular

parts of the given food plant, such as between sepal

and carpel (E. minuta), around buds and main stem

(£. brevistriga), leaf axils (E. scylla), underside

of leaves (E. albistrigella), underside or upper side

midrib of leaves (E. arctostaphylella), fibrous surfaces (£. discostrigella). Sometimes some of the

eggs were placed on nearby surfaces which were

apparently similar to the tactile sense, such as

creases in masking tape, cotton fibers, or the nylon

screen, but only in the presence of the food plant.

One species, E. sandra, in El Salvador probably

deposits the eggs in mature flowers, because all the

females (which were collected at light) had considerable pollen on the abdomen. Ethmia minuta

exhibits the most specialized oviposition arrangement among species I have studied. This species

feeds on Cryptantha intermedia, a short-lived,

densely hispid annual of arid, coastal southern

California. The female has evolved a peculiarly

elongated, heavily sclerotized ovipositor which

lacks the usual setae of typical papillae anales

(Figures 182-183; Plate 3e). The eggs, which are

smooth, rather than with the normal reticulation

of the chorion, are inserted into unopened buds

next to the carpels. The larvae hatch directly into

the buds, where they feed. Exposed, newly hatched

larvae placed on the exterior of densely setose buds

or leaves invariably were unable to penetrate the

buds and died without feeding.

In one example, E. timberlakei, females deposited large numbers of eggs in containers which

were provided with no fresh food plant of any

kind, but still with dried leaves from the original

larval collection made six months previously. As

discussed below, this species is believed to diapause

in the egg, and it may be that in the field, females

oviposit on or near dried plants from the previous

spring.

LONGEVITY.—If provided with water, caged Ethmia

generally lived up to 8 to 14 days. However, mating

and oviposition, by both field-collected and reared

individuals, usually took place only during the first

few days of capitivity. One female of E. nadia

which was reared in January, when no males were

available, lived 16 days. The Macelhosiella group

and E. charybdis again provide an exception to the

usual pattern. Reared E. timberlakei and E.

charybdis survived two to three weeks in dry containers and deposited fertile eggs without having

been offered any nourishment. These species are

adapted to survival in desert areas at the end of the

dry season. Individuals of other groups invariably

died in two or three days if not given water.

Busck and Heinrich (1922) indicated that E.

macelhosiella adults lived up to several weeks in

captivity and suggested that the moths overwinter.

The fact that I did not provide any protein diet

in most cage studies may have been a factor in

failure to obtain more continued oviposition (i,e.,

successive egg maturation). Some experimental

groups were given contemporary flowers from the

collection site, but these may have been nutritionally

unsuitable or otherwise unacceptable. Ethmiids do

visit flowers in the field and presumably nectar is a

sources of protein. Thus various diurnal species

have been observed at flowers: E. coquillettella,

Id1. 2$ $ at Coreopsis californica (Compositae)
NUMBER 120

at midday; E. minuta, <$ $ at Cryptantha intermedia (the larval food plant); E. brevistriga

aridicola, both sexes in large numbers on Cryptantha

circumcissa; and E. nadia at Cryptantha intermedia.

Generally no observations have been made on

nocturnal species. However, one female of E.

epileuca taken at light was found to have Compositae pollen about the head and thorax, indicating flower visitation.

EGG

DESCRIPTION.—The eggs are deposited singly.

They are whitish, somewhat oval or nearly rectangular in outline, cylindrical in cross section,

ranging in size from 0.25 X 0.5 to 0.3 X 0.6 mm in

small, diurnal species, to 0.6 X 1.2 mm in E.

semitenebrella, the largest Ethmia for which eggs

were measured. Neotropical behemoths such as E.

gigantea or E. wellingi presumably deposit larger

eggs. The shape of individual eggs varies within a

given colony, affected to some extent by the nature

of the substrate. Often they taper somewhat toward

one end. They are soft when deposited and take

on irregularities in shape when deposited on

irregular surfaces.

The chorion of most species is regularly reticulate with raised ridges. At high magnification

(Plate 2lb-d), the network is seen to consist of

simple ridges without any finer structure or respiratory stigmata as are known in Macrolepidoptera.

The pattern of reticulation has been assessed

neither for variation within species nor for possible interspecific differences. In one species, E.

minuta (among about a dozen for which eggs have

been described), the egg has a smooth chorion

(Plate 2le-f). (No visible raised structure at X 54

magnification.) Presumably this has developed in

conjunction with the highly specialized oviposition

arrangement (described above) which this species

employs to cope with the densely hispid inflorescence of the host plant.

Although eggs of most Ethmia do not operate

as a long-term resting stage, they seem to be highly

resistant to environmental extremes such as temperature, dessication, or drowning. Thus eggs can

be kept in dry containers at laboratory temperature

and humidity, which would be fatal to adults, and

development occurs normally. When stored at low

temperatures (± 4°C) (up to 9 days) development

was delayed but not impaired. In one case a

breeding jar containing eggs and first instar larvae

of E. semitenebrella was allowed to become overheated in an automobile during transit from the

field (in approximately 40°C air temperature)—

the eggs survived but all larvae died. In another

experiment eggs of E. arctostaphylella were submerged in water in a vial from the first to fifth

day after oviposition. After the vial was emptied

and allowed to dry, the eggs hatched, development

having been slowed about two to three days over

that of sibs.

DEVELOPMENT.—The time required for incubation is dependent upon temperature. With most

species, hatching occurred 10—11 days following

oviposition when eggs were stored at laboratory

temperatures (daily cyclic 12-20°C). The fastest

development I observed occurred in E. brevistriga

aridicola when eggs were stored in a warm field

laboratory near Palm Desert, California, in April,

and hatching occurred in 8—9 days. As noted above,

storage at ± 4°C effectively postpones development, and I have routinely used this method to

retain eggs for photographing, delays in obtaining

food plant, etc. Delay over normal development

time is usually about equal to the cold storage

time.

During development, eggs of Ethmia turn yellowish, then pink to orange, usually by the second

or third day. Later changes during embryonic

development are not visible, owing to the thick

chorion. In the last day or two prior to hatching,

the pink color disappears and the darkened head

capsule of the larva can be obscurely discerned.

Diapause evidently occurs in the eggs of E.

charybdis and E. timberlakei and probably in

related species. As discussed above, the seasonal

life history of the Macelhosiella group involves a

late fall flight as a strategem to cope with the brief

occurrence of annual hosts in arid areas. Although

Busck and Heinrich (1922) failed to obtain

oviposition in E. macelhosiella, the females of E.

timberlakei that I caged laid eggs in comparably

large numbers for laboratory conditions. These

eggs turned to a dull tomato-red within a few days.

The color is different from the pink of normally

developing Ethmia eggs and matches closely the

color of Tortricinae eggs in diapause (Powell,

1964). The E. timberlakei eggs were stored at
38

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

laboratory temperatures, and hatching occurred at

sporadic intervals during the following few months.

LARVA

BEHAVIOR.—At hatching the larvae chew a ragged

hole in the micropylar end of the egg, sometimes

well off center. The hole is about one-half the

diameter of the egg, and no further feeding on the

eggshell takes place. Larvae of Ethmia live solitarily, and because of the oviposition behavior no

wandering by newly hatched larvae is necessary in

most species. Feeding on the plant usually begins

near the egg site and occurs in skeletonizing fashion

while the caterpillars are young.

Characteristic modes of specialization in feeding

site and type of shelter are developed by most

species which I studied. Specialized oviposition

sites are correlated with occurrence of larval feeding at these sites: on immature flower buds,

especially the carpels (Ethmia coquillettella, E.

minuta, E. brevistriga), on undersides of leaves (£.

albistrigella, E. nadia, E. semilugens), and in

crotches of leaflet axils (E. discostrigella, E.

semitenebrella). In the case of E. scylla, the eggs

are placed in leaf axils, and the young larvae

migrate upward to young buds, a sequence that is

probably necessitated by the rapid growth of the

host, Collinsia, and its loose inflorescence (a

raceme) in contrast to the tight scorpioid spike of

Borage-Hydrophyll hosts of other Ethmia which

feed in developing flowers.

Those species that feed on developing ovules and

flower parts are western endemics which are associated with hosts such as Phacelia, Amsinckia,

and Cryptantha that are herbaceous only during a

short growing season. The amount of foliage developed by these plants is highly variable, depending upon irregular rainfall. The larvae do not

eat leaves at all but characteristically construct

well-defined shelters of silk which advance along

the inflorescence as it grows. The larvae, even in

late instars, live completely concealed within the

spike, between the paired rows of flowers, feeding

at the inner sides of the developing ovules, often

causing little or no externally evident effects on

the flowers. Probably all species which are dependent on annuals are adapted to feed on flowers

and immature seed, and there was evidence, at

least for Ethmia coquillettella, that larvae could

not mature on a diet of leaves (Powell, 1971).

By contrast, species which feed on the leaves of

Boraginaceae and Hydrophyllaceae are mostly

members of more boreal groups, and they feed

exposed, usually on a slight web, ignoring flowers.

This habit has been reported in the literature for

a number of unrelated species both in the

Palearctic and Nearctic (e.g., E. albistrigella, E.

nadia, E. bipunctella, E. macelhosiella, E. timberlakei, E. longimaculella, E. zelleriella). Three

western species (E. arctostaphyllella, E. discostrigella, E. semitenebrella), having adapted to shrub

hosts with quite different foliage form, entire, often

tough leaves, employ variable webs to tie up

terminal growth or bring together the sides of

leaves during their multivoltine feeding cycles.

Ethmia plagiobothrae, one of the diurnal

species which has specialized to the demands of a

short lived annual host, feeds at first on the basal

leaf rosettes of Plagiobothrys, then moves up to the

inflorescence during the late instars. In this case

the tightly compacted flowers form a small inflorescence and the black and orange larvae feed

completely exposed on the popcorn-like white

flower heads.

There is preliminary evidence to indicate that

behavioral protective mechanisms have been developed in association with the differing shelter

types. Thus later instars of shelter dwellers (£.

albitogata, E. brevistriga, E. discostrigella, E.

semitenebrella), when disturbed, react by wriggling

violently backward to attain some protected spot

on the substrate. Some species seem to nearly

"jump," moving a distance of several centimeters

in an instant when prodded. On the other hand

some species which feed exposed on leaves (e.g., E.

plagiobothrae, E. charybdis, E. albistrigella, E.

macelhosiella, E. nadia, E. semilugens) curl and

drop from the host at the slightest disturbance, and

feign death, lying motionless on the substrate, even

when this is an unhospitable site such as a rocky

wash in the desert sun as in the case of E.

semilugens.

Thomann (1908) reported an ant association for

two Palearctic species, Ethmia dodecea (Haworth)

and E. pusiella (L.), given as Psecadia decemguttella

Hbn. and P. pusiella (Rom.), and this evidently is

the source of the mention by Klots (1958) that
NUMBER 120 39

larvae of these two species are attended by ants

because of the nectar which leaks from the torn

flowers. However, Sattler (1967) indicated there

may have been no direct relationship between the

ants and larvae.

DEVELOPMENT.—The number of instars has not

been determined for many Ethmia with certainty.

On the basis of unsexed head capsule measurements, I recorded five instars in E. brevistriga and

E. scylla, and this number appeared probable for

other diurnal species (E. plagiobothrae, E.

albitogata). With members of the Semilugens group

a sixth instar, at least in occasional individuals,

appeared possible. D. H. Habeck (in litt.) has

preliminary evidence indicating that a stenomid in

Florida undergoes one more instar in the female

than in the male, as is known in certain Macrolepidoptera. If the data for the stenomid are

substantiated by future studies, they suggest the

possibility of the same phenomenon in ethmiids.

The time required for growth varies, depending

upon environmental conditions, especially temperature. Moreover, the time may inherently differ

between species. Estimates based on my observations are limited to closely related western species

and mostly result from larvae reared under laboratory conditions (Powell, 1971). In the field, estimates ranged from 40 days {Ethmia plagiobothrae),

45 days (E. scylla), and 50 days (E. brevistriga) for

early spring species to 32 days (E. albistrigella) in

midsummer at high elevations. In the laboratory,

growth time was less variable and more accurately

recorded, ranging from 30 to 39 days from egg

hatch to cocoon spinning in several broods (E.

brevistriga, E. albistrigella, E. semitenebrella). It

was over 40 days in the larger species E. arctostaphylella and E. discostrigella and ranged to over

60 days in the latter species when a continuous

supply of food plant could not be provided.

COCOON CONSTRUCTION.—At maturity, Ethmia

larvae usually disperse from the feeding sites to

seek out sheltered places for pupation. In only one

species, E. arctostaphylella, have I found an indication of normal pupation on the host. Although

this species has been reared from such foreign

substrates as a dry inflorescence stalk of Yucca

whipplei, I found several cocoons in late summer

in tightly folded leaves of the host plant, in

shelters similar to those of the larvae. A number of

reports in the literature have indicated that larvae

bore into substrates such as soft bark. For example, larvae of E. macelhosiella were observed

to "bore into sound bark, chewing their way with

the mandibles and leaving the chips behind"

(Busck and Heinrich, 1922). As a result, microlepidopterists have often provided woody substrates

in rearing these moths, and successful pupation

has been obtained in bark of cork elm (Busck and

Heinrich, 1922; Braun, in litt.) and inflorescence

stalk pith of Yucca whipplei (Powell, 1971). In my

experience larvae usually used abandoned beetle

burrows or other cavities in the yucca blocks, perhaps modifying them somewhat by gnawing, rather

than boring directly into sound pith.

The most striking example of this appropriation

of holes was provided by F. D. Parker and D. S.

Horning of the University of California, Davis, who

reared five species of Ethmia (E. lassenella, E.

albistrigella, E. discostrigella, E. semitenebrella, E.

monticola), including two or more individuals of

three of them, from among some 5,000 trap nests

placed in scattered western Nearctic localities during a single season. The traps consisted simply of

18-inch sections of Sambucus stems that had been

stuck upright into the ground with a %6-i4-inch

hole in the exposed end (Parker and Bohart, 1966).

Not only is this the largest number of American

Ethmia species reared in a single season's effort,

two of them, E. lassenella and E. monticola, have

never been reared elsewhere and their food plants

are unknown. As discussed above, scattered host

records for several other species are suspect or have

been shown to be misleading as they probably

represent pupation sites remote from the true hosts

(e.g., Arctostaphylos and Yucca whipplei for E.

arctostaphylella; pine for E. m. fuscipedella;

Wissadula for E. delliella and E. bittenella).

Among Nearctic species groups of Ethmia,

whether in early season generations of multivoltine

species or in univoltine species which diapause as

pupae, the cocoon is a dense, tough structure. In

open spots, such as the corner of a rearing container, the outer surface is a dense, white, papyruslike oval cover. Within, cocoons of most species

have a loose mesh of strands of silk which apparently aid in anchoring the pupa. The small,

diurnal moths appear generally to develop less

inner mesh. Under normal circumstances in the
40

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

field, the cocoon is tightly affixed to the substrate,

preventing access to adverse environmental agents,

since it is the pupa that acts as the long resting

stage. In the laboratory, pupae invariably succumb

to dessication if the cocoon is broken. As discussed

below, the pupa differs structurally in the few

members of Neotropical species groups where pupae

are known. In these groups protection from dessication and other factors may be provided by the

heavier pupal integument.

PUPA

DEVELOPMENT.—Pupation occurs within 10 to 14

days following cocoon construction in all species

for which data are available. Among multivoltine

species, the pupation period for a nondiapause

generation has been recorded only in Ethmia

arctostaphylella, where it required 11-13 days

under laboratory conditions, including cocoon

formation.

All temperate species undergo diapause in the

pupa so far as known. In univoltine, spring flying

species (e.g., the Albitogata group) pupal diapause

usually encompasses about 10 months, whereas in

Ethmia charybdis and the Macelhosiella group the

pupa aestivates, with emergence in late fall, after

6-8 months diapause. Overwintering is accomplished by eggs in this system. In multivoltine

temperate species, presumably about 4-6 months

are spent in pupal hibernation, although no

specific data are available. In some species (e.g.,

E. discostrigella) the life cycle is multivoltine in

parts of the range, but may be bivoltine or even

univoltine at stations characterized by shorter

growing season. Thus, when I reared E.

discostrigella originating from eggs deposited in

June at 10,000 feet in eastern California, pupation

lasted 8—9 months, and probably emergence occurred prematurely relative to that in the field. By

contrast, near the coast in California this species

flies during 7-8 months each season.

Facultative diapause in the pupa may take place

in E. semilugens and other species associated with

xeric habitats. This is suggested by the flight

records for several species, and when we reared E.

semilugens from mature larvae collected in May, a

few moths emerged after about 6 weeks pupation,

while others did not. In this case the remaining

individuals failed to develop, even though the

pupae were exposed to outdoor shed conditions,

and pupae were still living after 16 months.

Facultative delay of two or more seasons may be

a widespread mechanism by which ethmiids cope

with environmental conditions, particularly in

areas of long seasonal drought. In Europe de

Joannis (1926) recorded second year hibernation in

the pupa of Ethmia decemguttella (Hiibner). Larvae collected in September produced adults in June

the next season and again in June the following

year. During my studies pupae of several species

(e.g., E. plagiobothrae, E. scylla, E. semilugens)

remained in viable-appearing condition after 16—24

months, but second year emergence did not occur

in these instances.

There was convincing evidence that at least some

species (e.g., E. plagiobothrae, E. charybdis, E.

timberlakei, E. discostrigella) are not affected by

photoperiod during pupal diapause, with emergence of adults at or near normal seasonal timing

from pupae stored in darkness. For E. plagiobothrae my experiments indicated that temperature and

moisture factors stimulate diapause break. However, with E. timberlakei and E. discostrigella none

of the factors were changed. Pupae housed in dry,

dark containers at laboratory temperatures of constant daily fluctuation matured, suggesting that

diapause break is triggered by stimuli received during larval life. None of my larval rearings were

carried out in darkness.

ANCHORING MECHANISMS.—AS is the case with all

Gelechioidea, pupal shells of ethmiids remain anchored within the cocoon at emergence of the

adult. The cremaster as is developed in most Lepidoptera is nonfunctional in all described ethmiid

pupae. In its stead anchoring is accomplished for

most Ethmia by the peculiar "anal legs" (Figures

288-289), ventral extensions of the ninth abdominal segment that project forward and bear numerous stout, hooked setae that become enmeshed

in the silk. This structure is known in a variety

of Palearctic species and, as is discussed elsewhere

in reference to relationships of ethmiids, in certain other gelechioid pupae, notably blastodacnids.

The structure appears to have been lost in two

separate places in New World ethmiids (in addition to Pyramidobela). Ethmia scylla has a simple

pupa without anal legs, spiracular modification, or
NUMBER 120 41

setation (Figure 290). The cocoon possesses two

silken caps, one at the surface of the substrate into

which the larva tunneled for pupation, and one

recessed a few mm, at the anterior end of the pupal

chamber. This inner cap appears to be smaller

than the diameter of the pupa and the reduced

aperture may serve to hold the pupal shell in

place.

In Neotropical groups of Section II of Ethmia,

the few representatives for which pupae are known

(E. confusella, E. longimaculella, E. semiombra)

possess quite different structural modifications.

The anal legs are lacking and the overall shape is

more robust, with heavier, more rugose integument.

Anchoring is accomplished by a bizarre behavioral

feat unlike anything recorded elsewhere among

Microlepidoptera known to me. I have not seen

living material of these species, but preserved specimens exhibit characteristic grasping of the exuvium

head capsule or cocoon between the sixth and seventh abdominal segments. Pupae of E. semiombra*

consistently grasped the split larval head capsule in

a symmetrical fashion, holding each epicranial lobe

near the ventral margin, clamped between the abdominal segments in the same pleural area in several individuals (Plate 20g-h). The grip is so

secure that either the head capsule or the pupal

abdomen must be broken into pieces in order to

separate them. Emerged pupal shells of E. confusella from Florida show the same grasping inconsistently, suggesting that the abdominal segments

are moved and the exuvium is sometimes disengaged during emergence. One pinned pupa of E.

longimaculella from Ontario has a portion of

cocoon material grasped in exactly the same manner.

It appears that cocoons in these species are fragile or fluffy in consistency, without a tough, outer,

paper-like layer as is characteristic of all Section I

Ethmia which I reared (Powell, 1971). It may be

that the heavier pupal integument displayed by

species with the grasping pupae protects the resting stage from factors such as dessication, a function carried by the cocoon in Nearctic species

groups. It is not known if any Neotropical species

of Section II undergo diapause as pupae, but E.

1

 Deposited in the U.S. National Museum and associated

with reared adults. Presumably they were placed in alcohol

when alive, in 1938 and 1941.

longimaculella is believed to overwinter in the

pupa (Braun, 1921b).

The heavy-walled, robust pupa of the above

three species also represents the extreme development of the peculiar spiracular pits that are discussed elsewhere. These structures, however, are

not unique to the grasping pupae, being present in

E. delliella and E. zelleriella, which have well developed anal legs. The spiracular structures, which

are of unknown function, are completely lacking

in all representatives of Holarctic and western

Nearctic species groups that I have examined (14

species). (See Table 4 and Figures 293, 294.)

NATURAL ENEMIES

Records of parasites of ethmiids are scarce, in part

because there have been generally few species

reared, and in part because none of the species are

of appreciable economic concern to man. Thus

Thompson (1945) lists only five records, two

Tachinidae, two Ichneumonidae, and one braconid, from five species of Ethmia, in Europe, India,

and Hawaii.

Although most of my rearing in California was

carried out with material originating as eggs from

caged females and therefore unavailable to parasitism, two genera of Braconidae, Apanteles and

Microgaster, were encountered in field collections

of late instar larvae (Powell, 1971). One of the

Microgaster species was obtained at three widely

scattered localities from the same host, Ethmia arctostaphylella.

The Hawaiian species Ethmia nigroapicella

(Saalmiiller) (=colonella Walsingham) has attracted some attention as a repeated defoliator of

ornamental Cordia in gardens (Swezey, 1944, 1947).

In this connection, a braconid, Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson), introduced from the United

States in 1942 as a biological control agent, has

been reared from the ethmiid (Beardsley, 1961).

Late instar larvae in field collections of three

California species, Ethmia albitogata, E. plagiobothrae, and E. charybdis, repeatedly fell victim to

disease epidemic under laboratory conditions,

whereas this never occurred with other species

housed in comparable conditions (Powell, 1971).

The disease was caused by a bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. It was assumed that the epidemics were

brought on by rearing conditions, since the inci-
42

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

dence was lower when larvae were isolated in separate containers; but the frequency of occurrence in

these three species indicates their body flora differs

from that of most Ethmia. Although similarly affected larvae were not observed in the field, it may

be significant that larvae of these species are more

easily found in high numerical density than the

adults, whereas the reverse is true with other Ethmia I have studied.

Geographical Distribution

WORLDWIDE FAUNA

Consisting essentially of the one large genus Ethmia, the family is distributed throughout Temperate and Tropical regions of the world, being

about equally well represented in both Old and

New World. The majority of described species

occur in the Northern Hemisphere, with about

two-thirds of the Old World total represented in

the Palearctic fauna of 76 species, and more than

four-fifths of the New World species occurring in

North America and Central America. Most likely

this discrepancy will diminish as our knowledge of

southern faunas increases, particularly those of Africa and South America, judging from the number

of recent discoveries in such areas as Madagascar

and southern Brazil.

The center of greatest diversity appears to be

the northern Neotropical region, with some 60

species in southern Mexico and Central America,

representing an array of species groups which is

more diverse than contained in all the Old World

fauna, in terms of morphological radiation. The

African, Indo-Malayan, and Australian regions are,

by contrast, about equally represented in described

species and are rather uniform in morphological

diversity. There are a few species known from

Oceanic islands, and they appear to have IndoMalayan and Philippine origins. The one species

described from Hawaii probably is of recent introduction, as it has been placed in synonymy with E.

nigroapicella (Saalmiiller), a widespread southeast

Asian and Oceanic species which was originally

described from Madagascar (Sattler, 1967).

NEW WORLD FAUNA

CENTERS OF DISTRIBUTION.—A total of 133 species

is described, 7 being in Pyramidobela, 125 in Ethmia, and 1 in Pseudethmia, and these occur in four

general centers of distribution: Nearctic (48 species), northern Neotropical mainland (60 species),

Caribbean islands (21 species), and a lesser center

(probably poorly known) in temperate South

America (17 species). No species are recorded

north of about 55° N lat. or south of 39° S lat.

Other areas which the group has evidently failed

to invade to any extent include the Mississippi

Valley and midwestern Nearctic Prairie; the tropical wet lowlands, of British Honduras and southward in eastern coastal Central America, the

Guyanas and Amazon Basin; the Andes; and the

Chilean desert.

Within each of the broad areas of concentration, radiation in subregions is responsible for most

of the species total. The eastern Nearctic has a

depauperate fauna with only 5 species east of the

Mississippi Valley, while 47 of 48 Nearctic species

occur in the southwest (including Colorado, Texas,

and Nueva Leon). California alone has 21 species,

or 45 percent of the native Nearctic fauna (in addition to Pyramidobela angelarum, presumed to

be introduced). Among these, seven species occur

within a few miles of one another in the Hamilton

Range of central coastal California. In the West

Indies, 20 of 21 species occur in the Greater Antilles, with 15 on Cuba, 11 on Jamaica, 7 on Hispaniola, and 6 on Puerto Rico. The area of greatest

species diversity is in the northern Neotropical

region, with 48 species in the lowlands of Mexico,

22 of which occur in the Veracruz-Yucatan region.

Of these, 13 have been recorded at Chichen Itza,

Yucatan, by E. C. Welling. The Sinaloan thornforest area is the third richest in species diversity,

with 18; of these, 14 have been collected in the

vicinity of Mazatlan.

WIDESPREAD SPECIES.—Although most species are

either poorly known or are known to occupy relatively restricted ranges, a few are widespread. Thus

Ethmia discostrigella occurs throughout the foothills and intermediate elevations of the Great Basin ranges and Rocky Mountains from northeastern

Oregon to northern Baja California, Chihuahua,

and Nueva Leon, from about 25° to 45° N lat.

Ethmia albicostella, a more boreal species, ranges

from 24° to 55° N lat. in a narrow belt along the

Rocky Mountain and Sierra Madre Occidental cordillera. Ethmia hodgesella, an austral species, is a
NUMBER 120 43

resident of a disjunct area extending from southern

California to Sinaloa and from southern Texas to

eastern Oaxaca, a range encompassing 99-117° W

long, and 18-34° N lat. Ethmia confusella is primarily Antillean, occurring on Trinidad, the lesser

Antilles, Bahama Islands, Florida Keys, Greater

Antilles, to the Yucatan Peninsula. Probably the

most widespread American ethmiid is E. exornata,

which ranges from Sinaloa to southern Brazil, but

not into the Antilles. Although its distribution is

not well defined in South America, the total range

extends from 52° to 106° W long, and 23° N lat.

to 27° S lat.!

ENDEMISM.—Relatively narrow ranges are the rule

for most species. Of course the incomplete state

of knowledge, especially for the Neotropical fauna,

emphasizes apparent restrictions of distributions.

However, comparing major geographical areas

(Table 6), one finds a high degree of endemism,

suggesting that even though most species may occur rather widely within a biogeographical region,

few cross from one to another as in the examples

of E. hodgesella, E. exornata, and E. confusella.

Moreover, within these zones there are indications of narrow endemics in areas which have been

relatively well sampled. For example, 10 of 21

species native in California are endemic there, and

each is known from a restricted part of the state;

3 others have been collected only at boreal stations in Colorado. Among 21 Antillean species, 9

have been recorded from only one of the larger

islands and another is endemic to the lesser Antilles so far as known.

Employing the same geographical subdivisions

defined in Table 6, restriction of species' ranges

can be further illustrated by comparing pairs of

regions in terms of species common to both, species

differential, and percent relationship (Table 7).

This analysis compares species differential (total

species not common to both), which is in part a

function of the sizes of the faunas, and percent relationship (number of species common to both

divided by the total in the smaller of the two),

which disregards size differential. Naturally, areas

far removed exhibit no relationship, but even in

adjacent zones the percent relationship is low (e.g.,

2 percent between Nearctic and Neotropical Mexico, 61 percent between Mexico and the rest of

Central America, and 30 percent between northern

and central South America). Of special significance

are the West Indian species, which show a 24 percent relationship to eastern Mexico, but 0 to the

Nearctic and only 9 percent (1 species in Trinidad)

to northern South America, suggesting that the

Antillean fauna had its origin through the Yucatan peninsular avenue.

DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS.—Owing to the paucity of

records, especially for Neotropical species, I have

attempted no analysis of distribution patterns displayed by individual species. However, by assessing

composite patterns exhibited by the largest species

groups of Ethmia (Maps 1-12)5 certain generalizations can be proposed.

In keeping with the high species differential between major geographic elements of the New

World (Table 7), several groups are either wholly

Nearctic or northern Neotropical; in contrast, others combine two or more seemingly distinct areas

in terms of species endemism. Thus, six basic patterns of geographical distribution are shown by

the 12 species groups (111 species) as follows:

1. Holarctic Boreal Range (Map 1). The Bipunctella group of the Palearctic (Sattler, 1967) is

extended into North America not only by the recently introduced Ethmia bipunctella, but by three

native species which are morphologically similar to

Old World representatives. These species occur

widely through more northern and high elevation

parts of the United States and southern Canada.

One species (E. caliginosella) has adapted to ArcticAlpine conditions at 11,000-12,000 feet in Colorado; another, E. monticola fuscipedella (which is

virtually indistinguishable from an Asian species,

E. cirrhocnemia Lederer), lives in Steppe or Transition Zone areas of the plains from Manitoba to

New Mexico.

2. Eastern Nearctic Range (Map 2). The Hagenella group is a New World derivative without

1

 Each dot and concentric circle on these maps represents

the occurrence of one species in a given political entity, regardless of the number of available records for each of the

species. Dots are centrally placed among available records

within each political entity. Political entities employed are:

provinces of Canada and Argentina; states of United States,

Mexico, and Brazil; islands of the Caribbean; and countries

of Central America and South America except Argentina and

Brazil. Almost no attempt was made to define biogeographical zones with the shading which represents the overall range

of the group.
44 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

TABLE 6.—Endemism in New World Ethmiid species

Species

Total

Endemic

Percent Endemic

Nearctic'

46e

45

98

Antilles *

21

16

76

Neotropical

Mexico *

48

29

60

Central

America

23

5

22

Northwest

South

America*

11

2

18

Centralsouth

South

America'

17

14

82

1

 Includes Sierra Madre Occidental and the Central Mexican plateau to Hidalgo.

1

 Includes the Florida Keys.

3

 Includes Sonoran lowland and east coast lowland to southern Texas.

4

 Includes Trinidad.

5

 Includes the Amazon Basin.

* Excludes introduced species

TABLE 7.—Relationships of Ethmiid species among geographical areas of the

New World (a, species common to both; b, species differential; c, percent relationship)

Species

Nearctic a.,

b.

c.

Antilles a.

b.

c.

Neotropical a.,

Mexico b..

c.

Central a.

America b.

c.

Northwest a..

South b..

America c.

Central-south a.

South b.

America c.

Nearctic Antilles

CentralNorthwest south

Neotropical Central South South

Mexico America America America

0

67

0

_

_

-

1

92

2

5

59

24

_

_

-

0

69

0

1

42

5

14

44

61

_

-

0

57

0

1

30

9

5

49

45

7

20

64

_

_

0

63

0

0

38

0

2

61

12

3

34

18

3

19

30

close morphological relationship to any other species group. Its distribution is confined to moderate elevations of the eastern United States and

northern Mexico and is disjunct according to available records, with Ethmia zellericlla occurring on

both sides of the Mississippi Valley.

3. Western Nearctic Austral Range (Maps 3, 4).

The Semilugens group (Map 3) occurs throughout

the Great Basin ranges and Pacific states, mainly

at intermediate elevations. Two species (E. albistrigella, E. orestella) have adapted to moderate

to high boreal situations. This group apparently

could be related to any one of several different

Palearctic species groups of Sattler (1967). The

Albitogata group (Map 4) occupies a similar range,

but in generally more austral situations, having

adapted to annual hosts in areas of prolonged dry

season.

The Macelhosiella group (Map 5) also represents a specialized line, having employed fall flight
NUMBER 120 45

MAP 1.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Holarctic Bipunctella group of Ethmia in North America (see

footnote 5).

MAP 2.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Hagenella group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

and egg diapause to enable speciation in arid regions of the southwest. However, its distribution

is disjunct, with E. macelhosiella occurring in the

eastern United States, where its flight in October

and November in mesic, deciduous forest situations

is an anomaly. Thus, the group may have originally had affinity with either of the foregoing Nearctic range types, its two present elements

representing post-glacial refugia.

The low deserts of California, Arizona, and

northwestern Mexico have not been invaded by

any species of Ethmia, so far as known, but the

monotypic Pseudethmia protuberans has evolved to

exploit this habitat. As a result, its distribution is

essentially allopatric with all of the other Nearctic

ethmiid ranges.

4. Nearctic-Austral and Neotropical Scrub-Forest

Range (Map 6). The Trifurcella group, witti 17

species, has its center of distribution in the Sinaloan coastal region, with isolated species extensions

into the southeastern United States, the Great Basin ranges, and the boreal cordillera of the Sierra

Madre Occidental and Rocky Mountains. One additional species, Ethmia oterosella, which is treated

in the systematic section as a marginal member of

this group, is endemic to Cuba.

5. Central American-Caribbean Range (Maps

7-9). Corroborating the indication by percent relationships of species (Table 7), seven species

groups give strong evidence in support of the supposition that the Caribbean ethmiid fauna is an

extension of the Central American. Although 16

of 21 Antillean species are endemic to the islands,

all but 2 are members of one of the species groups

treated in this and the following range types. The

Kirbyi group has five mainland and two Antillean
46

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 3.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Semilugens group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

MAP 4.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Albitogata group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

species with none common to both. The Notatella

group is more widespread, reaching Baja California, Costa Rica, and the Florida Keys and Bahama

Islands. This range is encompassed by four mainland and three island species, including E. hiramella in Cuba and E. paucella on Hispaniola, each

endemic to a single island.

The Confusella group is the most widespread

of the three, occupying all of Central America's

length and both the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

The complex could be more easily conceived as

Antillean in origin, with subsequent reinvasion of

the mainland, than any other species group, since

it consists of three mainland species, three island

endemics, and two species which occur both on the

Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba.

6. Neotropical Extensive Range (Maps 10—12).

The final three species groups, although not closely

related to one another, occur throughout similar

ranges encompassing Central America from the

Sinaloan coast southward, into northwestern South

America, the Greater Antilles, and portions of Central-southern South America along the eastern Andes and in southern Brazil. A modification occurs

in the Longimaculella group (Map 12), where a

single North American species (Ethmia longimaculella), itself disjunct, provides a disjunct nature

to the group's range. Although absent from the

Antilles, this is the most widespread species group

among New World Ethmiidae, ranging from 50°

N lat. to 27° S lat.

The distribution of Pyramidobela is not illustrated, but this genus occupies a territory unlike

any of the six foregoing patterns exhibited by Ethmia, being disjunct in North and South America

and restricted to the Temperate regions excepting

two species in southern Mexico. The few records

for the four native North American and two South
NUMBER 120 47

MAP 5.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Macelhosiella group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

MAP 6.—Concentration of species and distribution of the

Trifurcella group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

American species preclude interpretation of their

geographical distributions, and it may be that the

group eventually will prove to be much more extensive in the Neotropical region. One species (P.

angelarum) is believed to be introduced in coastal

California, but its native source is unknown.

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL CORRELATIONS.—The widespread range of Ethmia evidently is correlated with

the distribution of Boraginaceae. This is a large

and diverse plant family of nearly 100 genera and

1,800 species which is equally characteristic of Temperate and Tropical regions (Abrams, 1951; Good,

1964). As outlined in more detail in the host-plant

discussion, 15 of 18 Palearctic species for which

food plant information is available use Boraginaceae, and most of the few scattered records for

Ethmia in all three sectors of the tropics are for

other genera of borages. By contrast, in the Nearctic the Hydrophyllaceae becomes a dominant element. Here 17 of 20 known Ethmia are specific to

either Boraginaceae (8 species) or Hydrophyllaceae

(9 species). The latter is a moderately large family

of about 25 genera and 250—300 species, which is

essentially western North American but includes a

few species in the eastern United States and South

America (Constance, 1951). One small genus

(Hydrolea) occurs in all three sectors of the tropics

(Good, 1964) but has not been recorded as an ethmiid food plant.

Nearctic species groups display distribution patterns not in relation to those of particular plant

taxa, but instead members of each group have

adapted to diverse host genera which in general

occupy similar ecological situations. Radiation of

species, particularly in the southwestern United

States, has been accomplished by widespread use

of hydrophylls, especially Phacelia, by sporadic rep

resentatives of various species groups. Phacelia is
48 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 7.—Concentration of species and distribution of the Kirbyi group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

MAP 8.—Concentration of species and distribution of the Notatella group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).
NUMBER 120 49

MAI» 9.—Concentration of species and distribution of the Confusella group of Ethmia (see

footnote 5).

MAP 10.—Concentration of species and distribution of the Cypraeella group of Ethmia (see

footnote 5).
50 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 11 .—Concentration of species and distribution of the Exornata group of Ethmia (see footnote 5).

a polymorphic genus of annuals and perennials

comprising some 150-200 species that occupy a

wide range of ecological niches, principally in the

western United States and Mexico (Constance,

1951). Thus the Semilugens group (Map 3) lives

in generally arid areas at moderate elevations,

through use of Eriodictyon, a woody hydrophyll

(one species), Cercocarpus, a woody Rosaceae (two

species), perennial Phacelia (two species), and annual Phacelia (one species). Two members have

invaded Hudsonian to Arctic-Alpine Zone habitats

in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, adapting to diurnal habits to do so. One and probably

both members use Phacelia.

The Albitogata group (Map 4) is distributed in

generally still more arid regions, mostly Transition

and Upper Sonoran Zone localities characterized

by a long dry season. Speciation has been effected

through adaptation to annuals: Boraginaceae (Amsinckia, Plagiobothrys, Cryptantha), Hydrophyllaceae (Phacelia), and Scrophulariaceae (Collinsia).

The smaller Nearctic species groups enact similar

roles, enabling distributions primarily in high

desert areas: Charybdis group (one species using

Amsinckia), Macelhosiella group (two of four species using Phacelia), and Hagenella group (one of

tour species using Phacelia).

The Bipunctella group is restricted in the Nearctic portion of its Holarctic distribution to boreal

regions, principally Canadian to Arctic-Alpine

Zones, and it may be that it has not adapted to

Hydrophyllaceae, with the known species dependent on genera of boreal and mesic habitat Boraginaceae such as Lithospermum and Cynoglossum.

In tropical regions data are fragmentary, but

host associations thus far available indicate that

woody Boraginaceae comprise the main host reservoir. Nine Ethmia species, representatives of all

three sectors of the tropics and tropical Australia

have been reared from Ehretia. This is a genus
NUMBER 120 51

MAP 12.—Concentration of species and distribution of the Longimaculella group of Ethmia (see

footnote 5).

with most of its species in the Old World, while

Cordia, which is the host of one widespread IndoOriental and Oceanic species, is a genus with most

of its species in the New World tropics (Good,

1964). Bourreria, another widespread genus of

woody borage, is used by E. confusella in the

Florida Keys and presumably throughout the

Caribbean, so that members of these three genera

and their shrub and herbaceous relatives such as

Tournefortia and Heliotropium, may act as host

plants for much of the northern Neotropical fauna.

Moreover, all North American representatives of

Neotropical species groups with known hosts (E.

delliella, E. longimaculella, E. albicostella, E. semiombra, E. trifurcella) feed on Boraginaceae

rather than Hydrophyllaceae.

The only other Neotropical host records are two

in Cuba for unrelated plants, Trichilia (Meliaceae), used by Ethmia subsimilis, and Stegnospermum (Phytolaceae), used by E. oterosella. The

former moth is morphologically close to E. delliella, which feeds on Ehretia, while E. oterosella

is an island endemic marginally related to the Trifurcella group, North American members of which

use Ehretia, Lithospermum, and Cynglossum. This

suggests two possibilities, either that island speciation has resulted in adaptive radiation to unrelated

plant types, or that Neotropical species in general

have radiated away from specificity to Boraginaceae, perhaps in response to the more heterogeneous nature of plant communities in the tropics. Of

course it is probable that at least occasional species

in various groups are associated with plants that

are unrelated to borages used by their close relatives, as is the case in the Nearctic.

Even though host data are sketchy, biogeographical distribution of Neotropical Ethmia is indicated

as a fairly strict association with semievergreen and

deciduous forest types characterized by seasonal

drought. There are few if any species indigenous
52 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

to tropical wet lowlands and rain forest zones. Eyre

(1968) has classified the seasonal communities of

the tropics into four principal types aligned with

increasingly more pronounced dry season: semievergreen seasonal forest, deciduous seasonal forest, microphyllous forest (thorn forest), and

semidesert scrub. Of these, the thorn forest appears

to be the primary home of northern Neotropical

Ethmia. According to my observations in Sinaloa

and Baja California and descriptions of other areas

I have received, the four centers of highest species

density are typical thorn-forest zones in Mexico:

vicinity of Mazatlan, Sinaloa (14 species), AtlixcoTehuacan area in Puebla (10 species), MeridaChichen Itza area in Yucatan (13 species), and the

area of Galeana, Nueva Leon-Victoria, Tamaulipas (9 species). Certainly the thorn forests of

Mexico comprise the center of distribution of the

Kirbyi group and the Trifurcella group, the latter

being the second largest group in the New World.

Moreover, a number of unique spin-off species including Ethmia mulleri, and E. mansita, and the

Papiella and Punctessa groups (two species each)

are restricted to thorn-forest areas. Probably the

other Caribbean groups (Notatella and Confusella)

are also essentially residents of microphyllous seasonal forest communities,, which is true of most of

their mainland representatives.

The more southern species groups apparently

occupy more diverse habitats, ranging into the

tropical semievergreen and deciduous forests of

Eyre (1968), at least through Central America and

northern South America. The centers of distribution of the Cypraeella and Longimaculella groups

appear to be in these zones.

In the subtropical and south temperate parts of

South America there are no host records for any of

the 17 species of Ethmiidae, most of which are

endemic to the region. However, it is noteworthy

that there are no South American species groups

in Ethmia. All are members of Neotropical extensive groups (Maps 10-12), northern representatives of which live for the most part in semievergreen and deciduous forest communities. For the

South American species two additional vegetation

types appear to be involved, portions of the tropical

montane forest in Bolivia and evergreen mixed forest in southern Brazil and Chile. Although there

are extensive thorn-forest regions in northeastern

Brazil and northern Argentina-Paraguay, there are

very few ethmiid records for them, probably due to

lack of collecting. Conversely, sampling error has

resulted in the best south temperate concentration

(seven species), in inland Santa Catarina, Brazil,

where Fritz Plaumann has collected for many years.

This area, classified as evergreen mixed forest by

Eyre, is characterized as a climax mixture of evergreen coniferous (especially Auricaria) and broadleafed dominants of intermediate elevations. The

species in Brazil are principally endemics related

to Central American species, but three species,

Ethmia exornata, E. lichyi, and E. mnesicosma, appear to exist in populations which are disjunct

from northwestern South American portions of

their ranges. Possibly there are intervening populations along the eastern flank of the Andes at intermediate elevations. Eyre (1968) defines this zone

as consisting of submontane (approximately 4,000—

6,000 feet elevation) and montane (6,000-12,000

feet), ranging to cloud forests, with Podocarpus

and Agathis as conifer types, but with no one

family or type of tree singled out as characteristic.

Probably ethmiids are limited to the lower, transition portions of the zone (only one species, E.

sphenisca, is known from the montane forests of

Mexico) or to drier, rain-shadow valleys within the

zone. The type locality of E. exornata, Chanchamajo, Peru, presumably represents such a record. Two species, E. catapeltica from Central

America and Venezuela, and E. chalcogramma from

Santa Catarina, are recorded, apparently in this

zone, in Bolivia, in addition to one endemic (E.

h ieroglyphica).

The two species recorded for evergreen mixed

forest areas of Chile are Ethmia elutella from Panama and Venezuela, and Pyramidobela compulsa,

an endemic. There are none known in the Chilean

cactus shrub and true desert regions to the north.

This may be an artifact of collecting, because all

genera of Boraginaceae (Amsinckia, Plagiobothrys,

and Cryptantha) used by diurnal Ethmia in California also occur in arid parts of western South

America (Abrams, 1951) as does Phacelia (Constance, 1951).

In all the vast expanse of the Guyanas and Brazilian Amazon Basin, only two species of Ethmia

are recorded (E. calumniella and E. cypraspis),

both endemic members of widespread species
NUMBER 120 53

groups. It is doubtful that many ethmiids exist in

this region, judging from the tremendous discrepancy in size of the known faunas of Ethmiidae and

Stenomidae there. Nearly 600 species of stenomids

are described from the Guyana area alone (Duckworth, 1965, 1969), but not one ethmiid. Since

the moths of both groups are comparable in size

and appearance (if anything, ethmiids are more

colorful) and apparent attractiveness to light, they

should be taken by general collectors in any given

area without sampling bias. Thus it can be assumed that if Ethmia species existed in any numbers in the wet lowlands of northern South

America, at least a few should have gotten into

the hands of Edward Meyrick during the decades

of his descriptive productivity.

No doubt many additional species of Ethmia

will be discovered in the South American fauna as

our knowledge increases, but I expect they will be

mainly limited to thorn forest, tropical semievergreen, deciduous, and evergreen mixed forest regions of southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern

Argentina, and eastern portions of the Andes.

The Guyana discrepancy between the Ethmiidae

and Stenomidae is a focal point of the curious phenomenon that these closely related groups tend to

be geographically mutually exclusive, with their

centers of abundance in general allopatric throughout the New World. The centers of stenomid species diversity, in the southeastern United States,

the wet forests of Central America, and particularly the tropical wet lowlands of northern South

America, are depauperate in ethmiids, while arid

parts of western North America, the thorn forests

of Mexico, and the Antilles, all rich in Ethmia,

are relatively poorly represented in stenomids. The

displacement in general numbers is corroborated

by Duckworth's statement (1969) that the number

of species of stenomids attracted to light increases

as one moves from dry scrub to wet forest conditions in Central America and northern South

America, and by my characterization of the principal habitat for Ethmia as seasonal forests, especially microphyllous thorn forests, in regions of

seasonal drought.

Phytogeny

Any discussion of possible evolutionary relationships in ethmiids must be speculative owing to lack

of data. There is no relevant fossil evidence, and

definition of ancestral characters is theoretical. By

comparison with other Gelechioidea, the following

features appear to be derived in Ethmiidae:

Adult: Small eyes and diurnal behavior; reduction of mouthparts; hindwing costal modifications

in the male, first the hair pencil, then folding of the

membrane; brightly colored abdominal scaling, and

secondarily restriction of the colored scaling to the

genital segments; development of hoodlike uncus

form and strongly dentate gnathos, followed by

reduction and loss of uncus and gnathos; divided

valva (possibly homologous with so-called segmentation in some other Gelechioidea); development

of distal "seta-bunch" and costal "plume" of the

valva; short, broad anterior apophyses; spiral ductus bursae; deep crease, "keel-like" signum.

Larva: Secondary setae; crotchets arranged in a

mesal penellipse.

Pupa: Loss of caudal cremaster; development of

"anal legs"; reduction in number of movable abdominal segments; spiracular pits; condylic grasp

of exuvium in anchoring.

The New World ethmiid fauna is composed of

three major elements which may not be monophyletic. It is possible that the Pyramidobela and

Ethmia stocks evolved from separate lines of oecophorid-like ancestors. Moreover, within the Ethmia

branch, American components of one of the two

sections show affinities separately to temperate and

tropical Old World ethmiids. Hypothetical phylogenetic relationships of the three elements may be

characterized as follows.

1. Pyramidobela. Many features, but particularly the female genitalia, secondary setae of the

larva, and the setaceous pupa with three moveable

abdominal segments, indicate this genus has closer

relationship to certain oecophorids than to Ethmia.

Its nearest relatives appear to be Ectaga and Atopotorna, which are presently assigned to the Oecophoridae, and examination of those groups should shed

light on relationships of Ethmia.

2. Ethmia, Section I. There are two principal

series of American species groups, a primarily

Nearctic one, which shows strong similarity to the

Palearctic fauna, and a Neotropical one, which exhibits affinity to some Old World tropical ethmiids.

The Neotropical groups are distinguished by metallic colored scaling, development of hindwing costal
54 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

fold in the male, the Sc-R crossvein of the hindwing, and the emarginate distal margin of the

valva. In male genital structure and the Sc-R

crossvein, members of the Cypraeella group are

more similar to Indo-Australian species groups than

to any American species. Thus it may be that the

Nearctic and Neotropical groups originated separately and migrated to or from the Old World via

different routes, rather than as direct descendants

from a common ancestor in the New World.

The section includes several species groups

which evidently are New World derivatives, and

in some ways these lines exhibit greater morphological radiation than has been shown in any other

ethmiids. Diurnal behavior (and associated structural changes) arid use of annual plants by means

of larval preference for seed, in the Albitogata

group; and winter activity and reduction of mouthparts in the Macelhosiella and Charybdis groups,

with female brachyptery in the latter, must be recent adaptations to Nearctic habitats of prolonged

seasonal drought. Similarly, the Hagenella and

Notatella groups, showing marked morphological

radiation, are seen as comparatively recent specialized tangents.

3. Ethmia, Section II, and Pseudethmia. Relative to other Ethmia, several characters appear to

be derivative in this group: loss of uncus and gnathos; development of the distal seta-bunch of the

valva; pinch-fold modification of the hindwing in

the male; the strong pinaculum of secondary setae

on the larval proleg; and in the pupa, reduction of

movable segments of the abdomen and condylic

grasping as a means of anchoring. None of these

features is known in Old World ethmiids. As as

result, I envision this series of species to be of

New World origin, more recent than the rest of

the American ethmiids.

The larger eyes, more elongate labial palpi,

elongate apophyses, crotchet arrangement in a

circle, and the frail cocoon must be interpreted as

secondary developments (in part reversals) in order

to render this theory tenable.

The spiracular pits (Figures 293—294) of the

pupal abdomen, although of unknown function,

offer a clue as to the origin of Ethmia Section II.

Presence of these structures in a reduced form in

the Kirbyi group and their absence from Nearctic

groups (and evidently all other Microlepidoptera)

suggests that Section II groups are derived from the

tropical element of Section I and not directly from

the Holarctic ethmiid fauna or from spin-off groups

such as the Notatella group, as one might interpret

from phenetic evidence based on adults (e.g., see

Figure 2).

On the basis of similiarity in male genitalia, it is

presumed that Pseudethmia is a tertiary development from the Section II ancestral line. Presumably

Pseudethmia has undergone rapid morphological

divergence in external features in response to the

rigorous desert environment.

Systematic Treatment

Family ETHMIIDAE

Azinidae Walsingham, 1906:177.

Ethmiidae Busck, 1909a:91.

Ethroiadae Meyrick, 1909:422.

Ethmiinae Remington, 1954:257.

Small to moderately large moths, forewing length

4—18 mm. Head: Eyes naked. Ocelli lacking. Pilifers

well developed. Proboscis elongate and functional

in all but a few species; scaled at base. Maxillary

palpus small, 1—4-segmented, usually scaled and

folded over base of proboscis. Labial palpus

3-segmented, usually strongly upcurved. Antenna

about 0.6 as long as forewing, flagellum with 45-75

segments; ventral half unsealed, covered with short

setation; scape (basal segment) sometimes modified

in size, shape, and scaling, without pecten. Forewing: Moderately broad to narrow, length 2.8—4.8

times width; costa usually evenly curved from base

to apex, without fold. Veins, 13 to margin: Sc free,

R, M, and Cu stems lost in cell; R with 5 branches,

R4+5 stalked, R5 to apex or costa; M and Cu

branches about equidistantly spaced, Cux from

lower corner of cell or slightly before, Cu2 from

before end of cell; Cu3 present toward margin

only; AN^ a forked basally 0.25-0.45 their length.

Hindwing: Usually about as broad as forewing.

Frenulum a single spur formed of several setae in

male, tripartite in female. Veins, 10 to margin: Sc

free; R stems combined (Rs), to apex; M branches

all separate, M2 equidistant between M! and M3

or nearer M^ M3 and Cuj connate or short-stalked,

from lower corner of cell; Cu2 from before end of

cell; An! moderately to strongly sinuate, separate

from An2. Male genitalia: Uncus well developed
NUMBER 120 55

or rudimentary; gnathos absent or joined into

single median, dentate ridge; tegumen simple,

vinculum not extended anteriorly; diaphragma

usually with everted lobes ("basal processes")

anterior and mesad of base of valvae; valva divided.

Aedeagus with strongly recurved phallobase. Female

genitalia: Papillae anales rotated, with state surfaces laterad, usually sclerotized basally. Ductus

bursae often coiled; signum usually a single, invaginated crease, on dorsal half or corpus bursae.

Key to New World Genera of Ethmiidae Based on External Characters

1. Forewing with upraised scale tufts; labial palpus second segment broad (Figure 40) with

spreading scales outwardly, third segment much narrower, smooth scaled.

Pyramidobela Braun

Forewing smooth scaled; labial palpus with second and third segments similar in diameter

and vestiture 2

2. Front with a strong, round protuberance, covered by short, differentiated scaling

Psettdethmia Clarke

Front evenly convex from antennal bases to labruni, scaling not differentiated

Ethmia Hiibner

Pyramidobela Braun

Pyramidobela Braun, 1923:118.

TYPE.—Enicostoma quinquecristata Braun, 1921;

monobasic (North America).

DESCRIPTION.—Moderately small moths, forewing

length 7-10 mm. Head: Front normal. Maxillary

palpus well developed, 4-segmented, lengths subequal, II slightly longer. Labial palpus elongate;

segment II much broader than III, with expanding

scaling forming a broadly truncate distal margin,

segment III thin, tapering to a point; smooth

scaled about 0.5—0.9 as long as II. Antenna of male

not or only slightly broader than in female. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.9-4.8 times width; apex

acute, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle

not evident. Cua from before, Cu2 well before

corner of cell, both strongly curved near base. Wing

surface with strongly upraised scale tufts. Hindwing: Costal area not modified in male. Lanceolate,

termen very strongly angled back, tornal angle not

evident. Vein M2 slightly nearer to Mx or equiKey to the Species of Pyramidobela Based on External Characters

1. Basal and tornal areas of FW whitish, contrasting with dark ground color, dorsal area

with a darker triangular patch epibryas Meyrick

Basal and tornal areas not contrasting, whole ground either pale or dark 2

2. FW ground color pale, irregularly suffused with brownish, costa blackish from i/4 to %;

Chile. compulsa Meyrick

FW if pale, costa not blackish; North America 3

3. Larger moth (FW 9.4-9.7 mm); FW pale tan with upraised scale tufts blackish

tetraphyta Meyrick

Smaller moths (FW 7.2-9.4 mm); FW if pale, scale tufts brownish to ochreous 4

4. FW gray with darker shade diagonally across basal y4; segment HI of labial palpus

0.75-0.90 as long as II; male antenna slightly dilated (0.20 eye diameter)

angelarum Keifer

FW pale or dark, without dark transverse shade; segment III of labial palpus shorter,

0.55-0.70 as long as II; male antenna not or scarcely dilated (0.15-0.18 eye diameter) 5

5. FW rather broad (3.9-4.3), dark brown with blackish upraised tufts; Nearctic Great Basin.

quinquecristata (Braun)

FW narrow (4.3-4.6), pale with brown to ochreous upraised tufts; west Texas and Mexico 6

6. Smaller moth (FW 12 mm); upraised scale tufts ochreous; male antenna not dilated (0.15

eye diameter). ochrolepra Powell

Larger moth (FW 7.5-9.3 mm); scale tufts rusty- to ochreous-brown; male antenna slightly

dilated (0.18 eye diameter) agyrtodes (Meyrick)
56 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

distant between M! and M3; M3 and C ^ connate.

Male genitalia: Uncus and gnathos membranous

or rudimentary; valva divided with strongly sclerotized, separated costa tapering to a point (no defined

cucullus) and accessory lobe anterior to costa;

sacculus well developed. Female genitalia: Apophyses elongate; sterigma simple or ornate; antrum

not defined; ductus bursae sclerotized, straight;

corpus bursae sclerotized on proximal half, separate

signa spurlike or not defined.

REMARKS.—As presently defined this is a genus of

seven species which occur primarily in temperate

zones of North America and South America.

Further study will be necessary to define relationships of the South American species (specimens of

which were not available during this investigation)

to Atopotorna Meyrick and Ectaga Walsingham,

which are currently assigned to the Oecophoridae

(see footnote 1).

Pyramidobela quinquecristata (Braun)

FIGURES 47, 174; PLATES la, 20b

Enicostoma quinquecristata Braun, 1921a: 11.

Pyramidobela quinquecristala.-Braun, 1923:118.-Keifer, 1936a:

12, pi. 7, fig. l.-McDunnough, 1939:83.

A species with dark brown forewing in the mountains around the Nearctic Great Basin.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.2-9.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus greatly elongate, not strongly curved,

well exceeding crown; second segment slightly

curved, length 2.1—2.6 times eye diameter, third

slightly curved, 0.58-0.68 as long as second; second

segment with broad scale brush (as wide or wider

than eye diameter), mixed brown and white with

a more or less defined ochreous blotch on ventral

half of exterior side; third segment thin, smooth

scaled, banded ochreous and dark brown. Antenna

not dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.16

eye diameter; scaling dark brown with segmental

ochreous bands ventrally. Tongue, maxillary

palpus, front, and crown with roughened scaling,

brown, frosted with white scale tips. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling uniform brown to intermixed with

blackish brown; lateral brushes of metanotum

sparse, elongate, extending over the scarcely scaled

scutellum. Underside and legs intermixed brown

and white; hind tibial fringe dense, elongate, pale

gray-brown. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.9-4.2

times width; costa curved on basal half. Fringe

broad, beginning well before apex, giving the wing

an oval appearance. Ground color dark brown,

longitudinally streaked with blackish and ochreous,

varying in density and ill-defined except on veins

in terminal area; five strongly upraised scale tufts

of blackish brown becoming white on their distal

edges: two large tufts, just below Cu at basal onethird and at end of cell, three smaller ones above

them in costal half of cell, one just above each of

the larger tufts, the third between them, slightly

lower and nearer to basal one; a dark shade in

ground color surrounding tufts. Fringe brown,

paler in tornal area. Underside pale brown; fringe

darker in apical area. Hindwing: Apex narrow,

rounded; tornal angle not evident. Ground color

pale gray-brown, slightly darker toward apex.

Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling pale, shining

gray-brown. Genitalia as in Figure 47 (drawn from

plesiotype, Tom's Place, California, JAP prep. no.

2601; two preparations examined); extensions of

costa and cucullus slightly broader than in other

Pyramidobela, sacculus with upcurved tip at apex,

vesica with a cornutus of two elongate, sclerotized

arms.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.8-9.0 mm. External features essentially as in male, palpus size in

the small sample available within the range shown

by male; forewing apparently slightly narrower,

length 4.0-4.3 times width. Genitalia as in Figure

174 (drawn from plesiotype, Tom's Place, California, JAP prep. no. 2333; one preparation

examined); sterigma simple, ductus with a relatively

short sclerotized sleeve (shorter than anterior

apophyses), sclerotized portion of bursa copulatrix

with two upcurved and two short, straight internal

spurs.

TYPE DATA.—Trail to Dawson Pass, Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana, 5,500

feet, reared from Penstemon conjertus, emerged

August 6-17, 1921 (A. F. Braun); holotype male

in Braun collection.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mountains around

the margins of the Great Basin. In addition to the

type locality, P. quinquecristata has been taken

only at three sites: Seton Lake, British Columbia;

in eastern California, near Ravendale, Lassen

County; and near Tom's Place, Mono County,

California.
NUMBER 120 57

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June (British Columbia), August

to early September (California, at 8,000 feet elevation).

FOOD PLANT. — Penstemon (Scrophulariaceae);

Braun (1921a) reared the species from larvae collected in July on P. confertus, and we reared it

from larvae collected in May on P. deustus in

Lassen County (P. A. Opler collector).

Pyramidobela angelarum Keiier

FIGURES 40, 41, 46, 172, 173; PLATE 20d

Pyramidobela angelarum Keifer, 1936a: 13, pi. 5, 7.—McDunnough, 1939:83.—Essig and Hoskins, 1944:31.—Pritchard

and Powell, 1959:82.-Tilden, 1959:194.

A moth, known only from urban situations in

California, that has gray-brown forewings with a

black smudge preceding the upraised tufts.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.8—9.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus variable in length, moderately

strongly upturned, exceeding crown; second segment length 1.9—2.3 times eye diameter, slightly

curved; third segment 0.75—0.90 as long as second

(about 1.7 times eye diameter, not varying with

second segment), nearly straight; brush of second

segment uniformly broad, mixed pale brown and

white, with a few blackish scales at times tending

to form a transverse band; third segment smooth

scaled, slender, mixed pale brownish and dark, tip

dark. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near

base about 0.20 eye diameter; scaling dorsally pale

brown, ventrally ochreous basally becoming light

and dark banded distally. Scaling of tongue,

maxillary palpus, front, and crown roughened, pale

brown frosted with white scale tips. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling more or less uniform brown to graybrown; lateral brushes of metanotum elongate,

whitish, covering the scaled scutellum. Underside

shining pale gray; legs speckled dark brown; hind

leg paler, tibial fringe elongate, dense. Forewing:

Narrow, length 4.6—4.8 times width; costa gently

curved, nearly straight on distal half. Ground color

gray-brown, lightly speckled with brown; a variable

blackish suffusion diagonally outward across wing

at basal one-fourth; five upraised scale tufts of

blackish brown: largest on Cu fold (at times with

some ochreous scales on its outer side) in the dark

suffusion at one-fourth; second tuft just above and

before first; third and fourth subequal to second,

at middle of cell and outer lower corner of cell;

fifth smaller, just above and before fourth, latter

three becoming white on their outer margins, at

times preceded and emphasized by white scaling;

at times some pale streaks angling into fringe

around apex. Fringe gray-brown. Underside

brown, a pale area in cell near base. Hindwing:

Costal margin shallowly excavate before apex,

tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground color pale

gray; fringe gray-brown. Underside similar,

speckled blackish in apical area. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling pale gray-brown, ventral suffused with dark

brown except along midline. Genitalia as in Figure

46 (drawn from plesiotype, Berkeley, JAP prep. no.

2611; five preparations examined); extensions of

costa and cucullus slender, of costa attenuated

gradually, not strongly turned down (apicad),

apex of sacculus strongly upcurved; vesica without

defined cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.4—9.5 mm. External features essentially as described for male;

eye apparently slightly smaller but palpus ratio

range within that of male; antenna not dilated,

width of shaft about 0.15 eye diameter. Genitalia

as in Figures 172, 173 (drawn from plesiotypes,

Pleasant Hill, Redwood City, JAP prep. nos. 2600,

2791; two preparations examined); sterigma with

upturned rims around ostium and at anterior

margin, ductus with short sclerotized sleeve (about

two-thirds the length of anterior apophyses),

sclerotized portion of bursa copulatrix without

inner spurs.

TYPE DATA.—LOS Angeles, California, reared

from larva collected on Buddleia (davidiif) in

April, emerged May 27, 1935; holotype male in

California Academy of Sciences.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

urban situations near the coast in Califronia.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—The species breeds more or less

continually, with flight records from late February

to early December.

FOOD PLANT.—Buddleia (Loganiaceae); Keifer

(1936a) described the early stages in detail. The

larvae roll and skeletonize the leaves and bore into

terminal buds.

REMARKS.—Pyramidobela angelarum most likely

is introduced into California, since the only known

food plant among several rearing records is ornamental Buddleia, a primarily tropical genus of both
58 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Old and New Worlds. The moth was established

rather widely in cismontane southern California by

the time it was recognized in 1935. The earliest

record I have seen is March, 1934, at Los Angeles;

presumably the species was a resident some years

prior to that. Probably it was secondarily introduced into the central coastal part of the State,

having been collected at San Jose as early as 1940

and at Santa Cruz in 1947. P. angelarum was commonly collected at lights in the San Francisco Bay

area during the 1950s but evidently has not been

taken in the immediate bay area since 1960, possibly

an artifact of sampling since it has been collected

east of the Berkeley Hills on several occasions in

subsequent years. I have seen no record of its

occurrence north of the San Francisco Bay.

Pyramidobela agyrtodes (Meyrick)

FIGURES 48, 176; PLATE 20C

Idioptila agyrtodes Meyrick, 1927:344.

Pyramidobela agyrtodes.-heifer, 1936a:83.-Clarke, 1955a:40;

1965:434, pi. 215.

A small, pale gray moth of western Texas and

northern Mexico.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.5-9.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, moderately upcurved, well

exceeding crown; second segment length 2.0-2.3

times eye diameter, slightly curved; third segment

0.55—0.65 as long as second, nearly straight; scale

brush of second segment very broad (about 1.5 eye

diameter), mixed pale brown and white; third

segment smooth scaled, about half obscured by

scaling of second, whitish, apex dark. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.18

eye diameter; scaling whitish. Scaling of tongue,

maxillary palpus, and front white to mixed white

and pale brown, crown roughened, mixed white

and brownish. Thorax: Dorsal and ventral scaling

mixed white and pale brown; metathoracic brushes

dense, moderately long, extending over the scaled

scutellum. Legs mottled with brownish; hind tibial

fringe elongate, white. Forewing: Narrow, length

4.4—4.6 times width; costa gently curved, appearing

slightly concave at middle (owing to fringe).

Ground color pale gray, lightly speckled with pale

brownish; costal half with scattered ochreous. Five

upraised scale tufts, pale ochreous-brown to dark

rusty brown, at times emphasized by white scaling

on their outer side: first just below Cu fold at basal

one-fourth and second at outer, lower corner of

cell, large; three smaller tufts in cell, one just

above and before each large one, third in middle,

equidistant between planes of large and small

pairs. Fringe brownish white. Underside pale

gray-brown; fringe pale. Hindwing: Costal margin

slightly excavate before apex, tornal angle not

evident. Ground color whitish basally becoming

gray-brown toward apex; fringe whitish. Underside

whitish, mottled with gray on costal half. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling whitish ochreous, ventral white to

mixed white and brown. Genitalia as in Figure 48

(drawn from plesiotype, Alpine, Texas, JAP prep,

no. 2330; four preparations examined); costa extension slender, evenly tapered, strongly turned

down; extension of cucullus slender; sacculus with

slightly preapical upturned tip, rather sparsely

setate; vesica without defined cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.4—9.1 mm. Essentially as described for male; labial palpus apparently

slightly larger (eye possibly slightly smaller), length

of second segment 2.4—2.5 times eye diameter, third

0.65-0.70 as long as second. Scale coloring variable,

as in male. Genitalia as in Figure 176 (drawn from

plesiotype, Alpine, Texas, JAP prep. no. 2333;

three preparations examined); sterigma simple,

scarcely sclerotized; sclerotized sleeve of ductus

elongate (about 1.1 as long as anterior apophyses),

bursa copulatrix with a single, tiny inner spur near

juncture of ductus seminalis.

TYPE DATA.-Texas, Alpine, 5,000-8,000 feet,

April, May; lectotype male in British Museum,

designated by Clarke (1965).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Extreme western

Texas to southern Chihuahua (near Hidalgo del

Parral), and Nueva Leon (near Galeana).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April-May (Texas), July (S

Chihuahua), September (N Chihuahua).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Pyramidobela ochrolepra Powell, new species

FIGURE 50; PLATE 20/

A small, pale brown moth from southern Mexico,

with three ochreous, upraised scale tufts on the

forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.2 mm. Head: Labial

palpus elongate, moderately strongly upcurved, ex-
NUMBER 120 59

ceeding crown; second segment length 2.1 times

eye diameter, slightly curved, third segment about

0.6 as long as second, slightly curved; second segment with broad, distally spreading scale tuft,

mixed pale brownish and white, third segment

about half obscured by scaling of second, slender,

smooth scaled, whitish, dark at apex. Antenna not

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.15 eye

diameter; scaling brown dorsally, pale ventrally,

becoming ochreous distally. Scaling of tongue,

maxillary palpus, front, and crown whitish intermixed with pale brownish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

brownish, the scale tips not so broadly white as on

head; lateral brushes of metanotum elongate, covering the unsealed scutellum. Underside whitish;

legs mottled with brownish; hind tibial fringe

moderately short. Forewing: Narrow, length about

4.3 times width; costa gently curved, appearing

concave at middle (owing to fringe). Ground color

brownish white, costal and dorsal areas faintly

suffused with darker brown, leaving an ill-defined,

whitish clouding longitudinally through middle of

wing. Three ochreous, upraised tufts: first largest

(about as wide as eye), on Cu fold at basal onethird; second small, of a few scales in middle of

cell; third at end of cell, intermediate in size (a

fourth tuft of other Pyramidobela, just above and

before the large one on Cu fold, inconspicuously

represented by a few weakly upraised, white scales).

Fringe pale brownish. Underside brown; fringe

paler. Hindwing: Costal margin slightly excavate

toward apex, tornal angle not evident. Ground

color pale gray; fringe whitish gray. Underside

similar, irregularly mottled with brown. Abdomen:

Scaling shining pale gray with intermixed dark

brown on dorsum and venter. Genitalia as in

Figure 50 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no.

2609; one preparation examined); very similar to

P. tetraphyta, cucullus extension slightly narrower,

sacculus setae larger and more sparsely distributed.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE.—Holotype male: Mexico, El Sumidero, 15

miles northwest of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas,

August 1, 1957, at light (J. A. Chemsak and B. J.

Rannals); unique; in California Academy of

Sciences.

REMARKS.—Superficially this moth looks most

similar to P. agyrtodes among the described species,

but the genitalia relate it to P. tetraphyta.

Pyramidobela tetraphyta Meyrick

FIGURES 49, 175; PLATE 20e

Pyramidobela tetraphyta Meyrick, 1931a:174.-Keifer, 1936a:

12.-Clarke, 1955a: 306.

A relatively large, pale, tan moth in central Mexico

that has the basal upraised tuft of the forewing

blackish.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.4—9.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus presumably as in other Pyramidobela,

with broadly scaled second segment and smoothscaled, slender third (lacking from all specimens

examined). Antenna very slightly dilated, width of

shaft near base about 0.17 eye diameter; scaling

whitish tan. Scaling of tongue, maxillary palpus,

and front whitish tan, becoming brownish in the

roughened crown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale

tan, slightly brownish anteriorly; lateral brushes

of metanotum elongate, covering the unsealed

scutellum. Underside shining whitish; legs mottled

with brown; hind tibial fringe dense, white Forewing: Narrow, length 4.4-4.6 times width; costa

gently curved, straight toward middle. Ground

color pale tan, more or less evenly dusted with

brownish, at times tending to form longitudinal

streaks on costa and in apical area. Four strongly

upraised scale tufts: basal one largest, on Cu fold

before one-third, blackish becoming pale tan at its

outer side to pale brown becoming whitish outwardly; second tuft much smaller, just above and

before first, in cell, blackish to brownish; third

subequal to second, at middle of cell, brownish to

whitish; fourth at outer, lower corner of cell, intermediate in size, narrowly brownish becoming

pale tan to white outwardly. Fringe dark around

apex, becoming pale toward tornus. Underside

brown; fringe paler. Hindwing: Costal margin

slightly excavate beyond middle, tornal angle not

evident. Ground color pale gray; fringe whitish

tan. Underside whitish, rather heavily mottled

with brown on costal half. Abdomen: Scaling pale

tan. Genitalia as in Figure 49 (drawn from

lectotype, Real del Monte, AB slide, April 30, 1931,

one slide examined); costal extension abruptly attenuated, sacculus broad with apex upcurved,

densely set with fine setae; vesica without defined

cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.3 mm. Essentially

as described for male in external features (labial

palpi missing); antenna not dilated, width of shaft
60 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

basally about 0.15 eye diameter (eye possibly

slightly smaller than that of male). The one female

examined shows no differences in scale color pattern

from the range exhibited by male. Genitalia as in

Figure 175 (drawn from cotype, Real del Monte,

AB slide, April 30, 1931; one slide examined;

flattened obliquely and therefore difficult to compare with other species); sterigma without upcurved

rims, ductus with moderately long sclerotized

sleeve (about equal to length of anterior apophyses),

bursa copulatrix apparently without longitudinal

folds, with a small knoblike inner projection near

juncture of ductus seminalis.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Real del Monte, (Van

Ostrand); lectotype male, by present designation, is

one of two specimens labeled cotype by Busck,

among a series of specimens at the U.S. National

Museum, which also bears the information that

this locality is in Hidalgo.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April, September to November.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The poor condition of the type series

suggests the specimens may be uniformly faded.

Pyramidobela epibryas Meyrick

Pyramidobela epibryas Meyrick, 1931a:88.-Clark, 1955a: 128.

A brazilian species with brown forewings having

whitish basal suffusion and a dark dorsal triangle;

specimens not examined during this study, the

following is based on the original description.

MALE.—Unknown.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing about 7.5 mm.

Head: Light brownish, face white. Labial palpus

second segment thickened with slightly rough scales,

these forming a small projecting tuft at apex

posteriorly, whitish fuscous with three black marks

anteriorly, tuft mixed black, terminal segment

blackish with white median band. Thorax: Fuscous

mixed light brown. Forewing: Elongate, costa

gently arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely

rounded. Ground color dark brown; basal fourth

suffused with whitish, some scattered black scales,

two or three small blackish spots near base; a

triangular blotch of dark fuscous suffusion on

tlorsum before middle, terminated by a black tuft

representing first discal stigma; a black tuft before

middle of disc, and some small tufts about this; two

black tufts partly white-edged, placed transversely

on end of cell; an irregular white patch with

scattered blackish scales occupying lower half of

wing from end of cell to tornus, leaving a rather

broad terminal fascia. Fringe dark fuscous, becoming light grayish on tornal area. Hindwing:

Gray, light anteriorly; fringe light gray. Abdomen:

Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Brazil, Sao Paulo, Alto de Serra,

October (Dr. H. Zerny); unique type female in

Vienna Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—October, a single record.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Pyramidobela compulsa Meyrick

Pyramidobela compulsa Meyrick, 1931b:399.-Clarke, 1955a:97.

A pale grayish Chilean species which was not examined during the present study. The following is

based on the original description.

MALE.—Length of forewing about 9.5 mm. Head:

Whitish-ochreous, face whitish. Labial palpus

second segment ochreous-whitish speckled light

brownish, with roughly expanded whitish hairs at

apex beneath, terminal segment short, very slender,

whitish, a blackish median band. Thorax: Pale

grayish-ocherous, two blackish marginal dots

posteriorly. Forewing: Elongate, rather narrow,

costa slightly arched (apex injured), termen very

obliquely rounded. Ground color whitish ochreous

irregularly suffused brownish, darker brown toward

median area of costa, a streak of dark fuscous

suffusion along costa from one-fourth to two-thirds;

stigmata represented by small blackish-gray raised

dots, discal remote, plical near and somewhat before first discal, an additional dot before and above

first discal. Fringe whitish ochreous tinged

brownish. Hindwing: Thinly scaled, gray-whitish;

fringe ochreous-whitish; veins 5—7 near together, 5

arched upward toward base. Abdomen: Genitalia

not examined.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE DATA.—South Chile, Llanquihue Province,

Casa Pangue, December; unique male type stated

to be in the British Museum but not located by

Clarke (1955).
NUMBER 120 61

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—December (a single record).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia Hiibner

Ethmia Hubner, 1819:163.

Psecadia Hubner, 1825:412.'

Anesychia Hubner, 1825:413.

Disthymnia Hubner, 1825:413.

Melanoleuca Stephens, 1829:202.

Aedia Duponchel, 1836:305.

Chalybe Duponchel, 1836:343.

Azinis Walker, 1863:541.

Tamarrha Walker, 1864a:816.

Ceratophysetis Meynck, 1887:1044.

Theoxema Walsingham, 1887:506.

Babaiaxa Busck, 1902:95.

Wiltshireia Amsel, 1949:317.

TYPE.—Ethmia pyrausta Hubner, 1819:163 (not

Pallas), [=auriftuella Hubner, 1825]; monobasic

(Europe) (Figure 74).

DESCRIPTION.—Small to moderately large moths,

forewing length 4-18 mm. Head: Front normal.

Maxillary palpus 1-4-segmented, minute to moder8

 Generic name synonymy from the Old World literature is

repeated from Sattler (1967).

ately elongate, scaled and folded over base of

proboscis. Labial palpus short to elongate, thin,

evenly tapering; segment I short, II elongate, HI

0.5 to I.I as long as II. Antenna of male often

broader than in female. Forewing: Moderately

broad to narrow, length 2.8—4.2 times width;

termen usually not strongly angled back, tornal

angle evident. Vein Cu2 from slightly before

lower corner of cell. Smooth scaled. Hindwing:

Costal area of male often modified: elongate scale

brush ("hair-pencil") from base, free or enclosed in

costal fold or pinch-fold between Sc and R, rarely

with a second hair pencil free of fold. Termen

moderately to strongly angled back, tornal angle

not always evident. Vein M2 distinctly nearer to

Mj to slightly nearer M3; M3 and Cuj short-stalked

or connate. Male genitalia: Uncus well developed

to absent; gnathos well developed to absent; basal

processes present; valva divided below costa or before cucullus, without accessory lobe. Female

genitalia: Apophyses short to elongate, sterigma

simple or ornate; antrum absent to well developed;

ductus bursae usually membranous, coiled; corpus

bursae membranous, signum a crease on dorsal half

of bursa.

REMARKS.—A worldwide genus of about 240

described species. There are 125 species described

from the New World.

Key to the New World Species and Certain Subspecies of Ethmia,

Based on External Characters

1. Crown strongly produced, bulging the diameter of eye above eye; foretibia densely clothed

with long hair (female unknown) tnulleri Busck

Crown not produced, evenly rounded slightly above eye; tibiae smooth scaled 2

2. Eye small, diameter 0.7-0.8 the height of front (Figure 3) $

Eye moderate to large, diameter 0.9-1.2 height of front 15

3. FW pattern divided by a straight, longitudinal line on Cu, dorsal half pale gray, costal

half blackish except costa narrowly pale gray monachella Busck

FW pattern black with median white longitudinal line or not divided by straight, longitudinal line 4

4. Abdomen with bright yellow scaling, at least ventrally on distal segments 5

Abdomen white, gray, brown, or black 6

5. Abdomen dorsum entirely yellow except basal segment nadia Clarke

Abdomen dorsum black, on at least basal 3-5 segments albistrigetta (Walsingham)

6. Labial palpus shaggy scaled with many interspersed stiff bristles (Plate lb); antenna of

male strongly dilated (0.4-0.5 eye diameter) 7

Labial palpus smooth scaled or roughened, without bristles; male antenna less strongly

dilated (0.30-0.35 eye diameter) 9

7. FW with orange or reddish spots at base and end of cell 8

FW with yellowish or white spots at base and end of cell coquilletulla Busck
6 2 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

8. FW blackish with costa narrowly whitish, a median longitudinal orange streak from base

to end of cell umbrimarginella Busck

FW including costa blackish, no longitudinal orange streak lassenella Busck

9. HW of male with costal hair pencil; labial palpus short (II -f HI segments, 1.4-1.8 eye

diameter) 10

HW of male with costal area simple; labial palpus moderately elongate (II -f HI 2.2-3.0

eye diameter) 11

10. Moth pale brownish gray; labial palpus very short (II + III 1.4 eye diameter)

scylla Powell

Moth dark brownish black; labial palpus longer (II -f- HI 1.8 eye diameter)

brevistriga Clarke

11. Larger moth (FW 9.0-10.0 mm) with entirely dark wings; FW with a poorly contrasted

but well-defined median longitudinal, paler line orestella Powell

Smaller moths (FW 4.3-7.0 mm); median line of FW if present, white 12

12. Small moths (FW 43.-5.0 mm); FW dark with a median, longitudinal white line IS

Larger moths (W 55-7.0 mm); FW with dorsal half mostly white 14

13. HW of male white, of female dark brown minuta Powell

HW of male dark brown (female unknown) tricula Powell

14. Labial palpus moderately elongate (II -|- III 3.0 eye diameter); FW with pale whitish

marking and overscaling more or less uniformly over dorsal half albitogata Walsingham

Labial palpus shorter (II + III 2.4-2.6 eye diameter); FW with more contrasting white

markings, especially linear spots on Cu fold plagiobothrae Powell

15. Labial palpus minute, hidden in scaling of head; female brachypterous charybdis Powell

Labial palpus large, extending at least eye diameter from head scaling; female fully

winged 16

16. Moth entirely dark metallic blue cyanea Walsingham

Moth not unicolorous; hindwing usually hyaline, FW not entirely metallic blue 17

17. Male with large tufts of fluffy hair under tegulae; FW with large dorsal blotch of metallic

bluish margined with olivaceous gray clouding 18

Male tegulae simple; FW dorsal blotch if present bronzy, purplish, or coppery 19

18. Antennal scape elongate (1.6 eye diameter in male); FW costal area gray, contiguous with

bluish blotch on dorsum scythropa Walsingham

Antennal scape much shorter (0.7 eye diameter in male); FW with white marking separating dark costal shade and dorsal blotch nwosella (Walker)

19. Antennal scape enlarged (male 0.9-1.5, female 0.75-1.3 eye diameter); FW white with

metallic blue markings; tip of abdomen bright ochreous or red 20

Antennal scape unmodified (0.5-0.75 eye diameter); FW if white with metallic blue markings, abdomen tip not red or bright ochreous 26

20. Large moth (FW 12.7-16.4 mm) with broad blue FW markings, much broader than eye

diameter wellingi Powell

Smaller moth (FW 7.0-135 mm) markings narrow bands or spots, about eye diameter or

less in width 21

21. Male with elongate metathoracic brushes extending alongside basal segments of abdomen;

tip of abdomen ochreous; Antilles 22

Male without metathoracic brushes; tip of abdomen red; Mexico and mainland Central

America 24

22. Antennal scape weakly modified (male 0.9, female 0.75 eye diameter); male labial palpus

modified, clublike (Plate 2c), HW pale yellow paucella (Walker)

Antennal scape strongly modified (male 1.4-1.5, female 0.9-1.0 eye diameter); male labial

palpus normal, HW white at least basally 23

23. HW of male with specialized ochreous scales on distal half; female with a median peglike

protuberance on VIII sternite hiramella Busck

HW of male white, without specialized scaling; female without peglike abdominal protuberance notatclla (Walker)

24. HW of male without costal brush; FW markings narrow, less than 0.5 eye diameter in

TMdth chemsaki Powell, 1959

HW of male with hair pencil, enclosed in pinch-fold between Sc-R; FW markings

broader than 05 eye diameter 25
NUMBER 120 53

25. Labial palpus elongate (II -f HI 2.5 times eye diameter); FW with complete transverse

stripes zebrata Powell, 1959

Labial palpus shorter (II -f III 1.8-2.1 times eye diameter); transverse markings of

distal half of FW broken into spots phoenicura Meyrick

26. Dorsum of abdomen pink 27

Dorsum of abdomen yellow, gray, brown, or black 28

27. HW mostly shaded pink; male antenna dilated (0.45 eye diameter); male HW without

costal hair pencil volcanella Powell

HW mostly gray, anal fringe tinged with pink; male antenna not dilated (0.20 eye diameter); male HW with costal hair pencil papiella Powell

28. HW with crossvein between Sc-R beyond end of cell; FW usually with metallic colored

scaling in a large middorsal blotch and/or a terminal band (bronzy, purplish, golden,

etc.) 29

HW without crossvein between Sc-R; FW usually without metallic colored scaling 56

29. FW white, with dark costal band and scattered dark, longitudinal spots 30

FW if white, with metallic transverse bands or dorsal blotch 31

30. FW with broken black spot pattern, a cluster of spots near tornus; male HW with costal

hair pencil, no fold. bittenella (Busck)

FW with broad, uniform gray costal brown band, remainder of spotting more or less

evenly spaced; male HW with costal hair pencil enclosed in Sc-R pinch-fold

proximella Busck

31. FW with bluish transverse bands, termen golden 32

FW with large middorsal blotch of metallic color, termen often concolorous 37

32. FW white with narrow, blue-black, more or less evenly spaced transverse bands; Mexico

and Central America 33

FW grayish or blue-gray with various darker markings; Antilles 36

33. Male HW with costal hair pencil 34

Male HW without costal hair pencil 35

34. FW transverse bands moderately broad (0.5 eye diameter), mostly complete

delliella (Fernald)

FW transverse markings thin, broken into spots clarkei Powell

35. FW transverse markings broad (0.5 eye diameter), complete linsdalei Powell

FW transverse markings thin, broken davisella Powell

36. FW pale gray with numerous blue-gray irregular spots subsimilis Walsingham

FW whitish with broad costal and dorsal gray-brown markings kirbyi (Moeschler)

37. FW broad (2.7-3.0) with bronzy dorsal blotch, blue spots near base and golden termen;

male HW without costal hair pencil 38

FW slightly narrower (3.0-3.5), often without basal blue spots and/or golden termen;

male HW with costal hair pencil in fold 41

38. FW basal bluish connected to dorsal blotch by a broad dark shade through cell to termen;

Antilles gelidella (Walker)

FW basad of dorsal blotch white with isolated blue spots; mostly mainland Central and

South America 39

39. FW with 0 or 1 blue spot on dorsal half near base phylacis Walsingham

FW with 2 or more blue spots on dorsal half near base 40

40. FW with 2 isolated bluish spots on dorsal half near base. exornata (Zeller)

FW with several nearly contiguous blue spots on dorsal half near base

mnesicosma Meyrick

41. FW bronzy with white spots, no denned dorsal blotch 42

FW pale with metallic spots, including large dorsal blotch 44

42. FW with well-defined, evenly spaced, round, white spots 43

FW with irregular white blotches, especially on dorsal half epUygella Powell

43. Large moth (FW 13 mm); (male unknown) cupreonwella (Walsingham)

Smaller moth (FW 11 mm); male antenna not dilated (0.18 eye diameter); (female

unknown) fritilUlla Powell

44. Smaller moths (FW 6.3-8.7 mm); genital scaling whitish, concolorous with abdominal

venter 45

Larger moths (FW 8.4-13.8 mm); genital scaling ochreous, contrasting with whitish

abdominal venter 48
64 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

45. FW pale with distinctly margined purplish dorsal blotch 46

FW ground color clouded with dark gray, broadly from costa at middle, contiguous with

and obscuring margins of steel-blue dorsal blotch notomurinella Powell

46. FW ground color relatively uniform whitish; Antilles. submissa Busck

FW ground color clouded with numerous grayish blotches; mainland Central and South

America 47

47. Male HW hair pencil ochreous; female HW mostly white; Mexico and northern Central

America janzeni Powell

Male HW hair pencil gray; female HW mostly grayish; Panama and South America

elutella Busck

48. Scaling of abdominal II—III terga undifferentiated; male antenna slightly dilated (0.20-

051 eye diameter) 49

Abdominal terga II—III with differentiated, ochreous scaling; antenna usually more

dilated (0.22-0.25 eye diameter) 51

49. Large moths (FW 11.8-13.8 mm); FW without differentiated color band on terminal

area 50

Smaller moth (FW 85-11.7 mm); FW dorsal blotch coppery, termen golden ochreous

perpulchra Walsingham

50. FW with broad gray costal band contiguous with purplish coppery dorsal blotch

terpnota Walsingham

FW with purplish coppery dorsal blotch isolated in white ground color, costa not broadly

gray iridella Powell

51. FW dorsal blotch well denned, purplish- or reddish-copper 52

FW dorsal blotch if defined, brownish or gray, at times reflecting metallic blue 55

52. FW apical area golden ochreous phylacops Powell

FW without golden ochreous markings 53

53. HW mostly brown; male HW hair pencil enclosed in costal fold; male antenna dilated

(0.25 eye diameter); Mexico and Central America ungulatella Busck

HW white, tinged with brownish or gray toward apex; (male unknown); southern South

America 54

54. FW with about 8 evenly scattered gray-brown spots on basal one-third, dorsal blotch

bronzy .cypraspis Meyrick

FW with blackish or gray spots arranged in a longitudinal band from base of costa to

termen, dorsal blotch deep coppery cellicoma Meyrick

55. FW dorsal area markings brown, reflecting bluish, without coppery streaks

chalcodora Meyrick

FW pattern obscured by extensive gray-brown suffusion, in part reflecting greenish, basal,

and cubital fold with longitudinal coppery streaks chalcogramma Powell

56. FW unusually broadened (2.6-2.9), costa strongly arched in distal half, pale yellowish

with squarish blue markings hammella Busck

FW not broadened distally, costa evenly curved, usually narrower (2.9 or greater), color

pattern otherwise 57

57. Small moths (FW 7-10 mm) with FW broad (2.7-3.0), with a large or small ochreous

spot toward middle 58

FW mostly narrower, no ochreous spots 60

58. FW with black lines and large, squarish yellow spot on dorsum; mainland Central and

South America 59

FW with metallic bluish spots and a small yellow spot on Cu fold; Antilles

abraxasella (Walker)

59. FW white with black, transverse bands broad, complete (0.5 eye diameter), dorsal spot

bright ochreous yellow festiva Busck

FW transverse bands thin, distal ones incomplete, dorsal spot pale ochreous

cypraeella (Zeller)

60. Thorax and abdomen concolorous pale ochreous; labial palpus moderately short (II

+ III segments 1.5-1.7 eye diameter) 61

Abdomen, if yellow, contrasting with gray thorax; labial palpus usually much longer 65

61. FW gray with more or less evenly scattered black spots xellerieUa (Chambers)

FW mostly dark on costal half, pale on dorsal half 62
NUMBER 120 65

62. FW ground color, HW, body, all pale ochreous bunuetla Powell

FW ground color and HW white, contrasting with yellowish body 63

63. Smaller moth (FW 9-11 mm); FW with costal half uniformly pale brown, paler than

adjoining spots in dorsal area. hagenella hagenetla (Zeller)

Larger moths (FW 105-12 mm); FW with costal half not uniform, often whitish toward

costa, as dark as adjoining spots of dorsal area toward middle 64

64. FW dorsal half with more or less equal-sized, evenly spaced spots mimihagenella Powell

FW dorsal half with irregular dark blotching toward tornal area

hagenella josephinella Dyar

65. FW narrow (3.7-45); grayish 66

FW broad to moderately narrow (3.0-3.7) 73

66. FW pattern divided by a straight line from base to apex; costal half gray, dorsal half

whitish; male with HW hair pencil under costal fold (pan)albicostella (Beutenmiiller)

FW pattern not divided by a straight line if gray costal, whitish dorsal; male HW hair

pencil either lacking or not enclosed under costal fold 67

67. FW pattern costal gray, dorsal whitish; labial palpus relatively short (II -f III segments

1.8 eye diameter). epileuca Powell, 1959

FW pattern not distinctly costal gray, dorsal whitish; labial palpus segments longer (II

+ III 2.0-2.4 times eye diameter) 68

68. FW moderately narrow (3.7) with median longitudinal black band; male HW without

costal hair pencil macelhosiella Busck

FW without median black band or narrow (4.0); male HW with costal hair pencil 69

69. Small moths (FW 85-9.1 mm); southern Mexico mansita Busck

Larger moths (FW 9.0-11.0 mm); northern Mexico and US 70

70. FW narrow (4.0-42), usually with median longitudinal black line or lines along veins 71

FW slightly broader (3.7-3.8), without black markings angustalatella Powell

71. Median black line of FW narrow, distinct, strongly contrasted with whitish ground

macneilli Powell

Median line of FW narrow or broadened, not so dark, poorly contrasted with gray

ground 72

72. Median line of FW broadened, indistinctly margined on costal side

geranella Barnes and Busck

Median line of FW narrow, distinctly margined on costal side Hmberlakei Powell

73. FW pattern distinctly divided by sinuate or straight line along Cu fold, costal half dark

(more or less unicolorous, not strongly mottled or streaked), dorsal half pale 74

FW pattern not distinctly divided, dark costal, pale dorsal (may be divided longitudinally

by a dark median band) 97

74. FW costal half gray or black 75

FW costal half brown 8*

75. Abdomen yellow, at least ventrally 76

Abdomen gray except genital scaling ochreous sphenisca Powell

76. Large moth (FW 12.7-155 mm); male with HW hair pencil enclosed in Sc-R pinch-fold;

southern Mexico coronata Walsingham

Mostly smaller moths (FW 8.7-14.0 mm); male with HW costal hair pencil lacking or

exposed; northern Mexico and U. S. 77

77. FW ground color and HW dark gray numticola emmeli Powell

FW ground color and HW pale gray to whitish 78

78. FW with two narrow, inwardly oblique black lines extended into dorsal white on basal

half; male HW with brownish or yellow costal hair pencil senuUnebretta Dyar

FW with one or no oblique black lines extended into dorsal white; HW without costal

hair pencil 79

79. FW costal half black 80

FW costal half gray 82

80. Abdomen yellow; labial palpus rather short (II + III segments 2.1 times eye diameter);

northeastern U.S. bipunctetta (Fabridus)

Abdomen dorsum partly blackish; labial palpus more elongate (25-2.9 times eye diameter); western US 81
6 6 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

81. FW dorsal half white, distinctly margined, strongly contrasting with black costal half;

male antenna only slightly dilated (0.20 eye diameter) semilugens (Zeller)

FW dorsal area gray, paler than costal half but not distinctly margined; male antenna

strongly dilated (0.26-0.28 eye diameter) (part) arctostaphylella (Walsingham)

82. FW costal half pale gray with longitudinal black streaks discostrigella (Chambers)

FW costal half pale to dark gray, paler toward costa, no black streaks

(part) arctostaphylella (Walsingham)

83. Large (FW 14.5-17.5 mm), heavy bodied moth gigantea Busck

Smaller moths (FW 5.4-13 mm), not unusually bulky 84

84. Pronotum with 7 dark spots heptastica Walsingham

Pronotum with 0-5 dark spots 85

85. Moderately large moth (FW 9.2-11.7 mm) with no dark spots on pronotum

(part) semiombra Dyar

Small moth (FW 5—8 mm) or pronotum with 5 dark spots 86

86. Genital scaling bright or dark ochreous, distinctly contrasted with remainder of abdomen

87

Genital scaling not distinctly ochreous 94

87. FW pattern divided by a straight, longitudinal line; FW narrower (33-3.7)

(part) albicostella (Beutenmiiller)

FW pattern divided by a sinuate line; FW broader (3.0-33) 88

88. Small moth (FW 6.0-7.8 mm); abdominal terga with differentiated, ochreous scaling;

pronotum with the 3 posterior spots connected hodgesella Powell

Mostly larger moths, abdominal terga II -\- III scaling not differentiated; pronotum

with 5 separate spots 89

89. HW whitish cordia Powell

HW dark brown 90

90. FW costal area blackish brown, extended more than halfway beyond Cu toward dorsal

margin clava Powell

FW costal area brown, not extended more than halfway beyond Cu to dorsal margin 91

91. FW broad (2.9-3.1), dorsal area shaded with grayish; labial palpus shorter (II + III

segments 1.3-1.5 times eye diameter) scutula Powell

FW narrower (3.2-3.5) with dorsal area white; labial palpus more elongate (1.5-1.8 times

eye diameter) 92

92. FW usually with ill-defined whitish costal blotch at end of cell, sometimes enclosing a

black dot; abdomen tan or pale ochreous; western U.S. and northern Mexico

marmorea (Walsingham)

FW costal area unicolorous dark brown; abdomen brown with bright ochreous genital

scaling; west coast of Mexico to Costa Rica 93

93. FW pattern with strongly sinuate dividing line, lobes of brown extending more than

halfway beyond Cu toward dorsal margin; labial palpus more elongate (II -f III segments 2.5—2.8 times eye diameter) penthica Walsingham

FW pattern usually divided by a less strongly sinuate line, lobes of brown not extending

half the distance beyond Cu toward dorsal margin; labial palpus shorter (II -f- III

2.1-2.5 eye diameter) similatella Busck

94. Small moths (FW 5.4-8.0 mm) with no dark spots on pronotum; II—III abdominal terga

with differentiated, ochreous scaling 95

Mostly larger moths; pronotum with 5-6 dark spots; scaling of II—III abdominal terga

not differentiated 96

95. FW costal area brown, dorsal area pale grayish; mainland Mexico playa Powell

FW colors strongly contrasting, costal half dark brown, darker near Cu; dorsal area

whitish; Baja California. baja Powell

96.

 rmall moth (FW 6.5-7.5 mm); west coast Mexico pala Powell

Larger moths (FW 73-9.8 mm); north central Mexico and U.S.

(part) trifurcella (Chambers) and mirusella (Chambers)

97. FW ground color and HW dark gray; posterior margin of VI sternite with strong

concavity gg

FW if dark gray, not concolorous with the paler HW; VI sternite posterior margin

straight, without concavity JQQ
NUMBER 120 57

98. Abdomen blackish, at least on basal 3 segments; labial palpus scaling strongly roughened;

male antenna dilated (0.26 eye diameter) , caliginosella Busck

Abdomen nearly entirely bright ochreous; labial palpus smooth scaled; male antenna

only slightly dilated (0.20-0.22 eye diameter) 99

99. FW narrower (3.4-3.5), markings longitudinal black lines.

monticola monticola (Walsingham)

FW broader (3.2-3.4), markings isolated, small black spots.

monticola fuscipedella (Walsingham)

100. FW basically gray or brownish with a median, longitudinal blackish band 101

FW if gray, longitudinal marks scattered, not concentrated into a median dark band .107

101. Abdomen yellow; male HW without costal hair pencil.

(part) arctostaphylella (Walsingham)

Abdomen gray or whitish, at least ventrally; male HW with costal hair pencil enclosed

in fold 102

102. Small moth (FW 6.7-8.0 mm); labial palpus short (II -f III segments 2.0 times eye

diameter); male antenna not dilated (0.16 eye diameter); Antilles oteroseUa Busck

Mostly larger moths with longer labial palpus (II -\- III 2.4-2.8 times eye diameter);

male antenna at least slightly dilated (0.18-0.22 times eye diameter); mainland 103

103. Abdomen yellowish dorsally, whitish ventrally; FW narrower (3.5) with median band

obscure subnigritaenia Powell

Abdomen brownish or gray dorsally, at least terga IV-VII; FW broader (3.1-3.4) with

median band strongly contrasting 104

104. Smaller moths (FW 7.6-11.8 mm) with FW white and brow,n to blackish brown 105

Larger moths (FW 10.4-14.0 mm) with FW gray and black 106

105. Labial palpus shorter (II -f III segments 2.4 times eye diameter); female without differentiated scaling on aydominal terga II—III trifurcella (Chambers)

and (part) miruseUa (Chambers)

Labial palpus longer (II -}- III 2.5-2.7 times eye diameter) (Part) semiombra Dyar

106. Genital scaling ochreous nigritaenia Powell

Genital scaling grayish, concolorous with rest of abdomen omega Powell

107. FW white with 2 broad, longitudinal, slightly serpentine, black bars from base and midcosta. hieroglyphica Powell

FW markings if well defined, small dots or thin streaks 108

108. FW pattern generally grayish or whitish, with many contiguous, longitudinal paler and

darker streaks 109

FW white or tan with isolated, darker, distinct or obscure spots 124

109. Abdomen entirely yellow 110

Abdominal scaling gray or whitish, at most genital scaling ochreous Ill

110. Labial palpus elongate, with III segment nearly as long as II (each about 1.4 times eye

diameter); male HW with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold striatella Busck

Labial palpus shorter, II segment appreciably longer than III (1.4, 1.0 times eye diameter); HW costal area simple (part) discostrigella (Chambers)

111. Second abdominal segment laterally with differentiated ochreous scaling, in male forming

a pouchlike flap lichyi Powell

Scaling of second abdominal segment not differentiated, concolorous with rest of pleural

areas 112

112. Large, broad winged moths (FW 2.8-3.8); male HW with divided hair pencil, anterior

portion exposed, posterior part enclosed in Sc-R pinch-fold 113

Small to large moths, mostly with narrow wings (FW 3.1-3.6); male costal hair pencil

absent or entirely within costal fold 114

113. Large moth (FW 10.7-14.0 mm) with broad wings (FW 2.8-2.9); mainland Central

America baliostola Walsingham

Smaller moths (FW 9.0-11.0 mm) with narrower wings (FW 3.1-3.2); Antilles

cubensis Busck

114. Large moth (FW 14.0-15.5 mm); male antenna not dilated (width 0.18 eye diameter)

transversella Busck

Smaller moths (FW 6.5-12.0 mm); male antenna usually slightly to moderately dilated

(0.20-055) eye diameter) 115
6 8 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

115. Labial palpus III segment length subequal (0.95-1.05) to length of II 116

Labial palpus III segment length appreciably shorter (0.8-0.9) than length of II 121

116. Male HW without hair pencil 117

Male HW with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold 118

117. Small moth (FW 7.0-7.7 mm); II-III abdominal terga with differentiated, ochreous scaling

confusellastra Powell

Larger moth (FW 11.9-13.4 mm); abdominal scaling of basal terga undifferentiated

duckworthi Powell

118. Small moth (FW 6.5-7.0 mm) with narrow wings (FW 3.5-3.6); abdomen unicolorous

gTay farrella Powell

Larger moths (FW 8.0-13.0 mm) with broader wings (FW 3.0-3.5); genital scaling

ochreous 119

119. FW broad (3.0); male antenna scarcely dilated (width near base 0.19 eye diameter)

conglobata Meyrick

FW narrower (3.1-3.5); male antenna slightly to well dilated (0.20-055 eye diameter)

120

120. FW with dorsal area pale, having 2 fairly distinct gray spots near base; male antenna

dilated (width 0.25 eye diameter); Antilles and Yucatan confusetta (Walker)

FW with variable pattern, usually without 2 spots in dorsal pale area; male antenna

slightly dilated (050-0.22 eye diameter); mainland Central and South America

„ (part) catapeltica Meyrick

121. Antenna of male dilated (055 eye diameter); FW ground color white plaumanni Powell

Antenna of male only slightly dilated (0.20-0.22 eye diameter); FW ground color usually

gray 122

122. FW with markings mostly concentrated in costal half; HW of male without external

blackish fringe on costal fold; Amazon basin calumniella Powell

FW usually more or less concolorous in costal and dorsal halves; HW of male with blackish

fringe externally on costal fold; northwestern South America and Central America 123

123. FW ground color usually pale grayish; HW of male with external black fringe on costal

fold sparse; Central and South America (part) catapeltica Meyrick

FW ground color dark gray; HW of male with external costal fringe dense, dark; Mexico

flavicaudata Walsingham

124. Large moth (FW 105-12.7 mm); abdomen entirely dark ochreous; antenna of male not

dilated (width 0.16 eye diameter) sandra Powell

Mostly smaller moths; abdomen with at most genital scaling ochreous; antenna of male

slightly to well dilated (0.19-0.25 eye diameter) 125

125. Labial palpus short (II -f- III segments 1.4-1.8 times eye diameter); HW of male without

hair pencil 126

Labial palpus elongate (II + III about 2.0 or greater times eye diameter); HW of male

with hair pencil, usually enclosed in costal fold 128

126. FW broad (3.1); II and HI segments of lab'al palnus equal in length prattiella Busck

FW narrower (3.4-3.7); II segment of labial palpus longer (1.2-1.9 x ) than III 127

127. FW narrow (3.5-3.7) with short, linear, black markings; labial palpus III segment 0.8 as

long as II apicipunctella (Chambers)

FW broader (3.4-3.5) with a single black dot at end of cell; labial palpus II segment

nearly 2 times the length of HI punctessa Powell

128. Small moth (FW 5.4-6.8 mm); labial palpus shorter (II -f- III segments about 2 times eye

diameter); HW of male without fold, hair pencil exposed piperella Powell

Small to larger moths with elongate labial palpus (II -j- III segments 2.1-2.6 times eye

diameter); HW of male with costal or pinch-fold enclosing hair pencil 129

129. Small moth (FW 5.4-6.7 mm); FW tan with obscure darker spots; antenna of male only

slightly dilated (0.19 eye diameter) humilis Powell

Small to larger moths with FW white or pale gray, markings black, distinct; antenna of

male more strongly dilated (051-0.26 eye diameter) ISO

130. Larger moths (FW 8.6-11.4 mm); labial palpus with II segment more elongate (1.1-1.4)

than III 1S I

Small moths (FW 5.6-7.3 mm); labial palpus with III segment more elongate (1.1) than

n

 1S2
NUMBER 120 69

131. FW markings broad lines; antenna of male dilated (0.25 eye diameter); Mexico and

Central America kowdtni Powell

FW markings thin lines; antenna of male slightly dilated (021-0.23 eye diameter); U.S.

and Canada longimaculella (Chambers)

132. Abdominal terga II-III with differentiated ochreous scaling; HW of male with hair pencil

enclosed in Sc-R pinch-fold; Lesser Antilles and mainland Neotropical 133

Abdominal terga scaling undifferentiated; HW of male with hair pencil enclosed in costal

fold; Greater Antilles and Florida Keys julia Powell

133. "mall moth (FW 5.8-6.7 mm) with slightly narrower FW (3.1-3.4); antenna of male

slightly dilated (0.21-0.23 eye diameter); Lesser Antilles joviella Walsingham

Larger moth (FW 7.0-7.3 mm) with broad FW (3.0); antenna of male strongly dilated

(056 eye diameter); Central and South America linda Busck

Section I

ADULT.—Eye small to moderately large (index

0.7-1.0, rarely 1.1). Male with uncus well developed, hoodlike or strongly sclerotized, narrow;

gnathos with either posterior or anterior portion,

or both, present, joined (single); valva without

modified scalelike setae that are bifid apically and

differentiated, enlarged, distal setae ("distal setabunch"). Female with posterior apophyses usually

short, anterior apophyses short, broad or narrow.

MATURE LARVA.—Head capsule somewhat flattened, not strongly sclerotized (mottled); adfrontal

sutures usually reaching or nearly reaching cervical

triangle. Secondary setae in SV group: 0-2 on abdominal segments 1, 2, 7, 8; 0-18 on abdominal

segment 9; none on abdominal prolegs; 0-3 on

anal proleg. Crotchets arranged in a mesal penellipse or mesoseries.

PUPA.—Dorsoventrally flattened; integument

smooth, moderately sclerotized. Appendages extending to posterior margin of abdominal segment

5. Segments 6-7 movable by lateral condyles. Anchoring by means of hooked setae on anteriorly

directed extensions of the segment 9 ("anal legs").

COCOON.—Dense, opaque, tightly closed; resistant to desiccation.

The Albitogata Group

Eye index 0.7-0.8. Maxillary palpus rudimentary,

one or two tiny, subequal segments. Labial palpus

short to moderately elongate, II segment index

0.5—1.6, vestiture rough or bristled. Antenna of

male dilated, shaft index 0.22-0.40. Forewing

moderately broad to narrow; pattern longitudinal,

sometimes costal-dorsal, usually with a white spur

at end of cell. Hindwing of male with or without

costal hair pencil, fold lacking. Genital scaling

red, orange, or undifferentiated. Uncus hoodlike,

gnathos dentate anteriorly and posteriorly, basal

processes membranous, broad or rudimentary,

valva, fultura-manica, and vesica without armature.

Papillae anales heavily sclerotized, setate or bare;

posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses broad, sterigma simple; antrum not developed;

ductus bursae membranous, coils tight or loose,

3-8; signum a dentate bar or lacking.

Small, diurnal, predominantly gray moths which

fly in early spring in the western United States,

comprising a group of 10 closely related species.

The group is similar and possibly closely related

to the Rothschildi group of Asia (Sattler, 1967).

T HE UMBRIMARGINELLA COMPLEX

The three species which comprise this complex are

diurnal moths that differ from all other New World

Eihmia by having a broad black margin on the

whitish hindwing and by their gray forewings

bearing basal and discal spots of red, orange, or

yellowish. Within the group, the members are too

poorly known to allow satisfactory interpretation

of variation and species limits.

Two names E. umbrimarginella and E. coquillettella were proposed by Busck (1907) to accommodate single males from Las Cruces, New Mexico,

and Los Angeles, California. The following year

he described E. lassenella on the basis of a male

and female from Redington, Arizona. The three

differ in details of wing pattern and genitalia but

form a closely knit group of allopatric entities.

Drawings of the moths given by Barnes and Busck

(1920) depicting obvious differences between individuals of the three are misleading. They are

very similar in appearance and genital form. The

genitalia preparations from which the Barnes and
70 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Busck (1920) microphotographs were made are so

badly flattened that comparison with recent material is difficult. The genitalia show minor differences in gnathos sculpture, breadth of basal processes, etc., but males have not been available in

series, so that the scope of individual variation is

unknown. Each of five slides examined representing lassenella and coquillettella differs in some detail. Differences in female genitalia between the

two latter are apparent, but again variation has

not been assessed.

During the past half century there appear to

have been only about a dozen specimens of the

group deposited in collections, these representing

eight localities, three additional geographical

areas, and all three species. Among recent material

are specimens from British Columbia that do not

differ from southern California coquillettella except by their larger size. In contrast, a short series

from Pinyon Flat in the San Jacinto Mountains

of southern California exhibits similarities to both

coquillettella and lassenella. The red basal and

discal spots shown by lassenella are yellowish in the

Pinyon Flat series, as in coquillettella, but the

hindwing is almost entirely dark, as in lassenella.

The series is tentatively referred to coquillettella,

on the basis of female genital features.

One additional male specimen has been examined (Echo Lake, El Dorado County, California,

VII-5-53, W. W. Middlekauff) which is not readily

referable to any species because of its poor condition; nearly all the scales are lacking from the

forewings. The locality is remote ecologically from

any known record for the group; the flight period,

which is commensurate with the elevation of Echo

Lake (8,000 feet), also represents a marked divergence from other members of the group. In

genital features the Echo Lake male differs from

all other populations sampled by having a series

of thick, finger-like spurs on anterior margin of

gnathos, and a somewhat broader basal processes.

The answer as to whether two or more of these

entities represent geographical segregates of a single, variable species will have to await the accumulation of additional material.

Ethmia umbrimarginella Busck

PLATE ba

Ethmia umbrimarginella Busck, 1907:94.-Barnes and Busck,

1920. pi. 26, 36.-McDunnough, 1939:82.

A moderately small moth having the dark gray

forewing marked by a longitudinal reddish orange

line from base nearly to the end of the cell.

MALE.—Length of forewing about 9.5 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately upcurved, rather short,

second segment about equal to eye diameter, third

segment about two-thirds the length of second,

scaling extending well beyond; with elongate,

spreading, stiff black hairs, dense at base becoming

sparse distally in addition to black scaling. Scaling of antennae and head black. Thorax: Collar

ochreous; scaling of pronotum and venter including legs deep bluish black. Forewing: Length

about 3.2 times width; apex blunt, termen not

strongly angled back, fringe moderately broad.

Ground color dark slate gray; immediate costal

edge dirty white to distal one-fourth; a narrow line

of bright red-orange from concolorous spot at base,

extending outward above cubital fold nearly to

end of cell; a short, vertical red-orange bar at end

of cell; five velvet black spots as follows: an

elongate one on cubital fold in basal one-fourth, a

rounded one on fold before middle of wing, a

slightly smaller round one at middle of wing in

cell, a pair adjoining and emphasizing vertical

orange bar at end of cell, preceding and following

it. Fringe of ground color. Underside dark gray,

costa whitish, broadly clouded with whitish scales

in central area. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal hair tuft presumably present, not examined; fringe moderately broad, slightly less than

one-half membrane width. Ground color white; a

broad dark gray margin around apical, terminal,

and dorsal areas, ill defined inwardly, produced

into central area as a broad lobe along dorsum.

Fringe dark gray. Underside similar. Abdomen:

"Blackish brown" as originally described, subsequently removed. Genitalia figured by Barnes and

Busck (1920, pi. 36) similar to lassenella and coquillettella, apparently differing by a more elongate

costal rim of the valva and possibly shorter basal

processes.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.7 mm. Essentially

as described for male. White of forewing costa extended nearly to apex; basal orange spot smaller.

Costal brush of hindwing lacking; gray border of

hindwing more diffuse. Abdomen tip scaling orange. Genitalia not examined.
NUMBER 120 71

TYPE DATA.—Las Cruces (Mesilla Park), New

Mexico, February (T. D. A. Cockerell); holotype

male deposited in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Arizona

and New Mexico; besides the type, evidently known

only from a single female taken at Nogales, Arizona, in quarantine from the Nogales area in February 1959.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown; the type specimen

was recorded as taken on "Canagre" [Rumex hymenosepalus Torrey (Polygonaceae)], an illogical

host.

Ethmia lassenella Busck

PLATE 56; MAP 13

Ethmia lassenella Busck, 1908a:92.-Barnes and Busck, 1920,

pis. 26, 35— McDunnough, 1939:82.

A moderately small moth with shining steel gray

forewings marked at the base and end of cell with

bright red-orange spots.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.2—8.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately strongly upcurved, rather

short, second segment 1.0 eye diameter, third segment about 0.5 as long; scaling black, with scattered whitish basally and ventrally, second segment

with elongate spreading hairs forming a sparse

MAP 13.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia lassenella

Busck.

brush on underside. Antenna dilated; basal segments of shaft about 0.5 eye diameter. Scaling of

head black or steel gray, a few whitish scales at

occipital margin; a bare area behind eye. Thorax:

Scaling including legs dark steel gray; femora and

tibiae densely clothed with long black and whitish

hairs. Forewing: Length about 3.3 times width;

costa gently curved in distal half to rounded apex,

termen an even curve to dorsum, fringe narrow,

apical half thus oval in appearance. Ground color

steel gray including fringe; two bright red-orange

spots, one near base in cell, second one paler, at

outer edge of cell, at times becoming whitish at its

dorsal edge; five smaller black spots: two on cubital

fold, at outer margin of basal orange spot and just

before middle of wing, third in upper part of cell

at about middle of wing, remaining two preceding

and following orange spot at end of cell, adjoining

and emphasizing it. Underside dark gray; orange

spot at end of cell showing from upperside and

reproduced by a few white scales. Hindwing:

Slightly broader than forewing, attenuate, costa

strongly sloping off toward apex, latter acute, tornus not distinguishable; dorsal brush, a thick tuft

of elongate pale ochreous hairlike scales arising

at base of costa. Ground color white, a broad

(about ys wing width), black, moderately well defined marginal band from anal angle to distal onethird of costa, broadest in apical area; costal area

under brush mixed white and black. Underside

similar; costal area black. Abdomen: Scaling entirely dark gray or black. Genitalia similar to E.

coquillettella (Figure 51) (one Busck slide examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.8-8.0 mm. Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus more

elongate, II plus III about 1.9 eye diameter, i.e.,

3.2:3.7:2.2. Antenna moderately dilated, width of

shaft near base nearly 0.8 that of male. Hindwing

costal brush lacking; ground color almost entirely

dark gray or blackish, paler basally. Genitalia, one

preparation examined Nixon, Nevada; similar to

E. coquillettella, differing by a broader sterigmal

plate which lacks the subtending spurs, a short

sclerotized area at base of ductus bursae, and signum with numerous, multiserial spurs projecting

into bursa.

TYPE DATA.-Redington, Pima County, Arizona;

lectotype female by present designation, in U.S.
72 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

National Museum, with the following data: "Redington, Ariz., Ethmia lassenella Bsk., Type $."

A male with the same locality data formed the

basis of the genitalia figure given by Barnes and

Busck (1920) from a poorly prepared slide.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Arizona (Reding--

ton, Globe), Nevada (Nixon, Washoe County), and

Utah (Provo).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Mid-March to mid-April.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia coquillettella Busck

FICURES 3, 12, 13, 42, 51, 177-179; PLATES 16, bc-d; MAP 14

Ethmia coquillettella Busck, 1907:95.—Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 26, 34.-McDunnough, 1939:82.-Powell, 1959:135;

1971:8 [biol.].

A moderately small moth having dark gray forewings, with a pale yellow dot at the end of the

cell, and white hindwings with a broad black border.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.5 to 7.7 mm (California), 8.4 mm (British Columbia). Head: Labial

palpus rather short; second segment length about

1.3 times eye diameter, moderately curved, third

segment more than one-half the length of second,

straight; underside with a dense brush of spreadMAP 14.-Geographical distribution of Ethmia coquillettella

Busck.

ing, hairlike scales, white at base, black beyond,

white at apex of second segment, third segment

smooth scaled, black. Antenna dilated, diameter

of shaft at basal one-third 0.40 to 0.45 eye diameter; black, a few scales near base dorsally. Scaling

of front and crown appressed, black; white at eye

margin, base of scape and on occipital margin,

spreading and hairlike at latter; a broad, bare rim

behind eye, black. Thorax: Dorsal scaling smooth,

black. Underside clothed with appressed, black

scaling and elongate, white hair. Legs black, white

at segment apices, metathoracic tibia with welldeveloped, dorsal fringe, white. Forewing: Length

3.5 to 3.8 times width; costa gently curved from

base to apex, latter blunt, hidden in broad fringe

which also obscures the strongly angled termen,

giving a truncate appearance to wing. Ground

color including fringe mouse gray or blackish gray

(possibly pale with age in collections), sparsely to

heavily dusted with whitish. Two pale yellow to

yellowish orange marks, the first small, in cell near

base, second larger (two-thirds eye diameter), at

end of cell. Black marks as follows: an elongate

spot just beyond basal yellow mark on lower fold;

a larger, oval one on lower fold at basal one-third,

fold between the two at times with concentration

of white overscaling; an oval spot above lower fold

at middle of wing, rarely containing an ochreousorange dot; an elongate streak through end of cell,

interrupted and emphasizing the yellow spot;

rarely extended basad to connect with preceding

spot in cell. Underside black with whitish scaling

along costa, lower fold and dorsal margin, spot at

end of cell reproduced, white. Hindwing: Slightly

broader than forewing. Dorsal hair brush of costa

well developed, elongate, cream-white; costa

slightly sloping to apex, latter rather acute, termen

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, a

broad (% to y4 membrane width) black border

from before apex to anal angle; costal area of hair

brush ochreous or gray; hair of anal area black.

Fringe entirely black or white distally. Underside

similar, a broad gray costal streak. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling black, first three terga smooth, velvetlike, underside with a broad median white band,

extended laterally at caudal fringes of segments;

genital scaling shining white below. Genitalia as

in Figure 51 (drawn from plesiotype, Chula Vista,

San Diego County, JAP prep. no. 1142; three prepa-
NUMBER 120 73

rations examined); uncus round, hoodlike, posterior gnathos teeth dense, short, anterior gnathos

toothed laterally only or more or less evenly across

margin; basal processes broad; valvae narrowed

distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.3 to 8.0 mm

(California), 8.7 mm (British Columbia). Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus slightly

longer; antenna scarcely dilated, diameter about

one-half that of male; generally less white scaling

and hairs on head and body; forewing with little

white overscaling (no fresh specimens available);

hindwing border broader, the wing about one-half

blackish, whitish toward base, black area not well

defined as marginal band as in male; abdomen

colored as in male. Genitalia as in Figures 177-179

(drawn from plesiotypes, Railroad Canyon, Riverside County, JAP prep. no. 2146, and Del Puerto

Canyon, Stanislaus County, JAP prep. no. 2760;

four preparations examined); papillae anales heavily sclerotized; anterior apophyses broad, sclerotization of VIII segment variable; sterigma a rather

simple, shallow funnel, sclerotized ventrally, subtended by a row of 15 spurs; ductus bursae a loose

spiral, entirely membranous; signum a flanged,

spurred fold, bearing about five variable, flat teeth

projecting into bursa.

TYPE DATA.—LOS Angeles, California (D. W. Coquillett); holotype male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—I ncompletel y

known; southern and inner central coast range of

California; interior British Columbia (Oliver;

Keremeos).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February to April (California);

April to May (British Columbia).

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia; possibly P. distans and

cicutaria. Larvae were reared on Phacelia from

eggs deposited by females taken on flowers of

Coreopsis californica (Compositae) which was growing near P. cicutaria in Railroad Canyon, Riverside County, and on P. distans from eggs deposited

by females taken flying near this plant at Del

Puerto Canyon, Stanislaus County, California

(Powell, 1971).

REMARKS.—Specimens from British Columbia are

larger than those from southern California, but are

not otherwise distinguishable.

Ethmia monachelta Busck

PLATE 5e

Ethmia monachella Busck, 1910b:53.—Barnes and Busck, 1920,

pis. 26, 36.-McDunnough, 1939:82.

A moderately small moth having the pale forewing

marked by a broad, well-defined black band from

base to apex just below the costa.

MALE.—Length of forewing about 11 mm. Head:

Labial palpus rather short, moderately upcurved,

shaped as in E. coquillettella, densely clothed with

stiff, spreading, black hairs in addition to scaling,

a few on third segment. Scaling of head and antennae black. Thorax: Scaling black. Legs black

with white annulations; metathoracic legs, originally described as bearing "bright orange tibial

tuft," now lacking. Forewing: Ground color pale

slate gray; a broad, black, evenly and distinctly

margined band from base to apex, tapered slightly

at the ends, just below costa, leaving a thin costal

margin of ground color to distal one-fifth; two

small black spots in dorsal area, one at basal fourth

just below Cu fold, the other on fold at about

middle of wing. A slightly darker grayish shade

along dorsal margin from base to tornus, narrowing distally. Apical and terminal margin with a

row of black dots. Hindwing: Costal brush lacking. Ground color blackish; fringe ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling black, posterior margins of

all but first two segments orange. Final two segments removed subsequent to original description;

genital scaling described as bright orange. Genitalia figured by Barnes and Busck (1920), similar

to E. lassenella, but with the uncus deeply cleft as

in E. albitogata.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE DATA.—Boulder, Colorado (S. A. Rohwer);

holotype male in U.S. National Museum bears the

date March 7, 1908.

REMARKS.—This species was described from a

unique specimen, has not been recollected, and

remains the rarest and in some respects most elegant of the North American Ethmiidae. I predict

that when rediscovered it will prove to be a day

flier which has escaped notice owing to an early

spring flight at any given locality.
74

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ethmia scylla Powell, new species

FIGURES 52, 290; PLATES Id, 5/, 2la-d

Ethmia scylla Powell, 1971:12 [non descr., biol.].

A small, grayish brown moth somewhat resembling

a pale E. brevistriga Clarke.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.8 to 7.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus very short, nearly porrect, second

segment length about 0.7 eye diameter; pale brownish exteriorly, whitish at base and interiorly; third

segment subequal in length to second; scaling pale

brownish, tip white. Antenna shaft moderately dilated (scarcely larger than in female), width of

shaft near base about 0.3 eye diameter; densely

setate ventrally, scaling dark brown. Scaling of

vertex short, erect, roughened in appearance, becoming smooth below crown and on front; dark

brown, some whitish scales at lower margins of

front and on occipital margin. Thorax: Dorsal

and ventral scaling pale brownish gray with intermixed white scales; tegula paler; metathoracic leg

paler, with well-developed dorsal tibial fringe.

Forewing: Length about 3.6 times width; termen

strongly angled back to dorsum; fringe not as

broad, relative to wing length, as in brevistriga so

that wing not so truncate appearing. Ground color

pale grayish brown; clouded and marked by whitish scaling as follows: a rather distinct, broad band

along median fold to middle of cell, with distinct,

dark indentations on its dorsal side at about its

middle and distal end; a distinct white spot at end

of cell margined by darker scales; a diffuse blotch

on tornus extending up to spot at end of cell; a

diffuse whitish area at apex, ending abruptly at

midtermen. In well-marked specimens a distinct,

curving bar of ground color runs from middorsum

through end of cell to termen above tornus, interrupted only by and emphasizing the distinct white

spot at end of cell. In some specimens (apparently

not always worn) the white scaling is partially to

almost entirely lost, leaving the spot at the end of

the cell as a solitary marking. Fringe whitish except where curving brown bar meets termen, termen entirely whitish on unmarked specimens, or

entirely brownish white. Underside pale brown,

the spot at end of cell indistinctly reproduced, whitish along dorsum, a white spot at midtermen in

fringe. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa sloping gradually to the acute apex,

costal brush reduced to a dozen or so ochreous

hairs. Ground color gray-brown; fringe whitish

with basal brown band. Underside whitish, irregularly blotched with brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling black, appressed, velvet-like on firs^t two segments; interspersed brownish and whitish, with

roughened appearance beyond. Ventral and genital scaling mostly whitish. Genitalia as in Figure

52 (drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1466;

three preparations examined); uncus broad, hoodlike, only shallowly notched; gnathos with a few

blunt teeth posteriorly, with numerous elongate,

curved teeth anteriorly; basal processes short,

broad.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.0 to 7.2 mm. Essentially as described for male. Forewing tending

to be more heavily overlaid with whitish, the

brown areas more well denned. Costal brush of

hindwing lacking. Genitalia similar to E. coquillettella, the papillae anales not strongly sclerotized;

sterigma a shallow funnel subtended by a row of

small, weak teeth; ductus with 3 loops; signum

broad, not flanged, the fold bearing a row of flat,

blunt teeth (3 preparations examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

California, Russelmann Park (north slope of

Mount Diablo, 1,100 feet), Contra Costa County,

April 2, 1960 (J. Powell) deposited in the California Academy of Sciences. Thirty-six paratypes,

all California, as follows: Russelmann Park, IQ",

111-18-59 (J. Powell), 14 cT, 4$ , IV-2-60 (J. M.

Burns and J. Powell), 9o", 1 ? , IV-6-62 (J. Powell); 3 mi NW Rumsey, Yolo County, 3d1

, III-8-64

(J. Powell). Del Puerto Canyon, 20 mi E Patterson,

Stanislaus County, ltf, 11-23-63 (R. L. Langston),

6^ , III—5—63 (J. Powell). Deposited in collections

of American Museum of Natural History, California Academy of Sciences, British Museum, California Insect Survey, R. L. Langston, and U.S.

National Museum.

Subsequent to the above writing, Ethmia scylla

adults were encountered in large numbers, and

the biology studied, at the Del Puerto Canyon locality (Powell, 1971).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Late February to early April.

FOOD PLANT.—Collinsia heterophylla (Scrophulariaceae); the larvae feed in the flowers. The pupa

lacks the "anal legs" (Figure 290), presumably a

secondary reduction.
NUMBER 120 75

Ethtnia brevistriga Clarke

Ethmia brevistriga Clarke, 1950:163.-Powell. 1959:134; 1962:

67 [biol.]; 1971:17 [biol.].

A small, dark moth having the brownish gray forewing mottled with whitish. The typical subspecies,

which has more extensive whitish markings, occurs

along the immediate coastal strand in central

California.

Ethmia brevistriga brevistriga Clarke, new status

FICURES 53, 180, 181; PLATES 5g, 22a-b; MAP 15

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.6 to 6.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus short, little upcurved, second segment slightly shorter than eye diameter, only

slightly curved, rough scaled whitish below,

smooth scaled dark brown above; third segment

subequal in length to second, relatively broad and

blunt, dark brown with a few scattered white scales.

Antenna dilated, shaft diameter near base about

one-third eye diameter, setation reduced, dark

brown with scattered pale scales. Scaling of front

smooth, of crown rather rough, of occipital margin

spreading, brownish black with scattered whitish

scales, paler along lower margin of front and base

of proboscis; a broad white scale tuft below palpus;

an unsealed, shining black plate behind eye. Thorax: Dorsal scaling brownish black, tegula whitish

MAP 15.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia brevistriga

Clarke.

% E. b. brevistriga Q E. b. aridicola Powell

distally. Underside shaggy in appearance with

many spreading hairlike scales, shining pale brownish and whitish; legs darker ventrally, metathoracic

leg whitish, tibia with a conspicuous fringe of

white hairs along dorsal margin. Forewing: Length

about 3.5 times width, truncate in appearance

owing to broad terminal and tornal fringe. Ground

color dark brown; a thin, distinct white line along

Cu from base to just before middle of wing, an

upturned white mark at end of cell; considerable

whitish overscaling (largely lost in worn specimens)

as follows: dorsal area below longitudinal white

line, a blotch before tornus joined to white line

by a curving stripe, costal area on distal half, meeting terminal area whitish above middle. Rather

distinct ground color areas are thus defined on

fresh specimens above longitudinal white line, continuing outward as a band to just above tornus,

interrupted only by the white mark at end of cell,

a large round spot on middorsum; all obscure in

worn specimens. Fringe of mixed brownish and

whitish. Underside brown, some ochreous scaling

below cell and along dorsum. Fringe brown with

a white spot at midtermen. Hindwing: Slightly

narrower than forewing; costa excavated in distal

half; apex blunt. A pale ochreous, dorsal scale

brush arising at base of costa. Ground color dark

brown, costal area paler. Fringe broad, equal to

one-half the membrane width; pale ochreous with

a basal brown band. Underside brown, veins and

fringe pale ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

blackish brown, ventral and genital scaling

ochreous-brown. Genitalia as in Figure 53 (drawn

from plesiotype, San Francisco, JAP prep. no. 1500;

five preparations examined); uncus deeply notched;

gnathos dentate posteriorly, with roughened lobes

anteriorly; basal processes short, broad.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 5.4 to 6.0 mm. Essentially as described for male, but specimens

available mostly worn and not showing as much

whitish pattern. Antenna shaft about two-thirds as

thick as in male. Hindwing without costal scale

brush; underside generally paler. Genitalia similar

to E. coquillettella (Figures 177-179); papillae

anales heavily sclerotized basad, more broadly so

ventrally; sterigma a simple band, subtended by a

lightly sclerotized basal neck of the ductus bursae

which bears four or five tiny spurs; ductus bursae

entirely membranous with about eight loops in a
76

loose spiral; signum a narrow fold bearing numerous, variable, scattered flat spurs (Figures 108, 181,

drawn from plesiotype San Francisco, JAP prep. no.

2724; two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Bodega Bay, California, May 2, 1937

(E. C. Johnston); holotype male in U.S. National

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Immediate coastal

areas of central California, from Sonoma County to

San Luis Obispo County (Pismo Beach).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March to mid-May.

HOST njiNT.—Phacelia distans Benth. A detailed

biology is given elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

Ethmia brevistriga aridicola Powell, new subspecies

Plate 5h; MAP 15

Ethmia brevistriga aridicola Powell, 1971:20 [non descr., biol.].

An inland race in California (Map 15) resembling

the nominotypic form but differing by partial reduction of the whitish, especially in the costal half

of the forewing, giving the wing a bicolored appearance, recalling E. epileuca.

MALE.—Length of forewing 4.7 to 5.9 mm. Differing from E. b. brevistriga as follows. Head'.

Labial palpus more porrect, smaller, length of second segment about four-fifths eye diameter. Third

segment slightly shorter than second; white with

scattered dark scales. Scaling of head and thorax

generally more whitish. Forewing: Slightly narrower, length about 3.7 to 3.8 times width. Ground

color darker owing to reduction of the whitish

overscaling, especially on costal half; white line on

fold extended outward and upward, recurving to

meet upturned spot at end of cell, sharply defining

the dark costal half (which is nearly black adjoining the white line) from whitish dorsal area; costa

without whitish scaling before distal third. Underside paler. Hindwing: Underside whitish; costal

area ochreous brown.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 4.9 to 6.0 mm. Essentially as described for male, tending to have the

whitish overscaling even more reduced so that some

individuals have the costal half of forewing entirely dark, the dorsal whitish reduced to rather

distinct markings. Genitalia not distinguishable

from E. b. brevistriga except by being apparently

lighter sclerotized (two preparations examined).

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

TYPES.—Holotype male: California, 2 mi NE of

Lakeside, San Diego County, March 13, 1963 (J.

Powell). Allotype female: Pinyon Flat, 16 road mi

SW of Palm Desert, Riverside County, April 7,

1963 (J. Powell). Both deposited in the California

Academy of Sciences. Ninety-six paratypes: 2 mi

NE Lakeside, lid1, 2? , HI-13-63 Q. A. Chemsak

and J. Powell); Pinyon Flat, 42 d1, 41 ? , IV- (7 to

13)-63 (D. E. Bright, R. L. Langston, J. Powell,

G. Tamaki, C. A. Toschi). Deposited in California

Academy of Sciences, British Museum, California

Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia distans var. australis

Brand. A partial biology is given elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

REMARKS.—The following additional specimens

from California have been examined but not designated as paratypes. Tuolumne County: South

Fork Stanislaus River, 4.5 airline mi NE Columbia,

Id1, 111-28-64 (C. D. MacNeill). Tulare County:

2 mi E. Johnsondale, 1 cT» IV-27-64, sweeping

Prunus subcordata (C. A. Toschi). Kern County:

3 mi W Woffard Hts., ltf, IV-29-64 (J. Powell).

Los Angeles County: Largo Vista, 4 mi E Valyermo,

1 cT, IV-17-65 (R. L. Langston); near Pasadena,

ld\IV-2-09 (F. Grinnell, Jr.). Riverside County:

Railroad Canyon, 4 mi E Elsinore, lo", IV-14-65

(J. Powell); 5 mi S Sage, 1 $, IV-16-65 (J. Powell).

The species may show further subspecific differentiation, proceeding northward along the Sierra

Nevada. The Tuolumne County specimen has

further reduction of white scaling, leaving only a

central longitudinal line on the forewing.

Ethmia albitogata Walsingham

FIGURES 4, 54, 184; PLATES \C, U

Ethmia albitogata Walsingham, 1907:199.—Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 26, 34.-Keifer, 1936a: 15, 29.-McDunnough,

1939:82.-Powell, 1959:134; 1971:22 [biol.].

A small moth having dark gray forewings mottled

with whitish and with white hindwings.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.0 to 7.1 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, second segment about 2.0

times eye diameter, moderately curved upward;

third segment more than one-half the length of

second, straight; scaling slightly roughened at base,

smooth distally, white and black mixed, mostly

white basally and dorsally. Antenna dilated, width
NUMBER 120 77

of shaft basally about 0.3 eye diameter; scaled basally, black with some white scales dorsally. Scaling of head smooth, black, whitish at base of

proboscis and at occipital angle laterally, a broad,

bare area behind and below eye, shining black.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling black, some white scales

intermixed in collar and on tegula distally. Underside scaling mostly white; pro- and mesothoracic

legs with broad blackish areas exteriorly on tibiae

and tarsi. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.7 to 4.0

times width; costa appearing flattened or slightly

excavate on distal half; termen strongly angled

back, broadly curved to dorsum, tornus not defined; fringe moderately broad, giving a subtruncate appearance to termen. Ground color dark

gray; in fresh specimens heavily overscaled with

white as follows: dorsal area below a sinuate longitudinal line along Cu, the white extending into

cell as two broad triangular projections, one at

basal one-fourth, containing a black spot, the other

terminated by a pure white mark at end of cell,

emphasized by black blotches in adjoining costal

area that forms a broad, dark obtuse angle in the

middle of the wing; immediate dorsum sparsely

whitish; costal area sparsely whitish on basal half,

more densely so toward apex; terminal area with

irregular white blotches or entirely whitish from

end of cell outward. Much of the white scaling is

lost on older individuals. Fringe white, usually

with dark blotches at tornal area, midtermen, and

apex. Underside gray, costa and dorsal areas whitish, fringe as above. Hindwing: Slightly broader

than forewing; costal brush lacking; narrow apicad,

termen strongly angled back to anal angle; fringe

broad, greater than half the width of membrane.

Ground color including fringe white, apical area

and base of adjoining fringe, blackish. Underside

white with scattered gray scales in costal area and

at apex. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling shining gray,

darker basally; some white scales distally; ventrally

mostly whitish; genital scaling white. Genitalia as

in Figure 54 (drawn from plesiotype, Tocaloma,

Marin County, California, JAP prep. no. 1459;

five preparations examined); uncus deeply notched;

anterior gnathos strongly dentate, posterior gnathos with minute teeth; basal processes very reduced; valva not much narrowed distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.0 to 6.9 mm. Essentially as described for male; antenna shaft diameter about 0.8 that of male; generally more

white scaling on head, thorax, and forewing; the

white markings more distinct in fresh specimens.

Genitalia: (Figure 184, drawn from plesiotype, Arroyo Mocho, Alameda County, JAP prep. no. 2766;

four preparations examined); papillae anales heavily sclerotized on dorsal half; sterigmal plate simple; ductus bursae very weakly sclerotized at base;

recurved posteriorly after three large coils; signum

a large, flanged, deep fold without spines; ductus

seminalis with a sclerotized ring near bull a seminalis.

TYPE DATA.—"California (Zeller Coll.)"; holotype male in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Central California.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February and March.

FOOD PLANT.—Amsinckia lunaris MacBride (Boraginaceae) and presumably other Amsinckia. Biology is reported elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

Ethmia plagiobothrae Powell, new species

Ethmia plagiobothrae Powell, 1971:25 [non descr., biol.].

FIGURES 55, 185; PLATES 5/, 22c; MAP 16

A small Californian moth similar to E. albitogata

in appearance, with bristled palpi, less extensive

whitish overscaling on the forewing and more

strongly contrasting white spots along the fold.

MAP 16.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia plagiobothrae

Powell, including localities represented only by larval collections (see Powell, 1971).
78

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.0 to 7.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate; length of second segment

1.4 to 1.6 times eye diameter; third about 0.65 to

0.75 as long as second; second segment densely

clothed with suberect, bristly scaling (as in coquillettella), mixed white and black; third segment smooth scaled, black ventrally, white dorsally.

Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.33

eye diameter; unsealed. Head venter and tongue

with erect, whitish scaling; front and crown

smooth, black, a few white, hairlike scales below

eye; occipital tufts whitish laterally. Thorax:

Tegula brownish black, white apically; notum

shining black, reflecting bluish, a thin, transverse

band of white preceding scutellum. Underside

blackish, shaggy, with elongate, white hairlike

scales, including femora; legs otherwise smooth,

blackish, banded with white. Forewing: Length

3.5 to 3.6 times width. Blackish gray, the pattern

similar to albitogata, the whitish overscaling reduced, especially on costal half, and the white along

Cu fold intensified, more strongly contrasting. The

basal white spur reduced, projecting a shorter distance into cell, Cu area darker, black; apical area

nearly devoid of whitish. Fringe mostly dark gray,

margins with white above tornus and below apex.

Underside dark gray, with broad whitish overscaling costal and dorsal of cell. Hindwing: Slightly

broader than forewing; costal area simple, margin

nearly straight; apex acute; dorsum concave before

anal angle. White, apical area rather broadly

blackish, except fringe white. Underside white,

apex narrowly blackish. Abdomen: Dorsum of

I—VII with velvet-like coat of short, shining black

scales; lateral, ventral, and genital scaling more

elongate, mixed whitish and gray. Genitalia as in

Figure 55 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no.

1642; two preparations examined); uncus cleft to

base, tegumen with ventrad "shoulders," gnathos

anteriorly broadly notched, without dentation, posteriorly with only fine teeth; basal processes very

reduced; valva apex somewhat falcate.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 5.6 to 6.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; labial palpus

slightly shorter; antenna not dilated, width of shaft

about 0.5 that of male; usually somewhat more

white scaling on forewing as an intensifying of

markings of male, not developed broadly over wing

as in albitogata. Forewing broader, length 3.2 to 3.4

times width. Abdomen with the short, velvet-like

black restricted to dorsum of segments I—III- Genitalia similar to albitogata, ductus with only 2 loops,

not so strongly recurved posteriorly; (Figure 185,

drawn from plesiotype, Del Puerto Canyon; four

preparations examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male: California, Cool, El Dorado County, March 21, 1962 (J. Powell). Allotype

female: Elk Mountain, 12 mi N of Upper Lake,

Lake County, California, March 18, 1965 (J. Powell). Both to be deposited in California Academy

of Sciences. Ten paratypes, all California, as follows: Cool, El Dorado County, 1 $, IV-24-61,

reared from Plagiobothrys nothofulvus, emerged

1-62 (JAP 61D4); Elk Mountain, 2,600-3,000 ft,

11-12 mi N Upper Lake, Lake County, 4? , IV2-62 (J. Powell), lc?, 3? , 111-18-65 (R. Langston and J. Powell); 1 mi N Posey, Tulare County,

1 9, V-14-63, reared from Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (JAP 63E2); deposited in collections of California Insect Survey and U. S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—Numerous larvae from these and localities in other areas of California (Map 16) have

been examined but not designated as paratypes.

Biological data is given elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

The close superficial similarity of E. plagiobothrae and albitogata concealed their separation in

earlier collections. Differences in food plant and

larval coloration led to discovery of the present

impostor. The bristled palpi and shaggy venter of

the head and thorax, together with the distinctive

uncus and gnathos, serve to distinguish adults of

E. plagiobothrae.

Ethtnia minuta Powell, new species

Ethmia minuta Powell, 1971:30 [non descr., biol.].

FICURES 56, 182, 183; PLATES 3e, 5k-l, 21e-/; MAP 17

A tiny moth with dark forewings marked by a

white line from base to termen; the hindwings are

white in the male, dark in the female.

MALE.—Length of forewing 4.4 to 5.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, moderately upcurved, second segment about 1.66 times eye diameter, slightly

curved, somewhat shaggy ventrally, white at base

and dorsally, blackish ventrally in distal half, third

segment 0.6 the length of second, straight, smooth

scaled, white above, black below. Antenna dilated,

width of shaft near base 0.3 eye diameter; smooth
NUMBER 120 79

MAP 17.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia minuta Powell.

scaled, black; densely setate ventrally. Scaling appressed, black, white at base of front and proboscis;

occipital margin scaling erect, loose, spreading,

white laterally. Area under and back of eye unsealed, shining black. Thorax: Pronotal scaling

black, tegula white, black at base. Underside dark

gray, legs white ventrally, blackish dorsally, metathoracic leg white. Fore-wing: Length about 3.4 times

width; costa very slightly bowed in basal half,

nearly straight; terminal and tornal fringe broad,

giving a truncate appearance to wing. Ground

color black, reflecting shining bronzy, indistinctly

mottled by scattered whitish scales in distal onethird. A narrow, well-defined, white stripe from

base through lower portion of cell, angled slightly

upward at end of cell, becoming broader and less

distinct before termen, distinct again through

fringe below apex. A well-defined, oblong spot of

ground color interrupts the longitudinal stripe at

end of cell from dorsal side. Underside brownish

black, costal and dorsal margins indistinctly whitish, white band through terminal fringe distinctly

reproduced. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than

forewing; costa without dorsal hair tuft; dorsal

fringe broad, equal to about one-half the width

of membrane. Ground color white, a narrow blackish area around apex; fringe entirely white. Underside white, scaling of vein Sc gray. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling black, ventral, lateral and genital

scaling white. Genitalia as in Figure 56 (drawn

from paratype, Lakeside, JAP prep. no. 1469; three

preparations examined); uncus hoodlike, deeply

notched; gnathos dentate posteriorly, with smooth

lateral lobes anteriorly; valvae narrowed distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 4.4 to 4.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.8 that of

male; coloration generally paler, ground color

brownish gray. Hindwing above entirely brownish

gray including fringe, below whitish at base, along

costa, termen, and in anal area; fringe at apex

white. Genitalia as in Figures 182, 183 (drawn

from plesiotypes, Moreno, Cardiff, JAP prep. nos.

2143, 2560; three preparations examined); papillae

anales heavily sclerotized, greatly elongated; anterior apophyses broad and broadly joined to sterigmal plate; latter not sclerotized caudad of

ostium; ductus bursae with a short, basal sclerotized ring; signum lacking.

TYPES.—Holotype male: California, 3 mi NE of

Moreno, Riverside County, April 5, 1963 (J. Powell). Allotype female: 2 mi NE of Lakeside, San

Diego County, March 30, 1961 (J. Powell), deposited in the California Academy of Sciences, San

Francisco. Seventy paratypes, all California, as follows: Riverside, 1 $, 111-25-53 (P. H. Timberlake); 3 mi NE Moreno, 30 cf, IV-5-63 (J. Powell,

W. A. Steffan, C. A. Toschi), 30cT, 3$ , IV-12-63

(J. Powell); 2 mi NE Lakeside, 2cT, 1 $, 111-29-61

(J. Powell); San Diego, 2c?, 1 ? , 111-11-16 (W. S.

Wright), deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Academy of Sciences, California Insect

Survey, Los Angeles County Museum, San Diego

Museum of Natural History, U.S. National Museum, University of California, Riverside.

Additional specimens: One female from Torrey

Pines, San Diego County (111-29-64, P. A. Rude)

and a series collected April 15—16, 1965, near Sage,

Riverside County, some 30 mi S of the type locality

(D. Veirs, Powell, Toschi).

FOOD vuwt.—Cryptantha intermedia (Gray). A

partial biology is reported elsewhere (Powell,

1971).

Ethmia tricula Powell, new species

FIGURE 57; PLATE 6a

This is the smallest member of the genus in the

New World. The wings are dull gray-brown with
80

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

an indistinct longitudinal white line through the

cell of the forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 4.3 mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately upcurved, elongate, second

segment more than 1.5 times eye diameter, third

segment about one-half the length of second; scaling only slightly roughened, dark brown with scattering of white scales near base and dorsally on

third segment. Antenna dilated, width of shaft

near base 0.3 eye diameter; scaling dark brown.

Head scaling brownish black, occipital tufts and

proboscis whitish laterally; bare area behind eye.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling brownish black. Scaling of

underside including legs mixed dark brown and

whitish; metathoracic tibia with a dorsal white

fringe. Forewing: Narrow, length about 4.0 times

width; apex acute; termen strongly angled back,

fringe only moderately broad, the wing not truncate appearing. Ground color uniform, dull graybrown including fringe; an ill-defined whitish

longitudinal streak through lower part of cell, from

about basal one-fourth of wing to end of cell,

broadest at middle, interrupted slightly on dorsal

side near basal end by a patch of scales darker

than ground color. Underside brown, a row of

whitish scales on Sc near base. Hindwing: About

as broad as forewing; dorsal brush of costa lacking.

Ground color uniform dull gray-brown including

fringe; basal area somewhat translucent owing to

fewer scales. Underside slightly paler; costal fringe

whitish. Abdomen: Scaling uniform brownish

black. Genitalia as in Figure 57 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1645; one preparation examined); similar to E. min.uta, differing by the lack

of a deep cleft in the uncus, by smaller gnathos

teeth, extremely reduced basal processes, and narrower valvae.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE.—Holotype male: California, 3 mi NE of

Moreno, Riverside County, April 12, 1963 (J.

Powell); unique, deposited in California Academy

of Sciences.

The Charybdis Group

Eye index 1.0. Maxillary palpus rudimentary. Labial palpus extremely small, II segment index 0.15,

vestiture smooth. Antenna of male not dilated.

Forewing narrow; pattern longitudinal, obscured

costal-dorsal. Hindwing of male with costa simple.

Legs unusually elongate. Abdomen scaling undifferentiated. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate

anteriorly and posteriorly; basal processes membranous, broad; valva, fultura-manica, and vesica

without armature. Female unknown.7

A single species in California.

Ethmia charybdis Powell, new species

FIGURES 43, 58, 285; PLATES le, 6b

Ethmia charybdis Powell, 1971:31 [non descr., biol.].

A unique, gray, California species with very reduced mouthparts and extraordinarily elongate

legs and wings.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.6 mm. Head: Labial palpus very small, scarcely protruding beyond

the clypeus; total length including first segment

about 0.6 eye diameter, second and third segments

subequal in length, each less than 0.15 eye diameter; scaling whitish. Antenna not dilated, width

of shaft near base about 0.15 eye diameter; densely

setate all around; sparsely scaled, gray. Tongue

vestigial, unsealed. Scaling of front whitish ventrally, becoming dark gray-brown at crown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling mixed dark gray and whitish;

metathoracic brushes sparse, not reaching the unsealed scutellum. Underside scaling shining pale

gray. Legs extraordinarily long and thin; prothoracic leg with tibia -|- tarsi length: eye diameter

ratio, about 6.2:1 (range about 2.9 to 4.6:1 in other

Ethmia; mesothoracic and metathoracic legs not as

disproportionately elongate, the differential between the three more than in other Ethmia). Forewing: Extremely narrow, length 4.2 times width;

costa straight for most of its length, termen slightly

convex, broadly curved to dorsum, tornal angle

scarcely evident. Ground color gray, heavily overlaid with whitish, especially on dorsal half, the

dividing line separating gray costal half not well

defined; a slightly elongate white spot at end of

cell; some blackish scaling tending to form longitudinal lines between the veins in distal half and

a subterminal line in tornal area. Fringe pale grayish with a dark streak just below apex. Underside

7

 Subsequent to completion of the taxonomic assessment,

the female of Ethmia charybdis was discovered. It is

brachypterous but otherwise resembles the male in possession

of reduced mouthparts and thin, elongate legs.
NUMBER 120 81

gray, the white mark at end of cell reproduced;

fringe whitish. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than

and proportionately as elongate as forewing; costal

area simple, costal margin nearly straight, apex

round, termen flattened, nearly straight to dorsum

(shape similar to Holcocera or Borkhausenia).

Ground color pale gray; fringe whitish. Underside

similar. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling mixed grayish

and whitish; ventral whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 58 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 2555;

one preparation examined); similar to E. albitogata, gnathos dentate along entire length, basal

processes small, membranous, setate; valva produced into a short, recurved spur apically.

FEMALE.—Unknown.8

TYPE.—Holotype male: California, Big Panoche

Creek at San Benito-Fresno County line, April 20,

1967, reared from Amsinckia tessellata, emerged

after September, 1967 (J. Powell and P. A. Rude,

JAP 67D87); unique, in California Academy of

Sciences.

REMARKS.—Although characteristics of the male

genitalia ally this species with the Albitogata group

and other members of the genus in western North

America, the greatly modified morphological features of mouthparts, wings, and legs indicate a

strong divergence by E. charybdis from its congeners. No doubt these characters would have given

the moth a monotypic generic assignment had it

been described prior to a study in which the male

genitalia represent the emphasis on classification.

The eyes are large, suggesting that the adults may

be nocturnal, but whether they fly in late fall or

early spring is unknown. Diurnal surveys in February and March have failed to reveal the moths'

presence. Colonies of this species may be expected

along the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley

and northern part of the Mojave Desert, according to the distribution of the food plant and of

other insect species that occur at the type locality.

The Semilugens Group

Eye index 0.7-1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately

large or large, 4 segments of subequal or 2:2:1:2

"See footnote 7. The adults are active in December and

are nocturnal. Mating by the one pair observed was unusually

long, relative to other Ethmia, and the eggs entered diapause

(Powell, 1971).

lengths. Labial palpus moderately elongate, II segment index 1.1-1.5, vestiture smooth. Antenna of

male not dilated to dilated, index 0.18 to 0.28.

Forewing moderately broad to narrow; pattern

costal-dorsal. Hindwing of male with or without

costal hair pencil, fold lacking. Abdomen yellow

or gray; anal scaling undifferentiated. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate anteriorly and posteriorly;

basal processes membranous, rudimentary or

broad; valva, fultura-manica, and vesica without

armature. Papillae anales weakly or heavily sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate;

anterior apophyses broad; sterigma simple; antrum

undifferentiated or enlarged with sclerotized band;

ductus bursae membranous, 3-11 tight coils; signum a dentate bar or nondentate fold.

A somewhat diverse assemblage of 10 species in

the western United States. Phenetic similarity values indicate that Ethmia apicipunctella and E.

epileuca are marginal members; the latter is the

only member with short palpi, narrow forewings,

and nondilated antenna in the male. Phenetic results indicate a relationship for E. epileuca with

the Albitogata group, but it has large eyes. Three

species, E. albistrigella, E. nadia, and E. orestella

have small eyes but in other respects show similarity to the E. semilugens group, and may be secondarily diurnal due to their occurrence at high

elevations. Ethmia arctostaphylella has an intermediate eye size and appears to be primarily crepuscular (Powell, 1971).

This group is similar to and perhaps a component of the Palearctic Dodecella group of Sattler

(1967).

Ethmia albistrigella (Walsingham)

Psecadia albistrigella Walsingham, 1880:89.

Ethmia albistrigella.-Dyar, 1902:203.-Busck, 1909b: 184

[synonymy].—Barnes and Busck, 1920, pi. 26, 34.—Braun,

1921a: 12 -McDunnough, 1939:82.-Clarke, 1950:161.-Powell, 1959:135; 1971:35 [biol.].

Breckenridgia (error) chrysurella Dietz, 1905:42.

Brackenridgia chrysocomella-Busck (not Dietz, 1905), 1906a,

8:348.

A moderately small moth having black wings and

yellow abdomen, the forewings marked by a distinct white longitudinal streak. The typical race is

widespread in the mountains of western North

America.
82

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 18.—Geographical distribution of members of the Ethmia

Albistrigella complex.

Q E. nadia Clarke # E. a. albistrigella (Walsingham)

• E. orestella Powell

Ethmia albistrigella albistrigella (Walsingham),

new status

FIGURES 59, 186, 187; PLATE 6c-d; MA P 18

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.4 to 9.1 mm. Head:

Labial palpus usually elongate, strongly upcurved,

smooth scaled, exceeding crown, length of second

segment 1.5 (rarely) to 1.7 times eye diameter;

length of third about 1.0 times eye diameter; black,

white scaling as follows: scattered at base, apex of

second segment and basally on third segment

above; at times white mostly lacking. Eye size variable by about 10 percent between populations,

smaller eye accompanying larger palpus. Antenna

dilated, diameter of shaft near base about 0.35 eye

diameter; black. Scaling of front and crown

smooth; black, scattered whitish scales on base of

proboscis, crown and lateral occipital tufts white.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling black, only sparse scattered

white scales; tip of tegula white. Underside including prothoracic and mesothoracic legs shining

dark gray with scattered white scales; metathoracic

leg blackish, dusted with ochreous, tibia bright

ochreous with a weakly developed dorsal fringe.

Forewing: Length about 3.4 times width; costa

nearly straight in distal half, apex acute, termen

only moderately angled back, tornus distinct.

Ground color dark blackish brown, darkest in cell,

paler toward margins; a distinct white longitudinal

streak along Cu fold from base to near end of cell,

curving upward and sending an ill-defined spur

toward tornus near end; distinctly margined on

costal side, somewhat indistinct and often broadened on dorsal side, at times to include a distinct,

oblong, black spot, slightly darker than ground

color, at basal one-fourth; usually reduced so that

the black spot only slightly indents the streak from

dorsal side; a similar dark spot at termination of

streak on upper angle of cell. A row of seven or

eight dark spots around termen from before apex

to tornus. Underside uniform dark gray-brown.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area

simple; costa only slightly sloping to apex, latter

round, termen broadly curved to dorsum, latter

slightly excavate before anal angle. Ground color

dark brown; fringe narrow, about one-fourth the

width of wing membrane, gray-brown. Underside

dark gray-brown. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of first

and second terga black, usually extending in decreasing width to sixth tergite, rarely ending on

third; lateral, ventral, and genital scaling bright

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 59 (drawn from

plesiotype, Chipmunk Flat, Tuolumne County,

California, JAP prep. no. 1480; five preparations

examined); uncus deeply cleft, gnathos heavily

spined posteriorly, with numerous, irregular teethlike projections anteriorly.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.2 to 9.4 mm. Essentially as described for male, differing as follows:

Labial palpus ranging to more elongate, second

segment about 1.55 to 1.85 times eye diameter;

antenna not dilated, shaft about 0.25 eye diameter;

generally more whitish scaling on head and thorax,

a white band across crown, collar white, pronotum

whitish laterally, coxae and femora whitish exteriorly; dorsum of abdomen more broadly black,

posterior extent of black variable as in male. Genitalia as in Figures 186, 187 (drawn from plesiotype,

Tuolumne County, California, JAP prep. no. 1997;

three preparations examined); papillae anales heavily sclerotized dorsally; sterigma simple, unsclerotized posterior to ostium, latter with a sclerotized

half ring subtended by light sclerotization in ductus; signum a dentate, concave bar with scarcely

any lateral development.
NUMBER 120 83

TYPE DATA.—Siskiyou Mountains, on the border

of California and Oregon, June 8, 1872, at an elevation of about 6,000 feet, types in British Museum

(albistrigella); "Colorado," data on the type male

at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard,

reads "S. W. Col. 6-28-99" (chrysurella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern British

Columbia southward in the Rocky Mountains to

southwestern Colorado and into the Wasatch

Range in northern Utah; on the Pacific coast

through western Washington and Oregon into the

mountains of California.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Univoltine; late April to early

August; in early spring conditions for the locality.

FOOD PLANT.—PhaceHa ramosissima (Hydrophyllaceae), in Tuolumne and Nevada counties, California; the biology reported elsewhere (Powell,

1971). In Montana, Braun (1921a) listed Lappula

[Hackelia] floribunda (Boraginaceae) as a possible

host. Two adults were reared from Sambucus stick

"trap nests" (Parker and Bohart, 1966) by Parker

in January 1966. The 18-inch sticks were placed

in the ground at Craters-of-the-Moon National

Monument, Idaho, in December 1964, by D. S.

Horning, who suggests (in litt.) that Phacelia

heterophylla or P. leucophylla may be a host there.

REMARKS.—The type of chrysurella Dietz is in

worn condition but it does not appear to differ appreciably from western albistrigella. The wings

are partly descaled and may have had a reduced

white band, as in E. a. icariella, described below.

However, the yellow abdomen is of typical albistrigella form in chrysurella, which is the only

Colorado specimen I have seen.

A single female from eastern Washington (Palouse Falls, Whitman County, V-3-31, J.F.G.

Clarke) has the dorsum of the abdomen yellow

except for the basal two segments. Additional material from the area will be necessary to ascertain

the relationship of this population with E. nadia

Clarke.

Ethmia albistrigella icariella Powell,

new subspecies

PLATE 6e

An Arctic-Alpine zone race of albistrigella which

is almost wholly black dorsally, including the abdomen.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.1 to 7.4 mm. Similar to nominate subspecies, but the white scaling reduced, almost lacking, differing as follows: Head

and Thorax: Entirely dark brownish black. Labial

palpus tending to slightly shorter, second segment

1.4 to 1.5 times eye diameter. Hindleg pale ochreous beyond trochanter, paler than in albistrigella.

Forewing: Slightly narrower, length 3.2 to 3.4 times

width, ground color brownish black, the longitudinal band showing as a trace (about two scales

wide) or evidenced only by a blackish shade, darker

than ground color, along Cu fold; white spur at

end of cell indicated by a small white spot. Marginal dark dots, darker than grayish brown fringe,

evident. Abdomen: Black, ochreous scaling reduced to narrow lateral margins of segments VII,

and VIII, segment IX dorsally and ventrally, and

the valvae; dorsal genital scaling also black. Genitalia indistinguishable from typical albistrigella.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.4 to 8.5 mm. As

described for E. a. albistrigella and male of icariella. Some examples without any white scaling

on forewing and the genital scaling pale ochreous.

Genitalia not differing from E. a. albistrigella and

nadia.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

California, Inyo County, near Mono Pass, 12,500

feet, September 2, 1965 (J. Powell), to be deposited

in California Academy of Sciences. Five paratypes,

all California, as follows: l(j", 1$, same data as

holotype; 1 ° , same data except VIII-30-65 (C. D.

MacNeill); 1 $, near Mono Pass, 12,000 feet, VIII4-63 (M. J. Tauber and C. A. Toschi); ltf, Mt.

Dana, Yosemite National Park, VII-19-38 (E. C.

Johnston); deposited in California Insect Survey

and Canadian National collections.

REMARKS.—According to similarity in genitalia,

this seems to be a high elevation, small form of

albistrigella with the white and yellow scaling

largely replaced by black. Whether the colonies

sampled represent genetically differing, isolated

populations or the extreme of a continuum in increased melanism is unknown. The species has not

been collected between 9,000 and 12,000 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada..

The Mono Pass site is well above climatic timberline, and the moths were taken on talus slopes

or rocky moraines. Phacelia frigida Greene was

the only likely host plant discovered in the sparse,
84 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

prostrate floral community in the vicinity. The

Mt. Dana specimen was probably taken in a similar

situation, between 12,000 and 13,000 feet elevation.

Ethmia nadia Clarke

FICURES 6, 7, 14, 60; PLATE 6/-g; MAP 18

Ethmia nadia Clarke, 1950:161.-Powell, 1959:135; 1971:38

[biol.].

Ethmia albistrigella.-Fowell, 1959 (not Walsingham, 1880):

135 [in part].

A moderately small moth resembling E. albistrigella but with the abdomen entirely yellow except

the first tergite.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.7 (reared) to 9.4

mm. Essentially as described for E. albistrigella,

differing as follows: Head: Labial palpus variable,

second segment usually about 1.4 to 1.5 times eye

diameter (rarely to 1.65); at times with considerable whitish scaling. Scaling of head generally more

whitish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling black, heavily

dusted with white as follows: collar; tegula except

base; lateral bands mesad of tegulae, blending indistinctly toward middle; a distinct transverse band

before scutellum; an indistinct midscutellar line;

distinct black spots thus defined at bases of tegulae

and laterally preceding and following the prescutellar transverse band. Underside largely whitish

including prothoracic and mesothoracic legs exteriorly; metathoracic leg ochreous yellow including coxa and femur. Forewing: Ground color dark

gray, paler distally, dark spots adjoining longitudinal streak and at outer margin more contrasting.

Longitudinal white streak usually broadened to

include dark spot at basal one-fourth; at times considerable white scaling over whole dorsal area and

in fringe. Abdomen: Scaling entirely pale to dark

ochreous yellow, except first tergum black. Genitalia as in Figure 60 (drawn from plesiotype, 5 mi

E McCloud, Siskiyou Co., JAP prep. no. 1479; five

preparations examined); anterior, flared margin of

gnathos without teeth, otherwise similar to albistrigella.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.7 mm.

Essentially as described for male, differing as

follows: Labial palpus more elongate, second segment about 1.55 to 1.75 times eye diameter; antenna

less dilated, diameter of shaft near base about 0.25

eye diameter; white scaling of head and thorax

and forewing usually more extensive. Genitalia not

distinguishable from albistrigella except by a

slightly larger signum with short lateral flanges

(three preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—McCloud, Siskiyou County, California, June 5, 1935 (E. C. Johnston); holotype

male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—California; in addition to the vicinity of McCloud, specimens tentatively referred to nadia have been taken at localities

representing semiarid parts of cismontane California from Kern to Riverside counties and in the

Coast Ranges from Santa Clara County to the Santa

Monica Mountains in Los Angeles County.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March to May (Southern California), June and July (Siskiyou County).

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia ramosissima var. suffrutescens Parry (at Riverside). Biology is reported

elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

Ethmia orestella Powell, new species

PLATE 6/I; MAP 18

A moderately small Ethmia resembling albistrigella,

but with the ground color including the abdomen

gray-brown and the longitudinal streak obscure.

MALE.—Unknown.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.2 to 9.9 mm.

Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, second

segment about 1.65 to 1.75 times eye diameter,

basally strongly upcurved; smooth scaled, brown,

apex of second segment whitish or pale brownish

white. Antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft near

base about 0.15 eye diameter; scaled near base,

brown. Scaling of crown and front appressed

unicolorous chocolate brown or with some whitish

scales down middle of front and base of proboscis

and at margins of crown and occipital area. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling brown, collar and tegula white or

pale brownish white. Underside scaling brownish

gray; legs brown, hind tibia and tarsi pale brownish

white, tibial fringe reduced. Forewing: Length

about 3.4 to 3.5 times width; shape and narrow

fringe as in E. albistrigella. Ground color uniform

dull gray-brown; longitudinal pale streak along Cu

fold from base to end of cell, broadened at end,

whitish or pale brownish, well defined but not

strongly contrasting with ground color, terminated

at upper angle of cell by a dark brown spot; a row
NUMBER 120 85

of similar spots at margin from before apex to

tornus. Underside dull brown. Hindwing: About

as broad as forewing; costa gently sloped to apex,

latter narrow, round, termen broadly curved with

dorsum, tornus not defined. Ground color smoky

brown, slightly paler than forewing; an indistinct

dark brown marginal line at base of fringe. Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling dark brown, a few

ochreous scales on caudal margins of last three

segments. Genitalia not examined, probably not

differing from E. albistrigella.

TYPES.—Holotype female: Colorado, Hall Valley,

11,500 feet, Park County, July 2, 1941 (A. B. Klots).

One paratype, without abdomen: "Col.," (G. D.

Hulst collection). Both deposited in American

Museum of Natural History, New York.

REMARKS.—I have examined the type male of

chrysurella Dietz, which was described from

Colorado, and believe it to be conspecific with

albistrigella. The present species differs principally

by the well-developed yet not contrasting longitudinal band of the forewing and by the dark

abdomen.

Ethmia semilugens (Zeller)

FICURES 61, 288, 289; PLATE 6I; MAP 19

Psecadia semilugens Zeller, 1872:561.

Ethmia semilugens.—Dyar, 1902:206 [synonymy].—Barnes and

Busck, 1920, pis. 27, 34.-McDunnough, 1939:83.-Powell,

1959:146; 1971:40 [biol.].

Anesychia multipunctella Chambers, 1874:233.

Psecadia semiopaca Grote, 1881:275.

Psecadia plumbeella Beutenmuller, 1889:9.

A moderately large Ethmia superficially resembling

members of the marmorea complex, with the

forewing dark brown on costal half, white on dorsal,

the latter with a single dark dot near base.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.7 to 12.0 mm.

Head: Labial palpus upcurved, moderately elongate; second segment about 1.1 to 1.25 times longer

than eye diameter, third segment about 0.67 the

length of second; smooth scaled, dark brown,

mostly whitish basally, third segment white.

Antenna slightly dilated, shaft basally about 0.2

eye diameter; scaled dorsally, dark brown. Scaling

of vertex and crown smooth, white, becoming

roughened behind antennae, front and a spot at

midoccipital margin dark brown. Thorax: Dorsal

scaling white, with black spots at midcollar,

MAP 19.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia semilugens

(Zeller).

tegulae bases, two at middorsum mesad of tegulae,

and on scutellum. Underside scaling white,

prothoracic leg dark brownish exteriorly, mesoand meta-pale brownish to pale ochreous, tarsi

dark with pale bands; hind tibial fringe well developed, whitish ochreous. Forewing: Length about

3.4 to 3.5 times width; costa nearly straight, apex

blunt, termen strongly angled back, dorsum

straight. Ground color brownish black with a

broad white dorsal margin; white produced as a

rounded lobe upward to lower margin of cell and

containing a round black spot at about basal onefourth, an irregular extension of white to end of

cell and one to midtermen, a white blotch on apex;

a series of about 10 black dots along margin from

before apex to beyond tornus. Fringe white,

broken by a streak of dark brown just below apex.

Underside brownish, indistinctly whitish dorsally,

marginal spots reproduced. Hindwing: About as

broad as forewing; costal area simple; costa

excavated in distal half, apex blunt, termen broadly

curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish, slightly

to strongly brownish toward apex, at times mostly

brownish except basally. Underside similar, paler.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown, each terga

with paler caudal margin; underside and genital

scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 61

(drawn from plesiotype, Surprise Canyon, Inyo
86 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

County, California, JAP prep. no. 1483; four

preparations examined); uncus notched, gnathos

broad, with fine teeth anteriorly and posteriorly;

basal processes small and narrow; valva narrowed

apically.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.0 to 11.1 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Antenna basally

about 0.8 the diameter of that of male. Hindwing

usually darker, brownish; fringe white. Genitalia

similar to E. albistrigella, sterigma forming a

narrower, more complete sclerotized ring around

ostium (two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Texas, April (Belfrage); type male

in Zeller collection, presumably at British Museum

(semilugens); "from Mr. Belfrage, of Waco, Texas,"

April and May. Lectotype, by present designation:

male, bearing the labels, "Chambers [machine],

Tex" [inked by hand], "Anesychia multipunctella

Cham.," "Type #1425" [Type no. by Banks],

in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard

(multipunctella); "Colorado," location of type

unknown (semiopaca); "Texas," type stated to be

cf, but is a female without abdomen, at U.S.

National Museum (plumbeella).

Geiser (1948) states that between 1870 and 1879

Belfrage lived near Norse, Bosque County, Texas,

some 40 miles from Waco.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Arid parts of

Colorado through central Texas, New Mexico,

northern Chihuahua, Arizona, and southern California. Braun (1925) reported semilugens in

northern Utah, but a specimen sent to me representing that data and identified as E. semilugens

by Braun is E. marmorea (Walsingham), a more

widespread species.

FLIGHT PERIOD—Probably facultatively double

brooded; late February and March (southwestern

Texas) to September (Chihuahua). Most records

are for April or July.

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia calthifolia and P. crenulata in California. The larvae live on the leaves

without a shelter (Powell, 1971).

Ethmia epileuca Powell

FIGURE 62; PLATE 6;; MAP 20

Ethmia epileuca Powell, 1959:140.

A medium sized Ethmia with gray forewings, having

the dorsal and terminal areas shaded with whitish.

MAP 20.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia epileuca Powell.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.4 to 10.4 mm.

Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, strongly

upcurved; second segment slightly longer than eye

diameter, third segment about 0.6 the length of

second; smooth scaled, brown, white ventrally and

interiorly. Antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft

basally about 0.18 eye diameter. Scaling light

brownish, heavily mixed with whitish at vertex

and on front; occipital tufts white. Thorax: Dorsal

scaling white with scattered brownish, a median

longitudinal brown streak. Underside scaling pale

brownish and dirty whitish, including legs; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs darker; hind tibial

fringe white. Forewing: Narrow, length about

3.7—4.0 times width; costa slightly convex beyond

middle, apex acute, termen strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color divided

by a straight longitudinal line along Cu fold, to

end of cell, brown or gray-brown above, white

below; costal half darkest at dividing line, paler

toward margins, blending to whitish gray in

terminal area, sending two dark spurs into white

at about basal one-fourth and a square one just

before middle of wing, the basal one at times an

isolated spot; white dorsal half with intermixed

light brownish scales toward dorsum and tornus;

a distinct, white, upcurved spur at end of cell; a

series of ill-defined dark spots along termen. Fringe

mostly brownish with a white basal band. Under-
NUMBER 120 87

side dirty whitish becoming pale brownish toward

apex. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing;

costal area simple; costa excavate on distal onethird, apex sublanceolate; termen strongly angled

back to anal angle, tornus not developed; fringe

narrow, less than one-half the membrane width.

Ground color white including fringe and underside. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish,

caudal margins of segments, underside, and genital

scaling dirty whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 62

(drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 262;

three preparations examined); uncus slightly

notched; gnathos with elongate teeth on posterior

margin, anteriorly broad with margin entire below,

irregularly dentate above; basal processes broad

and elongate; valva not narrowed distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.3 to 9.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male except smaller.

Genitalia similar to E. albistrigella and semilugens;

ductus with a narrow, sclerotized sleeve at base,

followed by an elongate, unsclerotized, yet stiff,

uncoiled antrum bearing a row of about 10 small

teeth; ductus distally with about 6 membranous

coils; signum weakly developed, teeth irregular,

lateral flanges lacking (two preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.—California, Surprise Canyon, Panamint Mountains, Inyo County, April 22, 1957

(J. Powell); holotype female in California Academy

of Sciences.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Desert area of

southern California and Arizona (Tucson).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February to April.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Specimens from the Coachella Valley

area of California tend to exhibit a more gray,

washed out appearance, with the markings less

distinct. Those from Arizona (Tucson) are more

distinctly marked than typical.

Ethmia apicipunctella (Chambers)

FIGURES 63, 189; PLATE la; MA P 21

Hyponomeuta apicipunctella Chambers, 1875:8.

Psecadia apicipunctella.-Dyar, 1900:38.

Ethmia apicipunctella.--Dyar, 1902:207.—Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 26, 36 [synonymy].—McDunnough, 1939:83.

Ethmia zavalla Busck, 1915:84.

A small, white moth having the forewings dotted

with black.

MAP 21.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia apicipunctella

(Chambers).

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.2 to 9.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus rather short, not strongly upcurved;

second segment length 1.0 times eye diameter, only

slightly curved; third segment about 0.7 to 0.8 as

long as second, straight; scaling smooth, white,

second segment brown exteriorly on distal half or

mostly brownish exteriorly. Antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.2 eye

diameter; scaled dorsally, white, scape brownish

anteriorly. Scaling of front appressed, white, a

brown spot adjoining eye, of crown rather roughened, of occipital margin spreading, white, at times

with a brown median spot. Thorax: Pronotal

scaling white; seven blackish spots: two at bases of

tegulae and one between them, two just beyond

tegulae apices, two laterally on scutellum. Underside white; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs and

hind tarsi brown exteriorly; hind tibial fringe well

developed, white. Forewing: Rather broad, length

about 3.5 to 3.7 times width; costa gently, evenly

curved from base to apex, latter blunt, narrow,

termen strongly angled back, tornus scarcely discernible. Fringe moderately broad. Ground color

white or pale gray with black spots that are variable

in size as follows: costa at extreme base; a spot in

cell near base, followed by two somewhat elongated

longitudinal marks in cell at basal one-third and

middle of wing; two smaller spots above and below
88 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

and just basad of the first of the two longitudinal

marks, another roundish spot on lower fold below

second longitudinal mark; a series of about five

small spots at end of cell and in terminal area, often

coalesced to form a sinuate, longitudinal bar; a

small blotch on dorsum at basal one-third; a series

of marginal dots from outer one-third of costa

around termen to outer one-third of dorsum. Fringe

white with a brown dot at apex; at times brownish

in tornal area. Underside pale brownish, fringe

white, the apical spot reproduced or fringe with a

brown band along its whole length. Hindwing:

About as broad as forewing; costal brush lacking;

costa only slightly excavate on distal half; apex

blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground

color whitish, slightly tinged with brownish toward

apical area, to pale brownish, darker apically.

Fringe white. Underside similar, slightly darker.

Abdomen: Scaling dorsally and ventrally white,

tinged with pale brownish; genital scaling white.

Genitalia as in Figure 63 (drawn from plesiotype,

Jemez Springs, New Mexico, JAP prep. no. 1171;

four preparations examined); uncus moderately

deeply notched; gnathos dentate, anterior and

posterior regions not differentiated; basal processes

short; valvae tapered distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.7 to 9.3 mm.

Essentially as described for male; antenna slightly

narrower, width of shaft about 0.8 that of male;

wing markings tend to be larger; hindwing color

variation about the same. Genitalia as in Figure

189 (drawn from plesiotypes, Boulder, Colorado,

JAP prep. nos. 2138, 2347; three preparations

examined); anterior apophyses short, broad;

sterigma broadly joined to IX tergite, sclerotized

completely around ostium; signum a deep, narrow

fold without dentation.

TYPE DATA.—"Basque" [Bosque] County, Texas

(Belfrage). lectotype male by present designation:

"Tex, Chambers," "Type 1404" (lacking wings and

legs from one side), in Museum of Comparative

Zoology, Harvard (apicipunctella); Zavalla County,

Texas, April (F. C. Pratt), holotype female in U.S.

National Museum (zavalla).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Southern Texas

(Brownsville) and Nueva Leon to eastern Arizona

(Paradise, Cochise County), undoubtedly adjoining

parts of Mexico; northward into Colorado and

southern Wyoming.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March to July, possibly double

brooded; most records are for April and May.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Specimens from New Mexico and

Arizona tend to have the black markings of the

wings elongated longitudinally and somewhat

coalesced, rather than distinct dots as in the Texas

material. All of those studied from more northern

areas (Boulder, Colorado; near Newcastle, Wyoming) have the forewing pale gray, but this is not a

strictly geographically related feature. The southernmost specimen examined (3 mi E Galeana,

Nueva Leon, Mexico) is also of the gray type.

Ethmia arctostaphylella (Walsingham)

FIGURES 8, 9, 17, 18, 64, 190; PLATES lb-d, 2\g-h, 22d; MAP 22

Psecadia arctostaphylella Walsingham, 1880:88.

Ethmia arctostaphylella.-Dy&r, 1902:20S.-Busck, 1912:85-

Barnes and Busck, 1920:241, pis. 26, 34 [synonymy].—Keifer,

1936a:16.-McDunnough, 1939:82.-Powell, 1959:143; 1971:

42 [biol.].—Patterson and Powell, 1960:232.

Psecadia obscurella Beutenmuller, 1888:29.

Ethmia obscurella.—Byar, 1902:203.

Ethmia mediella Busck, 1913a:99.

A moderately large Ethmia having gray forewings

that are whitish on the dorsal half, and a yellow

abdomen. The shade of gray on the forewing varies

from blackish to whitish.

MAP 22.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia arctostaphylella (Walsingham).
NUMBER 120 89

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.4—11.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding antenna base; second segment strongly curved,

length about 1.4-1.6 eye diameter; third segment

straight, about 0.65—0.80 as long as second; smooth

scaled, entirely whitish to mostly blackish exteriorly,

whitish interiorly, usually mostly whitish, second

segment blackish exteriorly. Antenna dilated,

width of basal one-third of shaft 0.26-0.28 eye

diameter; scaled dorsally pale to dark gray. Scaling

of proboscis, front and crown appressed, white or

mixed white and black, of occipital white laterally,

black in middle. Thorax: Collar dark basally,

white distally; pronotal scaling white with two

pairs of small, distinct, black spots below tegulae

apices and on scutellum, to heavily mixed with

black scales, the four spots large. Underside mostly

white to grayish; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs

gray to black exteriorly with white tibial and tarsal

bands; metathoracic leg pale ochreous, dorsal fringe

of tibia well developed. Forewing: Width variable,

length from 3.2 times width (pale form) to 3.8

times width (dark form); costa gently curved,

flattened near middle; apex blunt, termen not

strongly angled back, tornus developed. Ground

color divided by longitudinal line along Cu fold,

curving upward at end of cell and angling back

toward tornus, becoming obsolete before latter;

dark gray on costal half, whitish gray on dorsal;

black spots as follows: a mark obliquely angled

inward from costal gray toward dorsum before

middle of cell, a short bar in dorsal white adjoining

gray at dividing line in outer half of cell, about ten

distinct dots along termen from before apex to

beyond tornus. Terminal area usually and costal

area often clouded with whitish, at times the whole

ground pale, rarely whitish so that dividing line

scarcely discernible (mediella); at times costal

half blackish, dorsal half heavily infused with dark

gray, the dividing line poorly shown (pbscurella).

Underside pale to dark gray, costa and dorsal

margin pale ochreous. Hin.dwing: Slightly broader

than forewing; costal area simple; costa sloping

from before middle to apex, latter blunt, rather

narrow, termen strongly angled back, broadly

curved to dorsum. Ground color pale to dark gray;

anal area including hairs and fringe pale ochreous;

fringe ochreous to apex except in darkest form.

Underside mostly pale ochreous, clouded with pale

to dark gray through median area above anal area.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark gray; dark toward

base, or entirely bright ochreous; underside and

genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 64

(drawn from plesiotype, Alpine Lake, Marin

County, California, JAP prep. no. 1363; six preparations examined); uncus notched; gnathos densely

spined posteriorly, weakly dentate anteriorly; basal

process short, membranous; valva round distally.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.1 to 14.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Antenna not

dilated, width of shaft near base 0.18-0.20 eye

diameter. General color tending to be lighter than

male, wing markings often more distinct, the

dividing line emphasized by black. Abdomen

ochreous, only rarely black near base, not black

over whole dorsum in dark forms. Genitalia as in

Figure 190 (drawn from plesiotype, El Dorado

County, California, JAP prep. no. 2701; three

preparations examined); sterigma not sclerotized

posterior to ostium, sides angled steeply anteriorly;

antrum with a short, broad, sclerotized sleeve and

transverse fold; signum a strongly sclerotized,

dentate fold; corpus bursae with distal accessory

pouch.

TYPE DATA.—"Mendocino and Lake counties and

near San Francisco, California, 1871" (Walsingham),

data from the type male in British Museum reads

"Coal Creek Canon, Mendocino Co., California,

VI-14-1871," (arctostaphylella); Havilah, California, June, 1869 (Hy. Edwards), type male in

U.S. National Museum {pbscurella); San Diego,

California, June, July (W. S. Wright), type female

in U.S. National Museum {mediella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Oregon

(Josephine County) and northern California

(Trinity and Shasta counties), southward to the

Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California; eastward

in southern Nevada (Charleston Mountains) and

Arizona (Pinal Mountains; Oak Creek Canyon)

according to available records. Possibly following

the distribution of its hosts northward in Oregon

and into Utah.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February to October, multivoltine.

FOOD PLANT.—Species of Eriodictyon (Hydrophyllaceae); the association has been observed for

E. californicum, tomentosum, and trichocalyx and

is presumed for angustifolium in Baja California,
90 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Nevada, and Arizona. A detailed biology is reported elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

REMARKS.—As discussed previously (Powell,

1959), the wing color variation is in part seasonally

correlated. It is also in part geographically related

in that the paler forms tend to represent arid areas

as well as the dry time of year. The dark form,

obscurella, which has narrower forewings, is the

typical phenotype taken in early spring in the

central Coast Ranges of California, but I have not

seen it from southern California. In summer, paler

forms replace the dark spring generation at central

coastal localities, but these do not reach the white

extreme (mediella) exhibited by some summer

generation individuals in southern California.

The association of Ethmia arctostaphylella with

Eriodictyon rather than Arctostaphylos suspected

earlier (Powell, 1959) is confirmed. Numerous

collections of adults and larvae have been made

from the above-mentioned species of Eriodictyon,

while no further evidence of use of Arctostaphylos

has accumulated. At maturity larvae pupate on

the host leaves or wander, and the latter behavior

probably resulted in Walsingham's find of a cocoon

on Arctostaphylos.

Ethmia mansita Brack

FIGURE 65; PLATE 1e

Ethmia mansita Busck, 1914c:55.

A small gray moth resembling E. discostrigella,

from central Mexico.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.5 to 9.1 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, upcurved; second segment

curved, about 1.4 times eye diameter, third segment

straight, about 0.7 as long as second; smooth scaled,

whitish, second segment brownish exteriorly.

Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft about 0.23

eye diameter; scaled dorsally near base, white,

scape brown above. Scaling of front and crown

whitish, of occipital margin, white with intermixed

brown toward middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white with a brown, longitudinal, median streak;

a brown spot at base of tegula. Underside scaling

shining whitish including legs; tarsi brownish.

Forewing: Narrow, length about 3.7-3.9 times

width; costa straight except near base and apex,

latter acute; termen strongly angled back, broadly

curved to dorsum; fringe broad, reducing narrow

appearance of wing. Ground color pale gray, overlaid with whitish. Black markings as follows: a

short longitudinal streak from base in cell; two

short longitudinal streaks in cell, one at basal onefourth, one at middle of wing; a dot below and

between these, below Cu fold; an irregular mark

angled toward apex at end of cell; a thin line from

middle of terminal area to apex; a series of about

ten dots along margin from well before apex to

tornal area. Fringe white, grayish in tornal area.

Underside pale brownish; some differentiated brown

scaling (possibly sex scaling) through cell; fringe

whitish at apex. Hindwing: About as brown as

forewing; dorsal hair pencil of costa exposed, rather

short, pale brownish; costa only slightly sloping to

apex, latter blunt, termen broadly curved to

dorsum. Ground color pale brownish, whitish

basally; fringe elongate, nearly one-half as long as

membrane width; white. Underside similar, darker

brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal and ventral scaling

shining whitish gray. Genitalia as in Figure 65

(drawn from cotype, JAP prep. no. 1507; two

preparations examined); uncus hoodlike, notched;

gnathos broad, dentate posteriorly; basal processes

short, broad; valva with a notch in costa and

triangulate folds on inner face.

FEMALE.—Not studied in detail. Similar in size

and general appearance to male (based on one

specimen). Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico, September (R. Muller), holotype female in U.S. National

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—September (records from 1913

and 1937).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

THE DISCOSTRIGELLA COMPLEX

Members of this group are the common gray

Ethmias of arid regions of the southwestern United

States. They are by far the most common species

in collections; at times the moths teem by the

hundreds to lights in eastern California and

Arizona. Local and seasonal variations are superimposed upon the wide geographical range of two

similar appearing species which fly together.

The first species to be described was E. discostrigella (Chambers, 1877) from Edgerton,
NUMBER 120 91

Colorado (near Colorado Springs). The forewings

were described as being purplish, gray with a pale

longitudinal streak containing three black lines

(Plate If). Walsingham (1880) named a second

entity, E. subcaerulea, from central coastal California which has pale bluish gray forewings with

many fine black streaks in the costal half (Plate

7g). Later, however, after studying material from

Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, Walsingham (1888)

concluded that his supposed species was synonymous

with discostrigella. A third name, semitenebrella,

was proposed by Dyar (1902) for a more distinctly

marked form with forewing having a gray costal

half and white dorsal area, the latter marked by

two conspicuous black, diagonal streaks. (Plate Ih).

The moth, which was represented by specimens

from Colorado, Arizona, and California, was described as a species but stated to be probably only

a variety of discostrigella by Dyar. Dyar's name was

treated as synonymous with discostrigella by

Meyrick (1914). Barnes and Busck (1920), however, figured the male genitalia and showed

slight differences between semitenebrella and

discostrigella, which they treated as species.

A subsequent discussion (Powell, 1959) added

little clarity to the picture except to cite considerable additional western material, none of which

showed genital characters intermediate between the

two. The two diagonal black marks of the dorsal

area were given as an indicator for semitenebrella

(as opposed to one or none in discostrigella).

The hindwing of E. semitenebrella bears a conspiculous hair pencil on the costa, which has been

previously overlooked, and this correlates with

both male and female genitalia and wing color

differences, confirming the two as separate species.

Accumulation of hundreds of specimens together

with diurnal observations on the host associations

and larval rearings during the past ten years have

enabled further clarification of phenotypic variation extant in the complex.

The two species are widespread in arid and

semiarid parts of southwestern United States and

northwestern Mexico, following the distribution of

their hosts, species of Cercocarpus (Rosaceae).

Although the two are often found flying together,

E. semitenebrella is considerably less common in

collections and is less phenotypically variable and

less widespread (Maps 23, 24). E. discostrigella is

multivoltine in some, if not all, areas and is seasonally variable. E. semitenebrella evidently is

adapted to a narrower range of ecological situations

and does not show much wing color variation from

one area to another; it may be double brooded, but

there are no data from individual localities showing

two flights.

The typical forms representing both of the

names applicable to discostrigella—subcaerulea in

California and discostrigella from Colorado—are

distinct from semitenebrella in wing pattern. However, over much of the southern half of its range,

discostrigella exhibits a slightly to decidedly white

dorsal area, which causes a superficial resemblance

to semitenebrella.

For purposes of discussion, I am applying a

subspecific designation to the two available names

for discostrigella, although in parts of the range of

the species neither name is appropriate in a subspecific sense. The Great Basin areas of eastern

Oregon and California (east of the Sierra Nevada)

through Nevada, Utah, and Colorado are occupied

by populations of discostrigella in which the individuals are large (wing expanse mostly 25—30

mm) and which have dark metal-gray forewings

with whitish only through the median longitudinal

area and the black marks more or less similarly

restricted. These may be referred to as E.d.

discostrigella. In cismontane California and doubtless Baja California Norte and possibly western

Oregon, most of the moths are smaller (20-26 mm

expanse) and have the forewing much palerwhitish gray which is bluish gray in appearance.

The costal half, which usually is not darker gray,

bears numerous longitudinal, fine black streaks.

Walsingham's name subcaerulea is applicable to

these, but in southern California many specimens

exhibit development of a pale dorsal and dark

costal area.

Populations in Arizona and New Mexico may be

interpreted as representing a broad zone of blend

in wing color phenotype between d. discostrigella,

d. subcaerulea, and a race similar in general appearance to semitenebrella. In northwestern

Arizona several large samples indicate that variation here is similar to subcaerulea. In June

(Hualapai Mountains) the size is about the same

as that shown in cismontane California, while in

late August and September (Kaibab Plateau; Oak
92

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Creek Canyon) the moths are consistently small

(expanse 19-21 mm). Farther to the south and

east, the forewing pattern varies away from typical

subcaerulea but only in part toward typical discostrigella (to the north, even in southern Nevada

and Utah, typical discostrigella is almost exclusively

present). Samples from the Chiricahua Mountains

in southeastern Arizona show a form approaching

Colorado discostrigella in April, but a much paler

phenotype, more distinctly marked with black lines,

in September. The latter are indistinguishable from

extremes in southern California, which, however,

do not seem to be seasonally predominent. Similar

seasonal variation may occur in other regions of

Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Texas

and Mexico, but samples at individual localities

are inadequate at present.

Ethmia discostrigella (Chambers)

Anesychia discostrigella Chambers, 1877:122.

Ethmia discostrigella.—Walsingham, 1888:149 [in part]

[synonymy].—Dyar, 1902:204 [in part].—Barnes and Busck,

1920:242, pis. 26, 27, 34 [in part] [synonymy].-Braun, 1925:

198.- McDunnough. 1939:82 [in part].-Powell, 1959:136

[in part]; 1971:46 [biol.].

Psecadia discostrigella.—Riley, 1891:99 [in part].

A large moth having dark gray forewings with

median longitudinal whitish and black lines, and

a yellow abdomen. The typical subspecies, which is

larger, with more uniformly gray forewings, is widespread in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains.

Ethmia discostrigella discostrigella (Chambers),

new status

FIGURES 16, 66, 188; PLATE 7/; MAP 23

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.4—14.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus strongly upcurved, elongate, exceeding crown; second segment strongly curved, length

1.4—1.5 times eye diameter; third segment very

slightly curved, about 0.7—0.75 as long as second;

smooth scaled, mostly brownish gray, whitish at

base, at apex of second segment and basal half of

third, to mostly whitish, brownish gray exteriorly

on second segment above base and subapically on

third. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft in

basal third about 0.25 eye diameter; scaled above,

basally whitish, scape white below and anteriorly,

dark posteriorly. Scaling of proboscis, front, and

MAP 23.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia discostrigella

(Chambers).

vertex smooth, mostly brownish gray, becoming

mostly white at vertex and crown, spreading at

occipital margin, white laterally, dark at middorsum. Thorax: Collar brownish basally; pronotal

scaling white with three pairs of lateral, black spots

at tegulae bases, just beyond tegulae apices, and on

scutellum. Underside scaling shining whitish;

pro- and mesothoracic legs dark gray exteriorly,

hindleg pale ochreous; tibial fringe small. Forewing: Length about 3.4-3.5 times width; costa

gently curved from base to apex, flattened slightly

beyond middle, apex acute, termen strongly angled

back, tornus discernible. Ground color dark gray,

overlaid with scattered whitish scales, usually more

numerous in dorsal and terminal areas and concentrated through upper part of dorsal area to

form an ill-defined longitudinal white streak from

base to a conspicuous spur at end of cell; at times

whitish more or less concentrated over whole dorsal

area. Black markings, at times reduced or partially

obsolete, as follows: a narrow line on Cu fold from

base to about inner one-fourth; a second shorter

line just beyond, sending a diagonal spur toward

anal angle; a third line on Cu fold in outer half of

cell; an elongate streak through middle of cell in

outer half; small blotches preceding, following, and

above white spur at end of cell; a series of about

nine conspicuous dots around margin from before
NUMBER 120 93

apex to tornus, at times continued as a thin line

along dorsal margin. Fringe pale grayish; costal

fringe pale ochreous. Underside uniform gray.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal

brush lacking; costa slightly excavate toward apex,

latter blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum,

tornus not discernible. Ground color pale gray,

becoming whitish ochreous toward anal area.

Fringe narrow, whitish ochreous with gray basal

band. Underside the same. Abdomen: Scaling

entirely pale to bright ochreous. Genitalia as in

Figure 66 (drawn from plesiotype, Union Co., New

Mexico, JAP prep. no. 1370; 15 preparations

examined); uncus hoodlike, with a shallow notch

bordered by weak lateral peaks; gnathos dentate

posteriorly and anteriorly; basal processes small,

membranous; valva broadened distally, round

apically.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 11.0-14.7 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye slightly

smaller, diameter about 0.9 that of male; antenna

not dilated, width of shaft about 0.7 that of male.

Wing color variation as in male. Ochreous of

abdomen usually brighter and somewhat more

extensive on legs and hindwing. Genitalia as in

Figure 188 (drawn from plesiotype, San Luis

Obispo County, California, JAP prep. no. 2714;

eight preparations examined); sterigma sclerotized

only anterior to ostium, sides angled steeply away

anteriorly; base of ductus with a short sclerotized

sleeve, followed by about 1 mm uncoiled membranous section which bears one or two weakly

sclerotized bands with variable, tiny spurs; signum

a dentate fold 0.36-0.44 mm in length.

TYPE DATA.—Edgerton, Colorado, among oaks;

altitude, 6,500 feet. Lectotype male, present designation: "Anesychia discostrigella Cham. Col., Chambers, Colorado, Type 1421," in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Great Basin portions of eastern Oregon and California (east of the

Sierra Nevada), southwestern Idaho, Nevada, and

Utah; southward through Colorado, eastern New

Mexico and western Texas, into Chihuahua and

Nueva Leon, Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April to September; multivoltine,

at least in southern portions of the range. Most

flight records in northern areas are for June and

July.

FOOD PLANT. — Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.

(Rosaceae) and undoubtedly other species of

Cercocarpus. Biological studies are given elsewhere

(Powell, 1971).

Ethmia discostrigella subcaerulea (Walsingham),

new status

PLATE 7g; MAP 23

Psecadia subcaerulea Walsingham, 1880:89.—Beutenmuller,

1888:29.

Ethmia subcaerulea-Dyar, 1902:204 [in part].—Busck, 1907:94.

Ethmia discostrigella.—Walsingham, 1888:149 [in part]

[synonymy].—Meyrick, 1914:30 [in part] [synonymy].—

Barnes and Busck, 1920:242, pis. 26, 27, 34 [in part].-Keifer,

1936a: 16.-McDunnough, 1939:82 [in part].-Powell, 1959:

136 [in part]; 1971:47 [biol.].

A Pacific Coast race which usually has the forewing

densely covered with white overscaling, giving a

uniform bluish-white appearance.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.0—13.0 mm. Structural characters as described for nominate subspecies. Scaling generally more whitish on head,

body, and legs. Forewing ground color dark gray,

but usually overlaid with white over whole surface,

somewhat less densely on costal area, leaving a

series of darker longitudinal streaks; at times less so

over whole wing resulting in a generally dark,

white-streaked appearance; rarely the dorsal area

uniform whitish, costal area mostly dark. Black

markings as on nominate subspecies, tending to be

larger on the gray-streaked forms, correspondingly

more strongly contrasting with dorsal area.

Abdomen pale ochreous. Genitalia not distinguishable from nominate subspecies (four preparations

examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.4-13.1 mm. As

described for male and nominate subspecies.

Abdomen pale ochreous, usually paler than in d.

discostrigella. Genitalia as in d. discostrigella.

TYPE DATA.—"Sonoma and Mendocino Counties,

California, May 23 and June 13, 1871" (Walsingham), types in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Cismontane California, west slope of the Sierra Nevada and Coast

Ranges to southern California, and undoubtedly

Baja California Norte.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March to September; multivoltine.
94 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FOOD PLANT.—Cercocarpus betuloides Nutt. (=

montan.us) and C. minutiflorus Abrams. Biological

observations are given elsewhere (Powell, 1971).

REMARKS.—As discussed above, individuals from

Arizona and western New Mexico do not correspond well to either of the above subspecies. Most

are similar to subcaerulea but tend to have a welldefined contrast between the dark costal and whitish

dorsal areas. The diagonal and median longitudinal black marks usually show more conspicuously on the pale dorsal area than in the California

race or d. discostrigella.

Ethtnia setnitenebrella Dyar

FICURES 67, 191; PLATES AC, 7h; MAP 24

Ethmia semitenebrella Dyar, 1902:204.—Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 26, 34.-Braun, 1925:197.-McDunnough, 1939:82.

-Powell, 1959:139; 1971:51 [biol.].

Ethmia discostrigella [in part].-Meyrick, 1914:30.-Powell,

1959:156.

A moderately large Ethmia with forewings having

dark costal and whitish dorsal areas. The latter

marked on basal half by two inwardly directed,

diagonal black streaks. Hindwing of male with

costal hair pencil.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.1—13.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, not strongly

MAP 24.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia semitenebrella

Dyar.

curved; second segment slightly curved, length

about 1.2-1.35 times eye diameter; third segment

straight or nearly so, about 0.65—0.70 as long as

second; scaling appressed, mostly dark brownish

gray with whitish blotches anteriorly on basal half

of second segment and at joint between second and

third, to mostly white with subapical dark spots on

each segment. Antenna slightly dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.22 eye diameter, scaled dorsally

white, becoming brown beyond basal segments.

Scaling of front smooth, dark brown, whitish at

base, of crown white with median dark spot at

occipital margin. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white,

paired black spots at tegulae bases, just beyond

tegulae apices and on scutellum. Underside shining

white; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs dark

brown exteriorly; metathoracic leg whitish ochreous.

Forewing'. Length about 3.5—3.6 times width; costa

gently curved from base to apex, slightly flattened

beyond middle; apex blunt, termen moderately

strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed.

Ground color dark gray on costal half, whitish

gray on dorsal half; costal half usually with considerable whitish overscaling between the veins

resulting in longitudinal streaks, more well denned

beyond middle; dorsal white extending well into

cell in basal half of wing, indented by a broad

triangular spur of dark ground color in outer half

of cell, upcurved as a white spur at end of cell.

Black markings as follows: a short, longitudinal

streak on Cu fold at base; two broad, distinct,

diagonal, slightly sigmoid streaks from Cu fold

toward anal area, the first at basal one-fourth,

isolated in white dorsal area, the second, just before

middle of wing, from apex of triangular dark

ground projection; some black scaling preceding

and following white spur at end of cell; a thin

longitudinal streak through middle of outer half

of cell, blending in terminal area with streak of

dark ground color to termen just below apex; a

series of about ten dots around margin from before

apex to beyond tornus, the last usually elongated

as a dorsal line. Fringe whitish, interspersed with

pale brownish, a brown spot at longitudinal streak

just below apex. Underside uniform pale brownish; fringe as above. Hindwing: About as broad as

forewing; costal hair pencil exposed, well developed, from base extending more than one-third

the length of wing, brownish gray or brownish
NUMBER 120 95

white; costa slightly excavate toward apex, latter

narrow, termen strongly angled back to dorsum,

tornus not developed. Ground color whitish becoming pale brownish on apical half; a patch of

dark ochreous sex scaling under and slightly

exceeding costal hair pencil. Fringe whitish, becoming pale ochreous in anal area. Underside

similar, slightly paler, specialized costal scaling

absent. Abdomen: Scaling entirely pale whitish

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 67 (drawn from

plesiotype, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, JAP

prep. no. 318; eight preparations examined); similar to E. discostrigella, differing by well-developed

lateral peaks on uncus; lateral flanges of gnathos

posteriorly, and by a less broadened cucullar area

with apex slightly pointed.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to 14.3 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye slightly

smaller; antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally

about 0.80—0.85 that of male; forewing markings

generally more contrasting and distinct; costal area

of hindwing simple, ochreous scale patch lacking;

hindwing anal area with a pale ochreous tinge,

more evident than in male. Genitalia similar to

the preceding species, differing by the sides of

sterigma not angled anteriorly from ostium (Figure

191, drawn from plesiotype, Monitor Pass, California, JAP prep. no. 2716; eight preparations

examined) and an elongate uncoiled basal portion

of the ductus bursae, and from discostrigella by a

slightly larger signum, 0.41-0.55 mm in length.

TYPE DATA.-Fort Grant, Arizona, "20-7" (H. G.

Hubbard); lectotype female, by present designation,

in U.S. National Museum. "Ft. Grant, Ar. 20.7,

H. G. Hubbard, Collector, Type No. 6621, USNM,

$ Genitalia on slide Nov. 16, 1936, JFGC 793."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Colorado, Utah,

New Mexico, and Nueva Leon Mexico, to Arizona,

southern and eastern California; similar to but

apparently not so widespread to the north and west

as E. discostrigella.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April to August; double brooded.

FOOD PLANT. — Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt.

(Rosaceae) and undoubtedly other species of

Cercocarpus. Biological observations are given

elsewhere (Powell, 1971). The report of C.

parvifolius as a food plant at Williams, Arizona

(Dyar, 1902), may refer to either C. betuloides

Nutt. or C. breviflorus Gray according to present

concepts.

The Papiella Group

Eye index 0.95-1.05. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, four subequal segments. Labial palpus

moderately short, II segment index 1.1—1.2, smooth

or weakly roughened. Antenna of male not dilated

or strongly dilated (index 0.45). Forewing moderately broad or moderately narrow. Hindwing of

male with or without costal hair pencil, fold lacking. Abdomen pink, scaling undifferentiated. Uncus

hoodlike; gnathos dentate anteriorly and posteriorly; basal processes moderately sclerotized,

angulate or bifid; valva with broad setae on costa;

fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae

anales sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not

elongate; anterior apophyses broad or narrow;

sterigma ornate; antrum undefined or defined;

ductus bursae membranous or sclerotized basally,

8—9 coils; signum a broad cone.

Two nocturnal species in Mexico and Central

America which show strongest phenetic similarity

to the Semilugens group but are unique in several

respects, particularly the pink abdomen.

Ethmia papiella Powell, new species

FIGURES 68, 193, 194: PLATE 7;; MAP 25

A moth of discostrigella appearance, with the

abdomen pink, occurring in the Sinaloan thorn

forest on the west coast of Mexico.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.7-7.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, exceeding base of antenna; length of second segment 1.1-

1.25 times eye diameter (eye extraordinarily large,

1.4 mm diameter); third segment 0.7-0.8 eye diameter; scaling slightly roughened ventrally, whitish gray, second segment with a dark subapical

blotch. Antenna slightly dilated, width near base

0.19 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish. Scaling

of tongue whitish, of front appressed, pale gray,

intermixed with brownish black between eyes, of

crown whitish with some brownish black intermixed. Thorax: Tegula whitish, with a black spot

at base, becoming broadly pink distally. Dorsal

scaling of collar and pronotum whitish gray, four

indistinct black spots, one preceding, a pair at

sides of and one at apex of scutellum. Underside

whitish gray, foreleg blackish exteriorly, hind tibia

pale pink. Forewing: Length 3.4—3.5 times width;

costa rather strongly arched; terminal fringe broad,
96 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

giving a subtruncate appearance. Ground color

gray, overlaid with whitish in varying intensity

(possibly lessened with age of the individual), when

heavily so, wing mostly whitish except costal area

on basal one-third, when less, only the outer costal area and a streak along fold whitish; a series

of longitudinal black streaks, at times largely obscured by whitish: one at base in subcostal area

and one just above cell before middle; a narrow

streak at base on Cu fold and two broader ones

on fold at one-third and middle of wing; an elongate one from midcell to termen below apex, interrupted at end of cell by white spur; a blurred

blotch on dorsal margin before middle; a row of

short streaks around termen from outer one-third

of costa to beyond tornus. Fringe mostly gray,

darker below apex, which is white. Underside pale

brownish gray, a white streak through fringe at

apex. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; upperside with a thick, whitish hair pencil to middle

of costal area. Costal margin beyond not concave,

angled obliquely to the narrow apex; dorsal margin

concave before anal angle. Ground color whitish

basally becoming pale grayish distally; costal area

under hair pencil gray. Underside uniform pale

whitish gray. Abdomen: Scaling of basal tergite

pale gray, of remainder bright pink, extending

laterad beyond midpleural area; venter and scaling

of valvae pale gray. Genitalia as in Figure 68

MAP 25.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Papiella group of Ethmia.

• E. papiella Powell A E. volcanella Powell

(drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1723,

and plesiotype, Navajoa, JAP prep. no. 1603; four

preparations examined); similar to E. semitenebrella, uncus and valvae narrowed distally, gnathos

heavily spined anteriorly, basal processes greatly

elongate, vesica with a series of strong spurs and

a membranous connection to a sclerotized ring at

the fultura (shown in Figure 68 in situ where they

remain when aedeagus is removed).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.3-8.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye slightly smaller

(about 0.9 of male), labial palpus as large as in

male; antenna not dilated, width of shaft near base

about two-thirds that of male. Forewing averaging

narrower, length 3.5—3.8 times width. Hindwing

costal area simple. Genitalia as in Figures 193, 194

(drawn from paratype, Mazatlan, JAP prep. no.

2719; five preparations examined); sterigma a heavily sclerotized, thick ring, incomplete on posterior

side of ostium; ductus entirely membranous; signum a deep fold, terminating in a single keellike

projection into bursa.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, August 7, 1964 (J. A.

Chemsak and J. Powell) (taken at lights of a motel in the north part of town); to be deposited in

California Academy of Sciences. Thirty-two Paratypes, all Mexico, as follows: Sinaloa: Rio del

Fuerte, 13 mi N Los Mochis, Id1, 6$ , VIII-7-64,

at black and white fluorescent lights (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell); same data as holotype, 20<?,

2 $ ; 6 mi S Culiacan, 1 $, VIII-6-64, at black and

white lights (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell); 5 mi

N Mazatlan, 1 $, VII-27-64, at black and white

lights (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell). Sonora: 1

mi E San Carlos (Bay) Yacht Club, 1 $, VIII-13-64

(M. R. and S. H. Lundgren). Deposited in California Academy of Sciences, California Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

Also examined but not designated as paratypes

was an additional series of 6 males and 3 females

preserved in alcohol, with the following data: Sonora: 13 km SW Navajoa, VIII-22-54 (R. E. Ryckman, C. Christianson, and D. Spencer).

REMARKS.—The pink abdomen and tegulae will

at once distinguish this species from any New

World Ethmia except E. volcanella, which has pink

hindwings.
NUMBER 120 97

Ethmia volcanella Powell, new species

FIGURES 69, 192; PLATE 8a-b; MAP 25

A Central American species with black-marked

gray forewings and a bright pink abdomen and

anal area of the hindwings.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.7 mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, reaching to base of antenna;

length of second segment about 1.2 times diameter

of the unusually large eye, not strongly curved;

third segment 0.6 as long as second; whitish, with

broad blackish blotches on second segment medially and third segment basally. Antenna greatly

dilated, width of basal 6-8 segments of shaft, 0.45

eye diameter, tapering to moderate diameter (0.22

eye diameter) by 12th segment; thickly scaled dorsally, pale gray-brown. Scaling of front whitish,

becoming pale gray-brown at crown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale gray-brown, two pairs of black

spots, anteriorly near collar and posteriorly at sides

of scutellum, possibly a median spot preceding

scutellum. Underside whitish gray; foreleg dark

brownish gray exteriorly with whitish tibial and

tarsal bands, epiphysis very large, widely flared

from tibia; meso-leg whitish marked with dark

brown on tibia and tarsus; meta-leg pale pink, becoming whitish distally. Forewing: Length about

3.6 times width; costa gently curved, termen

strongly angled back, tornal angle distinct. Ground

color gray, with a distinct white spur at end of cell,

and marked with black, as follows: a short streak

at base of costa into subcostal area; an elongate

streak along Cu fold from base to beyond middle

of cell, interrupted by irregular white spotting;

a streak from middle of cell in costal half into

terminal area, not reaching submarginal dots,

notched from below but not fully interrupted by

the white spur at end of cell; about seven submarginal dots from before apex to tornus. Some

scattered white scaling on dorsal half. Fringe gray.

Underside pale brown, the black streaks of upperside indistinctly evident. Hindwing: Slightly

broader than forewing; costal area simple, costal

margin slightly excavate before the narrow apex.

Ground color pale pink, brightest in anal area,

becoming paler distally, apical area dark brownish.

Fringe whitish. Underside the same. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling, including genital tufts, bright pink;

ventral scaling pale pink. Genitalia as in Figure

69 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 2179; one

preparation examined); uncus broadened near

base, basal processes forked, valva with a series of

very large, heavily sclerotized setae on costal margin distally, vesica with five elongate, toothed, sclerotized cornuti, an apical hooklike structure on

aedeagus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.7-11.2 mm. As

described for male; labial palpus more elongate,

length of second segment 1.3 times eye diameter,

third segment 0.67 the length of second; antenna

not dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.17

eye diameter. Coloration and markings as in male,

color brighter, the forewing markings more distinct

and contrasting, whitish scaling of dorsal area tending to form a dot in basal one-third and two zig-zag

lines enclosing a darker gray area just beyond

middle; abdomen and hindwing brighter pink than

in male. Genitalia as in Figure 192 (drawn from

para type, JAP prep. no. 2180), sterigma produced

laterally, basal two loops of ductus partially sclerotized, seven loops beyond membranous; signum

similar to papiella but the keel dentate.

TYPES.—Holotype male: Mexico, Tehuantepec,

Oaxaca, July 15-16, 1964 (P. J. Spangler). Allotype female and two paratype females: Guatemala,

Rio Teculutan, Zacapa, August 18, 1965 (Flint and

Ortiz). All deposited in U.S. National Museum.

The Macelhosiella Group

Eye index 0.9—1.1. Maxillary palpus small, three

or four globose segments. Labial palpus moderately short, II segment index 1.0—1.4, smooth

scaled. Antenna of male moderately dilated, index

0.20—0.25. Forewing narrow; pattern costal-dorsal.

Hindwing of male with or without costal hair

pencil, fold lacking. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate anteriorly and posteriorly; basal processes

membranous, broad or rudimentary; valva with

"clasper" on inner side; fultura-manica and vesica

without armature. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate;

anterior apophyses broad; sterigma simple; antrum

undefined; ductus bursae membranous or sclerotized basally, five to seven tight coils; signum a

dentate bar.

A closely related quartet of United States species

which has developed pupal estivation, late fall

flight, and egg hibernation. Ethmia macelhosiella

has an intermediate eye size and apparently is diur-
SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 26.—Geographical distribution of members of the Macelhosiella group of Ethmia.

• E. macelhosiella Busck (§ E. timberlakei Powell

% E. geranella Barnes and Busck • E. macneilli Powell

nal, possibly a secondary development in response

to low nocturnal autumnal temperatures in the

eastern United States.

Ethmia macelhosiella Busck

FIGURES 70, 195; PLATE 8C; MAP 26

Ethmia macelhosiella Busck, 1907:93.—Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 27, 34. -Busck and Heinrich. 1922:1 [biology].-

Forbes, 1923:245 [taxonomy].-McDunnough, 1939:82-

Clench, 1957:44.

A moderately large moth with elongate, narrow

gray forewings having a broad, ill-defined, longitudinal black streak from base to apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing 12.3 to 12.7 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, moderately upcurved; second segment slightly curved, length 1.4

times eye diameter; third segment straight, about

one-half the length of second; smooth scaled, second segment blackish, white at base and apex, third

segment mixed whitish and pale brownish. Antenna dilated, scape flattened, ovoid, length 0.75,

width about 0.4 eye diameter, dorsal scaling brown,

ventral white; shaft basally about 0.25 eye diameter, unsealed, densely setate. Scaling of head white

except front and spot at back of crown brown.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling mostly whitish, base of

tegula and scutellum with lateral spots dark brown.

Underside scaling whitish; legs brown, metathoracic leg paler, dorsal fringe of tibia weakly developed. Forewing: Length about 3.7 times width;

costa nearly straight from basal one-fourth nearly

to apex, curved abruptly to apex; termen strongly

angled back to dorsum, tornus scarcely discernible;

fringe narrow. Ground color whitish, sparsely to

densely irrorate with pale brownish; a broad, dark

line from base to apex, through lower half of cell,

narrowed beyond cell, well defined on dorsal side,

sending a small, squarish dark spur into pale dorsal area just before middle, an upturned white

spur at end of cell; costal side of median line less

well defined in basal half; veins at times with

blackish scaling toward costa in outer half. Fringe

white. Underside light brown, paler toward dorsum and termen. Hindwing: Slightly broader than

forewing; costal area simple; costa only slightly

sloped toward apex, latter blunt, round; termen

broadly curved to anal angle. Ground color pale

brownish or dirty whitish; fringe whitish with

brown basal band. Underside similar. Abdomen:

Scaling above and below pale brownish, posterior

bands of segments and genital scaling whitish.

Genitalia as in Figure 70 (drawn from plesiotype,

Plummer's Island, Maryland, JAP prep. no. 1524;

five preparations examined); uncus rather narrow,

hoodlike, shallowly notched; gnathos with fine
NUMBER 120 99

teeth posteriorly, bare anteriorly; basal processes

elongate, broad; valvae attenuate, acute apically.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing about 10.7 mm.

Similar to male but generally smaller and with

more development of dark markings. Head: Eye

relatively smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male;

labial palpus correspondingly shorter. Antenna not

dilated, diameter of shaft basally about 0.67 that

of male. Forewing: Dark scaling variable, more

extensive than on male, the longitudinal median

line broadened toward costal side, covering most

of cell, blending gradually toward pale costa. A

line of ochreous yellow scales along the distinct

dorsal side of dark area. Hindwing: Darker brown

than on male. Genitalia as in Figure 195 (drawn

from plesiotype, Plummer's Island, Maryland, JAP

prep. no. 2258; one preparation examined); anterior apophyses broad, strongly developed; sterigmal plate broad, extended laterally halfway around

abdomen, ostium simple; ductus bursae with two

sderotized loops well below ostium, remainder of

spiral unsclerotized.

TYPE DATA.—St. Louis, Missouri (H. A. McElhose); further data on type, which lacks most of

the abdomen, is: November 17, 1904, in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Eastern United

States. Known from only three widely scattered

areas: St. Louis, Missouri, Plummer's Island and

Cabin John, Maryland, and Finleyville, Pennsylvania.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—October and November.

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia sp. (Hydrophyllaceae).

Busck and Heinrich (1922) reported on the biology

of E. macelhosiella at Plummer's Island. Larval

specimens from their study in the U.S. National

Museum bear the data Phacelia covillei. The larvae were found on Phacelia in May, and larvae

selected cracks in or bored into bark of logs or

trees to pupate for estivation.

REMARKS.—The type specimen is a little paler

and has the median stripe slightly more well defined than the variable series from Plummer's Island; its genitalia have been lost, apparently to

dermestid damage.

Ethmia geranella Barnes and Busck

FIGURE 71; PLATE 8ef; MAP 26

Ethmia geranella Barnes and Busck, 1920:242, pis. 27, 34.—

McDunnough, 1939:82.

A medium-sized Ethmia having whitish gray

forewings usually marked by a conspicuous but

somewhat ill-defined dark brownish streak from

base to apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing about 10.4 mm.

Head: Labial palpus nearly porrect, rather short;

second segment slightly curved, length about equal

to eye diameter, third segment nearly as long as

second (0.95 eye diameter); smooth scaled, mostly

whitish, some brown scales intermixed exteriorly.

Antenna slightly dilated, diameter of basal portion

of shaft about 0.2 eye diameter; scaled, gray,

densely setate. Scaling of front and crown appressed, brownish with intermixed whitish scales;

tufts at occipital margin spreading, white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling mixed brown and white; tegula

white distally. Underside shining whitish; legs

brownish exteriorly; metathoracic leg dirty whitish, tibial fringe well developed, elongate, white.

Forewing: Narrow, length about 4.0 times width;

costa nearly straight from basal one-third to apical

one-fourth, abruptly curved to apex, latter blunt,

termen strongly angled back; fringe moderately

broad. Ground color whitish, more or less uniformly irrorate with scattered brown scales; usually

with a longitudinal dark brown streak from base

to apex through lower half of cell, well defined on

dorsal side, which sends two distinct, short spurs

into pale dorsal area before middle of wing; streak

bends upward at second spur, interrupted on dorsal half by an outwardly angled, distinct, oval white

spot at end of cell; poorly defined on costal side.

Fringe of ground color, distinctly interrupted by

longitudinal streak at apex. Underside pale brownish. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing;

costa with well-developed dorsal hair tuft, arising

at base, white; costa strongly excavate toward apex,

latter blunt, termen strongly angled back to anal

angle, slightly concave before anal angle. Ground

color uniform pale brownish; fringe broad, about

one-half membrane width, white. Underside whitish. Abdomen: Scaling shining pale brownish,

more or less unicolorous including genital vestiture. Genitalia as in Figure 71 (drawn from cotype, JAP prep, no. 1505; two preparations examined); teeth of posterior portion of gnathos

elongate, anterior portion minutely dentate; basal

processes short; valvae attenuate.

FEMALE.—Unknown.
100 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

TYPE DATA.—La Puerta Valley, southern California. The lectotype male in U.S. National Museum

bears no additional data.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality, which is on the western edge of

the Colorado Desert in San Diego County, and

from one male taken in the Ivanpah Mountains of

the eastern Mojave Desert.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—October.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown; probably Phacelia.

REMARKS.—The brown color of the markings may

be in part the result of the age of the specimens

and could be blackish on fresh individuals. The

single male from the Ivanpah Mountains lacks

the longitudinal, dark streak. It shows a trace of

the streak and some development of blackish

streaking along the veins.

Ethmia timberlakei Powell, new species

FICURES 5, 15, 196, 197; PLATE 8g; MAP 26

Ethmia timberlakei Powell, 1971:53 [non descr., biol.].

A gray moth resembling E. geranella, differing by

more elongate palpi and having the longitudinal

streak more well defined and black on a dark gray

ground, as well as by minor genitalic differences.

MALE.—Length of forewing (reared) 9.0 to 10.6

mm. Head; Labial palpus subporrect; second segment slightly curved, length variable, about 1.2 to

1.35 times eye diameter, smooth scaled, mostly

blackish exteriorly, white ventrally at base and

interiorly at least on third segment. Antenna

slightly dilated, diameter of shaft basally about

0.2 eye diameter; scaled, gray. Scaling of front and

crown appressed, mixed dark gray and whitish,

white at sides. Thorax: Dorsal scaling dark gray

with intermixed white. Underside shining pale

gray; legs dark gray exteriorly, metathoracic leg

paler, tibial fringe well developed, elongate, white.

Forewing: Narrow, length about 4.0 times width,

having a broader appearance owing to broad tornal

fringe; costa straight on middle one-third, strongly

curved to apex, termen strongly angled back to

dorsum, tornus not developed. Ground color dark

gray, sparsely to densely irrorate with scattered

white scales; a well-defined or indistinct narrow

black line from base to apex through lower part

of cell, not broadened on costal side; sending a

short spur into dorsal area just before middle of

wing, beyond this the line slightly offset toward

costa; interrupted and broken by an oval white

spot at end of cell, which is more conspicuous than

on E. geranella, due to the dark ground color of

E. timberlakei; streak ill-defined at apex and in

fringe, latter concolorous with ground. Underside

pale gray. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costa with well-developed dorsal hair pencil,

arising at base, cream-white; costa excavate on distal one-third, apex blunt, narrow, termen strongly

angled back, dorsum slightly concave before anal

angle. Ground color uniform pale gray; fringe

broad, about one-half membrane width, white. Underside whitish. Abdomen: Scaling shining whitish

gray, more or less unicolorous including genital.

Genitalia similar to E. geranella (Figure 71) but

with the teeth of anterior portion of gnathos small;

basal process broad, elongate, length equal to

width of valva (three preparations examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing (reared), 8.7 to

10.0 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye

and labial palpus smaller; antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft basally about 0.67 that of male;

median dark streak of forewing often obscure;

hindwing without costal hair pencil. Genitalia

with anterior apophyses broad, as in macelhosiella,

but sterigmal plate not as well developed and ductus bursae entirely unsclerotized (Figures 196, 197,

drawn from paratopotype; JAP prep. no. 2328;

three preparations examined); signum a depressed,

oval patch, minutely, densely dentate, without lateral flanges.

TYPES.—Holotype male: California, Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, Riverside County,

March 21, 1961 (larva) (P. H. Timberlake), reared

from Phacelia ramosissima, emerged November 8,

1961 (JAP 61C12). Allotype female: Same data

except larva collected March 24, 1961, moth

emerged November 14, 1961 (R. L. Langston and

J. Powell, JAP 61C12, C13). Both deposited in

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. Sixteen paratypes, all California, as follows: Riverside

County: !<?, 1 <j>, same data as holotype: 4 c?, 1 °.,

same data as allotype; 1 <$, 4 $ , same data except

larvae collected V-13-62, emgd. XI-62 (J. Powell,

JAP 62E7); Riverside, Id1, 29 , XI-16-35 (C. M.

Dammers); San Bernardino County: Desert Springs,

1 $, X-17-60 (P. D. Hurd and J. Powell). De-
NUMBER 120 101

posited in California Insect Survey, U.S. National

Museum, and University of California, Riverside.

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia ramosissima var. suffrutescens Parry. Biology is reported elsewhere (Powell,

1971).

Ethtnia macneilli Powell, new species

FICURE 72; PLATE 8d; MAP 26

A moderately large moth of the Macelhosiella

group having a whitish forewing, marked by a

distinct narrow black line from base to apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.7 to 11.1 mm.

Head: Labial palpus strongly upcurved, elongate;

second segment evenly curved, length about 1.3

times eye diameter, third segment curved, 0.67 the

length of second; smooth scaled, whitish with a

broad, brown blotch exteriorly on second segment.

Antenna, scape elongate, 0.85 eye index, flagellum

slightly dilated, diameter of shaft basally 0.2 eye

diameter, scaled dorsally, pale gray. Scaling of

front and vertex smooth, brown with scattered

white scales, of crown roughened, whitish, tufts of

occipital margin spreading, white. Thorax: Dorsal

scaling whitish, dark brown at base of tegula and

indistinctly along median longitudinal line, scutellum with distinct, dark, lateral lines. Underside shining pale gray; legs dark gray exteriorly,

metathoracic paler, tibial fringe small. Forewing:

Narrow, length about 4.0 to 4.2 times width; costal

curve flattened at middle, sloping to lanceolate

apex, termen strongly angled back, fringe narrow.

Ground color white with scattered dark scales

tending to form lines between the veins in distal half; a well-defined, narrow, black line from

base to apex through lower half of cell, sending off a short spur toward tornal area just

before middle of wing, offset toward costa beyond; broken by an outwardly angled white spot

at end of cell. Fringe white around apex, broken

by the black median line, brownish toward tornal

area. Underside pale brownish. Hindwing: About

as broad as forewing; costa with dorsal hair pencil

from base rather small, cream-white; costa sloped

off to narrow apex, termen broadly curved toward

anal angle. Ground color white, becoming pale

brownish toward margins; fringe white. Underside

white. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling whitish with an

ochreous tinge at base becoming pale tan or brownish distally and on underside. Genitalia as in

Figure 72 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no.

807; one preparation examined); teeth of anterior

portion of gnathos small; basal process large; process of inner side of valva finger-like.

TYPES.—Holotype male: California, Rock Creek,

one mile west of Tom's Place, Mono County, September 6, 1960 (C. D. MacNeill); deposited in

California Academy of Sciences. One paratype:

cf, same data; in California Insect Survey. One

male subsequently examined, same data except collected IX-4-64.

REMARKS.—One female (presumed to represent

this species, but not designated as allotype) from

"Redington, Arizona," in U.S. National Museum,

may be characterized as follows: Length of forewing 9.6 mm. Essentially as described for male;

eye smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male, labial

palpus only slightly smaller, length of second segment about 1.6 times eye diameter; longitudinal

streak of forewing slightly paler and less well defined, but not diffusely spreading costad. Genitalia

not examined.

One additional male from Arizona (Baboquivari

Mountains, Dec. 15, 1923, O. C. Poling) is referred

here tentatively since the genitalia do not differ

appreciably from typical macneilli. The moth is

small (forewing length 9.0 mm), but the labial

palpus is elongate (second segment 1.3 times eye

diameter) but not strongly curved. The forewing

pattern is also somewhat intermediate between

geranella and macneilli, with a moderately welldefined central streak on a pale gray ground.

The Piperella Group

Eye index 1.05. Labial palpus moderately short,

II segment index 1.05—1.10; smooth scaled. Antenna of male dilated, index 0.27. Forewing moderately narrow; pattern scattered spots. Hindwing

of male with costal hair pencil, no fold. Uncus

hoodlike; gnathos dentate posteriorly; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva, fultura-manica,

and vesica without armature. Papillae anales

weakly sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses

not elongate; anterior apophyses narrow, short;

sterigma simple; antrum differentiated, with sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous, 3 loose

coils; signum a broad cone.

A single species in Cuba and Jamaica.
102 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ethmia piperella Powell, new species

FIGURES 73, 198, 199; PLATE 7i

A small Jamaican moth having a dull tan forewing

peppered with black specks which are surrounded

with whitsh.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.4—6.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, rather strongly

curved, barely exceeding base of antenna; second

segment 1.0-1.05 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, slightly shorter than second

(about 0.95 eye diameter); scaling whitish, lightly

tinged with pale tan exteriorly. Antenna dilated,

width of shaft near base about 0.25 eye diameter;

dorsal scaling whitish, becoming pale tan distally.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown whitish, tinged

with pale tan. Thorax: Dorsal scaling concolorous

with head, extreme base of tegula and four spots

on notum brownish black, a pair mesad of apices

of tegulae and a pair, sometimes indistinct, at sides

of scutellum. Underside whitish, foretibia and

tarsi and midtarsi mostly brown. Forewing: Length

about 3.4—3.6 times width; costa evenly curved

from base to apex, latter acute, termen strongly

angled back, tornus not discernible. Ground color

grayish tan, dorsal area somewhat paler, not well

defined; markings more or less uniform-sized

brownish black dots about one-half eye diameter,

each bordered and emphasized by a narrow whitish

area: a pair at base, on costa and below Cu; a

group of four near base, one below and one above

cell, preceded and followed by two in cell; a pair

just before middle of wing, one on Cu fold, the

other in cell just beyond, a single one at end of

cell. Terminal area irregularly blotched with light

and dark areas, not as dark or distinct as the blackish dots. A row of dark dots along termen, usually

partially obliterated. Fringe gray-brown, paler at

tornus. Underside pale brown; a well-dened whitish area in cell beyond retinaculum. Hindwing:

About as broad as forewing; costa without a fold,

bearing from base a brush of ochreous-tan hair

scales extending to beyond middle of cell; costa

excavate before apex, latter acute, termen broadly

curved to dorsum. Ground color uniform pale

gray; fringe concolorous. Underside pale brownish

gray, paler basally. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling shining pale gray, underside and genital scaling whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 73 (drawn from

paratype, JAP prep. no. 1215; two preparations examined); uncus deeply notched, gnathos developed

anteriorly, irregularly dentate, basal processes

short, moderately heavily sclerotized; valva very

broad, bearing interior projections along saccular

margin.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.2—6.8 mm. Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus about

as long as in male. Antenna less dilated, width

of shaft basally about 0.9 that of male. Ground

color of forewing often darker, the pale areas more

contrasted. Hindwing without costal brush. Genitalia as in Figures 198, 199 (drawn from plesiotype,

Cuba, JAP prep. no. 2828; one preparation examined); VIII segment broadly sclerotized, fused

with sterigma; antrum with elongate, sclerotized

band, signum similar to that of papiella.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female: Jamaica, Runaway Bay, March 23 and April 24, 1905

(Walsingham); deposited in the British Museum.

Eighteen paratypes: 5cf, U$> same data as holotype except collected 1-22 to IV-6-1905; 1 <j>, near

Farmouth, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, VII-28-1962

(Farr, O. & R. Flint); 1 $, central Baragua, Cuba,

V-l-1931 (H. K. Plank). Deposited in British

Museum, California Insect Survey, and U.S. National Museum. The Walsingham specimens bear

numbers ranging from 76915 to 76932.

REMARKS.—One additional female, from Cuba

(Prov. Habana, Marianao, 15m, III—10 to IV30-66, F. Gregor) has been examined but not designated as a paratype. The specimen, which is

deposited in the Moravian Museum, Brno, is somewhat worn but appears to differ from the Jamaican

moths only in having a slightly darker ground

color on the forewing, with the dark spots less distinct.

The male genitalia relate E. piperella to the

Nearctic groups, but the valvae are unique among

New World Ethmiidae and recall the Old World

type of the genus, Ethmia aurifluella (Hiibner) (Figure 74). The female genitalia show relationships to E. apicipunctella and E. papiella.

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

decipherable.

The Bipunctella Group

Eye index 0.9-1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, 4 segments, the basal largest. Labial palpus
NUMBER 120 103

moderately elongate, II segment index 1.2—1.6,

smooth scaled or roughened. Antenna of male

moderately dilated, index 0.20-0.23. Forewing

moderately broad, pattern costal-dorsal or uniform

gray. Hindwing of male with costal area unmodified. Abdomen yellow, scaling not differentiated.

Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate anteriorly and

posteriorly; basal processes sclerotized and geniculate; valva with cucullus separated; fultura-manica

and vesica simple. Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongated;

anterior apophyses narrow, short; sterigma simple;

antrum enlarged, with sclerotized structures; ductus bursae membranous, 3—4 tight coils; signum a

dentate bar.

A Holarctic group of about eight closely related

species, three (or four) of which occur in the boreal

Nearctic (Ethmia bipunctella is introduced). Ethmia cirrhocnemia (Lederer) of arid regions in central Asia and E. monticola fuscipedella of midwestem United States are virtually indistinguishable.

The moths are nocturnal with the exception of

caliginosella, which has an intermediate eye size

and may be secondarily diurnal because of its occurrence at high elevations.

Ethmia bipunctella (Fabricius)

FIGURE 75; PLATE 8ft

Alucita bipunctella Fabricius, 1775:668.*

Psecadia bipunctella.-Hubner, 1825:412.-Stainton, 1873:268

[biology].-Spulcr, 1910, pi. 10 [larva].-Benander, 1965:21

[larva].

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

Phalaena Tinea echiella Denis and Schiffermiiller, 1775:140.

Tinea hochenwarliella Rossi, 1790:208.

Psecadia bipunctelia [error] Uffeln, 1938:21.

Ethmia bipunctella griseicostella Wiltshire, 1947:126.

This well known, widespread Palearctic species,

which has the forewing black costally and white

dorsally and a bright ochreous abdomen, recently

has been introduced in northeastern North America. The following description is based on a series

from Tunisia and Greece and single males from

New Jersey and Ontario.

•Synonymy from the European literature follows Sattler

(1967).

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.0 to 12.5 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; length of second segment 1.2 times

eye diameter, of third 0.9 eye diameter; second

segment scaling black except scattered whitish at

base and extreme apex, third segment white. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near base

0.20 diameter; dorsal scaling black, including scape.

Scaling of tongue brownish white, front shining

bluish black, crown white, including occipital tufts.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, extreme base of

tegula and lateral margin of collar brownish black;

notum with two pairs of large, round, blue-black

spots, first between tegulae, second at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish tinged with gray, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs dark gray, metathoracic leg ochreous. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length about 3.4 to 3.5 times width; costa

curve slightly flattened at middle; apex acute; termen concave. Ground color divided by longitudinal line along Cu fold from base to termen below

apex, costal half black becoming brownish toward

costa, dorsal half white; black extended as two

squarish spurs, the outer one broader, into dorsal

white at basal one-third and middle of wing; white

produced as a squarish spur upward at end of cell,

preceding a third, triangular black extension above

tornus; apex whitish; a row of 10 black dots around

termen from before apex to beyond tornus, darker

than terminal brownish black ground. Fringe

white, broken by brownish black below apex. Underside dark gray, the pale dorsal area of upperside

visible. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costal

area simple, margin excavate toward apex; dorsum

concave beyond anal area. Ground color semitranslucent white, brownish toward apex, pale

ochreous toward anal margin. Underside whitish,

costal area dark gray. Abdomen: Scaling entirely

bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 75 (drawn

from plesiotype, Hoboken, New Jersey, JAP prep,

no. 1834; two preparations examined); similar to

E. monticola, uncus narrow, hoodlike; basal processes narrower; valva broader.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 11.2 to 13.3 mm.

Essentially as described for male; labial palpus

slightly more elongate, second segment length 1.2

to 1.4 times eye diameter, third segment about 1.0

eye diameter. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft

basally about 0.16 eye diameter. Forewing slightly
104 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

broader, length 3.3 to 3.4 times width. Genitalia

very similar to E. m. fuscipedella (two preparations,

Tunisia examined); sterigma a broad band with

ostium on its posterior margin preceded by an

upraised flap; ductus irregularly sclerotized basally,

with an irregular, curving plate terminating in a

curved thorn and bearing a variable number of

small spurs (e.g., Sattler, 1967, pi. 90).

TYPE DATA.10—Germany, Saxonia, location of

type unknown (bipunctella); Austria, vicinity of

Vienna, type lost (echiella); Italy, Prov. Florence

and Piza, location of type unknown (hochenwartiella); Teheran, N. Iran, VII-17-39, holotype male

in Tring Museum (griseicostella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Widespread in the

Palearctic Region; from Great Britain, where it

may be introduced; central and southern Europe,

Asia Minor, and North Africa (Meyrick, 1895; Sattler, 1967). In North America, introduced in the

New Jersey and Quebec-Ottawa areas.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Bivoltine, at least in part; JuneJuly and September, in southern parts of its distribution in the old world, the generation pattern

is not clear, with flight records from January to

October (Sattler, 1967).

FOOD PLANT.—Echium vulgare and Symphytum;

biology discussed by Ford (1950) and Wakely

(1952); literature on food plants, summarized by

Sattler (1967), includes records for Cynoglossum,

Anchusa, and Lithospermum as well (all are Boraginaceae).

REMARKS.—It is probable that this species is of

recent establishment in North America, although

Echium vulgare has long been a weed of the eastern United States and Canada. The earliest record

I have seen for the moth in North America is Picton Island, Clayton, Jefferson County, New York,

July 24, 1964 (B. Heineman). It was also taken

at Hoboken, New Jersey, in August 1964, so the

introduction evidently occurred prior to the 1964

season. In conversation, Klaus Sattler reported

presence of a colony of E. bipunctella at Ottawa

during the 1965 season. The Canadian National

Collection has specimens collected at Ottawa May

20 and 31, 1965, by G. G. Lewis, and a specimen

dated August 2, 1965, was sent to me by H. F. Howden. According to Sheppard (1970) it was also

10

 Type locality data and location of types according to

Sattler (1967).

collected in the Quebec area in 1965 and on another island in the St. Lawrence during 1969. Also

in recent years, Ethmia bipunctella has been taken

at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1967 by D. C. Ferguson, and inland, at Ithaca, New York, in 1970

(J. G. Franclemont, in litt.).

Since the moth is large and fairly conspicuous in

appearance, there being no other eastern Nearctic

species similar to it, and since adults are attracted

to light, the adventive colonies probably have not

been widespread many years. In 1962 I checked

collections for Ethmia in most of the major eastern

North American institutions, and no bipunctella

were found. In addition, I received an extensive

assortment of light trap samples from the New

Jersey-southern New England area in 1962 and E.

bipunctella was not represented.

Ethmia monticola (Washingham)

Psecadia monticola Walsingham, 1880:87.

Ethmia monticola.-Dyar, 1902:203.—Barnes and Busck, 1920,

pis. 26, 35.-McDunnough, 1939:82.

Ethmia fuscipedella Powell, 1959 (not Walsingham, 1888): 136

[in part].

A moderately large, dark gray moth with black

lines or markings on the forewing and a bright

ochreous abdomen. The nominotypic race, which

has longitudinal lines on the forewing, occurs in the

northern Rocky Mountains and along the cordillera

of the Pacific states.

Ethmia monticola monticola (Walsingham),

new status

FIGURES 76, 77; PLATES If, Si-j; MAP 27

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.1—14.6 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding antenna base; second segment strongly curved,

length 1.5—1.6 times eye diameter; third segment

straight, 0.70—0.75 as long as second; smooth scaled,

black sprinkled with white scales exteriorly. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about

0.20-0.22 eye diameter; scaled dorsally, pale gray.

Scaling of front smooth, of crown and occipital

margins loosely appressed, black with scattered pale

slate gray scales. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale slate

gray; paired, large, round, black spots at bases of

tegulae, between apices of tegulae, and on scutel-
NUMBER 120 105

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

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

lum. Underside blackish gray including prothoracic and mesothoracic legs; metathoracic leg bright

ochreous. Forew ing: Moderately narrow, length

3.4—3.5 times width; costa very slightly curved from

base to apex; apex rather blunt, termen not

strongly angled back, tornal angle well defined.

Ground color pale to dark slate gray. Markings

black, conspicuous, variable, as follows: a longitudinal streak in costal area, from base to beyond

middle, at times diffuse toward base; four roundish

spots in cell, the first pair on Cu fold at basal onefourth and before middle of wing, second pair

above and distad of first, at about middle of cell

and end of cell; a line from base along lower fold

at times connects first pair of spots or ends before

outer one, rarely absent, the spots isolated; a parallel line connects pair of spots in cell, rarely broken

before inner one, an ill-defined, often indistinct,

parallel, short streak in cell just below outer spot;

a series of four to seven short streaks radiating out

from cell in outer costal and terminal areas between the veins, ending before margin; a series of

dots on margin from before apex to tornus; a thin

line on dorsal margin. Underside entirely dark

gray, paler toward dorsum. Hindwing: Slightly

broader than forewing; costal area simple; costa

very slightly excavate on distal half; apex blunt,

termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to

dorsum. Ground color pale to dark gray; fringe

pale ochreous on anal half, pale gray on apical

half of wing. Underside similar, paler. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling of first segment black, of second and

third segments mostly or partially black, or entirely

ochreous, remainder of dorsum, underside and

genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in

Figures 76, 77 (drawn from plesiotype, Cedarville,

Modoc County, California, JAP prep. no. 1488; six

preparations examined); uncus and basal processes

broad, cucullus narrow, flared distally, valva attenuate distally, anterior gnathos ridge rather

sparsely dentate.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.8 to 13.1 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, diameter about 0.8 that of male; antenna slightly

smaller, width of shaft basally about 0.8 to 0.9

that of male. General coloration and maculation

as in male except abdomen black only on first tergite. Sixth and seventh abdominal sternites unusually heavily sclerotized, sixth with an anterior

median lobe, not correlated with modified scaling

or other modification visible externally. Genitalia

as in E. m. fuscipedella (Figures 200, 201) (two m.

monticola preparations examined); sterigma protruded ventrally but not well differentiated from

the broadly sclerotized VIII sternite, antrum with

a broad, curled plate ending in a strong thorn,
106 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

similar to that of bipunctella but lacking the small

subtending spurs, signum a broad, shallow fold

with one lateral expansion.

TYPE DATA.—Siskiyou Range, border of California and Oregon, June 10, 1872 (Walsingham); type

in British museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Widespread in boreal western North America from Alberta (Calgary) westward through southern British Columbia

and much of Washington, southward through

western Montana and Wyoming into northern

Utah, Idaho, and the mountains of California (to

Alpine County).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—May to July.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown. D. S. Horning reared

several specimens from stick traps (see Parker and

Bohart, 1966) at Craters-of-the-Moon National

Monument, Idaho. He believes (in litt.) that if

the food plant were Boraginaceae or Hydrophyllaceae, either Phacelia heterophylla, P. leucophylla,

or Lithospermum ruderale were the most likely

hosts at the site.

REMARKS.—Specimens from northern California

(Plumas, Modoc, and Siskiyou Counties) have

blackish gray forewing ground, while those from

Rocky Mountain areas are consistently pale gray.

Ethmia monticola emmeli Powell, new subspecies

PLATE 9a; MAP 27

A race in the southern Rocky Mountains and adjoining ranges, differing from nominate monticola

by having the costal half of the forewing black.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.7 to 14.0 mm.

Generally as described for m. monticola, differing

as follows. Head: Labial palpus usually relatively

shorter, length of second segment 1.3-1.5 times eye

diameter, second segment 0.70-0.78 as long as second. Scaling of front and crown mostly pale slate

gray. Forewing: Ground color and pattern basically as in m. monticola but whole costal half

black to end of cell, at times with some pale gray

scaling above middle of cell, forming ill-defined

longitudinal streaks; dorsal pale gray extends

above Cu fold in cell before basal spot of Cu fold,

thence along line at lower fold, invaded by the

two Cu fold spots, upcurved as a spur at end of

cell; two black spots of m. monticola in cell evident, slightly darker than costal black ground;

terminal area as in m. monticola. Abdomen: Entirely bright ochreous except first segment dorsally

brownish gray. Genitalia indistinguishable from

nominate subspecies (four preparations examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 11.9" to 13.8 mm.

As described for male and nominate subspecies.

Wing pattern variation apparently the same as in

male. Genitalia not distinguishable from m. fuscipedella (Figures 200, 201) (two preparations of m.

emmeli examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Arizona, Fort Valley, 7,350 feet, 7.5 miles northwest

of Flagstaff, Coconino County, June 22, 1961 (R.

W. Hodges); deposited at Cornell University.

Forty-one paratypes, as follows: Arizona: same locality as holotype, 17^, 12?, VI-19 to VII-18-61;

Hart Prairie, 8,500 feet, 10 mi NNW Flagstaff, Coconino County, 1$, VII-12-61 (R. W. Hodges).

Utah: Red Canyon Camp, 7,200 feet, 11 mi SE

Panguitch, Garfield County, 1Q*, VII-13-60 (F., P.

and B. Rindge). Colorado: Chimney Gulch, Golden, Jefferson County, 1 $, VII-27-07 (Oslar); Big

Springs Ranch, Florissant, Teller County, 3 cf, 4 9,

VII-21 to VIII-8-60 (T. C. Emmel); Lake City,

8,684 feet, Hinsdale County, lrf, VII-3-57 (F. and

P. Rindge); Rock Creek Canyon, El Paso County,

lcf, VI-26-61 (M. May). New Mexico: McGaffey,

Zuni Mountains, McKinley County, 7,500 feet, 2o"»

VII-22,23-62 (E. and I. Munroe); Cimmaron Canyon, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colfax County,

1 O, VI1-7-62 (E and I. Munroe). Paratypes deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Insect

Survey, Canadian National Collection, Cornell

University, R. W. Hodges, C. P. Kimball, Los Angeles County Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—I take pleasure in naming the race

for Thomas E. Emmel who has collected many

Microlepidoptera in Colorado during the past few

seasons, including the first specimens of emmeli

which I had the opportunity to study.

Specimens from the type locality have a somewhat darker slate gray ground color than do those

from Colorado. In addition to the above I have

seen three individuals with a wing pattern roughly

intermediate between m. monticola and m. emmeli,

but these are labeled simply "Col." or "Colo." At

present a broad zone exists from which I have seen

no specimens of the monticola complex; ie., central
NUMBER 120 107

and southern Nevada, through central Utah, northern Colorado, and northward in eastern Wyoming

and Montana and western Nebraska and the Dakotas to Saskatchewan. If blend zones between

emmeli and monticola exist, for example in the

southern Wasatch Range or in northern Colorado,

they have not been sampled. E. m. fuscipedella

may be entirely allopatric. To the south, a narrow

area in central New Mexico separates emmeli from

fuscipedella (Ruidoso, Lincoln County). The emmeli phenotype remains fairly typical in the Sangre

de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico,

while a long series of fuscipedella from Lincoln

County shows no indication of increase of black

on the forewing. Further field work in the area

may reveal that the two are sympatric and distinct

species.

Ethmia monticola fuscipedella (Walsingham),

new status

FIGURES 19, 20, 200, 201; PLATE 9b-c; MAP 27

Psecadia fuscipedella Walsingham, 1888:150.

Ethmia fuscipedella. — Dyar, 1902:203 [taxonomy]. —Barnes

and Busck, 1920, pis. 26, 35.-Forbes, 1923:245 [taxonomy].

-McDunnough, 1939:82.—Powell, 1959:136 [in part].

An eastern Nearctic race similar to typical monticola but with the black markings of the forewing

reduced to a few isolated spots.

MALE.—Length of forewing 12.4 (reared) to 15.3

mm. Structural and color characteristics similar to

m. monticola, differing as follows. Forewing:

Slightly broader, length 3.2 to 3.5 times width;

costa more strongly curved at middle. Ground

color pale slate gray, not ranging to the dark extreme of m. monticola. Black markings as follows:

the four roundish black spots of monticola present,

distinct, two on Cu fold at basal one-fourth and

just before middle of wing, two above and beyond

them, in cell at middle of wing and at end of cell;

a fifth spot present or absent, smaller, at outer,

lower angle of cell; a series of about ten dots on

margin, from before apex to tornus; a short line

on outer one-third of dorsum, at times almost entirely lacking. Hindwing: Entirely gray including

anal fringe. Abdomen: Entirely ochreous except

first segment dorsally brownish gray. Genitalia

very similar to m. monticola, differing by a wider

anterior dentate ridge of the gnathos and by

slightly broader apices on the cuculli (three preparations examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 12.1 to 14.0 mm,

apparently not consistently smaller than male as in

m. monticola. As described for nominotypic subspecies and male. Genitalia as in Figures 200, 201

(drawn from plesiotype, Lincoln County, New

Mexico, JAP prep. no. 2542; two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—"North Carolina"; type female in

British Museum. In view of the known distribution this label is suspected to be in error.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Widespread in eastern North America, but incompletely known (i.e.,

known only from the type locality and West Point,

New York); in the midwest from southern Ontario

(Point Pelee) and southern Manitoba, south to

Kansas (Riley County), and in south-central New

Mexico (Ruidoso).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—May to July.

FOOD vuiST.—Lithospermum canescens (Michx.)

(Boraginaceae) according to a reared series in the

Canadian National Collection from Point Pelee,

Ontario (F.P.Ide). The larvae live in a slight web

on L.gmelini in Ohio (Braun, in litt.).

REMARKS.—The three preceding entities, here

treated as subspecies, comprise a component of a

holarctic species or species complex with an extremely unusual distribution pattern. As pointed

out by Sattler (1967) Ethmia cirrhocnemia (Lederer) of central Asia is more similar in appearance

to E. m. fuscipedella than the latter is to E. m.

monticola. The former two are essentially indistinguishable in external features. E. cirrhocnemia

evidently has a slightly different sclerotization pattern of the sterigma and antrum from members of

the monticola complex according to Sattler's figures. E. cirrhocnemia occurs in arid regions from

Iran through southern U.S.S.R. to Mongolia and

northeastern China. The distribution of fuscipedella is unlike any other Nearctic Ethmiid and is

difficult to explain, especially in view of the montane distribution of monticola, emmeli, and caliginosella. However, fuscipedella and cirrhocnemia

may occupy similar habitats, dry steppe or comparable semiarid situations or perhaps edaphic factors are involved, the species living in areas with

sandy or other well-drained soils to which the food

plants they follow are adapted. The host plant of

E. cirrhocnemia is unknown.
108

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ethmia caliginosella Busck

FIGURE 78; PLATE 9d

Ethmia caliginosella Busck, 1904:44.-Barnes and Busck, 1920,

pis. 26, 35.-McDunnough, 1939:82.

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

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.7 to about 12.0

mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved, exceeding antennal base; second segment

strongly curved, length about 1.5 times eye diameter, with a brush of elongate, spreading, hairlike

scales ventrally; third segment slightly curved,

about 0.7 as long as second, smooth scaled; blackish

gray (color of scales of whole moth becoming dark

brown or brownish gray with age in museums).

Antenna dilated a short distance near base, width

of shaft at base about 0.26 eye diameter. Scaling

under eye spreading, hairlike, of front appressed,

of crown slightly roughened; blackish gray. Thorax: Dorsal scaling black; tegula mostly dark slate

gray. Underside dark gray, densely hairy; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs blackish exteriorly;

metathoracic leg pale slate gray, tibial brush elongate, pale gray. Forewing: Length about 3.5 times

width; costa evenly curved from base to apex, latter blunt; termen rather strongly angled back, tornal angle developed. Ground color dark slate gray,

markings black, as follows: two rather broad, illdefined longitudinal lines corresponding to those

of E. m. monticola on lower fold in basal half of

wing and in outer half of cell; a series of short

streaks between the veins, radiating out from distal

portion of cell; a series of dots on margin from

well before apex to beyond tornus; a line on dorsal

margin. Underside entirely dark gray. Hindwing:

About as broad as forewing; costal area simple;

costa strongly sloped from beyond middle to apex,

latter narrow, blunt; termen strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color pale

gray; hairs of anal area darker, fringe in anal area

paler. Underside slightly paler. Abdomen: Scaling dark grayish at base, gradually becoming ochreous, segments 5 to 7 with ochreous caudal bands,

final segments and genitalia ochreous. Sclerotizations of 6th and 7th sternites heavier, with a slight

anterior median extension not present in male but

well developed in female monticola. Genitalia as

in Figure 78 (drawn from plesiotype, Colorado,

Bruce, JAP prep. no. 1464; three preparations examined); very similar to E. monticola, differing by

slightly shorter, more abruptly attenuate sacculus

and a more heavily dentate anterior ridge of the

gnathos.

FEMALE.—Known only from the holotype which

is in worn condition. Length of forewing 11.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male in external appearance except hindwing as dark as forewing. Labial palpus slightly larger, second segment 1.6

times eye diameter. Genitalia not dissected.

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

National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—High montane

Colorado. I have seen eight specimens with detailed data, all labeled 11,500-12,500 feet, "timberline," etc.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Late June to late July.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown. A specimen from

"Cont. Divide" bears a handwritten label which I

decipher as "on Pseudocymopterus multifidus"

(=montanus (Gray) (Umbelliferae), an unlikely

host.

The Hagenella Group

Eye index 0.9—1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, four subequal segments. Labial palpus moderately short, II segment index 0.95—1.2, smooth

scaled. Antenna of male not dilated. Forewing

moderately narrow, pattern costal-dorsal as longitudinal streaks. Hindwing of male with costal area

unmodified. Abdomen yellow, I—II terga with or

without specialized scaling. Uncus sclerotized, narrow; gnathos dentate posteriorly; basal processes

sclerotized, broad or distally broadened; valva and

fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae

anales heavily sclerotized, setate; posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses broad; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged, heavily sclerotized

with inner spurs; ductus bursae membranous, eight

tight coils; signum a broad cone.

A closely knit group of four species in eastern

United States and Mexico which is widely distinct

from all other groups. Southwestern species are

nocturnal but Ethmia zelleriella of the eastern

United States has an intermediate eye size and may

be primarily crepuscular.
NUMBER 120 109

Ethmia hagenella (Chambers)

Anesychia hagenella Chambers, 1878:80.

Ethmia hagenella.-Dyar, 1902:207.—Meyrick, 1914:30.—Barnes

and Busck, 1920:242, pi. 27 [in part].-McDunnough 1939:

83 [in part].

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

blotches.

Ethmia hagenella hagenella (Chambers),

new status

FIGURE 79; PLATE 9/; MAP 28

A central Texan subspecies with white forewings,

having a brown costal area and black dots scattered

over the dorsal half.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.1-11.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus rather short, not strongly curved,

not reaching base of antenna; second segment

length about equal to (0.95—1.05) eye diameter;

third segment 0.55—0.70 as long as second (0.53-

0.72 eye diameter); smooth scaled, second segment

dark brown exteriorly except apex white, third

segment white. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.18 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

dark brown, scape mostly white. Scaling of tongue

white, front brown basally, becoming white, crown

MAP 28.—Geographical distribution of thmia hagenella

(Chambers).

% E. h. hagenella (£ E. h. josef linella Dyar

white, occipital tufts with median black spot. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, tegula and collar dark

brown at extreme base, notum with two pairs of

large black spots, first adjoining collar, second at

sides of scutellum. Underside white; legs tinged

with pale yellowish, prothoracic and mesothoracic

legs and hind tarsi brown spotted. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.6-3.7 times width; costa very slightly

curved from base to apex, latter acute, termen

strongly angled back, tornal angle indistinct.

Ground color white, costal area broadly pale

brown, extending into cell from base nearly to

apex, with an irregular spur into terminal area not

reaching marginal dots; dorsal half marked by more

or less evenly distributed blackish brown spots

(slightly darker than costal area) arranged in four

oblique rows of two or three dots each, the upper

(basal) of each row larger and adjoining and partially obscured by the costal brown; a row of nine

black dots along margin from before apex to beyond tornus. Fringe white. Underside with costal

brown weakly reproduced, dorsal half white, the

darker spots not reproduced. Hindwing: Broader

than forewing; costal area simple; costal margin

steeply tapered toward the acute apex, the wing

strongly narrowed in distal half; tornal angle not

evident. Ground color white, pale brownish toward distal margins, concentrated into darker spots

between veins, fringe white. Underside white, costal area brownish, the marginal dots reproduced.

Abdomen: Scaling whitish, tinged with pale brownish dorsally, pale yellowish laterally and ventrally.

Genitalia as in Figure 79 (drawn from plesiotype,

Bosque County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 1625; five

preparations examined); uncus rather short, tapered to a point, gnathos not developed anteriorly,

posteriorly narrow, variable, with about four teeth,

basal processes elongate, equal to tegumen length,

variably broadened distally, at times nearly as

much as in h. josephinella (Figure 80); valva

broad, not emarginate distally; vesica-manica with

a large thorn-shaped cornutus, with or without a

lateral spur.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.1 mm. As described for male; labial palpus within range of

male; antenna not dilated, diameter of shaft about

0.9 that of male. Abdominal sternite VII with a

deep, rounded emargination posteriorly. Genitalia
110 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

not examined; presumably as in h. josephinella

(Figure 202).

TYPE DATA.—Bosque County, Texas; lectotype

male, by present designation, "6/10, Tex, 27,

Hagenella Chb., Type 1422," in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. A specimen labeled

"Texas" and "su 100" or "sn 100" in the U.S. National Museum is labeled as the type and presumably is a pseudotype.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Central Texas,

from Bosque County south to San Benito, westward to Big Bend, probably southward in Chihuahua.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Multivoltine; records available

for January, March, April, and October.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethtnia hagenella josephinella Dyar, new status

FIGURES 80, 202; PLATE 9g; MAP 28

Ethmia josephinella Dyar 19O2:2O5.-Meyrick, 1914:30.

Ethmia hagenella.—Barnes and Busck (not Chambers, 1878),

1920:242, pi. 27 [in part].-McDunnough, 1939:83 [in part].

A subspecies in western Texas and New Mexico

which differs from h. hagenella by its larger size

and a more extensive black blotching in the dorsal half of the forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.4-11.9 mm. Head:

As described for h. hagenella, the labial palpus size

less variable in the sample available. Forewing:

Narrow, length 3.6-3.7 times width, and shape as

in h. hagenella. Ground color white, costa broadly

dark gray-brown nearly to apex; blackish marks on

dorsal half of h. hagenella enlarged, in cell and on

distal half of wing coalesced, particularly just before and above tornus, forming an oblique blotch

from dorsal margin toward termen. Hindwing and

abdomen as in h. hagenella. Genitalia very similar,

gnathos narrow, teeth variable in size and number

(usually 5 or 6), basal processes elongate, variably

broadened (e.g., Figure 80, drawn from plesiotype,

Davis Mountains, Texas, JAP prep. no. 626; four

preparations examined); vesica with thorn-shaped

cornutus with lateral spur.

FEMALE.-Length of forewing 10.9-11.5 mm. As

described for male and h. hagenella. Genitalia

similar to E. mimihagenella, differing by having

fewer spurs inside antrum and a more conspicuous

flaplike plate just posterior of ostium (Figure 202;

drawn from plesiotype, Davis Mountains, Texas,

JAP prep. no. 2308; one preparation examined);

ductus membranous, tightly coiled, with about

eight spirals; signum large, with a more pronounced keel into the corpus bursae, similar to E.

zelleriella (Figure 205).

TYPE DATA.—New Mexico, Dripping Springs,

Organ Mountains (Cockerell); the holotype male

in U.S. National Museum bears the additional

data "April 23" and "at light."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Extreme western

Texas (Davis Mounatins and Alpine) and southern

New Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Probably multivoltine; late

March to May, September.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Barnes and Busck (1920), who synonymized Ethmia josephinella with E. hagenella,

stated that the two wing patterns grade into each

other, but I have seen no evidence of this in older

material.

Two recently collected males from southern Chihuahua represent the only sample I have examined

of the Hagenella group in Mexico. These specimens are dissimilar both from Texas populations and from one another. One of them, from

Hidalgo del Parral (5,500 feet, VII-30-67, Gardner,

Kovacic, and Lorenzen) is somewhat intermediate

between E. h. hagenella and josephinella in wing

pattern, being similar to the former in restriction

of costal brown and in size (forewing length 10.0

mm), but resembles josephinella with enlarged

spots in the tornal area. The genitalia show relatively narrow basal processes, as in most E. h.

hagenella, but possess six teeth on the gnathos and

a strongly serrate cornutus with large lateral spur,

more characteristic of josephinella.

The second specimen may represent yet another

race, as it has an appreciably different appearance.

It was collected in the mountains 25 miles west of

Hidalgo del Parral (6,800 feet, VII-15-64, Chemsak and Powell). The forewing costal brownish is

a little restricted and distinctly paler, causing the

dark spots of the dorsal half, especially those in the

cell, to appear more contrasting. The spots are

larger than those of h. hagenella, but remain roundish, not elongated and coalesced as in josephinella

(Plate 9i). The specimen is large (forewing length

11.4 mm) and has a broader gnathos with 10 teeth,
NUMBER 120 111

and the basal processes are broadened as much or

more than in any josephinella examined, but the

cornutus has no lateral spur.

Ethmia mimihagenella Powell, new species

FIGURES 21, 22, 203, 204; PLATE 9/I; MA P 29

A widespread species in the southwestern states

that resembles E. h. hagenella, but is larger and

has different genital characters.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.2-12.1 mm. Head:

Essentially as described for h. hagenella, labial

palpus second segment length slightly less or equal

to eye diameter. Antenna shaft about 0.19 eye

diameter; dorsal scaling with whitish banding

basally. Scaling of tongue whitish or brownish,

front mostly brown. Thorax: Scaling as in h.

hagenella, underside more yellowish. Forewing:

Narrow, length 3.65-3.80 times width. Ground

color white, dark pattern similar to h. hagenella,

the costal brown slightly more extensive, in cell and

apical area reaching first marginal dot, less uniform,

darkest in cell, becoming variably whitish at costa;

marks of dorsal half not noticeably darker than

costal area except basally, somewhat elongated (not

greatly enlarged as in h. josephinella), the terminal

one fused with costal area dark as an extended spur

through terminal area to the 10 marginal dots,

MAP 29.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Hagenella group of Ethmia.

# E. mimihagenella Powell A E. burnsella Powell

which are scarcely darker, extending well beyond

tornus. Fringe white, a dark area below apex

opposite, at times contiguous with terminal streak.

Hindwing and underside: As described for h.

hagenella. Abdomen: Scaling entirely pale yellow.

Genitalia similar to E. burnsella, gnathos teeth

variable but usually larger, 7-9; basal processes

slightly narrower; thornlike cornutus of vesica

smaller, lacking spurs (three preparations examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.3 to 11.8 mm. As

described for male and h. hagenella. Genitalia as

in Figure 203, 204 (drawn from paratypotype,

JAP prep. no. 2087; one preparation examined);

papillae anales moderately heavily sderotized;

sterigma a broad anteriorly pronged plate, subtended by a deep, oval, sclerotized antrum that

bears numerous inwardly directed spurs; ductus

bursae with about 8 tight spirals; signum a broad

triangular plate, produced inwardly into a median

keel and with numerous short spurs on inner side;

keel shorter than in E. burnsella (Figure 206).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female: New

Mexico, Gran Quivira National Monument, Socorro

County, July 20, 1957, and July 17, 1958 (S. F.

Wood); deposited in the Los Angeles County

Museum. Thirty-five paratypes as follows: Arizona,

Fort Valley, 7,350 feet, 7.5 mi NW Flagstaff,

Coconino County, ltf, VII-30-61 (R. W. Hodges);

New Mexico, McGaffey, Zuni Mountains, McKinley

County, Id1, VII-21-62, black light (E. and I.

Munroe); Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National

Monument, 9<$, VII- (15-18)-62, black light (E.

and I. Munroe); Frijoles Canyon, ltf, VI-19-42

(G. H. and J. L. Sperry), same data as holotype, 1 cf,

1$, VII-1-56, 4Q", VII-20 to VIII-4-57, 1$,

VIII-16-57, 4tf, 3$, VI-28 to VIII-9-58; Texas,

Monahans Sand Hills, State Park, Ward County,

lc?» 7? , IV-16, 17-61 (Rozen and Schrammel);

Big Bend National Park Basin, ltf, 111-29-65

(A. and M. E. Blanchard). Deposited in collections

of American Museum of Natural History, Andr6

Blanchard, California Insect Survey, Canadian

National Collection, R. W. Hodges, Los Angeles

County Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

Ethmia burnsella Powell, new species

FIGURES 81, 206; PLATE 9/; MA P 29

A moderately large member of the Hagenella
112 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

group, in northern Texas, resembling hagenella

hagenella, but with a pale ochreous ground color

on thorax and forewings. The male genitalia are

similar to mimihagenella.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.0 mm. Head:

Essentially as described for hagenella; labial palpus,

length of second segment equal to or slightly

greater than eye diameter; scaling pale ochreous,

second segment mostly dark brown exteriorly.

Antennal shaft basally about 0.19 eye diameter;

scape pale ochreous, with dark brown dorsal, apical

spot. Scaling of front and crown whitish ochreous.

Thorax: As described for E. hagenella, ground

color pale ochreous. Forewing: Essentially as described for E. hagenella, slightly broader than E.

minihagenella, length 3.5-3.7 times width; ground

color pale ochreous, costal area pale gray-brown,

distinctly paler than the brownish black spots of

dorsal half; outer, tornal area black spots slightly

larger than the others. Underside pale ochreous,

legs and costa dark ochreous. Hindwing: White

basally, becoming pale ochreous distally and along

anal margin. Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling

entirely ochreous, slightly darker than other members of the complex. Genitalia as in Figure

81 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 1633;

two preparations examined); similar to E. mimihagenella; gnathos teeth blunt, 10-14; basal

processes slightly broader than E. mimihagenella;

vesica with ornate cornutus, bearing three curved

spurs.

"d?

MAP SO.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia zelleriella

(Chambers).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.2 to 10.6 mm.

Essentially as described for male and E. h. hagenella;

forewing slightly broader, 3.4—3.5 times width.

Genitalia very similar to E. mimihagenella (Figures

203, 204); fewer spurs in antrum; signum moderately broad with deep keel (Figure 206, drawn

from JAP prep. no. 2091; two preparations of

burnsella examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Texas, Palo Duro Canyon, 2,800 feet, Randall

County, May 9 1959 (J. M. and S. N. Burns) deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Two

male and two female paratypes: Same data, deposited in California Insect Survey and U.S.

National Museum.

Ethmia zelleriella (Chambers)

FIGURES 82, 205; PLATE 9e; MAP 30

Hyponomeuta zelleriella Chambers. 1878:80.

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

Ethmia zelleriella.—Dyar, 1902:207; 1904a:3 [larva].—Barnes

and Busck, 1920, pis. 27, 35.-Forbes, l923:245.-McDunnough, 1939:83.-Clench, 1957:45.

Hyponomeuta texanella Chambers, 1880:180.

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

A moderately large species of eastern United States

with whitish forewings marked by elongate black

spots and with a yellow abdomen.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.7—11.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment 1.25—1.40

times eye diameter, third segment about 0.8 as long

as second (slightly longer than eye diameter); without distinct color bands, mostly dark gray basally

and exteriorly, mostly to slightly whitish interiorly

and on distal half exteriorly. Antennal shaft not

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16 eye

diameter; scape simple, white-scaled; basal few

segments of shaft scaled dorsally, white. Scaling of

tongue white, of front brown basally, becoming

white before crown; occipital tufts white laterally,

black at middle. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish,

with four black spots, a pair at juncture of tegulae

and collar, usually large, occasionally small, nearly

hidden by collar; second pair at sides of scutellum.

Underside whitish, legs pale ochreous. Forewing:

Length 3.50-3.65 width; costal curve slightly

stronger toward base; termen moderately strongly

angled back. Ground color white, dusted with gray
NUMBER 120 113

along costa to midcell; a series of elongated black

spots more or less evenly distributed over the wing;

those in costal area at times somewhat obscured by

infuscation; those in cell aggregated into two longitudinal bars in series, one in basal half, one in

distal half of cell; six in dorsal area scarcely

elongated. A row of conspicuous submarginal black

spots from well before apex to beyond tornus.

Fringe white, unbroken by markings. Underside

pale brown, the upper side markings showing

through. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing;

costal area simple, margin concave before apex.

Upper side white basally, becoming pale brownish

in apical area. Fringe white. Underside white,

costal area lightly tinged with brownish. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling of basal segment dark brown, of

succeeding segments brownish gray with posterior

ochreous scale fringe; lateral, ventral, and genital

scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 82

(drawn from plesiotype, Plummer's Island, Maryland, JAP prep. no. 1508; two preparations examined); uncus heavily sclerotized, trifid; gnathos

small, notched apically, not denate; basal processes

narrow, heavily sclerotized.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.4—12.0 mm.

Similar to male; labial palpus slightly shorter in

relation to eye diameter, length of second segment

1.15-1.35 times eye diameter, third segment 0.8-0.9

the length of second. Scaling darker, of thorax and

forewing often entirely pale gray, costal area usually

more heavily infuscated than male, almost completely obscuring markings in extreme cases; of

hindwing pale brownish gray on distal half to

almost wholly brownish gray, darkening toward

apical area. Abdominal sternite VII with shallow

posterior emargination. Genitalia similar to E.

mimihagenella, the sterigmal plate shorter and

signum larger, as in Figure 205 (drawn from

plesiotype, Indiana, JAP prep. no. 2122; two

preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Bosque County, Texas; lectotype by

present designation: female (lacking wings on one

side), bearing the data "Tex, 15/4, 28, zelleriella

Chb., Type #1405," in Museum of Comparative

Zoology, Harvard {zelleriella). "Texas," lectotype

(lacking metathorax and abdomen) by present

designation: labeled "Hyponomenta texanella

Chamb. Texas" [in what appears to be Chambers'

hand], "Type #1406" [probably by Hagen or

Banks], "Ethmia (Psecadia) AB 1902" in Museum

of Comparative Zoology, Harvard (texanella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Eastern North

America, from southern Ontario and Quebec

through the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachian

regions and in central Texas. Records are not available from the Mississippi Valley.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April to June (Ohio and Maryland), May to July (Indiana). Two records from

Monteagle, Tennessee, late April and early August,

suggest two generations; an August record is also

available from North Carolina. One specimen

from Bosque County, Texas, in the British Museum

is labeled "X-6-1876."

FOOD PLANT.—Phacelia. The larva of E. zelleriella

was described by Dyar (1904a); specimens from

Plummer's Island, Maryland, in the U.S. National

Museum, and adult dissected from the pupa, blown

larvae, and a pupal shell bear the Dyar number

B81116 (emerged specimen data 18493). Information from the Dyar Notebook entry of this number

states that the larvae were free feeding, without

a web, on Phacelia dubia. Specimens of zelleriella

from Cincinnati, Ohio, which bear the number

B1106 were reared by Annette Braun. Dr. Braun

(in litt.) noted that the larvae associated with this

rearing number fed exposed on the upper surface

of leaves of Phacelia bipinnatifida. At pupation

they bored into pieces of corky bark of Ulmus

racemosa. Larvae were collected August 15, 1923,

and the moths emerged in April 1924.

REMARKS.—The peculiar nomenclatorial confusion, created when Chambers described a gelechiid

as Anesychia (a synonym of Ethmia) texanella and

the present ethmiid twice, as zelleriella and as

Hyponomenta texanella, was clarified by Dyar

(1902).

The Kirbyi Group

Eye index ± 1.0. Maxillary palpus small, four

segments, the distal two reduced. Labial palpus

moderately short, II segment index 1.0—1.2, smooth

scaled. Antenna of male not or slightly dilated,

index 0.19—0.22. Forewing moderately broad, pattern transverse metallic lines. Hindwing of male

with costal hair pencil, with or without pinch-fold,

or unmodified. Abdomen usually with I—II tergal

scaling modified. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate

posteriorly; basal processes membranous, narrow;
114 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

valva with distal notch; fultura simple; manicavesica with elongate sclerotized spur. Papillae

anales with lateral lobes; antrum enlarged with

sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous with

it 6 loose coils; signum an elongate-narrow dentate

keel.

An assemblage of seven nocturnal species in

Mexico and the Caribbean. With the exception of

Ethmia bittenglla, the species are extremely similar

in genital characters. E. bittenella is included,

despite its modifications in uncus and other structures, on the basis of similarity in the phenetic

assessments.

Ethmia delliella (Fernald)

FICURES 23, 24, 83, 207, 208; PLATE 10a; MA P 31

Psecadia delliella Fernald, 1891:29.

Babaiaxa delliella.-Busck., 1902:95.

Tamarrha delliella.-Busck, 1906b:729 [taxonomy]; 1908b:205

[biology].—Barnes and Busck, 1920, pis. 26, 36.

Ethmia delliella. - Meyrick, 1914:27. - Heinrich, 1921:819

[biology].—McDunnough, 1939:83.—Powell, 1959:150 [in

part].

A primarily Mexican species having white forewings with narrow, transverse, steel blue stripes

and a bright ochreous terminal band.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.0-10.9 mm. Head:

Labial palpus not strongly upcurved, rather short,

not reaching antennal base; second segment moderMAP 31.-Geographical distribution of Ethmia delliella

(Fernald).

ately curved, about 1.1 times as long as eye

diameter; third segment slightly bent, about 0.67

times the length of second; smooth scaled, white,

black exteriorly at apex of second segment. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.19

eye diameter; scaled dorsally, white at base, dark

gray beyond. Scaling of tongue, front, crown, and

occipital tufts white. Thorax: Pronotal scaling

white; two transverse bands, black reflecting metallic steel blue, between tegulae and across scutellum.

Underside shining white; coxae and trochanters

tinged with bright ochreous, tibiae, tarsi, and

prothoracic femur banded with blackish; hind tibial

fringe dense, white. Forewing: Length about

3.2—3.3 times width; costa curve very slightly

flattened toward apex, latter blunt, termen not

strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed,

fringe moderately broad. Ground color white,

markings black, reflecting metallic steel blue, as.

follows: a small spot at base of costa; three transverse bands, narrow to rather broad (about 0.3 to

0.6 eye diameter), from costa, first near base ending

before dorsum, second at one-fourth outwardly

curved, ending before dorsum, third from costa

before middle curved outward to middle of wing,

sending a spur outward in cell with a detached spot

above it, usually complete to dorsum, at times

broken below spur; distal half of wing with two

similar, incomplete bands, first bent outward toward

end of cell, broken at lower outer angle of cell,

second more or less straight from costa before apex

to tornus, connected to the preceding band by a

longitudinal mark at end of cell; a short band,

sometimes broken, in lower terminal area; a series

of about eight submarginal dots from apex to

dorsum. A conspicuous, bright ochreous marginal

band from apex to dorsum. Fringe gray, whitish

basally. Underside pale brownish, whitish toward

dorsum, markings of upperside showing through;

ochreous terminal band partially reproduced.

Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costal area with

an exposed hair pencil rather thin, cream-white;

costa slightly excavate toward apex, termen strongly

angled back, tornal angle scarcely discernible.

Ground color white, becoming slightly to strongly

brown toward apex (more extensive brown accompanying broader forewing markings). Fringe white.

Underside white, costal and apical area brownish.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of second segment bright
NUMBER 120 115

ochreous, of remainder gray-brown with pale caudal

and lateral fringes; ventrally dark brownish on

middle, whitish laterally and posteriorly. Genital

scaling bright ochreous, paler dorsally. Genitalia as

in Figure 83 (drawn from plesiotype, Brownsville,

Texas, JAP prep. no. 1471; eight preparations

examined); uncus broad, width 0.90 to 1.05 times

length; basal processes elongate, about 1.5 times

uncus length; spines of anterior portion of gnathos,

11-18, variable.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.5 to 12.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male; antenna not

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of

male; hindwing costal area simple. Color and

markings, including thise of abdomen, not differing

appreciably from male; females tending to have

slightly broader forewing markings than males at

any given locality. Genitalia as in Figures 207,

208 (drawn from plesiotype, Sinton County, Texas,

JAP prep. no. 2005; two preparations examined);

anterior apophyses thin, elongate; sterigma a simple

plate, subtended by a deep, irregularly rugose,

bilobed plate; ductus bursae sderotized basally,

membranous with about 6 loose coils distally;

signum a thin fold with a row of short, blunt teeth.

TYPE DATA.—Texas; female type in U.S. National

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Gulf region of

Texas (Victoria to Brownsville) and Mexico

(Monterrey to San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and

Yucatan); west coastal plain of Mexico (Alamos,

Sonora, to southern Sinaloa); Chiapas; and £1

Salvador.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Apparently multivoltine; March

to October in Texas, scattered records April to

August elsewhere.

FOOD PLANT. — Ehretia elliptica de Candolle

(Boraginaceae) at Victoria, Texas (Busck, 1908b).

Collections of larvae in the U.S. National Museum

from several Texas localities are labeled Ehretia

anacua, a synonym of elliptica. Heinrich (1921)

reported one moth reared at Brownsville from

Pseudabutilon (=Wissadula) lozani (Rose) (Malvaceae), stems of which were heavily affected by an

aegeriid and may have provided a pupation site but

not food of the E. delliella. A specimen in the U.S.

National Museum from Victoria, Texas, is labeled

"on Anogra pallida" (=Oenothera pallida Lindl.

Onagraceae)), an unlikely larval host.

REMARKS.—Specimens from Texas and northeastern Mexico are rather consistent in having

narrower bands on the forewing, and generally

reduced dark coloring including the hindwing,

than those from Sonora and Sinaloa. Individuals

of the series from San Salvador are the darkest of

all and most are somewhat larger than those from

the northern parts of the range.

Ethmia davisella Powell, new species

FIGURE 84; PLATE 10&; MAP 32

A species in northeastern Mexico, similar to E.

delliella, differing by reduced dark markings of

the forewing (transverse bands broken) and by

lacking the hindwing costal hair pencil.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.0-9.0 mm. Head:

As described for E. delliella; labial palpus slightly

longer, owing to third segment length about

0.7-0.8 that of second. Thorax: As described for

delliella; pronotal bands distinctly broken into

paired spots between tegulae and on scutellum.

Forewing: Shape and shining white ground color

as in delliella; markings black, reflecting metallic

blue, in same general pattern as delliella but reduced, as isolated spots: costa at base; first band

near base as short bars on costa and in dorsal area;

second band at one-fourth, as subcostal spot and

MAP 32.—Geographical distribution of members of the Kirbyi

group of Ethmia.

# E. davisella Powell • E. clarkei Powell

• E. linsdalei Powell
116 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

short bars in cell and dorsal area; third band as

costal spot before middle, short bar in cell and two

in dorsal area, the last at dorsum sometimes lacking, outward spur in cell represented by isolated

spot or short longitudinal bar; fourth band as thin

bars in subcostal area, at lower, outer corner of

cell and in dorsal area or reduced to the one at end

of cell only; fifth bar thin, more or less complete

from costa before apex to just above tornus;

terminal dots and golden-ochreous marginal band

about as conspicuous as in delliella. Fringe dark

gray to nearly white. Hindwing: Shape as in

delliella; costal brush absent. Ground color whitish

basally, pale brownish over distal one-third to onehalf. Fringe white. Abdomen: Scaling paler than

on delliella, second segment dull ochreous dorsally,

other segments brownish, broadly margined with

pale tan to wholly whitish tan. Underside, segments

brownish with pale caudal bands to almost entirely

whitish; genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia as

in Figure 84 (drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep,

no. 1672; four preparations examined); similar to

delliella, differing by a narrower uncus, its length

about 1.10-1.30 times width and by shorter basal

processes, 1.1 times uncus length; spines of anterior

portion of gnathos, 12-14, variable but tending to

be reduced toward middle.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.2-9.7 mm. Essentially as described for male. Antenna not dilated;

forewing markings tending to be slightly more extensive, the bands at times nearly complete, but all

at least slightly separated into spots. Genitalia very

similar to E. delliella (Figures 207, 208) (one preparation examined).

TYPE.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, 6 miles south of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, 1,050 feet, August 6, 1963 (W. D. Duckworth and D. R. Davis); deposited in U.S. National

Museum. Forty-nine paratypes all Mexico, as

follows: same data as type, 12cf, 10$; 4 mi SW

Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, 1,100 feet, 5cf, 4$ ,

VII-10-63; same data, 1,200 feet, 1? , VIII-5-63

(Duckworth and Davis); 2 mi S Monterrey, Neuva

Leon, 4,200 feet, 2$ , VIII-10-63 (Duckworth and

Davis); 3 mi E Galeana, Neuva Leon, 5,000 feet,

5 $ , VIII-(7-9)-63 (Duckworth and Davis); 25 mi

N Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, 400 feet 5cT,

2 $ , VII-(3,4)-63 (Duckworth and Davis); 2 mi

S Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, 400 feet, lcf,

2 $, VII-15-63 (Duckworth and Davis); deposited

in California Insect Survey and U.S. National

Museum.

REMARKS.—Lack of a costal hair pencil on the

upperside of the male hindwing readily separates

this and the following species from E. delliella.

Ethmia linsdalei Powell, new species

FIGURE 85; PLATE 10C; MAP 32

Ethmia delliella -Powell, 1959 (not Fernald, 1891): 150 [in

part]

A Mexican species of the delliella group, having

broad, entire bands on the forewing, the median of

which lacks the outward projecting spur, and having no hindwing costal hair pencil in the male.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.2 mm. As described

for E. delliella, differing as follows. Head: Labial

palpus slightly longer, second segment length about

1.15—1.20 eye diameter. Thorax: Ochreous on legs

more extensive. Forewing: Slightly broader than

in delliella, length about 3.0-3.1 times width.

Markings metallic blue, pattern similar to delliella,

markings broader: first band, near base from costa

to just above dorsum; second and third bands

broad (width about one-half eye diameter), complete from costa to dorsum, only slightly curved

outward toward middle, outward projecting spur

in cell from third band, lacking or represented by

a small isolated spot; fourth band complete or

broken just below broad connecting spur to fifth

band, latter complete or broken above connecting

spur; submarginal dots reduced to about six, very

small. Marginal band more extensive, broader and

extending beyond tornus, and darker ochreous than

on delliella. Fringe grayish, pale ochreous basally.

Hindwing: Costal brush lacking. Abdomen: Genitalia as in Figure 85 (drawn from allotype, JAP

prep. no. 351; one preparation examined); uncus

rather broad, its length about 1.1 times width; basal

process rather short, its length about 1.2 times

uncus length, constricted near middle; valva with

costal area drawn out into a projecting lobe.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.8-10.0 mm. As

described for male; antenna not dilated. Genitalia

not examined.

TYPES.—Holotype female and allotype male:

Mexico, 20 miles east of El Camaron, Oaxaca, August 7, 1956 (D. D. Linsdale); deposited in Califor-
NUMBER 120 117

nia Academy of Sciences. One paratype: Female,

same data, in California Insect Survey.

Ethmia clarkei Powell, new species

FIGURE 86; PLATE lOd, MAP 32

A small shiny moth with white forewings having

metallic blue spots and an ochreous terminal band;

from an island off the coast of Quintana Roo.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 mm. Head: Labial palpus rather short, not strongly curved; second segment slightly curved, length about 1.1 times

eye diameter; third segment straight, about 0.7 as

long as second; smooth scaled, white, second segment becoming dark brown apically. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.22

eye diameter; scaled dorsally, white near base,

brown distally. Scaling of tongue, front, crown,

and tufts of occipital margin white. Thorax: Pronotal scaling white; two wide metallic blue spots

between tegulae, a second pair at sides of scutellum. Underside shining white; legs exteriorly

ochreous at base, becoming dark brownish distally;

metathoracic leg mostly white with dark segmental

bands, tibial fringe rather reduced, grayish white.

Foretoing: Length about 3.3 times width; costa

slightly curved from base to apex; termen not

strongly angled back, slightly concave, tornal angle

well developed, tornal fringe broad; wing rectangular in appearance. Ground color shining white;

costa at base dark brown; remainder of wing checkered with isolated, metallic blue spots of varying

sizes and shapes, more concentrated near base and

in dorsal area, those of terminal area smaller; terminal margin with an ochreous band from just

before apex to just above tornus. Fringe pale

brownish, white at tornus. Underside pale brownish, paler toward dorsum; fringe whitish in apical

and tornal areas; ochreous terminal band faintly

reproduced. Hindwing: Broader than forewing;

costal hair pencil from base, elongate, pale ochreous; costal margin excavate toward apex, latter

narrow, termen slightly concave below apex,

strongly angled back, tornal angle scarcely discernible. Fringe rather broad, about one-fourth membrane width. Ground color white, tinged with

ochreous in costal area; apical area irregularly

brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of second segment ochreous, of other segments brownish with

paler caudal bands; of underside whitish; genital

scaling ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 86 (drawn

from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1229; one preparation examined); very similar to E. delliella, differing by a slightly broader uncus, width 1.1 times

length, and by slightly broader valvae with the

distal notch broader.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.1 mm. Essentially as described for male, differing as follows.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about

0.15 eye diameter (eye about as large as in male).

Forewing markings reduced, metallic blue spots

smaller, ochreous terminal band smaller and paler.

Hindwing costal area simple. Abdomen less distinctly marked, ochreous of second tergite reduced,

less well defined; genital scaling pale tan. Genitalia

not examined.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Quintana Roo, Isla de Mujeres (near

Puerto Juarez), March 29, 1960 (J. F. G. Clarke;

Bredin Expedition); deposited in U.S. National

Museum.

Ethmia subsimilis Walsingham

FIGURE 87; PLATE 10C-/; MAP 33

Ethmia subsimilis Walsingham, 1897:89.—Busck, 1934:166,

figures [biology].

A rather small Antillean moth having whitish gray

forewings marked with numerous bluish gray spots.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.5—8.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus rather short, strongly upcurved, not

reaching base of antenna; second segment curved,

length 1.0 eye diameter; third segment slightly

curved, 0.80—0.85 as long as second; smooth scaled,

whitish, with intermixed brownish, which forms a

spot at apex of second segment. Antenna only

slightly dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.20

eye diameter; densely scaled above, white at base,

becoming shining gray distally, scape with a dark

spot above. Scaling of front and crown appressed,

occipital tufts only slightly spreading, white, an

ill-defined gray band or pair of spots on front.

Thorax: Pronotal scaling white, tinged with pale

gray, base of collar and large paired spots between

tegulae and at sides of scutellum steel gray. Underside shining white including legs; prothoracic

tibia and tarsi mostly, mesothoracic and metathoracic tibiae and tarsi spotted exteriorly with dark

brown reflecting steel blue; hind tibial fringe
118 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

elongate, conspicuous, white. Forewing: Moderately broad, length 3.1—3.2 times width; costa curve

slightly flattened beyond middle, apex blunt, termen only slightly angled back, tornal angle well

developed, fringe broad, giving truncate appearance. Ground color pale whitish gray, becoming

dull gray with age, the whitish scaling apparently

easily lost. Markings shining steel blue, sharply

contrasting on freshly emerged specimens, becoming dull steel gray and ill-defined with age, as follows: about five small, distinct spots near base, at

base of costa, in cell and two in dorsal area; numerous separate or more or less coalesced spots

tending to form two parallel, outwardly angled,

transverse bands at times becoming obsolete toward

costa; about six darker and more distinct spots

parallel to but preceding margin. A row of bronzy

scales at base of fringe; latter gray. Underside

brown; whitish blotches along costa and at dorsum.

Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal

hair pencil well developed, partially enclosed in a

costal fold, pale whitish ochreous; costa slightly

excavate toward apex, latter acute, termen strongly

angletl back, broadly curved to dorsum, tornal

angle scarcely discernible. Ground color whitish,

becoming pale brownish or dark brown toward

apex. Fringe white. Underside whitish, brownish

along costal and apical areas. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling brownish, segments with pale caudal margins; underside paler; genital scaling shining whitish tan. Genitalia as in Figure 87 (drawn from

plesiotype, Sierra Maestra, Cuba, AB Slide September 27, 1931; four preparations examined); very

similar to E. delliella, differing by a slightly narrower gnathos and slightly deeper notch on distal

margin of valva.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.7-9.7 mm. Essentially as described for male, samples available

too limited to define sexual dichromatism. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.75

that of male. Costal brush of hindwing lacking.

Wing markings variable as in male; one specimen

with a conspicuous angulate bar from dorsum well

before tornus toward apex, ending in cell (this

marking usually narrower and less distinct). Hindwing not darker than male. Genitalia very similar

to E. delliella, sterigmal plate somewhat simpler,

without rugosity subtending the ostium (two

preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—West Indies, Jamaica, VII—17

(Cockerell); type male in British Museum. A specimen of E. abraxasella with the same data bears

additional information: "Institute of Jamaica,

Kingston, 1891."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Jamaica and Cuba

(Sierra Maestra; Portland Parish; Santiago).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—January and February (Cuba);

April, July, September (Jamaica).

FOOD PLANT.—A specimen from Santiago is labeled "Feeding on leaves of Cabo-Hacha," a plant

reported by Busck (1934) and Bruner, et al. (1945)

to be Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae).

REMARKS.—Specimens from Cuba differ in appearance from Jamaican ones, but the small numbers of both available limit conclusions. The

variation in forewing pattern exhibited by reared

and nonreared Cuban examples is greater than that

among nonreared Cuban and Jamaican material.

Male genitalia from Jamaica show a slightly

broader posterior lobe of the valva and slightly

smaller spines of the posterior part of the gnathos.

Examination of additional material will be necessary to define species or subspecies in the entities

here referred to as subsimilis and E. kirbyi.

Ethmia kirbyi (Moeschler)

PLATE 10g-/i; MAP 33

Psecadia kirbyi Moeschler, 1890:341.-Walsingham, 1892:528,

546.

Ethmia ft/r/>)».-Walsingham, 1897:91-Wolcott, 1923:204.-

Forbes, 1930:133.

A moderately small Antillean Ethmia, having whitish forewings with broad costal and dorsal graybrown markings.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.1—8.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus strongly upcurved, slightly exceeding antennal base; second segment curved, length

1.1-1.2 times eye diameter; third segment slightly

bent, 0.7 as long as second; smooth scaled, white, a

brown spot at apex of second segment. Antenna

only slightly dilated, width of shaft near base 0.20

eye diameter, densely scaled dorsally, white basally,

becoming pale brownish distally. Scaling of front,

crown, and tufts of occipital margin appressed,

white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white; broad, black,

faintly metallic, paired spots at bases of tegulae,
NUMBER 120 119

between tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside white; prothoracic leg mostly, metathoracic

tibia and tarsi spotted with dark brown; hind tarsi

spotted with pale brown, tibial fringe moderately

large, white. Forewing: Length about 3.2 times

width; costa curve slightly flattened beyond middle;

apex blunt, termen not strongly angled back, tornal angle well developed, fringe broad, giving

truncate appearance to wing. Ground color white;

gray-brown markings as follows: three or four small

roundish spots near base, the two central ones

tinged with metallic bluish; a broad, more or less

complete blotch on middle half of costa extending

into cell, and an opposing one on dorsum, both

variably interrupted by spots of ground color, and

separated by a median longitudinal streak of

ground color which is upcurved to costa at basal

one-fourth -and before apex; terminal area with

some scattered brownish gray marks and a submarginal row of about six roundish spots tinged with

metallic blue. A narrow terminal band of golden

ochreous. Fringe gray-brown with a basal row of

white scales adjoining the ochreous terminal band.

Underside pale brownish; costa whitish at middle

and toward apex. Hindwing: About as broad as

forewing; costal hair pencil narrow, pale whitish

ochreous, arising from, but not enclosed in, a thin,

subcostal pinch fold; costa slightly excavate toward

apex, termen moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle discernible. Ground color white, becoming brownish toward apex. Fringe narrow, white.

Underside white, indistinctly brownish along costa.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish; distal segments with whitish caudal bands; underside and

genital scaling shining whitish. Genitalia very

similar to E. delliella, virtually indistinguishable

from E. subsimilis (Figure 87) (two preparations

examined).

FEMALE.—Not studied. In the original description, Moeschler mentions that the golden terminal

band is lacking from a female, but it is present,

darker than in male, on a recently collected female

at U.S. National Museum.

TYPE DATA.—Porto Rico; types in Moeschler collection.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Haiti (Port au

Prince) and Puerto Rico (Coamo Springs; Penon

Collao, Salinas; Mayaguea).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February (Haiti), April, August

(Puerto Rico).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia bittenella (Brack)

FIGURES 88, 209; PLATE lOi; MAP 34

Tamarrha bittenella Busck, 1906b:730.-Barnes and Busck,

1920, pis. 26, 36.

Ethmia bittenella.-Meyrick, 1914:28.-Heinrich, 1921:819

[biology].—McDunnough, 1939:83.

A moderately small moth in Texas and Mexico,

having a white forewing, with a dark costa, scatMAP 33.—Geographical distribution of members of the Kirbyi

group of Ethmia.

# E. kirbyi (Moeschler) (J E. subsimilis Walsingham

MAP 34.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia bittenella

(Busck).
120 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

tered black dots, and an ochreous marginal band.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.4—9.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus upcurved, short, not reaching base

of antenna; second segment length 1.0 eye diameter; third segment about 0.8 as long as second;

smooth scaled, white, some scattered brownish scaling exteriorly, especially on second segment distally. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

basally 0.20 eye diameter. Scaling of front and

crown smooth, and of occipital margin tufts, white.

Thorax: Pronotal scaling white; paired large spots,

black, reflecting metallic blue, between tegulae and

on scutellum. Underside whitish; legs bright

ochreous basally, tibiae and tarsi banded with dark

brown; hind tibial fringe whitish. Forewing:

Length about 3.3—3.4 times width; costa slightly

curved from base to apex, latter blunt, termen moderately strongly angled back, slightly concave; tornus evident, its fringe broad, wing rather truncate

in appearance. Ground color white, markings

blackish brown, those longitudinally through middle of wing reflecting metallic blue, as follows:

costa from base nearly to apex, broadly along middle area, paler than other markings; a round spot

in dorsal area near base, followed at basal onefourth on dorsum by oblique bar, a spot in cell

above latter; a roundish spot on dorsum at onethird followed by an elongate blotch along dorsum,

a U- or V-shaped mark just above latter, its apex

toward base, reaching just into cell, followed by

an indistinct spot just beyond its distal, open end;

a larger roundish spot at tornus; about six somewhat variable spots in terminal area, at outer,

lower edge of costal brownish and end of cell; at

times two or three elongate blotches in cell adjoining costal brown; an irregular submarginal streak

preceding a distinct, dark ochreous marginal band,

from before apex nearly to tornus, becoming brown

at latter. Fringe brown with a distinct, white basal

band. Underside yellow-brown clouded with

brownish; markings of upper side showing through,

marginal ochreous not reproduced. Hindwing:

About as broad as forewing; costa dorsally with

thick ochreous hair pencil from base to end of

cell; costa not folded, excavate toward apex, latter

narrow, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle

evident. Whitish basally, becoming pale brownish

on apical half; costal area under hair pencil brown.

Fringe white. Underside similar, brownish more

restricted. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish, second segment pale ochreous; segments laterally and

ventrally whitish, leaving a thin, brown line down

middle of venter; genital scaling whitish ochreous

above, darker ochreous below. Genitalia as in

Figure 88 (drawn from cotype, JAP prep. no. 1538;

three preparations examined); uncus short; basal

processes short; valva large in relation to tegumen,

with apical notch small; vesica with small spurs.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.0-9.6 mm. Essentially as described for male, evidently consistently larger and more heavily marked. Antenna

not dilated. Hindwing costal area simple. Forewing markings as on male but all larger relative

to size of wing; spot beyond the V-shaped one conspicuous, at times almost coalescing with the broadened V; elongate blotches in cell adjoining costal

brown well developed. Terminal ochreous band

darker, deep burnished gold. Abdomen color, including ochreous second segment, same as in male.

Genitalia as in Figure 209 (drawn from plesiotype,

Culiacan, Sinaloa, JAP prep. no. 2731; two preparations examined); sterigma plate deep, hoodlike,

surrounding ostium, posteriorly with fine spines;

ductus unsclerotized, with five or six loose coils;

signum as in E. delliella.

TYPE DATA.—Brownsville, Texas (Barber),

"June"; the type female in U.S. National Museum

bears the additional data "29—5—04" and "in copula."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Texas

(Victoria) to southern and central Mexico (Chiapas; Rio Balsas, Guerrero) and thence northward

along the west coast to Sinaloa (Mazatlan, Culiacan) and Sonora (Alamos).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February, March, May, June,

and November (Texas); late June to August (Sonora and Sinaloa).

FOOD PLANT.—Heinrich (1921) reported that two

pupae were collected in galleries in stems of Pseudabutilon (—Wissadula) lozani (Rose) (Malvaceae) at Brownsville. In view of known food plant

and pupation site preferences in the genus, this

record may represent a pupation site only. A specimen in the U.S. National Museum from Victoria,

Texas, is labeled "larva from Anachua, IV—2—08,

pupa IV-7-08"; specimens of E. delliella and E.

semiombra are similarly labeled, "Anacua" or

"Anagua," and these records are believed to refer
NUMBER 120 121

to Ehretia anacua {=elliptica de Candolte) (Boraginaceae).

REMARKS.—A female of E. bittenella labeled

"Vulkan Colima" in the Bavarian States Museum

is somewhat darker, with the spots slightly broader,

than extreme specimens from Texas.

The Mulleri Group

Eye small, index not comparable with other species

owing to extraordinary head shape, crown produced in a large knob, front compressed, shorter

than normal. Labial palpus moderately short,

smooth scaled. Antenna of male not dilated. Forewing narrow; pattern white with longitudinal

spots. Hindwing of male with double costal brush

and pinch fold. Abdomen I-II terga with specialized scaling. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate

anteriorly and posteriorly; basal processes membranous narrow; valva with distal notch; fulturamanica simple; vesica armed. Female unknown.

A single species in Mexico which has strongest

phenetic similarity with the Cypraeella group.

Ethtnia mulleri Busck

FIGURE 89; PLATES 2a, 4d, 10;

Ethmia mulleri Busck, 1910a:212; 1914c:55,56. - Meyrick,

1914:30.

Ethmia mulleri (error) Busck, 1912:84.—Walsingham, 1912:

146, pi. 5, fig. 10.

A Mexican species, superficially similar to E. proximella but having fewer spots on a narrower forewing and hindwing costal fold over one brush and

a second, exposed, enlarged brush; the crown is

produced, with huge lateral tufts.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.7-10.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus thin, porrect; basal segment curved,

second segment nearly straight, length 1.1—1.2 times

diameter of the small eye (eye diameter 0.7—0.9

that of comparable sized Ethmia species); third segment straight, short, about 0.5 the length of second;

smooth scaled, ochreous basally, becoming dark

brownish apically. Antenna not dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.15 eye diameter; scaling pale

grayish. Scaling of proboscis ochreous of front

roughened silvery white; crown produced into a

conspicuous knob, scaling rough, shining white,

with enlarged, dense, lateral tufts above antennae

caplike over scapes, dark gray-brown. Thorax: Pronotal scaling white; scutellum with lateral black

spots. Underside pale ochreous; prothoracic leg

ochreous basally, becoming dark brown, tibia with

a broad brushlike fringe directed mesad; mesothoracic leg ochreous, becoming pale brownish; metathoracic leg whitish ochreous, tibial fringe rather

sparse. Forewing: Narrow, length 4.1—4.3 times

width; costa very slightly curved, straight beyond

middle, termen rather strongly angled back, to

curve into dorsal margin at about middle, resulting in narrowed aspect of distal half of wing.

Ground color white; costal area above cell graybrown, tapered, ending before apex. Seven black

spots (possibly reflecting blue on fresh examples):

one at base; a pair above and below lower fold at

basal one-fourth; a pair at about middle, one in

cell adjoining costal gray-brown and one just

basad and below fold; a pair just beyond end of

cell, parallel to preceding pair. Six conspicuous

black dots along terminal margin. Fringe white.

Underside pale brownish; irregularly blotched with

whitish beyond end of cell; costa with a conspicuous fringe directed toward middle of wing. Hindwing: Broader than forewing; costa with a large

dense, dark ochreous scale brush extending to end

of cell, subtended by a second brush enclosed in

fold over costal half of cell; costa excavate toward

apex, termen strongly angled back, tornus not discernible, dorsum concave before anal angle.

Ground color pale brownish, darker under costal

brush. Fringe whitish. Underside similar, distal

area broadly dark gray-brown. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling of first two segments pale ochreous, of succeeding segments and underside tan; genital scaling ochreous-tan. Genitalia as in Figure 89 (drawn

from plesiotopotype, JAP prep. no. 1096; two preparations examined); uncus notched as in Albitogata

and Cypraeella groups; posterior gnathos with

dense, fine spines; anterior gnathos with lateral

lobes, weakly dentate on sides; basal processes

short; valva modified, unlike any other member of

the genus.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE DATA.—Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico, July,

September (R. Miiller); type male in U.S. National

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality.
122

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FLIGHT PERIOD.—May, July, August, September.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Ethmia mulleri exhibits some characters which are unique among New World members of the genus: the porrect labial palpus, bulging

crown with lateral tufts, and narrowed forewing in distal half. It will be interesting to find

whether the female shares some of these features.

Even if none of these prove to be exclusive male

traits, inclusion of the species in Ethmia is warranted according to present concepts, by the typical

uncus, gnathos, and basic valva shapes.

The Cypraeella Group

Eye index 0.9-1.0. Maxillary palpus small to large,

three or four segments, distal one reduced or

elongated. Labial palpus moderately short to extremely elongate, II segment index 1.0—1.9; smooth

scaled. Antenna of male not dilated to moderately

dilated, index 0.19—0.25. Forewing moderately

broad; pattern usually dorsal blotch, markings

metallic. Hindwing of male with costal area unmodified or with hair pencil enclosed in pinch

fold (rarely costal fold). Abdomen usually with

genital scaling ochreous and scaling of I-II terga

specialized. Uncus hoodlike; gnathos dentate posteriorly, usually not developed anteriorly; basal

processes membranous, narrow, sometimes weakly

ridged; valva with distal notch or simple; fulturamanica usually strongly armed; vesica usually simple. Papillae anales heavily sclerotized, setate;

posterior apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses narrow, usually short, sterigma ornate with lateral lobes or simple; antrum usually enlarged with

sclerotized band; ductus bursae membranous or

partly sclerotized with 5-8 tight or loose coils;

signum a dentate bar or short or long dentate keel.

This is a somewhat diverse assemblage of 20 nocturnal yet brightly colored species. The group is

widespread in the Neotropical Region, and includes three fairly distinct subgroups according to

features of male genitalia, but overall phenetic

similarity values indicate no strong clustering

within the array. Genitalic similarities to species

in the Oriental Region suggest this group may be

a component of a pantropical group, perhaps with

New World derivatives.

Ethmia proximella Busck

FIGURE 90; PLATE Ha

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 onethird; 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
NUMBER 120 123

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 R^. 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.

Miiller); 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

FIGURES 91, 210, 211; PLATE 116; MAP 35

Ethmia festiva Busck, 1914b:33.-Showalter, 1929:72, pi. 15,

fig. 15.

Ethmia xantholitha Meyrick, 1928a:519.—Clarke, 1955a:327;

1965:433 [synonymy].

A widespread Neotropical species having white

fore wings marked with black stripes and bright

ochreous dorsal and terminal patches.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.3 to 8.9 mm. Head:

MAI* 35.—Geographical distribution of members

Cypraeella group of Ethmia.

% E. festiva Busck (f £. cypraeella (Zeller)

the

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 onefourth from just below costa to just above dorsum,

angled slightly outward at lower fold, third at

about middle of wing, angling outward on costal
124 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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.

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 (/estiva). 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)

FIGURE 92; PLATE 1 \c; MAP 35

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

Ethmia cypraeella.-Meyrick, 1914:27.-Amsel, 1956:293; 1957,

pis. 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
NUMBER 120 125

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. jestiva, 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.-Walsingham, 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

FICURE 93; PLATE lid; MAP 36

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
126

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 36.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia abraxasella

(Walker).

% E. a. abraxasella (J E. a. clarissa Busck

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.

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. jestiva (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
NUMBER 120 127

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

PLATE lie; MAP 36

Ethmia clarissa Busck, 1914c:56; 1934:167, pi. 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

 n

FICURES 10, 25, 26, 94; PLATES 3C, 11/; MAP 37

Ethmia scythropa Walsingham, 1912:148, pi. 5, fig. 13.—

Busck, 1934:168, pi. 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 scat111 have not seen the types of the following species:

E. nivosella (Walker) and its alleged synonym, adustella

Zeller. However, on the basis of Walsingham's (1906) discussion, it seems likely that the species later described by

him as scythropa (and so treated in this work) should be

called nivosella Walker, while Zeller's series consisted of both

species, and judicious selection of a lectotype could make

the name adustella available for the species here treated as

nivosella.
128 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 37.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia scythropa

Walsingham.

tered 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.

Forexving: 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.

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 speci-
NUMBER 120 129

men 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

FIGURE 95; PLATES 2b, llg; MAP 38

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, pis. 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

"See footnote 11.

MAP 38.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia ntvosella

(Walker).

% typical morphotypc

(J atypical morphotype on Hispaniola

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, irregu-
130 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

larly 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.

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

c?, 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

FIGURES 96, 212, 213; PLATE ll/i; MAP 39

Ethmia terpnota Walsingham, 1912:147, pi. 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

MAP 39.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia terpnota

Walsingham.
NUMBER 120 131

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 graybrown, 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.

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

FIGURE 97; PLATE Hi

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
132 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

above Cu fold near base, the outer most at onefifth, 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

FIGURES 98, 214; PLATE 11/; MAP 40

Ethmia perpulchra Walsingham, 1912:146, pi. 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

MAP 40.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia perpulchra

Walsingham.

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
NUMBER 120 133

Elutella complex); fultura plate with heavy, irregular armature.

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

FIGURES 99, 217-219; PLATE 12a; MAP 41

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 illdefined 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

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

9 E. elutella Busdc <J E. janzeni Powell • £. submissa Busck
134 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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 onethird; 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.

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

^17—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, 1—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

FIGURES 100, 101, 220; PLATE 126; MAP 41

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,
NUMBER 120 135

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 cf, 39 9, 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$, ltf,

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 (5cf, 10 9, Cojutepeque, II-9-65; Id1

, 3? , 13 km N San Salvador,

II-4-65, S. S. and W. D. Duckworth, in USNM;

and 1 $, San Salvador, Salvador, 600 m, 11-28-60,

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

FIGURES 102, 221; PLATE 12C; MAP 41

Ethmia submissa Busck, 1914c:57; 1934:167.

A Caribbean species similar in forewing pattern to

E. elutella but with reduced gray clouding and the

dorsal and terminal patches dark purple rather

than the bronzy or coppery purplish of E. elutella

and E. janzeni.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.0—8.6 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, not exceeding

base of antenna; second segment curved, length

about 1.25 times eye diameter, third segment short,

less than 0.5 the length of second; smooth scaled,

white, second segment with scattered gray exteriorly. Antenna with basal portion of shaft

slightly dilated, width about 0.2 eye diameter;

dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of front and

crown white, front at times lightly tinged with

brownish. Thorax: Collar and tegula white, notum

steel blue gray, white at margins. Underside sordid

whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae and

tarsi marked with steel gray exteriorly; hind tibial

brush rather short, white. Forewing: Length about

3.2 times width; costa slightly, evenly curved from

base to apex; termen moderately strongly angled

back; tornal angle a broad curve to dorsum. Pattern

similar to E. elutella, the white ground color more

extensive, the gray clouding restricted to a series

of more or less well-defined spots on costal half

except on a broad white area along distal one-third

of costa; two or three gray spots in dorsal half near

base; dorsal blotch deep metallic purple, containing

some bluish white scaling not well defined as a

zigzag line; terminal blotch restricted to a deep

gray subterminal band tinged with purplish and

a broad metallic purple scale row at base of fringe
136 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

extending to tornus. Fringe lighter gray, white

below tornus. Underside mostly pale brownish or

ochreous brown, including the broad subcostal

fringe. Hindwing: Subcostal pinch fold lined (on

dorsal surface of wing) with non-overlapping, black

scales, each of which is about 0.6 mm in length;

otherwise similar to E. janzeni; costal hair pencil

dark ochreous. Ground color white, becoming pale

brownish toward margins; fringe and underside

white, specialized subcostal scaling of upper side

visible. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish,

second and third terga not distinctly ochreous (as

they are in elutella and janzeni); scaling of underside and genitalia cream-white. Genitalia as in

Figure 102 (drawn from plesiotype, Puerto Rico,

JAP prep. no. 1254; two preparations examined);

similar to E. janzeni, saccular angle of valva somewhat more produced, the two spines of fultura

(present in elutella and janzeni) lacking.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0—8.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye only slightly

smaller; basal area of antenna not dilated, diameter

of shaft about 0.75 that of male. Hindwing costal

area simple; not appreciably darker than male (as

in elutella). Genitalia as in Figure 221 (drawn

from plesiotypes, Jamaica, JAP prep. nos. 2383,

2733; two preparations examined); similar to E.

elulella, plate subtending ostium asymmetrical, extending further into base of ductus, its dentate

patch as in elutella.

TYPE DATA.—"Cuba; E. A. Schwarz and W.

Schaus"; holotype female in U.S. National Museum.

The species was described from four females; the

type and another female, collected by Schaus, bear

additional handwritten data which may read

"Tanamo" and one other word. One specimen,

collected by Schwarz, is labeled "Caymas."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Cuba (Santiago;

Baracoa); Jamaica (Kingston; Portland Parish;

Port Antonio); Puerto Rico ("Lares").

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Evidently multivoltine, February and March (Jamaica), April, May, July (Puerto

Rico), November, December (Cuba).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This and the two preceding closely

related species have all been taken at lights.

Ethmia fritillella Powell, new species

FIGURE 104; PLATE 12d

A moderately large Ethmia in southern Brazil,

having brown forewings checkered with shining

white.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately strongly upcurved, not

quite reaching base of antenna; length of second

segment 0.87 eye diameter, of third 0.7 eye

diameter; smooth scaled, white, blotched apically

on second segment and most of third segment distally, blackish. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft

near base 0.18 eye diameter; scape scaling white,

marked with shining deep blue dorsally; of shaft

white at base, becoming dark brown after first few

segments. Scaling of tongue and lower front white,

a broad, transverse, median band of deep steel blue

between eyes, crown, and occipital tufts white.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, marked with deep

steel blue: base of tegula, a pair of spots between

tegulae, a large blotch across the width of notum

before scutellum. Underside white, tinged with

brownish; trochanters bright ochreous exteriorly;

tibiae and tarsi dark brownish, reflecting bluish

exteriorly. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length

3.5 times width; costa gently, evenly curved; termen

strongly angled back, fringe broad around tornus,

giving a concave appearance to dorsum. Ground

color brown, reflecting shining purplish, extensively marked with shining white: basal half more

or less uniformly checkered with eight large spots;

distal half with three small spots at and beyond

end of cell, surrounded by four large blotches at

upper corner of cell below costa, on tornus, on

costa just below apex and a subterminal one above

tornus. Fringe white tinged with brown below

apex, preceded by a blue-black terminal line. Underside brown; margins white. Hindwing: Slightly

broader than forewing; subscostal area with a

narrow pinch-fold from near base to about end of

cell, enclosing a thin, white hair pencil; costa

slightly concave before apex, latter blunt, termen

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white at

base, pale brownish beyond, becoming dark brown

in apical area; fringe white. Underside similar,

darker, mottled with white in apical area. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling dark brown except second segment

with modified, short, ochreous scaling; ventral

whitish, genital dark ochreous. Genitalia as in

Figure 104 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no.

1942; one preparation examined); similar to E.

elutella, basal processes shorter, valva apex more
NUMBER 120 157

strongly curved, fultura plate elongate, with two

apical spurs.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE.—Holotype male, Brazil, Nova Teutonia,

Santa Catharina, 300-500 m (27° 11' S, 52°23' W),

August 1963 (F. Plaumann); unique, in U.S.

National Museum.

REMARKS.—As indicated below, this may be the

male of cupreonivella, which is known only from

a single female.

Ethmia epilygella Powell, new species

FIGURES 44, 10S; PLATE 12*

A Brazilian species closely related to the preceding

one, with white forewings heavily blotched with

shining bronzy brown.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.0-10.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, reaching base

of antenna; second segment not strongly curved,

length 1.15—1.20 eye diameter; third segment nearly

straight, 0.75 as long as second; scaling dark brown,

reflecting bluish, irregularly blotched with white,

more so ventrally and interiorly. Antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft near base 0.21-0.22 eye

diameter; scape white, deep metallic blue posteriorly, dorsal scaling of shaft limited to a few

segments, white, becoming brown. Scaling of

tongue, front and crown white, a dark steel bluish,

transverse bar between eyes. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white, marked with dark steel blue: base of tegula,

two pairs of large spots on no turn, posterior pair

perhaps joined. Underside whitish intermixed

with brownish; legs marked with dark brown, reflecting bluish, bright ochreous basally to base of

femora. Forewing: Length 3.3 times width; costa

very slightly curved, termen slightly convex, not

strongly angled back. Ground color white, about

half to more than half suffused with shining bronzy

brown; most contiguous in basal half along costal

area, and dorsal area except a bar on dorsal margin

at base, a spot at about middle and one at tornus;

white otherwise restricted to a series of connected

blotches along Cu fold, followed beyond cell by a

large blotch covering most of terminal area; in

extreme cases, the white spots in part separated,

especially those in outer half of wing. Fringe

whitish, brownish below apex. Underside brown,

the white spots of upper side showing through.

Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; subcostal area with a narrow pinch fold nearly to end

of cell, enclosing a whitish hair pencil; apex acute,

termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color

whitish, becoming pale brownish in distal half.

Fringe white. Underside similar, darker. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling brown, except second segment with

short ochreous scaling; ventral and genital scaling

whitish, genital tinged with pale ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 103 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep,

no. 1940; one preparation examined); similar to

E. fritillella, uncus notched, gnathos with dual

anterior dentate development; basal processes more

elongate; valva with deeper apical notch and

elongate sacculus apex; fultura plate smaller, with

irregular dentation.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing about 9.6 nun. A

single damaged specimen examined. Generally

similar to male but more extensive white scaling

than any male in the small sample available. Labial

palpus slightly shorter, third segment 0.68 as long

as second. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft

basally 0.16 eye diameter. Hindwing costal area

simple. Genitalia not examined.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Brazil, Nova Teutonia, Santa Catharina (27° 11' S,

52°23' W), August 1963 (F. Plaumann); deposited

in U.S. National Museum. Two male paratypes:

one same data, one same data except September,

1963; in California Insect Survey and U.S. National

Museum.

REMARKS.—It is possible that one of the two preceding species is E. cupreonivella, the type of which

I have not seen. Except for the larger size, the

description of cupreonivella matches the type of

fritillella fairly well, but Walsingham's figure indicates sufficient difference in superficial appearance

to warrant provisional separate treatment of the

three until genital features of cupreonivella are

known.

Ethmia cupreonivella (Walsingham)

Psecadia cupreonivella Walsingham, 1880:77

Ethmia cupreonivella.—Meyrids., 1914:28.

A Brazilian species similar to E. fritillella; known

only from the female type, which I have not examined. The following is based on the original

description.
138 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MALE.—Unknown.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 13.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus slender, second segment purplish

above, third segment more than half the length of

second, purplish, extreme tip white, scaling of

tongue and head white. Antenna pale grayish

brown, scape slightly thickened dark purplish.

Thorax: Dorsum and patagia white. Femora of

forelegs orange-ochreous beneath, tibiae and tarsi

grayish brown beneath, white above. Mid and hind

legs with base only of femora orange-ochreous,

tibiae and tarsi spotted with purplish brown.

Forewing; Glossy cupreous violet with large shining

snow-white spots and blotches: six spots on the

basal half and middle of wing (three upon and

three below the cell) well defined and separate,

others along costa and apical third of wing contiguous to anal angle more or less blended and

irregular; a white spot on the middle of base

blended with another at base of dorsal margin;

above it, on costa and beyond on median vein,

shades of dark glossy blue, which are also on lower

half of apical margin above anal angle. Costa, except extreme base, white. Fringe white, tinged

around apex with grayish brown at tips. Hindwing:

Pale grayish brown, rather whitish, not quite

transparent towards base. Abdomen: Grayish

brown, whitish beneath; anal tuft orange-ochreous.

Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Brazil, Rio do Espirito Santo;

unique female in British Museum.

REMARKS.—If the size given by Walsingham

(expanse 28 mm) is correct, I doubt that fritillella,

which is superficially very similar, is the male of

this species. I have not located the type locality.

There is a Rio do Espirito Santo in Bahia, but it

seems more likely that the source of a specimen

described in 1880 would have been the mouth of

some river on the coast of the state of Espirito

Santo. In either case the site is likely to be a considerable distance from the interior of Santa

Catharina, the type locality for fritillella and

epilygella.

THE CHALCODORA COMPLEX

This complex has the southernmost distribution of

New World Ethmia, and as a consequence is the

most poorly represented in the material available

for study. Ethmia chalcodora Meyrick, 1912, from

Argentina was the first species of this group to

have been described. It has been taken subsequently in Paraguay but is known only from

females. E. inigulatella Busck, described in 1914

from Panama, has been found to range northward

to Mexico and is the only species of the complex

which has been taken at more than one locality

subsequent to the original description. Two additional South American species were described by

Meyrick in 1930 and 1931 on the basis of unique

specimens. In accumulating material for the present study, none of the described South American

species have turned up other than in Meyrick's

material, while two undescribed species are represented by a short series, with single males from

Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. In addition, three

females from Venezuela and Brazil are referable to

two more species, both probably distinct from any

previously known form. Thus, most of the species

are each known only from a single collection.

It is evident that the preliminary state of knowledge covering New World Ethmia is the most pronounced in this complex. Further collecting in

South America will probably reveal the Chalcodora

complex to be a large and diversified assemblage of

species.

Ethmia notomurinella Powell, new species

FIGURES 105, 224, 225; PLATE 12f

An Argentine species related to E. chalcodora but

with the dorsal and terminal forewing markings

gray.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.1 mm. Head: Labial

palpus moderately elongate; second segment curved,

length about equal to eye diameter, third segment

slightly curved, length 0.75 that of second; smooth

scaled, white with a few grayish scales exteriorly.

Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.25

eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish basally, becoming gray distally. Scaling of front white, a few

scales tipped with grayish, remainder of head scaling white. Thorax: Collar and tegulae white except

dark gray at base; dorsal scaling (damaged) apparently white laterally, dark gray medially and

on scutellar area. Underside white, coxae tinged

with ochreous; prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae

and tarsi gray (these two legs lacking on one side

of holotype). Forewing: Length about 3.2 times
NUMBER 120 139

width; costa slightly curved from base to apex, a

little more strongly so near base; termen moderately

strongly angled back, tornal angle broadly curved

to dorsum. Ground color white; dark, steel gray

basal spots as in chalcodora on basal one-third,

in cell, and dorsad of cell, distally obscured by

mouse gray suffusion as follows: costa narrowly at

base, broadly towards middle, beyond middle extending into cell and continuous to area of dorsal

blotch (slightly darker, steel gray on fold), white

ground interrupting gray costa before terminal

area; termen gray, preceded by several ill-defined

spots in terminal area. Fringe gray except white

at tornus. Underside brownish gray, whitish along

dorsal margin; Sc with a rather broad fringe

directed into cell. Hindwing: Costal area with a

subcostal pinch-fold, enclosing a pale ochreous hair

pencil; costal margin slightly concave before apex;

termen evenly curved to dorsum. Ground color

white, pale ochreous basally, brownish at distal

margins; fringe white. Underside whitish tinged

with pale brownish, costal and apical areas brown.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish except basal

two terga golden-ochreous. Underside and genital

scaling cream-white. Genitalia as in Figure 105

(drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1822; one

preparation examined); valva deeply notched

apically; fultura plates well developed, elongate;

basal processes short.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.1—8.4 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, diameter

about 0.9 that of male, labial palpus and antenna

shaft basally about as large as in male. Hindwing

costal area simple, basal ochreous scaling lacking.

Abdomen with ochreous lateroventral genital tufts

arising from sclerotized ridges on VII sternite

flanking sterigma. Genitalia (Figures 224, 225,

drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 2264; one

preparation examined); anterior apophyses short,

thin; sterigma without lateral lobes; signum an

elongate, transverse, dentate fold, as in E. delliella

and bittenella.

TYPE.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Argentina, Rio Seco, Cordoba, August 29, 1962 (P.

Koehler); deposited in Bavarian States Museum,

Munich. Two female paratypes: same data, in

Bavarian States Museum and California Insect

Survey collections.

REMARKS.—This species is superficially similar to

E. chalcodora and E. chalcogramma, while the valva

and secondary sexual features of the male, together

with the female genitalia, suggest that E. notomurinella may represent, with E. bittenella, a link

between the Kirbyi and Cypraeella groups. The

scale-bearing, curving ridges of the seventh sternite

in the female are unique. Among New World

species, only phylacis possesses what appears to be

homologous structures.

Ethtnia ungulatella Busck

FIGURES 106, 215, 216; PLATE 12g; MAP 42

Ethmia ungulatella Busck, 1914b:34; 1914c:57.—Walsingham,

1915:424.

A moderately large Central American Ethmia

having the whitish forewing conspicuously marked

with single dorsal and terminal blotches of bronzypurplish.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.4-9.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate; second segment

rather strongly curved, length 1.15 times eye

diameter; third segment nearly straight, length

about 0.7 times that of second; smooth scaled,

second segment mostly dark gray, whitish basally,

third segment white except extreme base gray.

Antenna dilated, width of basal half of shaft about

0.25 eye diameter, dorsal scaling pale gray, scape

dark gray above, white below. Scaling of tongue

MAP 42.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia ungulatella

Busck.
140 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

white, front dark gray, crown white. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling white except tegula at base steel

gray and pronotum with two pairs of large, steel

gray spots which almost join medially. Underside

cream white, trochanters and coxae bright ochreous

exteriorly, tibiae and tarsi brownish exteriorly;

hind tibial brush well developed, pale gray-brown.

Forewing: Length 3.0—3.1 times width; costa evenly,

gently curved from base to apex, termen rather

strongly angled back, tornus a broad curve. Ground

color white; with steel blue-gray spots: at base, just

beyond base in cell, two in dorsal area near base,

the outer one larger; a series of spots in cell continuing outward, becoming pale gray in terminal

area beyond cell, costa narrowly concolorous; a

large squarish dorsal blotch from before middle

nearly to tornus, metallic purplish copper or bronze

colored, enclosing an ill-defined bluish white,

transverse zigzag line; a longitudinal pale graybrown band in cell adjacent to dorsal blotch;

terminal area narrowly coppery, enclosing a similar

zigzag line. Fringe white basally, brown distally.

Underside brown, irregularly cream-whitish dorsad

and between veins in apical area; subcostal fringe

poorly developed. Hindwing: Slightly narrower

than forewing, owing to an appressed costal fold

which encloses a dense brush of cream-whitish hairs

and is lined with short (about 0.6-0.7 mm), cigarshaped, dark brown scales; costal margin nearly

straight, apex rather blunt, termen broadly curved

to dorsum. Ground color dorsad of fold gray,

darker toward distal margins; fringe paler. Underside whitish, irregularly blotched with brownish on

costal and terminal areas. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

dark brown, except second tergite bright orangeochreous; genital scaling slightly paler ochreous;

underside whitish with a broad, dark median band.

Genitalia as in Figure 106 (drawn from cotype,

JAP prep. no. 1251; five preparations examined);

basal processes rather evenly broadened; valva not

notched, anterior margin only moderately concave;

fultura plate small, simple.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.5-10.4 mm.

Essentially as described for male; antenna not

dilated, width of shaft at base about 0.8, at basal

one-third about 0.6 that of male. Dark markings

of thorax and base of forewing tending to more

strongly reflect metallic green. Hindwing costal

area simple. Second segment of abdomen with only

a trace of ochreous. Genitalia as in Figures 215,

216 (drawn from plesiotype, JAP prep. no. 2015;

two preparations examined, both Mexico); sterigma

with deep, lateral lobes; ductus with an irregular,

scobinate patch near base; signum broad, with an

elongate fold without a dentate margin.

TYPE DATA—Panama, "Cabima and Alhajuela";

May. The holotype female, from Cabima, and

cotype male, labeled Alhajuelo, April 1911 (August

Busck) are in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — From Panama

northward through central America (Chejel,

Guatemala) and eastern Mexico (Oaxaca; Vera

Cruz; Tamaulipas; San Luis Potosi).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Possibly multivoltine; April,

May (Panama), July, August (Mexico).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia cypraspis Meyrick

PLATE I2h

Ethmia cypraspis Meyrick, 1930:263, pi. I, fig. 31.—Clarke,

1955a: 110.

A moderately large Brazilian moth with a forewing

pattern similar to E. ungulatella. Males were included in the type series but were not differentiated

in the original description. During the present

study, only two females (not of the type series but

determined by Meyrick) have been available, and

the following description is based on these.

MALE.—Not examined.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.4—9.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, reaching nearly

to base of antenna; second segment moderately

curved, length 1.1 times eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, length about 0.7 that of

second; smooth scaled, second segment mostly

brownish laterally, white below and interiorly; third

segment white. Thorax: Collar white, tegula white

except at extreme base, dark gray; pronotal scaling

white laterally, dark metallic gray medially. Underside whitish, coxae ochreous, prothoracic and

mesothoracic tibiae brownish exteriorly. Forewing:

Length 3.1 times width; costa slightly, evenly curved

from base to apex, termen scarcely angled back,

tornal angle well developed. Ground color white,

with brownish gray markings: about eight more or

less evenly spaced spots on basal one-third, two

near dorsum more well defined; a series of pale
NUMBER 120 141

gray, ill-defined blotches through central area of

wing and on costal half; a large, semicircular,

bronzy blotch on middle one third of dorsal margin,

extending to lower edge of cell, containing an illdefined, bluish white, zigzag line; terminal area

concolorous reddish coppery or bronzy, with a

transverse, bluish white zigzag line preceding

termen. Fringe paler, brownish. Underside pale

brownish becoming whitish toward margins. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costa moderately excavate before apex; termen broadly curved

to dorsum. White, becoming pale brownish at

distal margins; fringe white. Underside white,

costal area and veins pale brownish. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling brown, second segment very lightly

tinged with ochreous; genital scaling pale ochreous.

Underside whitish. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Brazil, Taperinha; 17 specimens

(cT»$); types in Vienna Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Amazon region of

Brazil (Taperinha and Santarem, Para).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—July to September.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Meyrick stated that this species is

nearest chalcodora, but it appears to me that E.

cypraspis is more closely allied to E. ungulatella.

Three additional females from Venezuela and

southern Brazil have been examined and are provisionally referred to cypraspis until a comparison

of males can be made. Two from Venezuela have

forewing markings closely matching the female

from Santarem, Brazil, except that the dorsal and

terminal blotches are slightly more purplish rather

than reddish coppery. They bear the data "Los

Venados, Caracas" and "Caracas" (USNM). The

former is a specimen from the Vogl material which

formed the basis of Amsel's "Microlepidoptera

Venezolana" (1956) and bears what I take to be a

manuscript name of Busck, written by Amsel in

1954. Perhaps the name is a product of correspondence with Busck in the early stages of work

on the Vogl material, although J. F. G. Clarke is

cited as the determination authority for the other

three species of Ethmia that Amsal did report.

The third female is somewhat different in appearance and may represent another undescribed

species. The pattern is similar to cypraspis, but the

gray markings are a little more restricted, at least

beyond the dorsal blotch, and the terminal area

tends toward a golden coppery. The specimen bears

the data: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 10, 1919,

Cornell U. Expedition.

Ethmia chalcodora Meyrick

PLATE 12«

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.
142 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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

($ 9); 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. Stealing

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

FIGURE 107; PLATE 12/

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
NUMBER 120 143

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

FICURES 108, 222, 223; PLATE 13a

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.
144 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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)

FICURES 109, 227, 228; PLATE 13b; MAP 43

Psecadia exornata Zeller, 1877:238 [in part], pi. 3, fig. 73.—

Walsingham, 1892:528 [in part].

Ethmia exornata.-Walsingham, 1897:90 [in part]; 1912:147.-

Meyrick, 1914:27. -Busck, 1934:168, pi. 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
NUMBER 120 145

MAP 43.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia exornata

(Zeller).

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.

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.
146 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOG\

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), JuneJuly (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.

Ethtnia phylacis Walsingham

Ethmia phylacis Walsingham, 1912:147, pi. 5, fig. 12.—Meyrick, 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

FIGURES 27, 111, 226; PLATE 13C; MAP 44.

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
NUMBER 120 147

MAP 44.—Geographical distribution of Ethtnia phylacis

Walsingham.

# E. p. phylacis (J E. p. ornata Busck

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.

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, pi. 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
148 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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.

Ethtnia mnesicosma Meyrick

FIGURE 112; PLATE 13d; MAP 45

Ethmia mnesicosma Meyrick, 1924:119.—Clark, 1955a:208;

1965:429.

A Central American species resembling E. exornata

but with the basal blue spotting of the forewing

costal area extended over the dorsal area as well.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.0 to 8.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, scarcely reaching base of antenna, usually not strongly curved;

second segment slightly curved, length 1.0, or

slightly greater, eye diameter; third segment

straight, length 0.65-0.68 that of second; smooth

scaled, white, second segment brown exteriorly.

Antenna very slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.18-0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

present on basal one-third, shining dark gray; scape

white below. Scaling of tongue and front mostly

dark gray, remainder of head white. Thorax: Scaling of collar and tegula white, latter shining grayblue at base, of pronotum white, scutellar area

steel-gray with intermixed whitish. Underside

shining white, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs

exteriorly and metathoracic tarsi dark grayish.

Forewing: Broad, length about 2.7—2.8 times width;

costa slightly curved, apparently straightened beyond middle, more strongly curved just before

apex; termen moderately strongly angled back,

straight, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white;

basally heavily spotted with shining gray- or silverblue on both costal and dorsal areas; costal area

pale grayish to about end of cell; a large dorsal

blotch of reddish bronze from before middle nearly

to termen, extending into cell, nearly completely

fused to costal grayish; apical area reddish bronze,

becoming golden ochreous towards tornus; some

scattered pale grayish marking in subterminal white

band beyond dorsal blotch; apical area and dorsal

blotch with scattered bluish white scaling someMAP 45.—Geographical distribution of members of the Exornata group of Ethmia.

# E. mnesicosma Meyrick A E. gelidella (Walker)
NUMBER 120 149

times forming a zigzag line in latter. Underside

brown, dorsal edge whitish, especially at tornus,

termen ochreous. Hindwing: Width about equal

to forewing; costal area simple, costa only slightly

excavate towards tornus; apex acute, termen

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish

at base, becoming brown towards margins, fringe

paler, very slightly tinged with ochreous. Underside white, brownish along costal area. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling brown, ventral white; genital scale

tufts large, ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 112

(drawn from plesiotype, Sonora, JAP prep. no.

1777; five preparations examined); similar to E.

phylacis, anterior margin of valva nearly entire,

sacculus not separated by a deep notch.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.4 to 10.7 mm.

Essentially as described for male, generally a little

larger, markings often somewhat more distinct.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft near base about

0.8 that of male. Hindwing more extensively

brown with apical area more distinctly ochreous.

Genital scaling reduced. Genitalia very similar to

E. phylacis (Figure 226) posterior margin of VII

sternite more heavily sclerotized, with inner spurs

more numerous, ductus membranous with only

four loops. Signum a thin, deep fold with a row

of flat teeth projecting into bursa. Four preparations examined.

TYPE DATA.—Costa Rica, San Jose; two females

in British Museum, one selected as lectotype by

Clarke (1965).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mexico, on both

east coast (Chichen Itza, Yucatan; Temescal,

Oaxaca) and west coast (Alamos, Sonora; Villa

Union, Sinaloa) to northern Venezuela and Trinidad; and in southern Brazil (Nova Teutonia, Santa

Catharina) according to one record (not shown on

Map 45).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—February (Trinidad), May (San

Salvador; Yucatan), June-July (Veracruz), JulyAugust (Sinoloa; Sonora), November (Venezuela),

December (Oaxaca).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Provided the fragmentary sample represents a single species there appears to be a tendency in E. mnesicosma towards smaller individuals

in northern parts of the range. The forewing

length of females in Venezuela ranges 10.1 to 10.9

mm, in Costa Rica 10.5 to 10.7 mm, in Salvador

9.8 mm, and in Mexico 8.4 to 10.7 mm. Males are

not available from Central America. Individuals

from Trinidad average smaller, about the same as

in Mexico. Females from nothern regions show

coalescence of the blue dorsal spots at the base

and a generally greater development of the gray

spotting of the forewing in comparison to the typical specimens. Otherwise, however, the small and

large forms are quite similar.

Ethmia gelidella (Walker)

FIGURE 113, 114; PLATE 13e; MAP 45

Tamarrha gelidella Walker, 1864a:817.-Busck, 1906b:728.

Psecadia ge/ideZ/a.-Walsingham, 1892:528.

Ethmia ge/ideZ/a.-Walsingham, 1897:91.-Meyrick, 1914:28.

A Jamaican species allied to E. phylacis, having

the dark bluish dorsal blotch of the forewing fused

with a dark band through cell from base to the

ochreous apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.3 to 8.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate; second segment

slightly curved, length 1.1 times eye diameter; third

segment nearly straight, length about 0.75 that of

second; smooth scaled, white, second segment and

base of third grayish exteriorly. Antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling restricted to a few basal segments, dark gray. Scaling of front grayish,

remainder of head white. Thorax: Collar scaling

white, tegula dark gray except apex white, pronotum white. Underside white; tarsi tinged with

ochreous, prothoracic trochanter and tibia brownish gray. Forewing: Broad, length about 2.9 to 3.0

times width; costa evenly curved from base to apex,

latter and termen broadly curved, nearly oval.

Ground color white; dark basally on costal half,

blue-gray in cell, gray-brown at costa above it, extending outward as a broad longitudinal band

through cell, angling towards apex from end of

cell, blending to golden ochreous in apical area;

a broad dorsal blotch of purplish or bronzy gray

from before middle to just before tornus, blending

with gray-brown of cell; scattered bluish white scales

at base, in dorsal blotch and at apex, sometimes

forming zigzag lines; distinctly denned unspotted

white areas remain as follows: basal one-third of

dorsal area, costal area from about middle nearly

to apex, tornal area to mid termen. Underside

dark brown, outer margins whitish ochreous. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; costal area
150 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

simple; costa slightly excavate towards apex, latter

acute, termen broadly curved to anal area. Ground

color whitish becoming brownish gray distally,

margins and fringe pale ochreous. Underside similar, brownish mostly confined to costal area. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark gray, whitish laterally

and ventrally; genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 113 (drawn from plesiotype, Portland

Parish, Jamaica, JAP prep. no. 1175; two preparations examined); similar to E. phylacis, differing

by the smaller basal processes; valva with a deep

notch at end of sacculus (Figure 114, drawn from

JAP prep. no. 1458).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.0 to 9.7 mm. As

described for male, differing superficially only by

antenna size, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that

of male, and by reduced ochreous genital scaling.

Genitalia similar to E. exornata, with the sclerotized sleeve of the ductus smaller, no enlarged antrum with spurs as in phylacis and mnesicosma,

signum a small, narrow fold with sparse teeth (two

preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Jamaica; from Grosse collection;

unique type female in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

Jamaica (Kingston; Troy; Portland Parish).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March, May, July.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Busck (1906b) stated that gelidella "is

evidently the species" subsequently described by

Zeller as exornata. However, it is probable that

Busck had not seen true gelidella and was confusing Walker's description with Cuban material of

the race Busck later described as ornata.

The Notatella Group

Eye index 0.9-1.0. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, four segments, the distal one largest. Labial

palpus moderately long, II segment index 1.1-1.7;

smooth scaled. Antenna of male with scape modified, elongate; shaft not dilated to moderately dilated, index 0.15-0.25. Forewing broad to

moderately broad; pattern transverse metallic

marks. Hindwing usually with Sc pinch-fold, costal

brush absent to well developed. Thorax of male

with or without posterior brushes. Abdomen with

genital scaling red or ocherous. Uncus hoodlike;

gnathos dentate, elongate posteriorly; basal processes narrow, sclerotized, usually strongly or weakly

ridged; valva with sacculus armed, at times a distal

notch; fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses

elongate or short; anterior apophyses broad; sterigma ornate, with or without lateral lobes; antrum

undifferentiated or enlarged, unsclerotized; ductus

bursae membranous, 2—10 tight coils; signum a

weak scobinate patch or dentate keel.

A diverse assemblage of seven species which show

highly developed male primary and secondary characteristics unlike anything described in the Old

World. The group is restricted to western Mexico

and the Caribbean region.

Ethmia phoenicura Meyrick

FIGURES 11, 28, 29, 115, 229-231; PLATES 3b, 13/; MAP 46

Ethmia phoenicura Meyrick, 1932:346.—Powell, 1959:146,

tig. 2.

A Baja California species with white forewings

marked by distinct blue-black bands and with

bright red genital scaling.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.0 to 11.2 mm.

Head: Labial palpus rather strongly curved, exceeding base of antenna; second segment length

1.1—1.3 times eye diameter; third segment 0.60—

0.65 the length of second; smooth scaled, white,

basal half of second segment dark brown exteriorly.

Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.25

eye diameter; scape elongate, about 0.8 eye diamMAP 46.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Notatella group of Ethmia.

% E. phoenicura Meyrick A £. wellingi Powell
NUMBER 120 151

eter; dorsal scaling of scape white, of shaft dark

gray. Scaling of tongue, front and crown, appressed, white. Thorax: Scaling of collar metallic

greenish blue, tegula white, pronotum white with

scutellar area blackish reflecting greenish blue. Underside white and blackish, legs black, margined

and banded with white; metathoracic tibial fringe

sparse. Forewing: Length 3.1-3.3 times width;

costa evenly, gently curved from base to apex; termen moderately strongly angled back, very slightly

concave. Ground color shining white; markings

blackish brown, reflecting greenish blue as follows: costa narrowly from base to apex; two transverse bands (about 0.6—0.7 eye diameter in width)

near base and at basal one-fourth; an incomplete

transverse band at about middle of wing, of three

separate spots, a triangular one on costa, a squarish

one just below and distad in cell, an elongate one

from lower edge of cell nearly to dorsum; a second

incomplete band at about apical one-fourth, of a

transverse bar from costa to end of cell, a separate

subcrescent at end of cell, a short bar at tornus; a

subapical spot on costa followed by a dot in apical

area; a subterminal line continued from costa to

tornus. Fringe white. Underside dark brown, a

white spot just beyond retinaculum; fringe white.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; a closed,

unsealed pinch fold between Sc and R which contains an elongate, dense brush of 40—50 cream-white

scales extending nearly the length of Sc; costal margin thus nearly straight to subapical concavity,

termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color brown, anal area paler, fringe

whitish. Underside similar, paler. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown; ventrally dark brown with

segmental white bands; genital scaling pale to

bright red. Genitalia as in Figure 115 (drawn from

plesiotype San Venancio, Baja California, JAP

prep. no. 347; four preparations examined); uncus

hoodlike, gnathos elongate, narrow, sclerotized

projection on inner face of valva somewhat variable

in shape.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 13.2 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Antenna not

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.8 that of

male; hindwing subcostal area lacking pinch-fold

and brush, with upraised whitish scaling, ground

color usually paler than in male, whitish becoming

brownish towards distal margins. Genital scaling

reduced but bright red as in male. Genitalia as

in Figures 229-231 (drawn from plesiotype Todos

Santos, JAP prep. no. 2010; three preparations examined); posterior apophyses extremely elongate

and pre-IX membrane correspondingly extensible,

VIII segment entirely heavily sclerotized with anterior apophyses very broad and sterigma not differentiated, ostium surrounded by a protruded

area, subtended by a heavily sclerotized, corrugated

plate on VII segment, encased in a deep fold of the

intersegmental membrane, ductus entirely membranous, signum an elongate, narrow fold with imbricate appearing texture and serrate inner margin.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico; Lower California, "Las

Parras"; October (W. M. Mann); unique type female in British Museum; figured by Clarke (1965),

who gives the type locality as "Los Parros." I have

been unable to locate the place under either spelling.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mexico: the southern one-third of the Baja California peninsula, and

Sinaloa. The mainland record is based on a single

female in poor condition labeled "Venadio Sinaloa" in the U.S. National Museum.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Late August to early January.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This species exhibits the greatest

range in size of known New World Ethmia, but

the markings are quite consistent. J. A. Chemsak

found the adults in large numbers on foliage and

flowers of Celosia floribunda Gray (Anacardiaceae)

during the daytime, although this moth and related species are believed to be nocturnal, on the

basis of light attraction records.

Ethmia zebrata Powell

FIGURES 117, 234; PLATE lSg

Ethmia zebrata Powell, 1959:149, fig. S.

A Mexican species similar to E. phoenicura, with

the dark markings forming complete transverse

stripes on the white forewing and with the same

red genital scaling.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.5 to 9.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, exceeding

base of antenna; second segment length nearly 1.5

times eye diameter; third segment about 0.7 the

length of second (1.05 times eye diameter); smooth

scaled, white except extreme base of second segment dark brown exteriorly. Antenna modified,
152 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

scape greatly elongated, length about 1.3—1.4 times

eye diameter, gradually enlarged to middle, tapered

apically, scaling white basally, brown apically, a

scale tuft on enlargement, giving a notched appearance beyond; shaft dilated, width about 0.25 eye

diameter, dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of front

and crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white,

collar, extreme base of tegula and scutellum

broadly dark brown, reflecting metallic blue. Underside mostly white; tibiae and tarsi black with

white bands. Forewing: Length about 3.0 times

width; costa slightly, nearly evenly curved from

base to apex; termen moderately strongly angled

back, very slightly concave. Ground color white,

markings blackish brown reflecting deep metallic

blue, as follows: costa narrowly from base to apex;

three transverse bands from costa to dorsum, first

near base, second at basal one-fourth, curved outward towards middle (these about 0.6-0.7 eye diameter in width, similar to E. phoenicura, broader

than on chemsaki), third band slightly narrower,

at about middle of wing, with a broad spur projecting distad in cell; markings in terminal one-third

comparable to E. phoenicura, more elongate, forming an almost closed pentagon with spurs projecting towards costa before apex, termen below apex,

and above tornus; a separate marginal spot at tornus; a line along terminal margin from costa to

tornus. Fringe white. Underside dark brown with

a white spot beyond retinaculum. Hindwing:

About as broad as forewing; Sc and R forming an

almost closed pinch-fold containing an elongate

brush of whitish tan scales, extending about onehalf the wing; costa only slightly concave before

apex; termen moderately strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color dark

brown, anal area paler; fringe whitish. Underside

similar, paler. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling whitish

brown, ventral dark brown with pale segmental

bands; genital scaling pale to bright red. Genitalia

as in Figure 117 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep,

no. 348; two preparations examined); uncus very

broad, hoodlike, gnathos a broad flap under uncus;

basal processes large, rather heavily sclerotized, inner, posterior margin of sacculus produced into a

small upcurved projection.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.0 to 10.5 mm.

Superficially as described for male. Antennal scape

elongate as in male but without the median enlargement and scale tuft; shaft not dilated, width

about 0.8 that of male. Hindwing costal area simple; ground color paler, anal one-third generally

whitish. Genitalia similar to E. phoenicura (Figure 234, drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no. 2018;

one preparation examined); posterior apophyses

and VIII-IX intersegmental membrane elongate as

in phoenicura, VIII heavily sclerotized with anterior apophyses broad but very short, sterigmal

area protruding, ostium flanked by lobes with many

small spurs, antrum with sclerotized curled plate,

signum a very long, narrow, serrate fold.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, 34 miles south of Atlixco,

Puebla, June 27, 1957 (J. A. Chemsak); holotype

male in California Academy of Sciences.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mexico, Puebla

(Atlixco and Tehuacan).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June, July.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The hindwing modifications and

color relate this species to E. phoenicura, but the

specialization of the antenna scape in the male

and features of both male and female genitalia

easily distinguish zebrata.

Ethmia chemsaki Powell

FIGURES 116, 232, 233; PLATE tth

Ethmia chemsaki Powell, 1959:148, fig. 4.

Another red-tailed species from Puebla, Mexico,

simliar to E. zebrata but having narrower black

bands on the white forewing and lacking modification of the hindwing in the male.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 8.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus greatly elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; second segment rather strongly curved,

length about 1.7 times eye diameter; third segment

nearly 0.7 the length of second (about 1.15 eye

diameter); smooth scaled, white. Antenna slightly

modified, scape moderately elongate, length nearly

equal to eye diameter, not much enlarged; shaft

slightly dilated, width about 0.20 eye diameter;

dorsal scaling dark gray, scape white. Scaling of

front and crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white, collar deep metallic blue, scutellar area narrowly dark, reflecting blue. Underside mostly

white; tibiae and tarsi pale gray-brown, broadly

banded with white. Forewing: Broad, length about

2.9 times width; costa gently curved, nearly
NUMBER 120 153

straight; termen rather strongly angled back, nearly

straight. Ground color white, markings black,

faintly reflecting metallic blue, similar to E. zebrata

but reduced, the lines narrow (only about 0.3—0.4

eye diameter); three bands from costa to just above

dorsum, first near base, second at basal one-fourth,

third at about middle of wing with a spur projecting outward in cell; a fourth, broken band at about

end of cell, consisting of a line to end of cell, a

crescent at lower outer angle of cell and a short bar

on dorsum before tornus; a subapical crescent extending from costa to nearly upper end of crescent

at end of cell; a line along terminal margin from

above apex nearly to tornus. Fringe white. Underside pale brownish, white areas beyond retinaculum, along costa narrowly and on dorsal area.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; subcostal

areal simple; costa shallowly concave on distal onehalf. Ground color white, becoming brown toward

apical margin; fringe white. Underside similar,

costal and apical areas narrowly brown. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling brown, becoming white at lateral

and posterior margins of segments; ventrally mostly

white, each segment brown only basally; genital

scaling pale red, with a conspicuous white tuft

above uncus. Genitalia as in Figure 116 (drawn

from paratype, JAP prep. no. 321; one preparation

examined); uncus very broad, hoodlike, gnathos

narrow, attenuate extending nearly the length of

uncus; inner, posterior margin of sacculus produced into a strongly sclerotized projection.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing about 9.0 to 9.2

mm. Essentially as described for male. Antennal

scape elongate as in male; shaft scarcely smaller,

width basally 0.9 that of male. Hindwing and

abdomen slightly more whitish than male. Genitalia as in Figures 232, 233 (drawn from paratype,

JAP prep. no. 2275; two preparations examined);

similar to preceding species but posterior apophyses and VIII-IX intersegmental membrane shorter,

VIII heavily sclerotized with anterior apophyses

broad and short, sterigmal area elongate, with

heavily sclerotized lateral margins, its median portion not differentiated or protruding, ostium enclosed in deep fold between VII-VIII, antrum

enlarged, lightly sclerotized but without inner

plate, signum a small scobinate patch near juncture

of ductus.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, 34 miles south of Atlixco,

Puebla, June 27, 1957 (J. A. Chemsak); holotype

male in California Academy of Sciences.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

the type locality and from Canas, Guanacasta Province, Costa Rica.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This and the preceding two species

form a distinct subgroup which is most similar to

the Notatella complex according to coloration and

genital characters. Members of the present complex differ by lacking the thoracic scale brush and

peculiar aedeagus of males of notatella and allies.

THE NOTATELLA COMPLEX

A group of closely related forms, characterized by

shining white forewings with deep metallic blue

markings, that occurs through the islands of the

Caribbean but has remained too poorly collected

to permit firm conclusions on specific relationships.

Members of the complex are unique in several respects, notably the possession in the male of well

developed lateral, metathoracic brushes, which are

directed caudad. The anterior abdominal segments

are in some cases modified to form lateral receptables for the brushes. The males also differ superficially from the Phoenicura complex—to which

they are related by forewing color and genital characters—by usually ochreous rather than red genital

scaling.

Ethmia notatella was described from Santo Domingo in 1863 by Walker. A second name, xanthorrhoa, was proposed by Zeller in 1877 on the

basis of specimens from Puerto Rico, and it was

reported from Curacao by Snellen in 1887. The

later name was synonymized by Walsingham (1892)

and subsequent reports have treated the assemblage

as notatella. The species has been recorded in the

literature on a number of occasions, but I have

been unable to obtain males for study from most

areas.

Another species, E. hiramella in Cuba, was described by Busck in 1914. It differs from notatella

in details of forewing pattern and genitalia.

A third species, originally described as Hyponomeuta paucellus by Walker and also from Santo

Domingo, was placed as congeneric with notatella

by Walsingham (1892). E. paucella is of the same

general size and appearance as the preceding mem-
154 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

bers of the complex but has fewer spots on the

forewing. It was described from two males according to Walker, but the paratype forwarded to me

from the British Museum is a female, and it appears that the male has not been described. A

single male received from the Yale University collection has a forewing pattern identical to the

paucella female. The specimen, which was collected in Haiti, does not appear to be conspecific

on superficial bases, particularly owing to the peculiarly enlarged labial palpus and the ochreous

hindwing. However, the genital characters indicate

a definite relationship to the Notatella group, and

I am considering it to be the male of paucella.

Provided these interpretations are correct, the

group is composed of two allopatric species, hiramella, in Cuba, and the widespread notatella,

which is sympatric with a third species, paucella,

in Hispaniola. Whether any of the island populations of notatella should be considered specifically

or subspecifically distinct will have to be ascertained with accumulation of more material. Those

from more northern areas (Florida Keys and the

Bahamas) seem to differ slightly in forewing pattern, having the spots somewhat smaller and separated, but the species in general is rather variable

and specimens in series are not available. Males of

notatella from only three localities—Tavernier,

Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Constanza, Dominican Republic—have been examined during the

present investigation.

A fourth species, E. wellingi, the largest of the

New World Ethmiidae, is described below from

Yucatan and Costa Rica. It differs from Carribean

members of the complex by lack of abdominal

modifications for reception of the thoracic brush

and in Costa Rica by red rather than ochreous genital scaling.

Ethmia notatella (Walker)

FIGURES 118, 235-237; PLATES \e, Mi; MAP 47

Psecadia notatella Walker, 1863:536.-Butler, 1882:108.-

Walsingham, 1892:526, 546.

Ethmia notat;/fa.-Walsingham, 1897:90.-Busck, 1914c:56.-

Wolcott, 1923:203.-Forbes, 1930:133.

Psecadia xanthorrhoa Zeller, 1877:234, pi. 3, fig. 71.—Butler,

1882:108.-Snellen, 1887:65.-Moeschler, 1890:341.-Walsingham, 1892:528 [synonymy].

Ethmia xanthorrhoa.—Busck, 1914c:56, 57; 1934:166.

Ethmia sp.-Kimball, 1965:286.

MAP 47.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Notatella complex of Ethmia.

# E. notatella (Walker) (} E. hiramella Busck

A rather large Ethmia having white forewings

marked by diagonal rows of blue-black spots; widespread through the Caribbean area.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to 12.0 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of

antenna; second segment length about 1.2 times

eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, length

about 0.7 that of second; smooth scaled, white,

broadly banded with black on basal half of second and third segments exteriorly. Antenna modified, scape elongate, about 1.4—1.5 times eye

diameter, swollen towards middle, tapered beyond

with a dark scale tuft forming a notchlike depression dorsally; not dilated, width of shaft basally

only about 0.15 eye diameter; dorsal scaling complete, white, scape with black blotches basally and

apically, entirely white below. Scaling of tongue,

front and crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white, paired blue-black spots at bases of tegulae,

on collar near middle, and larger ones on pronotum adjoining tegulae and at sides of scutellum.

Underside white, trochanters tinged with ochreous,

tibiae and tarsi banded with deep blue-black, Metathorax laterally with an elongate hair pencil

(about as long as hind tibia), of about 40-60

ochreous hair-scales, extending along side of basal

abdominal segment. Forewing: Length 3.0 to 3.3

times width; costa very gently curved from base to

apex, apparently slightly straightened toward middle; termen rather strongly angled back. Ground
NUMBER 120 155

color white or cream-white, markings black, reflecting metallic blue-green as follows: extreme base

and costa basally, a rather large spot in cell near

base, preceded by a smaller one below it and basad

in dorsal area and followed by another in costal

area; three poorly defined diagonal rows nearly

parallel to termen, of distinct or partially coalesced

spots, first at basal one-third, of three spots, one in

cell and two in dorsal area, second row at middle,

of an irregular streak through cell and a spot in

dorsal area, third row from terminal area to dorsum just before tornus, sometimes complete, sometimes as two well-defined, separated spots; two

spots or areas of indistinct dusting in costal area

above cell; three small spots in apical area; a row

of dots at base of fringe from before apex nearly

to tornus. Fringe white with a black spot just below apex. Underside brown, costa with basal onethird blue-black, sending a broad white fringe to

cell, costa beyond and terminal fringe white, the

subapical black spot reproduced. Hindwing:

Broader than forewing; a weak, closed pinch-fold

between Sc and R, without enclosed specialized

scaling, costa as a result nearly straight to apex,

latter acute, termen strongly angled back and

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white,

becoming brown at apex; fringe white. Underside

similar, costal area pale brownish. Abdomen: Basal two segments modified laterally to form a

pouch-like receptacle which closes over the thoracic brushes; dorsal scaling pale gray, ventral and

lateral, white; genital scaling including large dorsolateral brushes of ninth segment, ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 118 (drawn from plesiotype,

Nassau, JAP prep. no. 1467; two preparations examined); tegumen with anterior lobes bearing

elongate scale tufts (not shown in figure); uncus

hoodlike, gnathos elongate, narrow, valva greatly

modified with a membranous pouch at distal end

and sacculus with heavily sclerotized inner, posterior portion sending a straight spur to end of

valva; aedeagus modified, distal half crooked.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.3 to 13.4 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, labial palpus as large; antennal scape smaller, length

about two thirds that of male, without the pronounced enlargement of male. Forewing variable,

length 3.0 to 3.5 times width; costal fringe of underside lacking; pattern variable, as in male. Hindwing subcostal area simple. Thoracic lateral

brushes present but greatly reduced, not extending

along abdomen; latter not modified. Genitalia as

in Figures 235-237 (drawn from plesiotype,

Florida, JAP prep. no. 2166; two preparations examined); posterior apophyses moderately elongate,

VII segment heavily sclerotized on ventral half, anterior apophyses rudimentary, sterigma an elaborate, ridged structure with large lateral depressed

lobes which meet behind base of ductus, subtended

by weakly sclerotized lateral lobes apparently derivative of the VII-VIII intersegmental membrane,

ductus rugose but otherwise without sclerotization,

signum a deep fold with large inner teeth.

TYPE DATA.—Santo Domingo; from Hearse collection; described from a single specimen, sex not

given, deposited in the British Museum (notatella);

"Portorico," 1 male, 1 female in Staudinger collection, presumably in Berlin Museum (xanthorrhoa).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Florida Keys, the

Bahama Islands, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the

Lesser Antilles; the latter based on Snellen's (1887)

record of the species in Curacao. I have not seen

specimens from areas south of Puerto Rico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March (Bahamas); April-May

(Haiti, Mona Island); June-July (Puerto Rico);

April, August-September (Florida Keys).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia hiramella Busck

FIGURES 121, 122, 239-241; PLATES 3a, IS;, 14a; MAP 47

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
156 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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.

Ethtnia paucella (Walker)

FIGURE 119; PLATES 1C, 146

Hyponomeuta paucellus Walker, 1863:530.

Psecadia paucella.—Walsingham, 1892:527346.

Ethtnia 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
NUMBER 120 157

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 onefourth; 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
158 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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.

Ethtnia wellingi Powell, new species

FIGURES 120, 238; PLATE 14C; MAP 46

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 denned, 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 Figures 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
NUMBER 120 159

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 j t 49 , v - (20-28)-55, 4 $, II - (4-29)-56, 2 $,

III-5, 16-56, 49 , IV-(7-9)-56 (E. C. Welling);

Costa Rica: Puntarenas, Monteverde, 4,600 feet;

1 $ , 11-18-60, lc?, 3$ , III-2, 3-60, ltf, 1$ ,

1-14, 29-61, 2 ? , XI-14, 24-61, 1 $, VII-5-61,2 $ ,

11-23, 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$, III—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 orangeochreous. 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.
160 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ethmia baliostola Walsingham

FIGURES 30, 31, 138, 257, 258; PLATE 16a; MAP 48

Ethmia baliostola Walsingham, 1912:144.—Meyrick, 1924:

I19.-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

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

% E. baliostola Walsingham A E. cubensis Busck
NUMBER 120 161

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.

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; MarchApril (Costa Rica), May-July and SeptemberOctober (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

FIGURE 139, PLATE 16b; MAP 48

Ethmia cubensis Busck, 1934:164, pi. 23, fig. 2; pi. 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
162 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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)

FICURES 32, 33, 123, 244, 245, 286, 291, 293, 294; PLATES 2d,

14d-e; MAP 49

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, pis. 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
NUMBER 120 163

MAP 49.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia confusella

(Walker).

two distinct spots in the dorsal area toward the

base.

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, semi translucent, 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.
164 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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 (cfc? 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

FICURES 124, 246, 247; PLATE 14/; MAP 50

Ethmia striatella Busck, 1913b:141.-Powell, 1959:136.

A Mexican species with gray-streaked forewings

and bright ochreous abdomen.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to about 11.0

mm. Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly

curved, well exceeding base of antenna; second

segment length 1.4 to 1.5 times eye diameter; third

segment 0.9 to 1.0 the length of second, distinctly

curved; smooth scaled, white, second and third

segments with subbasal and subapical broad, black

bands. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally

about 0.18 eye diameter; dorsal scaling sparse, gray.

Scaling of tongue and front whitish, becoming

gray at crown, occipital tufts black at middorsum.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale gray; collar and tegulae

darker at extreme base; pronotum with seven

blackish spots margined with whitish, lateral pairs

adjoining tegulae at collar, under tegulae apices

and at sides of scutellum, a single median one

preceding scutellum. Underside white, prothoracic

legs mostly dark brown exteriorly, mesothoracic

legs spotted with brownish; hind tibial fringe

rather dense, pale grayish ochreous. Forewing:

Length 3.2 to 3.5 times width; costa gently curved,

appearing flattened toward middle; termen strongly

angled back, broadly curved to dorsum, tornal

MAP 50.—Geographical distribution of members of the Confusella group of Ethmia.

% E. striatella Busck h, E. confusellastra Powell
NUMBER 120 165

angle scarcely evident. Ground color whitish gray,

more or less uniformly streaked with dark gray,

longitudinal, ill-defined markings, dorsal area with

a single ill-defined spot before middle; a row of

blackish dots around termen from before apex to

tornus. Fringe whitish. Underside dark brownish

gray, cell near base and dorsal area pale whitish

ochreous. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing;

costal area with a fold containing an elongate pale

ochreous hair pencil; costal margin nearly straight;

apex rather blunt, termen not strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color semi translucent white near base, narrowly or rather broadly

dark brownish in apical area; fringe whitish. Underside similar, costal area brownish. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling uniform ochreous; underside whitish

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 124 (drawn from

plesiotype, Matamoros, Puebla, JAP prep. no. 1118;

one preparation examined); similar to confusella,

valva narrower, cornutus less ornate.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.7 to 10.1 mm.

Essentially as described for male, coloration indistinguishable. Eye and labial palpus about the same

size as in male. Antenna not appreciably smaller

than in male. Hindwing costal area simple.

Genitalia similar to confusella, distal portion of

antrum with two well-defined sclerotized patches,

signum with multiserial, large teeth (Figures 246,

247, drawn from plesiotype, 34 mi S Atlixco, Puebla,

JAP prep. no. 2554; two preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Mexico; Tehuacan, Puebla, June

(R. Miiller); unique male type in U.S. National

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Thorn forest areas

of central Mexico; Puebla and Sinaloa (foothills

east of Villa Union).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June and September (Puebla);

late July (Sinaloa).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This species has a nondescript forewing pattern resembling confusella, cubensis, and

flavicaudata, but the entirely ochreous abdomen

will at once separate E. striatella.

Ethmia duckworthi Powell, new species

FIGURE 127; PLATE 14g

A rather large Ethmia from Panama superficially

resembling E. baliostola but having genital characters of the Confusella group.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.9 to 12.6 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; length of second segment about 1.45

eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length

about 0.95 that of second; smooth scaled, white,

second segment with basal, submedian and subapical black bands, third segment with slightly

broader submedian and preapical black bands.

Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.23

eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish gray, becoming

dark gray beyond basal one-third. Scaling of tongue,

front, and crown whitish; occipital tufts broadly

black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale

gray, pronotum with three lateral pairs of moderately large black spots, adjoining tegulae at collar,

at tegulae apices and at sides of scutellum, a

smaller, median spot preceding scutellum. Underside pale whitish gray, protibiae and mesotibiae and

tarsi spotted exteriorly with black; hind tibial

fringe dense, pale whitish ochreous. Forewing:

Length 3.1-3.2 times width; costa gently curved,

appearing flattened toward middle; termen moderately strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle

distinct. Ground color whitish, more or less uniformly covered by irregular, mostly ill-defined, dark

brownish gray longitudinal streaks and spots, dorsal

area before middle and terminal area paler, the

latter crossed just below apex by an elongate blotch

(as in E. baliostola and lichyi); two dorsal spots as

in confusella, the inner one nearly obsolete, joined

to a dark area on Cu, the outer one distinct (as in

baliostola); a row of distinct, black dots around

terminal margin from well before apex to tornus.

Fringe whitish, irregularly speckled with dark

grayish. Underside dark brownish, dorsal area and

a blotch around retinaculum pale. Hindwing:

Slightly broader than forewing; costal area simple,

a slight pinch-fold between Sc and R, without hair

pencil; costal margin as a result convex at about

end of cell, nearly straight to apex, termen moderately strongly angled back, broadly curved to

dorsum. Ground color whitish basally, semitranslucent, becoming dark brown at apical area and

along dorsal margin; fringe white. Underside more

uniformly white, pale brownish along costal and

apical margins. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish

gray, ventral whitish, genital ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 127 (drawn from para type, JAP prep,

no. 1520; two preparations examined); similar to
166 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

E. striatella, basal processes broader, the flat spines

at apex of valva, broad, curved, vesica with about

three curved plates, the apical one with fine spines

as in confusella.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 12.7 to 13.4 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye and labial

palpus as large as in male, antenna smaller. Forewing slightly broader, length about 2.9 to 3.1 times

width. Coloration similar to male, dark markings

slightly more extensive on both forewings and hindwings. Genitalia quite similar to E. confusella

(Figure 244), with the signum teeth enlarged

nearly as in E. striatella (Figure 246) (one preparation examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Panama, Barro Colorado Island, May 1—9, 1964,

and May 10-17, 1964 (W. D. and S. S. Duckworth);

deposited in U.S. National Museum: Five paratypes,

same locality: 2cf <?, 1 $, VII-24-63 (M. E. Irwin

and D. Q. Cavagnaro), 1$, V-(10-17)-64, ltf.

V-(24-28)-64 (W. D. and S. S. Duckworth).

Deposited in collections of California Academy of

Sciences, California Insect Survey, and U.S. National

Museum.

REMARKS.—One additional female with the same

data as the allotype is referred here provisionally

on the basis of the elongate third segment of the

labial palpus. The moth is appreciably smaller

(forewing length 10.4 mm.) and differs further by

a general darker grayish appearance which is

particularly emphasized on the hindwing.

Ethmia sandra Powell, new species

FIGURES 126, 248; PLATES 3d, 14t

A moderately large Central American member of

the Confusella group that resembles the eastern

Nearctic E. zelleriella but has the abdomen

entirely ochreous.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.0 to 11.4 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved,

well exceeding crown; second segment curved,

length 1.4 times eye diameter; third nearly straight,

about 0.87 as long as second; first segment white,

second and third blackish dusted with white at

middle and tip. Antenna not dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.16 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

whitish to grayish. Scaling of tongue whitish, front

and crown grayish, with a large blue-black, median

spot posteriorly. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale

brownish gray; seven black spots, three pairs at

sides of notum and scutellum and a small median

spot preceding scutellum. Metathoracic brushes

short, not obscuring the broadly scaled scutellum,

both ochreous. Underside whitish, legs grayish,

metathoracic tibiae and tarsi ochreous. Forewing:

Length 3.4—3.5 times width; costa evenly curved,

fringe short, giving an oval appearance to wing.

Ground color uniform pale gray, at times an irregular, whitish clouding around markings, latter black,

longitudinally elongate spots (about three times

longer than wide): a broken spot at base of costa,

five spots in cell, a roundish spot at end of cell, a

curving row of about six spots parallel to termen,

one spot on Cu fold beyond middle (the largest

mark of the wing), and one spot in dorsal area at

basal one-third. A row of about eleven dots around

termen from costa well before apex to tornus.

Fringe pale gray. Underside pale brown, a whitish

spot through cell with some apparently specialized,

pale ochreous scaling. Hindwing: Costa tightly

folded over to end of cell, enclosing a thick white

hair pencil, with a sparse ochreous, exterior fringe

(ventral surface of wing); costa slightly convex

beyond, apex narrow, round. Ground color semitranslucent whitish, becoming brown at margins

beyond middle and in apical area; anal area tinged

with ochreous, hair tuft of 2A unusually large,

ochreous. Underside similar, costal area also

tinged with ochreous. Abdomen: Scaling entirely

ochreous, venter paler; first tergum with apparently

specialized, short, brighter colored scales. Genitalia

as in Figure 126 (drawn from paratopotype, JAP

prep. no. 2177; three preparations examined);

similar to E. confusella, differing primarily by a

more elongate membranous uncus and by three

evenly spaced, enlarged, flat spines of the distal,

produced portion of the valva.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.2 to 12.7 mm.

Generally as described for male. Labial palpus

ranging to more elongate, second segment 1.41—1.55

times eye diameter, third less variable, 0.80—0.93

as long as second; antenna not narrower than male.

Forewing slightly broader, length 3.2 times width;

markings usually somewhat larger than on male

(evident when specimens viewed in series). Hindwing costal area simple; hair tuft of 2A enlarged,

as in male. Abdomen scaled as in male except
NUMBER 120 167

genital scaling short. Genitalia similar to confusella,

sterigma broader, mostly membranous, antrum

with a defined plate (Figure 248, drawn from

paratype, Turrialba, Costa Rica, JAP prep. no.

2361; two preparations examined); signurn as in E.

striatella.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female: El

Salvador, 13 km north of San Salvador, February

4, 1965 (W. D. and S. S. Duckworth); deposited in

U.S. National Museum. Fifty-seven paratypes, as

follows: El Salvador, same data as holotype, 12 c? c?»

30? $; Cojutepeque, 5 c? cf, 6$ $, II-9-65 (S. S.

and W. D. Duckworth); Costa Rica, Turrialba,

2c?d\ 2$$ , III-1/6-65 (S. S. and W. D.

Duckworth). Deposited in California Insect Survey

and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—Although no host plant information

is available, oviposition by this species evidently

occurs into flowers. All female specimens possess

considerable pollen on the abdomen (Plate 3d),

a phenomenon not observed in any other ethmiid.

Samples from the moths were examined by R. W.

Thorp, University of California, Davis, and confirmed as nucleate pollen grains, although no

taxonomic designation could be made.

Ethmia confusellastra Powell, new species

FIGURES 125, 252; PLATE Uh; MAP 50

This species, which occurs in the Yucatan Peninsula

and Cuba, resembles a small, pale E. confusella, but,

in addition to genital characteristics, it differs in

lacking a hindwing costal fold and hair pencil.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.4 to 7.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base of

antenna; second segment length 1.3 to 1.5 times eye

diameter; third segment slightly curved, length

0.85-0.90 that of second; smooth scaled, white,

second and third segments with subbasal and

subapical black bands, those of third broader.

Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally

0.21-0.23 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish gray.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown whitish gray,

occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal

scaling pale gray with some blackish spots (not

distinguishable on material examined, perhaps

seven, as on E. confusella). Underside white, protibiae and mesotibiae and tarsi spotted with blackish exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.1 to 3.3. times

width; costa gently curved, apparently slightly

flattened beyond middle; termen moderately

strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle a broad

curve. Ground color white, generally somewhat

infused with pale grayish (less so than in E.

confusella); markings brownish gray, ill-defined, as

elongated spots and streaks more or less evenly

distributed; dorsal area below cell with a single

pale gray spot at basal one-fourth and two darker

spurs protruding from markings near base and in

outer part of cell; a row of nine or ten blackish

spots at base of fringe from before apex to tornus.

Fringe white with a small brownish spot just below

apex. Underside brownish gray, dorsal area and a

spot beyond retinaculum whitish. Hindwing: About

as broad as forewing; costal area simple, without

fold or hair pencil; costal margin with a narrow,

white fringe, slightly convex beyond middle.

Ground color white, semitranslucent, becoming

brownish at distal margins; fringe white. Underside

similar, costal and distal areas indistinctly mottled

with pale brownish gray. Abdomen: First two

segments dorsally with small scales, giving a smooth

appearance, tinged with dark ochreous, paler than

the brownish gray scaling of the remaining segments; underside white; genital scaling dull ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 125 (drawn from

paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1077; two preparations

examined); similar to E. confusella, differing by the

narrower valva and biordinate elongate flat spurs

at the apex of the valva.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.0 to 7.4 mm. As

described for male; eye a little smaller, labial

palpus as elongate. Antenna not dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.8 that of male. Genitalia

similar to confusella, sterigma differing slightly,

with a median, sclerotized streak, antrum unsclerotized (Figure 252, drawn from paratype, JAP prep,

no. 2281; one preparation examined); signum as in

striatella.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Chichen Itza, February 25, 1956, and May

9, 1955 (E. C. Welling); deposited in California

Academy of Sciences. Five paratypes: Same data

except 2c?c?, V-9-55, 3$ $, 111-16-56, V-8-56,

V-26-55; deposited in collections of California

Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—Three additional males and one female from Cuba in the British Museum and the
168 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

U.S. National Museum have been examined but

are not designated as paratypes. The specimens

differ by having a more elongate, more strongly

curved second segment of the labial palpus (1.5

times eye diameter) and a slightly narrower forewing (length about 3.3 times width). In addition,

the forewings are somewhat darker in the Cuban

examples. The genitalia, however, are indistinguishable from the Mexican material, and the

male possesses no costal fold or hair pencil on the

hindwing, a feature which serves to separate

confusellastra from all other members of the

Longimaculella-Baliostola-Confusella groups.

Ethtnia julia Powell, new species

PLATE 15&; MAP 51

Ethmia [Tpaucella (Walker)]; Kimball [not Walker, 1863]

1965:286.

A small, gray Caribbean moth that looks like a pale

edition of E. linda with an additional spot in the

costal area beyond the middle. Subsequent to

writing the following description on the basis of

two females from Puerto Rico, I received examples

which appear to be conspecific, from the Florida

Keys, upon which the male is characterized.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.6-5.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, well exceeding base of antenna; length of second segment

1.1 times eye diameter; third segment curved, 1.1

as long as second (1.25 times eye diameter).

Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally

about 0.22 eye diameter. General coloration as

described for female, ground color of forewing at

times less broadly tinged with grayish. Hindwing:

Costa narrowly folded to about middle, enclosing a

thick, dark gray hair pencil. Ground color slightly

paler than in female, whitish near base, becoming

brownish distally. Abdomen: Genitalia virtually

indistinguishable from E. humilis (Figure 128;

one preparation of julia examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 5.8-6.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus greatly elongate, strongly curved,

well exceeding crown; second segment length 1.2

times eye diameter (eye smaller than in male);

third segment strongly curved, 1.3 times length of

second (over 1.5 times eye diameter); smooth

scaled, white, a broad, dark brown subapical band

on third segment. Antenna not dilated, width of

shaft about 0.9 that of male; dorsal scaling whitish.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white, occipital

tuft with a small brown spot at middorsum. Thorax:

White, notum with two pairs of dark brown spots,

adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum,

MAP 51.—Geographical distribution of members of the Confusella and Joviella groups of Ethmia,

superficially similar, allopatric species which form a circum-Caribbean ring.

• E. linda Busck (J E. julia Powell

0 E. joviella Walsingham Q £. humilis Powell
NUMBER 120 169

the latter pair nearly fused. Underside white, fore

and midtibiae and tarsi marked exteriorly with

brown. Forewing: Length 3.0—3.1 times width;

costa very gently curved, almost straight towards

middle, apex rather blunt, termen not strongly

angled back. Ground color white, tinged with pale

brownish gray in costal area, more broadly so

towards end of cell and less conspicuously so over

remainder of wing, or evenly over whole wing.

Markings round, blackish dots, more or less

uniform in size (about 0.6 eye diameter) and

spacing; pattern as in E. linda, with an additional spot just above cell beyond middle: one spot

at base of costa, continued along extreme costal

edge to another spot at basal one-fourth, a row of

three dots, upwardly oblique from dorsal area at

basal one-fifth, toward midcosta, the first below Gu,

followed by two in cell; a second, almost parallel

row of four spots from dorsal area at basal onethird to costa before apex, the first just above dorsal

margin, second adjoining Cu before end of cell,

third adjoining end of cell, fourth before apex; a

single spot, largest of the wing, in tornal area, and

a large, somewhat elongate one just below and

beyond subapical one; a row of dots around

terminal margin to above tornus. Each dot accented

by a border of white. Fringe white with a brownish

tinge below apex. Underside pale brown, a whitish

area in cell beyond retinaculum. Hindwing: Costal

area simple, costa slightly convex before apex, latter

rather blunt, termen only moderately strongly

angled back. Ground color translucent white, becoming brownish distally; fringe white becoming

brownish toward apex. Underside irregularly

blotched with brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

pale ochreous-gray, ventral white. Genitalia indistinguishable from that of E. humilis (Figure 249).

TYPES.—Holotype female: Puerto Rico, Isabela

Substation, April 24, 1930 (Cornell University Lot.

795, Sub 41). One paratype female: Rio Piedras,

Puerto Rico, September 21, 1930 (no further data).

Both deposited in Cornell University collection.

Additional specimens subsequently examined, from

Florida: Monroe County: Key Largo, 1 Q", X-7-65,

1 $ , VI-28-66, 2c?, 3$ , VII-12 to VIII-18-67,

1 $, "11/2/67" (Mrs. S. Kemp); Tavernier, 1$,

IX-14-55 (J. N. Todd); Plantation Key, 1$,

IV-8-66 (C. P. Kimball collection); not designated

as paratypes. The present species resembles E. linda

and joviella but bears additional forewing spots

and has paler hindwings. In addition, the greatly

elongated third segment of the labial palpus serves

to distinguish E. julia from any related species I

have seen.

REMARKS.—The holotype bears a label in Busck's

handwriting stating that the species could not be

matched in Meyrick's collection in 1932. The

paratype has labels in Forbes' hand indicating that

the specimen was compared with the type of E.

joviella and it differed by the above mentioned

features and that the British Museum has a specimen of the present species from the Bahamas

determined as E. joviella.

Ethmia humilis Powell, new species

FIGURES 128, 249; PLATE 15c-d; MAP 51

A small, nondescript tan moth in Jamaica.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.4 mm. Head: Labial

palpus greatly elongate, strongly curved, exceeding

crown; second segment length 1.25 eye diameter;

third segment curved, as long as second; smooth

scaled, whitish or pale tan. Antenna slightly dilated,

width near base 0.19 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

sparse, tan. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown

whitish, tinged with tan. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

concolorous with head; underside whitish; protarsi

and mesotarsi indistinctly mottled with brown.

Forewing: Length 3.2 times width; costa nearly

straight along middle one-third; apex blunt, termen

only moderately angled back. Ground color tan

with some scarcely discernible slightly darker spots

which in part indicate the pattern shown by E.

julia: two or three above Cu fold before middle,

one in dorsal area at basal one-fourth, one at end

of cell and one just below and beyond; a row of

darker, more distinct dots around terminal margin,

fringe tan. Underside brownish gray, darker than

upperside. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing,

costa with a tightly appressed fold to end of cell,

slightly convex beyond; apex acute, termen moderately strongly angled back. Ground color whitish,

slightly tinged with brownish distally; fringe white.

Underside similar, costal area brownish. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling pale grayish tan, ventral and genital

whitish. Genitalia as in Figure 128 (drawn from

holotype, JAP. prep. no. 1312; one preparation

examined); uncus lacking, basal processes very re-
170 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

duced; valva with broad setose apical flap bearing

short "plume," and distally with three curved,

strong, large setae, valva emarginate below; vesica

with a series of flat spinelike cornuti.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.3 to 6.7 mm. As

described for male; labial palpus slightly more

elongate than in male, second segment 1.3—1.4

times eye diameter, third 1.0—1.1 as long as second,

antenna not dilated, width of shaft about 0.15 eye

diameter. Forewing markings ranging to more

distinct than male in the limited sample available.

Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia as in Figure

249 (drawn from para type, JAP prep. no. 2556;

one preparation examined); sterigma simple, subtended by a short, sclerotized sleeve and a membranous antrum, signum lacking.

TYPES.—Holotype male: Jamaica, Constant

Spring, St. Andrew Parish, July 21-22, 1962 (T.

Fair, O. and R. Flint), deposited in U.S. National

Museum. Allotype female: Same locality, December

27, 1904 (Walsingham), deposited in British

Museum. Three paratypes: 1 $, same data as allotype; 2$ , Runaway Bay, Jamaica, 11-24-1905

(Walsingham), deposited in collections of British

Museum and California Insect Survey.

REMARKS.—One of the paratypes bears the manuscript name "Psecadia humilis Wlsm.," which I

have retained since specimens so identified may

have gotten into other collections.

Ethmia farrella Powell, new species

FIGURES 129, 250, 251; PLATE 15a

A small Caribbean moth resembling E. confusella,

but darker and with a single basal spot in the

dorsal area of the narrow forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.7 mm. Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, strongly curved, well

exceeding crown; second segment length 1.0-1.2

times eye diameter; third segment curved, length

1.1 that of second; smooth scaled, white, second segment with broad subbasal and narrower preapical

dark bands exteriorly, third with some ill-defined

dusky scaling basally and a narrow preapical dark

band. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling gray. Remainder of head scaling mostly lacking from holotype, whitish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling gray

(damaged), tegulae paler, paired dark spots adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum.

Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic

tibiae and tarsi marked with dark brown exteriorly. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length 3.5—3.6

times width; apex rather blunt, termen strongly

angled back. Ground color whitish, heavily, nearly

uniformly, streaked with longitudinal dark gray

blotches, the most well defined of which are a single oblong spot in dorsal area at one-fourth (at

times obliterated), a smudge toward end of cell, a

smaller mark at end of cell, subtended by a similar spot above tornus, and followed by a streak

through terminal area; a row of ill-defined dots

around terminal margin, nearly coalesced. Fringe

whitish. Underside brown, paler towards dorsum.

Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa

with a narrow, tightly appressed fold, bearing exteriorly a whitish fringe and enclosing an elongate,

thin, white hair pencil; apex acute, termen very

strongly angled back, the wing shape sublanceolate.

Ground color semitranslucent white, tinged with

brownish distally; fringe white. Underside similar,

the brownish restricted to costal area. Abdomen:

Scaling gray, paler ventrally. Genitalia as in Figure 129 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1313;

two preparations examined); uncus elongate, membranous, basal processes short; valva with elongate

apical "plume" setate along entire length, subtended by a setate lobe at end of costa, distal margin with five elongate, spinelike setae and an

asymmetrically bifid process; vesica with ill-defined,

elongate cornuti.

FEMALE.—A single damaged specimen examined,

which is presumed to represent this species, may

be characterized as follows. Forewing length 6.5

mm; palpi lacking; antenna not dilated, width of

shaft near base 0.17 eye diameter; forewing pattern evidently as in male; hindwing costal area

simple. Genitalia similar to confusella; sterigma

broadly sclerotized with VIII sternite, ostium subtended by a short sclerotized sleeve and an enlarged, membranous antrum, signum with a row

of flat, blunt teeth (Figures 250, 251, drawn from

plesiotype, Jamaica, JAP prep. no. 2155; one preparation examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male: Jamaica, near Farmouth, Trelawny Parish, July 28, 1962 (T. Farr,

O. and R. Flint); deposited in U.S. National Museum. Two paratypes: male, Florida, Key Largo,
NUMBER 120 171

Monroe County, VI-7-67 (Mrs. S. Kemp), in collection of C. P. Kimball, Barnstable, Massachusetts; female (not designated as allotype), Jamaica,

Hardwar Gap, Portland Parish, July 9, 1965 (H. F.

Howden), deposited in California Insect Survey.

REMARKS.—Two additional specimens from Key

Largo (cf,$,IX-5-67) were received after the

above description was written and are not designated as paratypic. The female is larger (forewing

7.4 mm), with a slightly more elongate labial palpus.

The Longimaculella Group

Eye index 1.0—1.1. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, 4-segmented, lengths about 1:1:1:2. Labial

palpus usually elongate, II segment index 1.3—1.9;

smooth scaled. Antenna of male moderately dilated, index 0.20—0.28. Forewing moderately broad;

pattern longitudinal blackish streaks or costal-dorsal. Hindwing of male with costal brush and costal or (rarely) pinch-fold. Abdomen entirely

ochreous or anal scaling ochreous. Uncus membranous; gnathos absent; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with or without cucullus

"plume" and modified scalelike setae that are bifid

apically; fultura-manica simple; vesica armed.

Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior

apophyses elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged with sclerotized band; ductus bursae sclerotized basally or membranous, 3—12 tight coils;

signum a notched keel.

A rather homogeneous array of 13 nocturnal,

primarily Neotropical species that show the widest

geographical range of any New World group. Features of the genitalia in both sexes indicate no

relationship to Old World components of the

genus.

Ethtnia coronata Walsingham

FIGURE 130, PLATE \be; MAP 52

Ethmia coronata Walsingham, 1912:145, pi. 5, fig. 6.—Busck,

1914c:54.

Ethmia abdominella Busck, 1912:85; 1914c:54.-Powell, 1959:

145 [new synonymy].

A large Ethmia in central Mexico with ochreous

abdomen and the forewing dark gray on costal half,

pale gray on dorsal half.

MALE.—Length of forewing 12.7 to 13.7 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; second segment length 1.6 times eye

diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.88

that of second (1.4 times eye diameter); smooth

scaled, whitish gray with black submedian and

subapical bands on second and third segments.

Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally

0.21—0.24 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray,

scape whitish at base. Scaling of tongue whitish,

front whitish becoming pale gray at crown, occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale gray; tegula narrowly black at base and

seven rather large, black spots on pronotum, narrowly edged with white: paired spots adjoining collar and tegula, under apices of tegulae, at sides of

scutellum and a single spot preceding scutellar

area at middorsum. Metathoracic scutellum scaled,

ochreous. Underside white, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs spotted with brownish black, metalegs with pale brownish. Forewing: Length about

3.3 times width; costa evenly, gently curved from

base to apex, termen strongly angled back, tornal

angle scarcely evident. Ground color dark gray on

costal half, pale gray, narrowly edged with white

on dorsal, the dividing line distinct, irregular, extending below Cu as two broad spurs before middle

and a narrow one beyond cell, extended above Cu

as an outwardly angled, jagged spur at end of cell

and angled in terminal area to midtermen; area

just above line darkest, nearly black, becoming

paler toward costa; poorly defined pale blotches

along costa at one-third, two-thirds and at apex;

dorsal area before middle with two distinct black

spots narrowly edged with white, the inner one

slightly elongate, nearly adjoining the first dark

spur from costal half; terminal margin with a row

of blackish dots from costa to tornus. Fringe pale

grayish, interrupted below apex by a blackish gray

streak from terminal area. Underside dark brownish gray, dorsal area and a blotch beyond retinaculum whitish ochreous. Hindwing: About as broad

as forewing; costal area with a broad, closed pinchfold between C and Sc containing a thick, elongate

brush of whitish ochreous hair scales; costal margin

as a result nearly straight; apex acute, termen very

strongly angled back, tornal angle not evident.

Ground color white, semitranslucent, reflecting

purplish, becoming brownish in apical area.

Fringe whitish except basally. Underside similar,
172 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 52.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Longimaculella group of Ethmia.

0 E. coronata Walsingham A E. nigritaenia Powell

costal area brownish. Abdomen: Scaling entirely

ochreous, slightly paler ventrally. Genitalia as in

Figure 130 (drawn from plesiotype, Tehuacan,

Puebla, JAP prep. no. 1130; two preparations

examined); uncus slightly sclerotized, greatly

elongate, valva with apical process sparsely setate,

distal end of saccular area with a narrow, bare,

flat projection, vesica without definite sclerotization.

FEMALE.—Not examined in detail. There is only

one known specimen: length of forewing 16.0 mm;

labial palpus more elongate than in male, second

segment 2.0, third 1.5 times eye diameter. Generally as described for male in external features;

hindwing unmodified. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Chilpancingo, Guerrero,

June (H. H. Smith), unique male in British Museum {coronata); Tehuacan, Puebla, October 10

(R. Muller), holotype male in U.S. National Museum (abdominella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—South-central Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June, September, October.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—Through the efforts of Mr. Tremewan of the British Museum (Natural History), I

have been able to examine photographs of the type

male and accompanying genitalia slide of Walsingham's E. coronata, which was described from a

unique specimen. The identity of the species as

that of the same moth to which Busck applied the

name abdominella was evident. The figure in the

Biologia of this quite distinctive, rather dark gray

Ethmia with a bright ochreous abdomen, is misleading.

Busck's name abdominella is the only one among

the 90-odd names proposed by previous workers

which I have discovered to be a new synonym;

ironically it was published within one month of

coronata. The section of the Biologia containing

the original description bears the date May 1912,

while Volume 14, Number 2 of the Proceedings of

the Entomological Society of Washington, carrying

abdominella, is dated June 19, 1912.

Ethmia nigritaenia Powell, new species

FIGURES 131, 253; PLATE 15/; MA P 52

A moderately large Ethmia in northern Central

America that has gray forewings bearing a conspicuous longitudinal, median black streak from

base to apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to 13.0 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.3

to 1.5 times eye diameter; third segment slightly

curved, length 0.83-0.90 that of second (1.1 to 1.4

times eye diameter); smooth scaled, white, second

segment mostly blackish exteriorly on basal half,

with a narrow subapical ring, third segment with

basal spot and broad submedian and subapical

black rings. Antenna dilated, width of shaft basally 0.24-0.26 eye diameter; dorsal scaling pale

gray, scape whitish. Scaling of tongue, front, and

crown shining white; occipital tufts dark brown at

middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish gray,

pronotum with seven small black spots: lateral

pairs adjoining tegulae at collar, under apices of

tegulae, at sides of scutellum, a single median spot

preceding scutellum. Underside white, prolegs and

mesolegs heavily marked with dark brown; hind

tibial fringe dense, whitish. Forewing: Moderately

broad, length 3.1 to 3.2 times width; costa gently

curved, appearing flattened towards apex (owing to

fringe); termen moderately strongly angled back,

straight; tornal angle distinct. Ground color whitish gray, clouded with pale brownish gray except

at terminal margin; a more or less well defined
NUMBER 120 173

median blackish streak from base to apex, filling

most of cell near base, narrowed at about middle

of cell, sending a short, ill-defined spur into dorsal

area and broadened towards end of cell where it is

interrupted by a well-defined white spur from dorsal area, thence broad again in terminal area and

narrowed at margin, crossing fringe; an ill-defined

brownish spot in dorsal area at one-fourth, at times

a few similar spots in costal and dorsal areas at and

beyond end of cell; a row of blackish dots around

terminal margin from before apex to tornus.

Fringe whitish, interrupted by dark streak below

apex. Underside brownish, paler along dorsal area

to end of cell and in cell beyond retinaculum.

Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; a broad

costal fold to end of cell, enclosing a thick brush

of elongate hair scales from base; costal margin

nearly straight, slightly convex at end of cell; termen strongly angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color white, semitranslucent,

becoming pale brownish at distal margins. Underside similar, area of costal fold brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brown, ventral whitish, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 131

(drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1513;

four preparations examined); uncus elongate, moderately well sclerotized; valva apex produced into

an elongate "plume"; apex of saccular area produced as a broad extension.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 12.4 to 14.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male, except larger and

darker; labial palpus more elongate, second segment length about 1.7 times eye diameter (eye as

large as in male), third segment about 0.8 as long as

second (about 1.4 times eye diameter). Forewing

markings as in male, the whole pattern at times

darker. Hindwing costal area simple; ground color

darker than male, distal one third mostly dark

brown. Abdomen coloration similar to male,

darker. Genitalia as in Figure 253 (drawn from

paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 2557; two preparations

examined); posterior apophyses elongate, thin;

sterigma simple, bowl-shaped, lightly sclerotized,

subtended by a heavily sclerotized sleeve and a

ventrally membranous, dorsally sclerotized antrum;

ductus membranous with about four tight coils;

signum an inwardly directed ridge with rounded

emargination, flanged on one side.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, February 14 and

January 18, 1956 (E. C. Welling), deposited in

collections of the California Academy of Sciences.

One hundred thirteen paratypes, as follows:

Mexico: Chichen Itza, Yucatan, £<?» 1$, II—(11—

15)-56, ltf, 111-17-56, ld \ IV-6-56, 1$, VI-18-

55, lcf, VII-9-54, ltf, VII-24-55, ltf, X-14-55

(E. C. Welling), ltf, IX-15-52 (J. and D. Pallister); Merida, Yucatan, 55 cf, 41$, VII-29/30-64

(P. J. Spangler); Piste, Yucatan, 1 $, VI-8-59 (M.

and P. Vaurie); "Port. Guatulca" (state unknown),

lcf,XII-3-37 (Zaca Exped.). Guatemala: Cayuga,

1$, VIII (Schaus and Barnes); "Guatemala", lc?

(no date given) (W. Schaus). British Honduras:

Orange Walk, 1 $, VIII-47 (no further data). Deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History, British Museum, California Insect

Survey, Carnegie Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

Ethtnia subnigritaenia Powell, new species

FIGURE 132

A Mexican species resembling nigritaenia but with

the median, longitudinal black band of the forewing less distinct, irregular, and narrow at base.

The description is based on specimens in poor

condition.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.4 to 12.3 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, well

exceeding base of antenna; second segment length

1.5—1.6 times eye diameter; third segment 0.85 the

length of second, slightly curved; smooth scaled,

white, second segment broadly blackish basally and

with a narrow subapical band, third segment with

submedian and subapical black bands. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.22

eye diameter; dorsal scaling grayish. Scaling of

tongue, front, and crown whitish gray; occipital

tufts brownish black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling gray with scattered whitish flecks, pronotum margined laterally with blackish (the first

two pairs of spots of related species enlarged and

coalesced), small blackish spots at sides of and preceding scutellum at middorsum. Scaling of metathoracic scutellum ochreous. Underside white, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs marked exteriorly

with blackish brown. Forewing: Moderately narrow, length about 3.5 times width; costa gently,
174 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

evenly curved from base to apex; termen very

steeply angled back (adding to narrow appearance), tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground color

whitish gray, infused with dark grayish clouding,

slightly less so on dorsal and terminal areas; a

median longitudinal black band from base to

apex, somewhat indistinct and irregular, narrow

at base, nearly confined to Cu fold, broadened in

outer half of cell and sending a spur into dorsal

area, narrowed again and broken at end of cell,

then continued to termen; some short, thin, blackish longitudinal streaks in costal and dorsal areas

beyond middle; a partial row of obscure spots

around margin subtending fringe. Fringe whitish,

broken just below apex by the dark terminal streak.

Underside brownish, dorsal area and cell paler.

Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; a broad

costal fold, enclosing a dense brush of elongate,

whitish ochreous hair scales from base; costal margin nearly straight; termen strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color whitish,

semitranslucent, becoming pale brownish in apical

area. Fringe white. Underside similar, costal fold

area ochreous-brown. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

pale ochreous, ventral whitish, genital ochreous.

Genitalia as in Figure 132 (drawn from paratype,

Tehuacan, JAP prep. no. 1124; two preparations

examined); similar to E. nigritaenia, apex of valva

short, not drawn out into a narrow "plume."

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPES.—Holotype male: "Mexico, R. Muller,

4665"; the genitalia slide bears the additional data

in Busck's handwriting "Mexico City"; deposited

in U.S. National Museum. Two male paratypes:

Mexico, Tehuacan, Puebla, V-21-41 (C. C. Hoffmann); deposited in collections of American Museum of Natural History and California Insect Survey.

Ethtnia catapeltica Meyrick

FICURES 13S, 134, 242, 243; PLATE 15g; MAP 53

Ethmia catapeltica Meyrick, 1924:119.-Clarke, 1955a:76;

1965:422.

Ethmia flavicaudata.—Busck [not Walsingham, 1912],

1934:165 [in part?].

A widespread species in Central America and

northern South America which is superficially similar to E. flavicaudata; differing usually by slightly

more extensive white ground color of the forewing

MAP 53.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia catapeltica

Meyrick.

and by a smaller, dark, costal hair fringe on the

hindwing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.6 to 13.0 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; second segment length 1.2-1.4 eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length 0.85-

1.0 that of second (1.0—1.4 times eye diameter);

smooth scaled, white, second segment broadly black

basally, narrow subapically, third segment with

submedian and preapical black bands. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally 0.20-0.22 eye

diameter; dorsal scaling whitish to about onefourth, becoming gray beyond. Scaling of tongue,
NUMBER 120 173

front, and crown white, lightly tinged with gray,

occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale grayish white, four rather large,

black spots laterally adjoining apices of tegulae

and at sides of scutellum. Underside white, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs spotted with black

exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.1-3.4 times width;

costa gently curved from base to apex, flattened

or very slightly concave at about middle; termen

moderately strongly angled back, straight, tornal

angle distinct. Ground color whitish, markings

dark brownish gray, variable from an almost complete replacement of ground color to a rather distinct pattern resembling E. lichyi, the gray reduced

to more or less well defined blotches above Cu and

two distinct spots on an otherwise unmarked dorsal

area; most individuals intermediate, with an illdefined pattern showing two outwardly oblique

bars from costa before middle, one before apex and

a streak through end of cell into dorsal area (on

heavily marked specimens this pattern remains

discernible, slightly darker than remainder of markings); a row of about nine distinct, blackish dots

around termen subtending fringe; latter white with

a light brownish spot below apex. Underside

brown, dorsal area and a blotch beyond retinaculum paler. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing;

a tightly appressed costal fold to beyond cell, bearing a sparse blackish fringe exteriorly (ventral

surface of wing) and enclosing a thin, white hair

pencil from base; costal margin nearly straight,

apex acute, termen strongly angled back, broadly

curved to dorsum. Ground color semitranslucent

white, pale brownish at margins. Fringe white.

Underside similar, costal fold area pale brownish

and ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale

brownish, ventral whitish, genital pale ochreous.

Genitalia as in Figures 133 and 134 (drawn from

plesiotypes, Guatemala and Colombia, JAP preps,

nos. 1202 and 1319; nine preparations examined);

characters variable, apparently independently;

uncus membranous, basal processes narrow to somewhat broadened, outer margin of valva at times

with a small, pointed ridge, saccular margin angulate or rounded; vesica with an elongate, spurred

cornutus (Figure 133, drawn from plesiotype, Costa

Rica, JAP prep. no. 2232).

FEMALE.—All females examined are from Barro

Colorado Island, Panama. Length of forewing 9.0

to 10.7 mm. Essentially as described for male. Females available represent the more distinctly

marked forms; eye and labial palpus size within

range shown in male. Antenna scarcely smaller than

in male, shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter. Genitalia as in Figures 242, 243 (drawn from plesiotype,

Panama, JAP prep. no. 2558; two preparations

examined); similar to nigritaenia, s-terigma narrower, antrum sclerotized, ductus with about 12

coils, signum with a narrow inner ridge, deeply or

scarcely notched.

TYPE DATA.—Costa Rica, San Jose; unique male

in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Mexico

(Cordoba, Veracruz) to Boliva.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Probably multivoltine; April,

May, October, and December at Barro Colorado

Island, Panama; February, March and October in

Costa Rica; July in Mexico.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The variation in various features suggests that more than a single species may be involved in material I have assigned to E. catapeltica.

However, I have been unable to correlate any differences satisfactorily. The more elongate, narrow

wing, more elongate third segment of the labial

palpus, and various differences in male genitalia,

particularly the armature of the vesica, which is

not much variable in most Ethmia, all seem to vary

independently.

The variation is in part geographically related.

The specimens available from Guatemala and

Costa Rica average larger (forewing length 10.8

to 13.0 mm) and have a narrower forewing (length

3.35—3.4 times width) than those from Panama, the

only other area from which a series is available.

Panama specimens are generally slightly smaller

(forewing 9.0 to 11.7 mm) and have a slightly

broader forewing (length 3.1 to 3.35 times width).

In addition, northern specimens show a tendency

for the more obscured forewing pattern, but the

extreme in this regard is a dark male from Alhajuelo, Panama. All material from Colombia and

Bolivia is of the more distinctly marked form,

indistinguishable from some of the series from

Barro Colorado Island.

The genital characters as shown in Figure 134

are present on South American specimens, but the

full ranges of variation in form of the basal proc-
176 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

esses, valvae, and vesica armature are shown in

Panama material. Thus it seems best to provisionally retain the assemblage under the single name.

Although related with the Longimaculella group

according to the genitalia, E. catapeltica superficially most resembles E. flavicaudata, from which it

may be distinguished by a smaller black costal

fringe of the hindwing, which is borne on the exterior of the costal fold, and by paler ochreous

genital scaling. Both species also are superficially

similar to the Antillean E. cubensis, which does not

possess the dark costal fringe of the hindwing- Distinctly marked forms of E. catapeltica bear a similar forewing pattern to the larger and sympatric

E. lichyi, which also possesses dark hindwing costal

hairs.

Ethtnia howdeni Powell, new species

FIGURE 135; PLATE 15h

A Mexican and Central American species somewhat

resembling E. longimaculella, but with pale gray

forewing, with more extensive markings, and with

a black costal hair fringe on the hindwing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.6—11.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate or elongate,

reaching or exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.15-1.50 times eye diameter, third

segment slightly curved, length 1.0—1.1 times that

of second; smooth scaled, whitish, second segment

irregularly blotched on basal half and narrowly

banded apically with blackish, third segment with

broad submedian band and distal half, except extreme tip, black. Antenna dilated, width of shaft

basally about 0.25 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish gray to apex; scape with a black spot apically.

Scaling of tongue, front and crown whitish gray,

occipital tufts at middorusm broadly blackish, reflecting bluish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish

gray, two lateral pairs of blackish spots adjoining

tegulae apices and at sides of scutellum. Underside white, procoxae and mesocoxae and trochaliters blotched with grayish, tarsi marked with black;

hind tibial fringe pale ochreous. Forewing: Length

3.0-3.3 times width; costa gently, evenly curved

from base to apex; termen rather strongly angled

back, slightly concave, tornal angle distinct.

Ground color whitish, irregularly and indistinctly

blotched with pale gray to almost entirely pale

grayish; markings black, mostly somewhat ill-defined, as follows: costal area basally, a series of

short streaks in subcostal area, cell, and terminal

area, at times forming a continuous streak from

outer part of cell to termen below apex (as in E.

I. coranella), the line usually broken or not evident, its basal or apical half indistinct; dorsal area

unmarked except for three roundish spots, usually

the most distinct markings of the wing, first at

basal one-third, just above dorsum, second at about

middle, more or less connected to markings in distal half of cell, third beyond outer, lower corner

of cell; a row of black dots subtending fringe from

well before apex to tornus. Fringe white with a

brownish spot just below apex, sometimes nearly

obsolete. Underside brown. Hindwing: About as

broad as forewing; costal area with a broad, tightly

appressed fold, bearing on its outer surface (ventral surface of wing) a dense row of black scales,

and enclosing an elongate brush of white hair

scales, from base; costal margin nearly straight,

apex acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum.

Ground color semi translucent whitish basally, becoming pale brownish in apical area and along

hind margin. Fringe whitish. Underside paler,

costal area irregularly brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling pale brownish gray, ventral whitish, genital

pale ochreous. Genitalia scarcely distinguishable

from E. longimaculella; basal processes with a ventral ridge; vesica with an elongate, spurred cornutus (Figure 135, drawn from holotype, JAP prep,

no. 1737; three preparations examined).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.8 mm. Essentially

as described for male; eye and labial palpus size

within range shown by male. Antenna not as dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter.

Hindwing, costal area simple; color darker than in

male. Genitalia not examined.

TYPES.—Holotype male: Mexico, 21 miles east of

Villa Union, Sinaloa (7.3 road miles east of Concordia, about 300 feet elevation), July 25, 1964, at

black and white lights (J. A. Chemsak, J. Powell,

and H. F. Howden); deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Allotype female: El Salvador, San

Salvador, October 25, 1959 (B. Bechyne); deposited

in Bavarian States Museum, Munich. Three paratypes: lcf, same data as holotype; 2cf 3, same data

as allotype except November 2, 1959; deposited in

collections of Bavarian States Museum and California Insect Survey.
NUMBER 120 177

REMARKS.—The genital characters and general

facies indicate a close relationship to E. longimaculella, with which E. howdeni is allopatric. However, the elongate labial palpus, especially the much

larger third segment, and the hindwing costal scaling are features which relate the present species to

E. catapeltica. The two localities from which the

new species is described indicate a wider geographical range of stability than is shown by /. longimaculella and /. coranella in the Nearctic Region.

I take pleasure in naming the species for Henry

F. Howden, coleopterist with the Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada, whose experience

and cooperation greatly increased the efficiency of

our collecting in Durango and Sinaloa during 1964.

Ethmia longimaculella (Chambers)

Hyponomeuta longimaculella Chambers, 1872:43.

Ethmia longimaculella-Dyar, 1902:207; 1904b: 178 [biology].-Barnes and Busck, 1920, pis. 27, 36.-Braun, 1921b: 12

[biology].-Forbes, 1923:246.-McDunnough, 1939:83.-

Clench, 1957:44 [synonymy].

Psecadia walsinghamella Beutenmuller, 1889:9.

Ethmia walsinghamella.—Dyar, 1902:207 [synonymy].

Ethmia zelleriella.-Engel [not Chambers, 1878], 1908:127.

A Nearctic species having the white forewings

marked by evenly distributed black spots and

lines.

Ethmia longimaculella longimaculella (Chambers),

new status

FICURES 136, 256, 287; PLATE 15i; MAP 54

This subspecies, which occurs in the northern Appalachian region, has white forewings marked with

black dots and short longitudinal lines.

MALE.—Length of iorewing 1U.5 to 11.2 mm.

Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, scarcely

reaching base of antenna; second segment length

1.1-1.3 times eye diameter; third segment 0.73-0.90

as long as second; smooth scaled, white, second

segment with a broad brownish black band exteriorly, third with narrow basal and apical dark

bands. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

basaily 0.21—0.23 eye diameter; dorsal scaling basally, including scape, silvery white, gray distally.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown shining white,

occipital tufts brownish black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling shining white, brownish black

on tegulae at base and collar adjoining tegulae and

at middorsum, notum with two pairs of rather

large, lateral, blackish spots adjoining tegulae

apices and at sides of scutellum. Underside shining

white, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs broadly

blotched with dark brown exteriorly. Forewing:

Length about 3.3—3.4 times width; costa evenly

curved from base to apex, termen rather strongly

angled back, straight, tornal angle distinct. Ground

MAP 54.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia longimaculella (Chambers).

% £. /. longimaculella (> £. /. coranella Dyar
178 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGV

color white, markings black, mostly as longitudinal

streaks, as follows: costal area at base, a series of

oblong spots in subcostal area; two longitudinal

lines in cell, the basal one nearer costa, followed

by a large dot at end of cell and a third line in

terminal area, ending well before fringe; another

large dot in terminal area below end of cell; dorsal area with three spots adjoining Cu, the first

inwardly oblique, the third often indistinct, and

a large dot below and between the first two; some

scattered dark scaling between the spots, a row of

dots around termen from costa well before apex to

tornus. Fringe white, usually with a tinge of

brownish below apex. Underside nearly uniform

brown; fringes, including costal, whitish. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with

a narrow fold to end of cell, enclosing a thin brush

of white hair-scales; costal margin nearly straight,

apex blunt, termen a broad curve to dorsum.

Ground color whitish basally becoming pale

brownish. Fringe white. Underside pale brownish

except fringe white. Abdomen: Scaling pale brownish, slightly paler ventrally; genital scaling whitish,

lightly tinged with pale ochreous or tan. Genitalia

as in Figure 136 (drawn from plesiotype, "Canada,"

JAP prep. no. 1541; two preparations examined);

similar to E. catapeltica, saccular margin of valva

slightly more angulate, vesica with faint, sclerotized

cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.0 to 10.0 mm

(reared). Essentially as described for male. Labial

palpus slightly shorter, second segment 1.1 times

eye diameter. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft

near base 0.19 eye diameter. Hindwing costal area

simple. Genitalia similar to E. plaumanni (Figures 254, 255), sclerotized sleeve at base of ductus

bursae shorter (Figure 256, drawn from plesiotype,

Ohio, JAP prep. no. 2056; one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.—Kentucky, June 4 (V. T. Chambers),

lectotype male, by present designation, "Kentucky,

Chambers, Type 1403," in Museum of Comparative

Zoology, Harvard (longimaculella); West Virginia

(W. Beutenmiiller), type female in U.S. National

Museum (walsinghamella).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Canada

(Stockton, Manitoba; Ottawa, Montreal) to eastern

Kentucky.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Evidently normally late May to

early July, but there is a single record for March in

Pennsylvania (Clench, 1957) and there are three

specimens, possibly reared, from Ontario, labeled

August, September, and December.

FOOD PLAm.—Lithospermum officinale (Ottawa,

J. Fletcher) and L. latifolium (Ohio). The latter

according to Braun (1921b), who found large numbers of larvae July 10 and reared the adults the

following May. Miss Braun (in litt.) also reared

this species from Onosmodium hispidissimum in

Ohio.

Ethtnia longimaculella coranella Dyar, new status

FIGURE 137; PLATE 15/; MAP 54

Ethmia coranella Dyar, 1902:207.—Busck, 1915:84.—Barnes

and Busck, 1920, pis. 27, 36.—McDunnough, 1939:83.

A Texas race which has slightly narrower forewings

than /. longimaculella, with a black line from the

middle of the wing to the apex.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.8—10.7 mm. Essentially as described for nominate subspecies; labial

palpus slightly shorter, second segment length 1.0—

1.25 times eye diameter. Forewing: Slightly narrower, length about 3.5—3.6 times width; markings

as in /. longimaculella except the outer bar in cell,

dot at end of cell, and bar in terminal area, enlarged and fused as a streak from about middle of

wing to termen just below apex, crossing marginal

dot row and fringe. Remainder of markings

slightly reduced, particularly the scattered scaling

between definite spots. Hindwing: Paler than typical, pale brownish towards margins. Genitalia as

in Figure 137 (drawn from plesiotype, Palo Duro

Canyon, Randall County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 621;

two preparations examined); similar to I. longimaculella, valva slightly narrower with a relatively

deeper emargination following saccular area and a

slightly shorter "plume" at apex.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE DATA.—Kerrville, Texas (Barnes), and

Shovel Moutain,13 Texas, June 16-23 (Barnes).

Two males in U.S. National Museum from Kerrville, without further data, bear labels "Type 6624,

131 am informed by R. O. Kendall, veteran lepidopterist

of San Antonio, Texas, that Shovel Mountain (1,508 feet

elevation) is in the northeast corner of Blanco County. This

is about 70 miles northeast of Kerrville and probably is the

locality to which the Barnes material refers.
NUMBER 120 179

USNM"; I have designated and labeled one as a

lectotype.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Central and northern Texas.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—May (Palo Duro Canyon, Randall County), June (Shovel Mountain), August

(Kerrville).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—One of the original specimens from

Kerrville has the line through the middle of the

forewing broken at the end of the cell and again

before the margin. The line is unbroken in 15

other specimens examined.

THE FLAVICAUDATA COMPLEX

A series of superficially similar Central American

species having mottled gray forewings provide a

problem for which no satisfactory solution is available. Ethmia flavicaudata was described by Walsingham in 1912 on the basis of three specimens

from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Unfortunately

a female, from San Juan, was selected as the holotype, and two males, from Cordoba, were designated as paratypes. Subsequent authors (e.g.,

Busck, 1934) and workers arranging collections

have accumulated a variety of superficially similar

entities under the name, including specimens of

E. lichyi, described below, and all material I have

seen that is referable to E. catapeltica Meyrick,

1924. This latter species was proposed for a unique

male, also deposited in the British Museum, and

my determination of it is made from photographs

of the type and its genitalia slide provided by

Clarke (1965). It is more closely related to longimaculella (see above).

Inasmuch as no further material from Veracruz

or other parts of Mexico has become available,

and owing to the close superficial similarity of the

various forms, I have assigned the name flavicaudata to the species represented by the male paratypes in the U.S. National Museum. Whether

these are actually conspecific with the female type

will not be definitely known until specimens in

series are examined. Thus E. flavicaudata as presently conceived is known only from the area of

the type locality. Genital characters of the types

are quite distinct from E. catapeltica and more

closely ally the species to three previously undescribed species, which are discussed below.

Ethmia flavicaudata Walsingham

FIGURE 141

Ethmia flavicaudata Walsingham, 1912:145, pi. 5, fig. 7.—

Busck, 1934:165 [in part].

A species in southern Mexico having whitish forewings densely marked with brownish gray except

along the dorsum; the hindwing bears a conspicuous, exposed, dark gray costal fringe.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.5 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna,

second segment length about 1.4 times eye diameter; third segment nearly straight, length about

0.9 that of second; smooth scaled, whitish, second

and third segments with blackish submedian and

preapical bands. Antenna slightly dilated, width

of shaft basally about 0.2 eye diameter, dorsal scaling gray, scape whitish. Scaling of front and crown

whitish, occipital tufts blackish at middorsum.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling gray, paired, lateral black

spots adjacent to apices of tegulae and at sides of

scutellum; possibly a singly median spot preceding

scutellar area. Underside grayish white, legs

blotched exteriorly with blackish. Forewing:

Length about 3.1 times width; costa gently, nearly

evenly curved from base to apex; termen moderately strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle

distinct. Ground color whitish, mostly replaced by

brownish black above Cu, the pattern more or less

obscurely clouded; concentrated dark areas at base

of costa and through outer half of cell into terminal area, sending a broad spur across Cu into dorsal area at about middle of wing, the darkest mark

of the pattern; dorsal area pale whitish gray with

a single spot in at basal one-third and a trace of

another nearer base; terminal area whitish except

for the broad blotch extending through end of cell

and a row of large, black dots subtending fringe

from before apex to tornus. Fringe whitish with an

indistinct brownish gray blotch below apex. Underside brown, dorsal area and a blotch in cell

paler. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal area with a tightly appressed costal fold, bearing on its outer (ventral wing surface) dorsal side

a thick fringe of black hair scales, and enclosing

an elongate white hair pencil from base; costal

margin nearly straight, slightly convex at end of

cell; apex acute, termen very strongly curved back

to anal area. Ground color semitranslucent whitish
180 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

at base, becoming brown in apical area and at margins. Fringe whitish. Underside similar, costal area

also brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark

brown, ventral whitish; genital tuft broad, bright

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 141 (drawn from

paratype, Cordoba, Mexico, JAP prep. no. 1845,*'

one preparation examined); uncus membranous,

basal processes extremely elongate, narrow, apex

of valva without extended "plume," distal end of

saccular area with about eight flat, blunt spurs;

vesica with an elongate, ill-defined plate, fultura

ornately developed, armed with dentate processes.

FEMALE.—Not examined, known only from the

holotype.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Veracruz, San Juan, 600

feet (W. Schaus); holotype female in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

Veracruz, Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April, May, July.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia lichyi Powell, new species

FIGURE 140; PLATES 2C, 46, 16c; MAP 55

Ethmia flavicaudata.—Busck [not Walsingham, 1912],

1934:165 [in part?].

A Central and South American species which resembles a large Ethmia baliostola, having the same

forewing pattern but with more extensive white

ground color and with a dark rather than whitish

exterior costal hair brush on the hindwing of the

male.

MALE.—Length of forewing 13.7 to 17.1 mm.

Head: Labial palpus greatly elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.5 to

1.7 times eye diameter; third segment gently curved,

length about 0.88 that of second (1.3-1.5 times eye

diameter); smooth scaled, white, marked with

blackish brown as follows: second segment on basal

one-third (at times divided into two bands by

ground color), a narrow subapical band, third segment with broad submedian and subapical bands,

fusing interiorly. Antenna, shaft only slightly dilated, width near base 0.18-0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish basally, becoming gray; scape

white, blackish at apex dorsally. Scaling of tongue,

front, and crown white, occipital tufts black at

middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling pale gray, proMAP 55.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia lichyi Powell.

notum with five blue-black spots on posterior half,

one at middorsum preceding scutellar area, a pair

lateral to it, and a pair at sides of scutellum; at

times an ill-defined dark blotch adjoining collar

at middorsum. Underside white; prothoracic leg

mostly blackish exteriorly, mesoleg and metaleg

indistinctly banded with blackish or gray; hind

tibial fringe tinged with ochreous. Forewing:

Length about 3.0 to 3.1 times width; costa gently,

evenly curved from base to apex; termen rather

strongly angled back, tornal angle nearly obsolete.

Ground color white, clouded with very pale gray

except narrowly adjoining markings; markings
NUMBER 120 181

blackish brown, as follows: a series of elongated

spots and streaks over costal half, the most conspicuous of which is an irregular broad streak from

about middle of cell to termen just below apex,

usually broken just before end of cell; dorsal area

to beyond middle, pale gray, devoid of streaks,

marked only by two small spots, the inner one at

about basal one-fourth, smaller and sometimes

obsolete; an irregular blotch of blackish brown

just before tornus beneath streak through terminal

area. A row of black dots around termen, subtending fringe, from before apex to tornus. Underside pale grayish brown except dorsal area whitish. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing;

costa with a double hair brush, anterior part exposed, white at base becoming blackish distally,

arising on outer surface of costal fold (ventral side

of wing), posterior part an elongate white hair pencil enclosed in the pouchlike fold, between C and

Sc; costal margin slightly convex beyond the blackish fringe; termen rather strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color semitranslucent white, becoming brownish at apex; fringe

white. Underside similar, costal area pale brownish Abdomen: First segment laterally with elongate

ochreous white scaling partially concealing an area

of specialized, appressed ochreous-white scaling

which forms a pouchlike fold with velvet-like texture. Dorsal scaling brown, ventral white, anal

bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 140 (drawn

from paratype, Venezuela, JAP prep. no. 1614; four

preparations examined); similar to E. calumniella,

differing by a slightly more angulate sacculus and

more numerous and smaller flat spines of the apex

of the valva.

FEMALE.—Unknown.14

TYPES.—Holotype male: Venezuela, Cuenca del

14

 Subsequent to writing the above description, I have seen

a good series, including females, from near the type locality

(Rancho Grande, Aragua, Venezuela, 1100 m, various dates in

January 1966, and June 1967, S. S. and W. D. Duckworth).

The female does not differ in general appearance from the

male and in this sample is no larger. The labial palpus size

is within the variation shown by the larger sample of males,

with the length of second segment 1.67, of third 1.5, times

eye diameter. The antenna, hindwing costal area, first segment of abdomen, and genital scaling are not modified as in

the male. The female genitalia are similar to E. plaumanni

(Figures 254, 255), differing by a shorter sclerotized plate in

the antrum, which is enlarged about as in E. plaumanni

(two preparations of E. lichyi examined).

Rio Borborata, "Carabobo," September 1, 1948 (R.

Lichy), with the additional data "675 m. virgin

forest"; deposited in collections of Cornell University. Fourteen paratype males: Venezuela: "La

Union, R. Huacamayo, Carabaya," lef, November

1904 (G. Ockenden); Rancho Grande, Aragua, ltf,

XII-1-53 (F. Fernandez-Y.); "Las Quiguas, Esteban Valley," 1 J1

 (no further data). Brazil: "Hyutanaban, Rio Purus," Itf, January 1922 (S. M.

Klages). Panama: Campana, near Chica, 2cf, IV—

(2-5)-65 (S. S. and W. D. Duckworth). Costa

Rica: Golfito, 3d\ IV-(25-28)-65 (S. S. and W. D.

Duckworth); "Sixola Riv.," lef; "Costa Rica"

1 cT (no further data). Honduras: Lancetilla, Tela,

2d\ IV-30, V-5-35 (M. Bates). Guatemala:

Cayuga, 1 c? (Schaus and Barnes). Deposited in

collections of British Museum, California Insect

Survey, Carnegie Museum, Harvard (MCZ), U.S.

National Museum, and University of Venezuela.

REMARKS.—The holotype bears an identification

label written by Forbes in 1945 indicating the close

superficial similarity of this species with E. baliostola.

Two specimens from Venezuela and Brazil have

what I take to be a manuscript name accredited to

"Wlsm.?" on a handwritten label added by a later

worker. The Guatemalan specimen was identified

on an accompanying slide as "E. flavicaudata

Wlshm." by Busck in 1920 and probably was the

basis for Busck's (1934) reference to genital characters of Walsingham's species.

An additional specimen (in the California Insect Survey) from Mexico (Cotaxtla Exp. Sta.,

Veracruz, VI—14-62, D. H. Janzen) may be referred

here tentatively but it is not designated as a paratype. It is a smaller moth (forewing length 11.7

mm) with appreciably narrower forewings (length

about 3.3 times width) having a slightly darker,

pale gray ground color. The pattern of dark markings, relative size of labial palpus, and costal tuft

of the hindwing are as in typical E. lichyi. In male

genitalia the Mexican specimen differs in a few

details, particularly in having narrower basal processes and fewer setae on the inner surface of the

valvae basally. The second segment of the abdomen exhibits a somewhat reduced version of the

peculiar pouchlike area of specialized, pale ochreous scaling which serves to separate lichyi from all

other known Ethmia.
182 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ethmia calumniella Powell, new species

FIGURE 142; PLATE 16d

A Brazilian species superficially resembling E. catapeltica, with the white forewing heavily marked

with blackish except on the dorsal area.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.4 mm. Head: Labial palpi lacking from holotype. Antenna scarcely

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray, scape white. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown appressed, white;

occipital tufts blue-black at middorsum. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling whitish; ill-defined dark spots on

tegula at base and on pronotum laterally near

apices of tegulae and across scutellum. Underside

whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs spotted

with blackish exteriorly. Forewing: Length about

3.4 times width; costa gently, nearly evenly curved

from base to apex; tennen strongly angled back,

tornal angle not distinct. Ground color white,

markings blackish brown, mostly not well defined,

as follows: costal half more or less evenly blotched,

the most conspicuous mark a diagonal band from

costa at one-third to cell at about middle of wing,

occupying most of distal end of cell, continued as

three weakly joined blotches to termen below apex;

dorsal area below Cu to tornus unmarked except

for a single, small, faint brownish spot at basal onethird, preceded and followed by short extensions

across the fold of blotches in cell; a subterminal

row of dots not darker than other markings from

before apex to tornus, disappearing in blotch below apex. Fringe whitish interrupted by brown at

termination of central streak, below apex. Underside pale brownish, dorsal area paler. Hindwing:

Slightly narrower than forewing; costal area modification as in E. lichyi, costal brush divided, partially outside costal fold, of blackish, short hairs,

partially a thick tuft of whitish hair scales enclosed

by fold; costal outline rather straight; apex acute,

termen strongly angled back, tornal angle not evident. Ground color subhyaline whitish, dark

brown at distal margin and along veins approaching terminal margin; fringe white. Underside similar; costal area pale grayish brown, membrane

ochreous tinged. Abdomen: Second segment laterally without modification. Dorsal scaling white,

becoming brownish caudad; underside white; genital scaling bright ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure

142 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep. no. 1606;

one preparation examined); similar to lichyi and

plaumanni, differing by having narrower basal

processes and three broad, flat spines at the apex of

the valva.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPES.—Holotype male; Brazil, Santarem, Para,

"Z. .6.27"; unique, deposited in the British Museum.

REMARKS.—The holotype bears an identification

by Meyrick assigning the moth to Ethmia catapeltica Meyrick, which the present species closely

resembles.

Ethmia omega Powell, new species

PLATE 16e

A species from southern Brazil that superficially

resembles E. nigritaenia but structurally is close

to E. calumniella.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.6 to 11.7 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly upcurved,

well exceeding base of antenna; second segment

strongly curved, length 1.40—1.45 times eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, about 0.85 as

long as second; smooth scaled, white, both segments

blotched basally and subapically with brownish

black. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near

base 0.22 eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish, becoming brownish beyond segment 8 or 9. Scaling

of tongue and front white, becoming intermixed

with grayish and brownish at crown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, intermixed with various shades

of brown, no discernible pattern. Metathoracic

brushes dense, not covering the scaled scutellum.

Underside whitish with intermixed pale brown;

tibiae and tarsi banded (prothoracic and mesothoracic with blackish brown, metathoracic with

brown). Forewing: Length about 3.4 times width;

rather oval in outline, costa evenly curved to apex,

termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color

whitish, heavily interspersed with brownish gray

scales, appearing more or less uniform speckled

gray to the unaided eye; markings blackish brown:

some indistinct spots near base, a median longitudinal bar, indistinctly arising at costa at basal

one-fourth, angled outwardly into cell, thence

broadened along Cu fold to termen, beyond middle

with three evenly spaced bumps along its costal

side, which is darker than any other mark of the
NUMBER 120 183

wing; two linear spots in costal half, just beyond

middle and at outer one-fourth; dorsal half with a

spot in basal one-third, sometimes indistinct, a

larger, distinct spot above tornus; termen narrowly

blotched. Fringe whitish except at termination of

median line, dark brownish. Underside brownish,

pale at apex and along dorsum. Hindwing: Slightly

narrower than forewing; costa folded to end of

cell, bearing a dark gray fringe exteriorly (ventral

surface of wing), enclosing a whitish hair pencil

and clothed with short, specialized scales above

the pencil. Ground color white, becoming brownish along costal and distal margins. Fringe white.

Underside similar. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling gray,

segments banded with whitish posteriorly; ventral

and genital scaling whitish, latter tinged with pale

ochreous. Genitalia similar to E. calumniella (Figure 142), differing by a slightly broader valva which

bears a strong convexity on the costal margin before

cucullus; three or four flat, distal spines (two

preparations examined).

FEMALE.—A single damaged specimen examined.

Length of forewing about 12.4 mm. Apparently as

described for male. Labial palpus slightly longer;

length of second segment about 1.55 times eye diameter; third about 0.88 as long as second. Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.85

that of male. Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia very similar to E. plaumanni (Figures 254,

255), ductus with only three spirals in the one prep

aration of omega.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female: Brazil, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, November 20, 1952

(C. M. de Biezanko); deposited in Museum of

Comparative Zoology, Harvard. Three paratype

posited in California Insect Survey and Museum of

males: same data except November 4—11, 1953; deComparative Zoology.

REMARKS.—Ethmia omega may represent a southern race of E. calumniella. The present species differs primarily by having uniform gray forewing

ground color, rather than the dorsal half whitish,

and by having the black markings more reduced

than in the pattern shown by calumniella.

Ethmia plaumanni Powell, new species

FIGURES 143, 254, 255; PLATE 16/

A Brazilian species with white forewings heavily

marked with black except along the dorsum, in the

manner of certain Palearctic species such as sabiella Felder and forms of pusiella Roem.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.7 to 10.3 mm.

Head: Eye unusually small, about 0.8 or 0.9 that

of other species of similar overall size. (Head evidently entirely small as eye index =1.1.) Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna; second

segment length 1.5 times eye diameter; third segment curved, length about 0.8 that of second

(about 1.25 times eye diameter); smooth scaled,

white, broad blue-black bands on second segment

basally and third segment basally and subapically.

Antenna not much dilated, width of shaft basally

about 0.25 the unusually small eye diameter; dorsal scaling white basally, becoming gray. Scaling of

tongue, front and crown white, occipital tufts white

laterally, deep blue-black at middorsum. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling white, base of tegula blackish, pronotum with three large blue-black spots, a pair

laterally about middle and one spot covering scutellum. Underside white; prothoracic and mesothoracic legs spotted with black exteriorly; hind

trochanters lightly tinged with ochreous, hind tibial

fringe moderately dense. Forewing: Moderately

narrow, length 3.2 to 3.6 times width; costa gently

curved, straightened or appearing slightly concave

just before middle; apex acute, termen strongly

angled back, tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground

color white, markings unicolorous blackish brown,

nearly black, faintly reflecting steel bluish in spots:

costal half rather uniformly blotched with distinct

and indistinct longitudinal streaks, the most conspicuous a bar through outer half of cell into terminal area, preceded by a diagonal, less- distinct band

from costa before middle, sending two broad spurs

into dorsal area at about middle of cell and beyond end of cell; dorsal area otherwise unmarked

except two spots in basal one-third, the outer one

nearer dorsal margin; a row of about nine dots

around termen, subtending fringe, from before

apex to tornus. Fringe white except a small blotch

of dark gray below apex. Underside dark gray

brown, costa and dorsal area pale whitish ochreous;

fringe as above. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa with a fold to termination of Sc, enclosing an elongate, white hair pencil; costal

outline nearly straight, apex acute, termen strongly

angled back, tornal angle not evident. Ground

color white, dark brown at distal margins; fringe
184 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

white. Underside white, costal area and distal margins dark brown. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale

brown, ventral white, genital ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 143 (drawn from holotype, JAP prep,

no. 1317; two preparations examined); similar to

calumniella and lichyi, the structures relatively

small (about 85 percent that of lichyi relative to

the respective forewing lengths), spines at distal

end of valva in two bundles, a group of several

elongate ones and another of small ones.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.3 to 10.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye about as large

as male; labial palpus second segment length

slightly less than male. Antenna not dilated, width

of shaft basally about 0.8 that of male. Hindwing

costal area simple, concave before apex. Genitalia

as in Figures 254, 255 (drawn from paratype, JAP

prep. no. 2290; one preparation examined);

sterigma simple, lightly scerotized, antrum with a

flat plate curled anteriorly, ductus tightly coiled

with about nine spirals, signum a concave notched

keel without spines.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Brazil, Nova Teutonia, Santa Catarina (27° 11',

52°23'), November 1961 and October 8, 1948 (F.

Plaumann); deposited in U.S. National Museum.

Three paratypes: same data, IQ", 1$ , X—11—39,

1 $ , X-21-48; deposited in collections of California Insect Survey and Carnegie Museum. A

series (9o*. 4 9 ) subsequently examined, same data

except VIII, X, 1963, not designated as paratypes,

in U.S. National Museum.

Ethmia transversella Busck

FIGURE 144; PLATE 16g

Ethmia transversella Busck, 1914c:53.

A rather large moth with the forewings more or

less uniformly clouded with indistinct gray streaks.

MALE.—Length of forewing about 14.0 to 15.6

mm. Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate,

slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment

length about 1.4 times eye diameter; third segment

about 0.85 the length of second (about 1.2 times

eye diameter); smooth scaled, grayish white, second

and third segments with broad basal and subapical

black bands. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of

shaft basally about 0.18 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

dark gray. Scaling of tongue and front grayish,

becoming brown at crown; occipital tufts black at

middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling gray; collar

dark basally, paired blackish spots on notum

adjoining base of tegula, at about end of tegulae

and laterally on scutellum. Underside pale gray;

legs mostly blackish to dark gray except white tibial

and tarsal bands. Forewing: Length about 3.2-3.3

times width; costa gently, evenly curved from base

to apex, termen strongly angled back, straight,

giving a narrow appearance to wing. Ground color

gray, more or less completely clouded with indistinct blackish brown; ill defined streaks at times

evident as follows: base through basal half of cell,

from just before midcosta angling into outer part

of cell, thence angled toward apex, ending beyond

end of cell, a third streak at apical one-third of

costa, outwardly angled; a row of eight or nine

subterminal black dots at base of fringe, from before apex to tornus. Underside dark gray, paler

basally in cell and dorsal area. Hindwing: About

as broad as forewing; an elongate, divided costal

brush of hair scales, anterior portion sparse, blackish, external on costal fold, posterior part larger,

whitish, enclosed by the fold to termination of Sc;

costal margin nearly straight; termen very strongly

angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground

color semihyaline whitish, brownish along costal

area beyond middle and on terminal margin; fringe

white. Underside similar. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

brownish gray, ventral shining gray, genital ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 144 (drawn from

plesiotype, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, JAP prep. No.

1324; two preparations examined); uncus rather

well denned, lightly sclerotized; valva apex produced costad into short plume, three or four flat

spines at apex of saccular area, vesica with a row

of numerous short, flat spines.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE DATA.—Costa Rica, Juan Vinas (W. Schaus);

holotype male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

Costa Rica (Juan Vinas; Puntarenas, Monteverde).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—January (a single record).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The species evidently was described

from a single male and the above description is

based on the one other specimen I have seen.
NUMBER 120 185

Etkmia hieroglyphica Powell, new species

FIGURE 145; PLATE 16*

A Bolivian species having white forewings marked

by large, black serpentine streaks.

MALE.—Length of forewing 13.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment length about

1.5 times eye diameter; third segment very slightly

curved, 0.85 the length of second (about 1.25 eye

diameter); smooth scaled, white; second segment

exteriorly with a broad area basally and a small

spot subapically black, third segment with broad

basal and subapical black bands. Antenna scarcely

dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.18 eye

diameter; dorsal scaling black, scape whitish below.

Scaling of tongue dark gray, front and crown white,

occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling white; black markings as follows:

base of tegula, a tinge at apex of tegula, pairs of

spots laterally under tips of tegulae and at sides of

scutellum. Underside whitish (legs lacking from

holotype). Forewing: Length about 3.25 times

width; costal curve slight, flattened along middle

one-third; apex acute, termen strongly angled back,

straight; tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground color

white, markings black, mostly rather well defined,

as follows: a broad bar from base to middle of cell,

slightly serpentine, dipping into dorsal area at

one-fourth, a small spot in dorsal area just beyond

lower curvature of latter; a second serpentine bar

from costa at about middle into outer end of cell,

sending a short spur back toward base in dorsal

area, thence through end of cell and turned downward toward tornus; another bar from costa before

apex into terminal area, at its termination weakly

joined to second; a row of indistinct dots around

termen at base of fringe. Underside dark brown.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costal

brush divided as in E. transversella, a few black

hairs externally, the remainder whitish, enclosed

in a fold between C and Sc; costal outline nearly

straight, apex acute, termen rather strongly angled

back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color

subhyaline white, becoming pale brownish in apical

area. Underside pale brownish, anal area subhyaline whitish. Abdomen: External features not

examined; genitalia as in Figure 145 (drawn from

holotype, AB slide, May 13, 1931; one slide examined); similar to E. transversella, basal processes

narrowed on distal half; four or five flat spines at

distal end of saccular area; vesica with fine spines.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE.—Holotype male: Bolivia, Incachaca Cochabamba (J. Steinbach), no further data; unique,

deposited in U.S. National Museum.

The Conglobata Group

Eye index ± 1.0—1.1. Labial palpus moderately

elongate, II index ± 1.4—1.5, smooth scaled.

Antenna of male not dilated. Forewing broad,

pattern longitudinal gray streaks. Hindwing of

male with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold.

Abdomen with genital scaling ochreous. Uncus

and gnathos lacking; basal processes membraneous,

narrow; fultura-manica and vesica simple. Female

genitalia not examined.

A single South American species which superficially would appear to be a member of the

Longimaculella group. All phenetic assessments

failed to cluster conglobata within any grouping,

indicating its relationship either to members of

the Baliostola group or the Trifurcella group.

Study of the female genitalia may dissolve the

isolated status which this species appears to maintain.

Ethmia conglobata Meyrick

FIGURE 146; PLATE 16i

Ethmia conglobata Meyrick, 1912:717.—Clarke, 1955a:98;

1965:422.

A Colombian species having rather broad whitish

forewings clouded with ill-defined brownish gray

blotches and diffusion.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna;

second segment length about 1.45 times eye

diameter; third segment curved, length slightly

greater than that of second; smooth scaled, white

with broad brownish black bands basally and

subapically on second and third segments. Antenna

scarcely dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.19

eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of

tongue brownish, front and crown whitish, occipital

tufts blackish at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, collar and tegulae pale brownish

basally; notum with two pairs of small, black
186 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

spots, adjoining tegulae apices and at sides of

scutellum, possibly a fifth spot, preceding scutellar

area at middorsum. Underside shining white, legs

broadly blotched with brownish gray exteriorly.

Forewing: Broad, length about 3.0 times width;

costa moderately steeply angled to about middle,

gently curved beyond, termen moderately strongly

angled back, straight, tornal angle distinct. Ground

color whitish, largely replaced by brownish gray

clouding except in terminal area; several brownish

blotches, darker than surrounding suffusion, the

most well defined, an oblong spot on Cu fold before

end of cell, dorsal area with slightly less infuscation,

two spots on inner one-third, the outer one larger

and closer to dorsum; a broad band parallel to

termen with scarcely any infuscation; a row of

distinct blackish marginal dots from well before

apex nearly to tornus. Fringe white with a small,

pale brown spot below apex. Underside brown.

Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costal

area on basal half with a tightly appressed fold to

R, containing a thin pencil of cream-white hair

scales; costal margin slightly convex; apex blunt,

termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color

whitish basally, becoming pale brownish on apical

half; fringe white. Underside similar, costal area

darker. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish,

ventral similar, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia as

in Figure 146 (drawn from plesiotype, La Crumbre,

Colombia, JAP prep. no. 1628; one preparation

examined); not closely similar to any other described species; uncus lacking; tegumen a strongly

sclerotized ring, valva exceptionally broad, with

three prominent, flat spines on distal margin.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 13.5 mm. Generally

as described for male; eye about the same size;

labial palpus larger, second segment length about

1.7 times eye diameter, third segment about 1.45

times eye diameter (as in male). Forewing slightly

broader, length about 2.9 times width, markings

similar, darker. Hindwing costal area simple,

slightly concave to end of R; ground color rather

uniform dark brown, not whitish basally. Abdomen

darker brown than male, ochreous genital scaling

reduced. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Colombia, San Antonio, 5,800 feet,

November; lectotype male, designated by Clarke

(1965), in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from

Colombia (La Crumbre, 6,600 feet).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—November; May (?) ("5-14").

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

The Cyanea Group

Eye index 0.9 (female). Labial palpus moderately

short, II segment index 1.1—1.2 Antenna of male

probably with scape modified (length in <j>, 0.9 of

eye diameter), dilation of shaft unknown. Forewing

broad; metallic blue without pattern. Hindwing

of male with costal brush, status of folding unknown. Abdomen scaling undifferentiated. Uncus

membranous; gnathos lacking; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with cucullus "plume";

fultura-manica simple; status of vesica unknown.

Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior

apophyses elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged with sclerotized band; ductus bursae

membranous, seven tight coils; signum a notched

keel.

A single entirely metallic blue species in southern

Mexico which appears to show closest relationships

to the Longimaculella and Trifurcella groups.

Ethmia cyanea Walsingham

FIGURES 45, 259; PLATE 16;; MAP 56

Ethmia cyanea Walsingham, 1912:144, pi. 5, fig. 4.

This is a distinctive dark metallic blue moth known

only from Veracruz.

MALE.—Known only from the type in the British

Museum, characterized in the original description

by the following: Length of forewing not recorded

(Walsingham cited the wing expanse as 21-23 mm,

evidently in part an error, since a para type female

from Atoyac measured only 18 mm. Possibly the

male is much larger than the female with a forewing length up to 10.5 mm.) Head: Labial palpus

erect, third segment length only 0.5 that of second;

shining purplish blue. Antenna flattened laterally,

slightly serrate beneath; purplish blue. Thorax:

Dark, shining greenish blue, legs dark green externally, purplish on their inner sides. Forewing:

Unicolorous, dark, shining greenish blue; fringe

purple. Hindwing: K. Sattler states (in litt.) that

the costa bears a dorsal hair pencil. Color, including fringe dark purple. Abdomen: Deep blackish
NUMBER 120 187

MAP 56.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia cyanea

Walsingham.

green. Genitalia somewhat like E. similatella

(Figure 157). E. cyanea compared via a photograph

of the holotype provided by K. Sattler.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Labial palpus

moderately elongate, not strongly curved, just exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.2

to 1.3 eye diameter, third segment straight, 0.65—

0.85 as long as second. Forewing broad, length

2.9—3.1 times width; dorsum somewhat concave,

giving a broader appearance beyond middle than

in most Ethmia. Coloration as described for male.

Abdomen dark metallic blue. Genitalia as in

Figure 259 (drawn from plesiotype, Cordoba,

Veracruz, JAP prep. no. 2120; two preparations

examined); sterigma narrow with a thin ring

around ostium, ductus basally with a broad, heavily

sclerotized band continued through first spiral,

with about six membranous spirals, signum not

differing from that of nigritaenia.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Veracruz, Atoyac, April

(H. H. Smith), holotype male and paratype females in British Museum. Paratypes from Jalapa

and Coatepec, Veracruz, in the U.S. National

Museum and in the Los Angeles County Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Northern Veracruz,

Mexico; in addition to Walsingham's localities, the

California Insect Survey collection has females

from Cordoba and near Rinconada.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April and June.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

The Gigantea Group

Eye index 1.1. Labial palpus moderately elongate,

II segment index 1.3—1.5, smooth scaled. Antenna

of male slightly dilated, index 0.22. Forewing

moderately broad; pattern costal-dorsal. Hindwing

of male with hair pencil enclosed in costal fold.

Abdomen with genital scaling ochreous. Uncus

membranous; gnathos lacking; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with cucullus "plume";

modified, scalelike setae not bifid apically;

fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae

anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses

elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged; ductus

bursae membranous, five tight coils; signum a

notched keel.

The largest New World species of Ethmia occurs

in northern Central America and shows close relationship to no other species. Phenetic assessments

consistently indicated an isolated position, near the

Longimaculella and Trifurcella groups yet not

clustering with E. cyanea which occupies a similar

position.

Ethmia gigantea Busck

FIGURE 147; PLATE 17a

Ethmia gigantea Busck, 1914c:54.

A Mexican spedes with a brown and white forewing pattern similar to E. marmorea; having the

greatest forewing length of the New World

Ethmiidae.

MALE.—Length of forewing 14.6 to 17.4 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of

antenna; second segment length 1.2 to 1.35 times

eye diameter; third segment straight, slightly reflexed, length about 0.7 to 0.8 that of second (0.8

to 1.1 times eye diameter); smooth scaled, second

segment white, broadly blackish basally and with

a narrow subapical, black band exteriorly, third

segment entirely blackish except white in a narrow

median band exteriorly and extreme tip. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.2

eye diameter; dorsal scaling blackish. Scaling of

tongue, front, and crown whitish, occipital tufts

broadly blackish at midorsum. Thorax: Dorsal

scaling whitish, bases of tegulae and adjoining areas

of collar broadly dark brownish black, reflecting
188 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

steel blue, notum with a large, concolorous median

blotch and two pairs of smaller, lateral spots of

the same color adjoining apices of tegulae and at

sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs mostly

brownish exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.1 to 3.3

times width; costa nearly straight beyond basal onethird, apex acute, termen strongly angled back,

tornal angle nearly obsolete. Ground color dark

brownish black, nearly unicolorous on costal half,

at times with some indistinct paler blotches; dorsal

area white, the dividing line sinuate, fairly distinct,

along Cu fold, with broad spurs of dark in dorsal

area near base and just before middle, thence

angled upward to end of cell with an elongate dark

spur or separate spot angled back above tornus;

a distinct spot beyond basal spur near dorsum;

terminal area white except just below apex. The

dark costal area extended narrowly to fringe; a

row of blackish dots subtending fringe, from before

apex to tornus. Fringe white with a tinge of

brown below apex. Underside brown, dorsal area

white. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing;

costal area with a narrow fold, ending before end

of cell, tightly appressed, enclosing a thin, whitish

hair pencil; costal margin convex beyond fold, apex

acute, termen broadly curved to dorsum. Ground

color whitish, semitraslucent basally, becoming pale

brownish on apical half; fringe white; underside

similar, costal area brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling dark brown, ventral pale brownish, genital

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 147 (drawn from

topotype, JAP prep. no. 1102; two preparations

examined); uncus membranous, short; valva broad,

its apical "plume" short; vesica with some roughened sclerotization.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 16.8 to about 17.5

mm. Essentially as described for male; eye slightly

smaller, labial palpus and antennae about as large

as in male. Hindwing costal area simple, ground

color not darker than on male. Genitalia similar

to E. nigritaenia (Figure 253) and E. cyanea

(Figure 259), one preparation examined; sterigma

simple, ringlike, antrum sclerotized, with a ventral

fold, ductus with about three small and five large

coils, signum elongate with a deep cleft on the

inner ridge.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Zacualpan, August 1913

(R. Muller); type female in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mexico (Zacualpan,

presumably in northwestern Veracruz) and Guatemala (Chichicastenango).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—April, June, August.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

The Trifurcella Group

Eye index 1.0-1.2. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, four segments varying in lengths, about

2:2:2:3. Labial palpus moderately elongate to

elongate, II segment index 1.3—1.8; smooth scaled.

Antenna of male slightly dilated to dilated, index

0.20-0.30. Forewing moderately broad; pattern

costal-dorsal. Hindwing of male with hair pencil

enclosed in costal fold. Abdomen usually with

genital scaling ochreous, at times basal two terga

with specialized scaling. Uncus and gnathos absent;

basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with

cucullus "plume" bearing scalelike setae that are bifid apically; valva usually with distal specialized

seta-bunch; fultura-manica simple; vesica simple or

armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses elongate; sterigma simple; antrum

enlarged, usually with sclerotized band; ductus

bursae membranous, at times sclerotized basally,

5-9 tight coils; signum a notched keel.

This is a somewhat loose assemblage of 17 superficially similar nocturnal species distributed primarily in semiarid parts of the southwestern

Nearctic and northern Neotropical regions. Phenetic assessments indicate E. semiombra, the playa-baja

complex, and E. oterosella do not cluster well with

other members of the group. They are retained, as

I believe they represent separate ex-group derivatives of this New World group, which has no

relatives in the Old World fauna. Ethmia oterosella,

the only Antillean representative, may well be

excluded when the female genitalia have been

studied.

Ethmia semiombra Dyar

Ethmia semiombra Dyar, 1902:206. —Busck, 1906b:728.—

Barnes and Busck, 1920, pis. 27,36.-McDunnough, 1939:83.

This species, which occurs in eastern Mexico and

southern Texas, has the costal-dorsal forewing pattern of the Trifurcella group, with the costal

brownish half variably replaced by whitish along

the costa.
NUMBER 120 189

Ethmia semiombra semiombra Dyar, new status

FICURES 148, 261, 291, 292; PLATES ITb-c, 20g-h; MAP 57

A Texan and Mexican race having the forewing

with a whitish or grayish dorsal band and a dark

blackish or brownish costal half which is indistinctly and irregularly replaced by whitish along

the costa.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.2—9.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, second segment length 1.4

to 1.5 times eye diameter; third segment slightly

curved, 0.80—0.83 the length of the second; smooth

scaled, whitish, second segment with basal half

exteriorly and a narrow subapical band black; third

segment with broader submedian and subapical

bands. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

basally about 0.22 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

brownish black. Scaling of tongue and front

whitish, crown and occipital tufts tinged with

grayish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling unicolorous whitish, tinged with grayish. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs broadly blotched

exteriorly with dark or pale brownish gray, hind

legs blotched with pale brownish on darker individuals. Forewing: Moderately broad, length

3.1—3.2 times width; costa slightly more strongly

curved than related species, appearing slightly

concave before apex owing to fringe, termen very

strongly angled back, tornal angle nearly obsolete.

MAP 57.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia semiombra

Dyar.

# E. s. semiombra (f E. s. nebulombra Powell

Ground color dark on costal half; whitish, lightly

to heavily tinged with gray, on dorsal half; dividing

line sinuate, on Cu fold at base, curving into dorsal

area as shallow lobes at basal one-third and at

about middle, thence upward to lower corner of

cell and on to termen; dorsal area usually unmarked except for a small spot below and beyond

lower corner of cell, at times a small spot at basal

one-third; costal half darkest in cell, becoming

slightly and indistinctly paler at costa, at times

rather broadly whitish, a more distinct pale area

before apex; a row of dark spots at margin, scarcely

discernible except in preapical pale area. Fringe

whitish tinged with grayish at apex and tornus,

broadly dark below apex. Underside brown, a

paler area in cell. Hindwing: Slightly narrower

than forewing; costal area with a narrow fold,

ending before termination of Sc, a large whitish

hair pencil from base, mostly outside fold; apex

rather blunt, termen broadly curved to dorsum.

Ground color whitish basally, becoming pale

brownish on apical half; fringe gray, paler at anal

area. Underside similar, slightly paler. Abdomen:

Dorsal and ventral scaling pale to dark gray brown,

genital scaling slightly paler, not ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 148 (drawn from plesiotype, Brownsville JAP prep. no. 1152; three preparations examined); uncus membranous, fultura extended as

a ventrally sclerotized sheath around aedeagus;

basal processes unusually heavily sclerotized, curved

outward at middle, valva with a strong distal

projection; vesica with a spiral, rasplike sclerotized

cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 11.0-11.7 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye relatively

slightly smaller (absolute size about the same as

in the smaller male); labial palpus as large or

larger than in male, second segment length 1.6-1.7

times eye diameter; antenna as large as in male.

Color generally darker, especially the hindwing;

abdominal scaling darker, the genital scaling distinctly ochreous. Genitalia as in E. s. nebulombra

(Figure 260); sterigma not differentiated from VIII

sternite, antrum with light sclerotization on one

side, signum an open fold with a broad emargination in the inner ridge, which is deeper than in

nebulombra (Figure 261, drawn from plesiotype,

Texas, JAP prep. no. 2562; one preparation examined).
190 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

TYPE DATA.-San Diego, Texas, June 12, 1895

(E. A. Schwarz); Brownsville, Texas, June 20, 1895

(C. H. Townsend); USNM type No. 6623. Two

females in U.S. National Museum bear the above

data and identical type numbers. The former bears

an additional "Holotype" label and may be conGEOCRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southwestern Texas

sidered as such.

(Brewster County) and southern Texas to southern

Tamaulipas, Mexico.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Evidently multivoltine; February, May, June, and September (Texas), July

(Tamaulipas).

FOOD PLANT—Probably Ehretia elliptica de Candolle (Boraginaceae); a series of specimens in the

U.S. National Museum from Brownsville bear

labels "on Ehretia sp.," "ex Anagua," and "on

Anacua" (Reagan), presumably referring to Gaza

anacua, now considered to be a synomym of E.

elliptica. Additional specimens from the Reagan

material were reared from "wild hackberry."

The 18 specimens from Tamaulipas, Mexico, are

generally somewhat larger and appreciably darker

than a smaller and older sample of flown individuals from Texas.

Ethmia semiombra nebulombra Powell,

new subspecies

FIGURE 260; PLATE 17d; MAP 57

A race in Yucatan which differs from s. semiombra

by a generally paler appearance, particularly due to

a broad, pale costal area of the forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.5 to 11.0 mm.

Generally similar to s. semiombra, differing as

follows: Head: Labial palpus size slightly more

variable in the sample available, third segment

0.75-0.83 the length of second. Forewing: Color

pattern with dividing line between light and dark

more produced into dorsal area, forming two dark

squarish spurs, rather than broad, ill-defined ones;

costal area irregularly whitish, at times restricting

dark portion to an ill-defined, brown, broad,

longitudinal band through middle of wing, blackish in cell as in s. semiombra; the dot in basal

one-third in dorsal area present, at least a trace.

Hindwing: Whitish, tinged with brownish distally.

Genitalia very similar to s. semiombra (Figure

148); valva slightly broader distally, with less well

developed distal production below the "plume."

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to 11.8 mm.

As described for nominotypic race; pale ground

color generally darker than in male, tinged with

gray to uniform gray, narrowly bordered with

whitish adjoining dark markings. Hindwing much

darker than in male, dark brownish on distal half.

Genitalia as in Figure 260 (drawn from paratype,

JAP prep. no. 2698; two preparations examined);

essentially as in E. s. semiombra, inner ridge of

signum evidently shallower with slightly larger

teeth.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Merida, Yucatan, July 29-30, 1964 (P. J.

Spangler); deposited in U.S. National Museum.

Eleven paratypes, all Yucatan, as follows (Map 57):

same data as holotype, 3cf, 3°., Chichen Itza,

ltf, II-4-56, 1$, 111-11-56, 1$ , IV-8-56,

1 9, V-26-55, 1 ? , IX-27-55 (E. C. Welling).

Deposited in California Insect Survey and U.S.

National Museum.

Ethmia albicostella (Beutenmuller)

FIGURE 149; PLATE 17<r; MAP 58

Anesychia mirusella.—Chambers, 1877 [not Chambers, 1874]:

121.

Psccadia albicostella Beutenmuller, 1889:9.

Ethmia mirusella.—Dyar, 1902 [not Chambers, 1874]:203 [in

part].—Barnes and Busck, 1920 [not Chambers, 1874], pis.

27, 36.-McDunnough, 1939 [not Chambers, 1874]:83 [in

part].

Ethmia mirella Meyrick, 1914:29 [in part].

MAP 58.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia albicostella

(Beutenmuller).
NUMBER 120 191

A widespread species in the Rocky Mountains and

Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico having narrow

forewings which are evenly divided by a straight,

longitudinal line, brownish gray on costal, white

on dorsal half.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.2 to 13.2 mm.

Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, variable;

second segment length 1.05 to 1.20 eye diameter;

third segment slightly curved, length 0.4 to 0.8 that

of second (0.45 to 1.0 eye diameter); scaling slightly

shaggy, second segment blackish exteriorly, at times

with a whitish median blotch and narrow apical

ring, whitish interiorly, third segment black with

narrow basal and postmedian white bands. Antenna

not dilated, width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye

diameters dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of

tongue and front white, crown slightly to heavily

tinged with grayish, occipital tufts black at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling grayish white, base

of tegula and adjoining collar narrowly blackish,

five black spots on notum: lateral pairs adjoining

apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum, a single

larger one at middorsum preceding scutellar area.

Underside whitish, legs broadly marked with pale

gray exteriorly. Forewing: Narrow, length 3.5 to

3.8 times width; costa straight along middle onethird, apex acute, termen strongly angled back,

tornal angle obscure. Ground color divided by a

straight longitudinal line along Cu fold to end of

cell, costal half dark to pale brownish gray, darkest

at dividing line, blending to whitish at costa; dorsal

area white, lightly tinged with grayish, marked by

a single small, oblong, dark spot at basal onefourth; dorsal white upcurved at end of cell as a

distinct spur, at times defined outwardly by gray,

at times white thence to termen, a small grayish

spot just below and beyond the spur; terminal area

with a heavy streak of gray from cell to termen or

mostly white; a row of black dots around termen

before fringe, well defined only on paler specimens.

Fringe white or pale grayish, a brownish gray spot

below apex. Underside pale brownish, dorsal area

paler. Hindwing: About as broad as forewing;

costal area with a narrow fold, ending before end

of cell, containing a thin, whitish hair pencil; costal

margin convex at end of cell, apex rather blunt,

termen strongly angled back to dorsum, tornal

angle not evident. Ground color pale brownish,

slightly darker apically; fringe slightly paler. Underside similar. Abdomen: Scaling, dorsal and

ventral, pale to rather dark gray-brown; genital

scaling dull to bright ochreous. Genitalia as in

Figure 149 (drawn from plesiotype, Florissant,

Colorado, JAP prep. no. 918; five preparations

examined); uncus membranous; valva with apex

attenuate, without a well-developed "plume" at

end of costa.

FEMALE.—Not examined in detail; the holotype

was the only specimen available: length of forewing

10.5 mm; labial palpus more elongate than in male,

second segment about 1.35, third 0.95 eye diameter;

external characters essentially as in male; hindwing

simple; abdomen, especially the venter, tinged with

ocherous. Genitalia not examined.

TYPE DATA.—Colorado, "lc?," a female specimen

which evidently is the type (cited by Dyar, 1902),

in U.S. National Museum, bears the data "Col.,

248, collection Beutenmiiller, Psecadia albicostella

Beut. Type," and "Type No. 435 U.S.N.M."

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Southern Manitoba,

Saskatchewan, and Montana (Bozeman) through

the southern Rocky Mountain states at moderately

high elevations (mostly 7,000-8,000 feet) and

mountains of western Mexico at least to Durango

(25 mi W. Durango, 8,100 feet).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Mid-June to early August.

FOOD PLANT.—Lithospermum, in Wyoming (A. F.

Braun, in litt.).

REMARKS.—The Mexican specimens (2cf, Mesa

de Heracan, Chihuahua; 2Q*, 25 mi W. Durango)

are generally somewhat darker colored than Colorado and Manitoba individuals. In addition, it

appears there may be a clinal change in labial

palpus length from north to south. The ratios of

eye diameter: second segment: third segment were

1.0:1.1:0.45 for the single Manitoba specimen

measured; they ranged 1.0: 1.05-1.15 :0.75-0.88 for

Florissant, Colorado, individuals; and 1.0:1.2 :0.95—

1.05 in material from Chihuahua and Durango.

One additional male in the U.S. National Museum from Mexico, D.F. (Mexico City, June) that

was examined is referred to albicostella tentatively,

although it differs in several respects. The specimen

is slightly larger (forewing length 13.8 mm) than

any other examined but has an equally narrow

forewing and labial palpus size about equal to

that of other Mexican albicostella. The basic forewing pattern is the same; but the general coloration
192 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

is dull and less contrasting, and all minor marks

of the forewing (dorsal area spot, spot below outer

lower corner of cell, and marginal dots) are lacking.

The darker areas are more brownish than gray, a

feature which may in part be due to age of the

specimen. In genital characteristics the Mexico

City example differs only by having narrower basal

processes and slightly more angulate distal and

saccular margins in the valva.

Ethmia mirusella (Chambers)

FIGURE 150; PLATE 17/; MAP 59

Anesychia mirusella Chambers, 1874:233.

Ethmia mirusella.—Dyar, 1902:203 [in part].—McDunnough,

1939:83 [in part].

Ethmia mirella Meyrick, 1914:29 [in part].

A rather small Ethmia in Oklahoma and adjacent

states which resembles a faded E. albicostella.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.8 to 9.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, not strongly

upcurved; second segment length 1.1 to 1.25 times

eye diameter; third segment slightly curved, length

0.82 to 0.90 that of second (1.0-1.1 eye diameter);

smooth scaled, white, second segment broadly

brownish on basal half, with a small, indistinct,

subapical spot exteriorly, third segment with dark

submedian and subapical bands. Antenna not

dilated, width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye

diameter; dorsal scaling brownish gray. Scaling of

tongue, front, and crown silvery whitish, occipital

tufts lightly tinged with brownish gray; extreme

base of tegula dark brown, notum with five small,

dark spots: two lateral pairs adjoining apices of

tegulae and at sides of scutellar area, and a single

median one preceding scutellar area. Underside

whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs mostly

dark brownish gray exteriorly; hind tibial fringe

rather dense and elongate, whitish. Forewing-"

Length 3.2 to 3.6 times width; costa nearly straight

on middle one-third, apex acute, termen strongly

angled back, tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground

color white, pattern divided by a longitudinal,

straight line along Cu fold, area costad in cell dark

brown, shading to pale brownish and whitish

toward costa, latter brown only at base, costal area

beyond cell mostly white, dividing line slightly

upcurved at end of cell, becoming indistinct beyond; dorsal area white with two small, brownish

spots, basal one at one-third rather distinct, nearer

dorsum, second one at about middle, sometimes

absent or connected to dark area of cell at Cu; an

indistinct spot at lower corner of cell; a row of

dark marginal dots, usually distinct only below

apex on termen. Fringe white with a brown spot

below apex, at times indistinctly connected to

MAP 59.—Geographical distribution of members of the Trifurcella group of Ethmia.

# £. trijurcella (Chambers) (J E. mirusella (Chambers)

Q populations of uncertain affinity
NUMBER 120 193

brown streak through cell. Underside dark brown,

dorsal area and a small blotch in cell paler. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costal area

with a narrow fold containing a thin pencil of

white hairscales; costal margin slightly convex at

end of cell, apex blunt, termen broadly curved to

dorsum. Ground color white, at times very lightly

tinged with grayish brown towards distal margins.

Fringe white. Underside whitish, lightly tinged

with pale brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling

whitish tan, ventral white; genital concolorous.

Gentalia as in Figure 150 (drawn from plesiotype,

Jeff Davis County, Texas, JAP prep. no. 771;

three preparations examined); uncus lacking, valva

somewhat variable in width, sclerotized portion of

apical pj.ume at times broader than in Figure 150,

distal seta bunch a dense row of about 15 heavy,

spurlike setae; vesica with a lightly sclerotized, illdefined cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.0 mm.

Essentially as described for male; eye about the

same size; labial palpus slightly larger, length of

second segment about 1.4 times eye diameter, third

0.75-0.83 as long as second (1.1-1.2 eye diameter).

Hindwing, costal area simple, broadly convex;

ground color slightly darker. Genitalia similar to E.

marmorea and E. hodgesella (Figures 262—264) but

less heavily sclerotized; antrum with only faint

brownish sclerotization (one preparation examined).

TYPE DATA.—Texas, April and May; lectotype

male, by present designation: "Chambers, Tex;

Type 1423" in Museum of Comparative Zoology,

Harvard. The material upon which the description

is based is stated to have come from "Mr. Belfrage

of Waco, Texas." According to Geiser (1948),

Belfrage lived near Norse, Bosque County (about

40 miles northwest of Waco) from 1870 to 1879.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Kansas, Oklahoma

to central and western Texas.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Evidently double brooded; March,

May to September.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This and the following species need

further study. Although the two seem distinct in

the eastern United States, the precise relationships

of populations on the western periphery of the

geographical distribution of the complex are in

need of clarification (see Map 59). Western

morphotypes differ markedly in appearance from

the typical form of E. trifurcella, but the genitalia

do not differ from eastern specimens. The phenotype in Nueva Leon and Arizona resembles a paler,

more strongly marked kind of E. mirusella, with a

straight line separating the dark median and pale

dorsal areas of the forewing and the brown restricted to the median area, with the costal area

whitish, as in E. trifurcella. Specimens from

Wyoming are intermediate between the dark and

pale extremes of E. trifurcella and superfically resemble E. albicostella.

Ethmia trifurcella (Chambers)

FIGURE 151; PLATE 17g; MAP 59

Anesychia trifurcella Chambers, 1873:12.

Ethmia trifurcella.-Dyar, 1902:206.—McDunnough, 1939:83.—

Kimball, 1965:286.

A widespread but poorly known Nearctic species

superficially resembling E. marmorea, with a

broader costal whitish area.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.6 to 9.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment length about

1.3 times eye diameter; third segment slightly

curved, length 0.85-0.90 that of second (1.1 eye

diameter); smooth scaled; white, second segment

exteriorly with broad basal band and small

subapical spot of brownish black; third segment

with sub-basal and apical dark rings. Antenna

scarcely dilated, width of shaft basally 0.18-0.20

eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray except extreme base of scape white. Scaling of tongue and

front white, latter margined narrowly below eye

dark gray reflecting metallic bluish, crown white,

occipital tufts at middorsum narrowly to broadly

dark, reflecting bluish. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white, base of tegula and adjoining collar dark

brownish, dark brown spots at side of notum adjoining apices of tegulae and medially, one or a

pair (originally described as a longitudinal stripe)

preceding scutellar area. Underside white, prothoracic leg heavily blotched with brownish black,

mesothoracic leg lightly so, hind tibial fringe sparse,

pale ochreous. Forewing: Length about 3.3 times

width; costa gently curved, flattened before middle

and before apex, latter acute, termen strongly
194 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Color

pattern divided longitudinally by a somewhat

sinuate line along Cu fold, dorsal area white or

pale gray and containing a single dark spot at about

basal one-third; costal half dark brownish or blackish, darkest at Cu fold, becoming paler costad,

costal area with scattered pale grayish scaling or

mostly whitish above cell; dorsal area sending a

narrow spur at end of cell obliquely towards apex,

at times nearly isolating a second dark spot beyond

and below cell; a row of dark dots around margin

from before apex to tornus. Fringe white except

brownish adjoining dark median streak of terminal

area. Underside brown, paler on dorsal half. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing; costa with a narrow

fold to about end of cell, containing a thin, whitish

hair pencil; apex very acute, sublanceolate, termen

strongly angled back, straight. Ground color pale

brownish, slightly darker distally; fringe concolorous. Underside whitish. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling brownish gray, ventral and genital paler.

Genitalia as in Figure 151 (drawn from plesiotype

Jefferson County, Kentucky, JAP prep. no. 1177;

three preparations examined); uncus membranous,

basal processes and valva narrow, apical "plume"

on a rather broad stem, distal seta bunch of about

16 elongate, heavy spurlike setae.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.7 to 9.1 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Antenna about

as large as in male; general coloration, especially

hindwing, darker. Hindwing costal area simple.

Genitalia not examined, presumably as in E.

mirusella.

TYPE DATA.—Kentucky, in July. Lectotype female, by present designation, "Chambers, Kentucky, 19, Type #1426," at Museum of Comparative

Zoology, Harvard.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Incompletely

known. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky to

North Carolina and northern Florida (Pensacola);

and widespread westward, according to scattered

records of an atypical phenotype from Nueva Leon,

Arizona, and Wyoming.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Probably bivoltine; April (Florida; Ohio, reared), May (Kentucky, reared), June

(Nueva Leon and Florida) July (Kentucky, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Maryland), September

(North Carolina); all single locality records.

FOOD PLANT. — Cynoglossum virginianum L.

(Boraginaceae), reared from larvae collected in

July in Warren County, Ohio, and Jefferson County,

Kentucky, by A. F. Braun, who kindly supplied the

information. The larva forms a tubular shelter on

the underside of the leaf and feeds upon the leaves.

REMARKS.—This species exhibits geographical

variation, but insufficient material has been available to enable analysis of any population differences. The few specimens examined from Kentucky

and southern Ohio are smaller (and are reared)

and have more strongly contrasting white areas on

the forewing.

Three specimens from North Carolina (Maxton)

and Florida (Pensacola) are darker than those from

Kentucky and Ohio, having the pale areas of the

forewing gray and somewhat restricted.

As discussed above, the genital form characteristic of E. trifurcella is widespread westward according to scattered records from northern Nueva Leon,

southeastern Arizona, and eastern Wyoming. It is

not known whether these populations represent a

geographical segregate of E. trifurcella or western

components of a polytypic complex which also includes populations here referred to E. mirusella.

Ethmia marmorea (Walsingham)

FIGURES 152, 262, 263; PLATES 4a, 17/i; MAP 60

Psecadia marmorea Walsingham, 1888:149.

Ethmia marmorea.-Tiyar, 1902:206.—Walsingham, 1912:146.—

Barnes and Busck, 1920, pis. 27, 36.-McDunnough, 1927:

271; 1939:83.-Powell, 1959:145.

Ethmia semilugens.—Braun [not Zeller, 1872], 1925:197.

A widespread, variable Nearctic species with the

forewings having a broad white dorsal margin, the

remainder pale to dark brown, usually with one or

more whitish blotches along the costa.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.8-11.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, variable, second segent length 1.35—1.50 eye diameter; third

segment 0.70—0.96 as long as second (1.05—1.33 eye

diameter); smooth scaled, white, second segment

dark brown on basal half exteriorly, at times with

a postmedian band; third segment with broad basal

band and tip dark brown, or extreme tip white.

Antenna slightly dilated width of shaft basally

about 0.22 eye diameter, dosal scaling dark brown.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown silverywhite,

occipital tufts dark brown at middorsum. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling white, tegula basally and adjacent
NUMBER 120 195

MAP 60.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia marmorea

(Walsingham).

collar dark brown, notum with five large blackish

spots: one at middorsum, lateral pairs adjoining

apices of tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs banded with dark brown exteriorly, metathoracic leg indistinctly so. Forewing:

Length 3.25-3.50 times width; costa gently, evenly

curved from base to apex, termen strongly angled

back, straight, tornal angle evident. Pattern divided

by a longitudinal line along Cu fold extended below fold as blunt, triangular spurs at basal onefourth, middle, and in terminal area; dorsal area

white, area costad of line dark brown, usually with

one or more ill-defined whitish blotches along costa:

an indistinct dusting at basal one-third, a larger

blotch just beyond middle containing a dark dot,

a more distinct white blotch always present preceding apex, containing one or more terminal dots;

dorsal white area with a distinct dark spot between

and below basal two dark spurs, a second spot just

before tornus, at times connected to the third spur

from dark in terminal area; a row of distinct

blackish spots around termen from before apex to

tornus. Fringe white at apex and broadly around

termen, brownish between. Underside dark brown,

white areas of upperside distinctly reproduced pale

brownish. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with a narrow fold to end of cell,

containing a rather thick, whitish hair pencil, costal

margin nearly straight, apex acute, termen strongly

angled back, broadly curved to dorsum. Ground

color whitish basally, becoming pale brownish on

apical half; fringe paler. Underside mostly whitish

except blotched with brownish along costal area.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish gray,

ventral whitish, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia

as in Figure 152 (drawn from plesiotype, Santa

Clara Canyon, Chihuahua, JAP prep. no. 774;

eight preparations examined); uncus lacking, valva

with apical "plume" thin, its setation restricted to

apical end, distal seta-bunch of valva a curved row

of heavily sclerotized, short, black, spurlike setae

from exterior side apical margin.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.4 to 10.7 mm. As

described for male, variation in markings and

palpus size within range shown in male. Antenna

not dilated, width of shaft about 0.75 that of male.

Hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia as in

Figures 262, 263 (drawn from plesiotype, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, JAP prep. no. 2567; two

preparations examined); similar to semiombra,

with sterigma as a V-shaped emargination in VIII

sternite, antrum not much enlarged, broadly sclerotized on its ventral side, signum ridge with a single,

deep notch.

TYPE DATA.—Arizona; unique type male in British

Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Lower parts (mostly

5,000 to 7,500 feet elevation) of the Great Basin

ranges and Rocky Mountains from southeastern

British Columbia (Seton Lake) and eastern portions of the Pacific states to northern and central

Colorado (Loveland) and central Chihuahua (15

mi t Cuauhtemoc).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—May to August; possibly univoltine.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The wing color variation does not

seem to be geographically restricted. In addition

to Arizona, the typical form, with more distinct

whitish costal blotches, has been taken in southern

California, Utah, and Chihuahua. Dark individuals

closely resemble £. sphenisca and E. semilugens in

wing pattern, but the latter species is easily distinguished by the shorter labial palpus, simple
196 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

costal area of the hindwing, and abdomen coloration, which is entirely bright ochreous ventrally.

Ethmia hodgesella Powell, new species

FIGURES 153, 264; PLATE 17I; MAP 61

A widespread species in the southwestern United

States and Mexico having the appearance of a

small E. marmorea.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.0-7.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment length

1.1—1.3 times eye diameter; third segment 0.75—0.85

as long as second (0.94-1.1 eye diameter); smooth

scaled, whitish, second segment dark brownish on

basal half, third segment with subbasal and subapical dark rings. Antenna not appreciably dilated,

width of shaft basally less than 0.2 eye diameter;

dorsal scaling dark gray-brown. Scaling of tongue,

front, and crown white, occipital tufts dark brown

at middorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, at

times tinged with pale gray, extreme base of

tegula dark brownish, notum with a pair of lateral

spots adjoining apices of tegulae and a transverse

band preceding scutellum, dark gray-brown. Underside whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs

marked exteriorly with pale grayish brown. Forewing: Length 3.1 to 3.5 times width; costa gently

curved, nearly straight; apex moderately blunt,

termen strongly angled back, straight. Color patMAP 61.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia hodgesella

Powell.

tern divided by a serpentine longitudinal line along

Cu fold; dorsal area whitish, invaded by three

prominent triangulate dark spurs from cell, first at

basal one-third, second beyond middle, third reaching to tornus, a conspicuous round, dark spot between and below first two spurs; area costad of line

mostly dark brownish gray, an ill-defined whitish

blotch on costa beyond middle containing an illdefined dark spot, at times some whitish along costa

before middle; terminal area mostly whitish, at

times crossed by a dark, median extension from

cell; a row of blackish, rather large dots around

margin from before apex nearly to tornus. Fringe

white at apex and around tornus, broadly grayish

along termen. Underside dark gray-brown, the

white areas of upperside paler. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing, costa with a narrow fold from

base to end of cell, containing a thin, white hair

pencil; costal margin slightly convex at end of cell,

apex rather blunt, termen not strongly angled back,

broadly curved to dorsum. Ground color unicolorous pale gray; fringe paler. Underside similar,

slightly mottled along costa. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling pale, silvery gray, first two segments lightly

tinged with ochreous, ventral whitish, genital

whitish ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 153

(drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no. 1624;

eight preparations examined); resembling E.

marmorea, basal processes more elongate, valva

broader, its apical "plume" with setae more restricted, distal seta-bunch a compact group of about

a dozen elongate, thick setae (not extended onto

posterior margin as in marmorea).

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.7 to 7.6 mm.

Essentially as described for male; hindwing costal

area simple, margin broadly convex. Genitalia

(Figure 264, drawn from plesiotype, San Jose del

Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2570; two preparations examined); similar to E. marmorea, sterigma simple,

thin, ostium subtended by a short, sclerotized sleeve

and sclerotized antrum, signum not differing from

marmorea and related species.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Arizona, Madera Canyon, 4880 feet, Santa Rita

Mountains, August 3, 1959 (R. W. Hodges); deposited in Cornell University collection.

One hundred sixty-five paratypes (69 cf, 96?)»

as follows California, "Victoria" (near Loma Linda,

Riverside County), 1$, X-26-25 (E. Piazza).
NUMBER 120 197

Arizona, Oracle, Pinal County, 1 $, VI-28-24 (J. O.

Martin); Santa Rita Exp. Range, Santa Rita

Mountains, 1$, VII-16-41 (A. B. Klots); Madera

Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, 9 c?, 12$, VII-5 to

12-59, 2$ , VII-22, 25-59, 22c?, 38?, VIII-1 to

5-59, 8d\ 14$, VIII-9 to 12-59 (all R. W.

Hodges); Baboquivari Mountains, Pima County,

lcf, VII-15 to 31-23, 1$ VIII-15 to 30-23,

2 c?, VI-15 to 30-24, l<f, VII-15 to 31-24) all

O. C. Poling); Pena Blanca Canyon, Santa Cruz

County, 12c?, 1 $ , VIII-7 to 11-59 (R. W. Hodges);

Huachuca Mountains, 1 c? (no further data.)

Arkansas, Hope, Hempstead County, 1 $, VI—6—31,

1 $, IX-26-32 (no further data). Texas, San

Antonio, Bexar County, ltf, VIII-1-42 (E. S.

Ross); Brownsville, 1$, III—4-25 (E. Piazza), lc?,

IV-26-28 (F. H. Benjamin); "Tex", 1$, (no

further data). Sinaloa, Mazatlan Beach, 1 c?, 1 $,

VIII-14-60 (Arnaud, Ross, Rentz); 5 mi N

Mazatlan, lc?, VIII-5-64 (J. A. Chemsak and J.

Powell); 28 mi E Villa Union, ld \ VIII-4-64

(H. F. Howden). San Luis Potosi, 2 mi S Tamazunchale, lc?, 2$ , VII-15-63 (Duckworth and

Davis). Tamaulipas, El Salto Falls, 26 mi W

Antiguo Morelos, 2c?, 2$ , VII-11 to 14-63 (Duckworth and Davis); 4 mi SW Ciudad Victoria, 1 $,

VIII-5-63 (Duckworth and Davis). Veracruz,

Puente Nacional, lc?, 1$ , VI-21-62 (D. H.

Janzen); 1,2 mi W Fortin de las Flores, 2c?, 6$ ,

VII-2-62 (D. H. Janzen); Cotaxtla Exp. Sta., lc?,

2 $ , VI-28-62, 3$ , VIII-2,6-62 (D. H. Janzen).

Oaxaca, Temescal, lc?, 3$ , VII-4-64 (D. H.

Jansen). Deposited in American Museum of Natural

History, British Museum, California Academy of

Sciences, California Insect Survey, Canadian National Collection, Cornell University, and U.S.

National Museum.

The following specimens from Baja California

have more recently been examined and are not

designated as para types. Baja California (Territorio Sur), 2 mi NW El Triunfo, 1 ? , VIII-12-66

(J. Chemsak, J. Doyen, and J. Powell); 3.5 mi N

San Pedro, 2 c?, IX-7-67, at lights (J. A. Chemsak,

A. E. Michelbacher); 5 mi S Miraflores, lc?, VII10-38 (Michelbacher and Ross); 1 mi SW Punta

Palmilla, lc?, 2$ , IX-13-67, at lights (Chemsak

and Michelbacher); 6 mi N San Jose del Cabo,

9c?, 12$, IX-10, 15-67, at lights (Chemsak and

Michelbacher); 3 mi N San Jose del Cabo, lc?,

IX-11-67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher).

REMARKS.—Although E. hodgesella is one of the

most widespread members of the genus in the New

World, it shows very little variation. The distribution appears to be disjunct, extending along the

two sides of the central cordillera of Mexico. However, it is noteworthy that all but one of the 16

Mexican records (representing seven separate

American expeditions) are the result of work during the past decade and considerable extension of

the known range of the species will not be surprising. In superficial appearance E. hodgesella

is almost indistinguishable from typical E. marmorea except by size. The smallest specimen of

the latter species examined measures 8.4 mm forewing length; the largest hodgesella 7.8 mm.

Ethmia playa Powell, new species

FIGURE 155; PLATE 18a; MAP 62

A small, dull-colored species along the west coast

of northern Mexico, having brown forewings with

a grayish or whitish dorsal band.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.2-6.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, exceeding base

of antenna; second segment length about 1.2 times

eye diameter; third segment 0.75 to 0.88 as long

as second (0.96-1.0 eye diameter), slightly curved;

MAP 62.—Geographical distribution of members of the Trifurcella group of Ethmia.

% E. playa Powell (J E. baja Powell
198 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

smooth scaled, white, second segment mostly brown

exteriorly except apex, third segment brown apically. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.21 eye diameter; dorsal scaling brown.

Scaling of front pale brownish or mostly white, of

crown and occipital tufts white, latter at times with

a pale brownish median spot. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish tinged with pale brownish. Underside

whitish, prothoracic and mesothoracic legs pale

brownish exteriorly. Forewing: Length 3.0—3.2

times width; costa rather strongly curved, appearing (owing to fringe) flattened beyond middle;

apex blunt, termen only moderately strongly angled

back, straight or very slightly convex. Ground color

divided by a longitudinal line along Cu fold, costal

half grayish brown, darkest basally and near Cu;

dorsal area whitish, usually tinged with grayish or

tan; the line projected below cell at basal onefourth and about middle, producing shallow,

rounded spurs of dark into dorsal area, latter usually with a small spot between and below the spurs;

whitish produced upward as a narrow spur at end

of cell, thence sloped away to tornus; at times a

light tinge of whitish on costa preceding apex.

Fringe gray-brown, pale only at tornus. Underside

brown, dorsal area paler, the dividing line of upperside visible. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than

forewing; costa with a narrow fold to end of cell

enclosing a sparse pencil of whitish ochreous hair

scales; costal margin nearly straight, apex blunt,

termen moderately strongly angled back, straight,

tornal angle evident. Ground color gray, paler

basally; fringe whitish ochreous. Underside slightly

paler, somewhat mottled. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dull ochreous on basal two or three segments,

becoming gray brown distally, ventral whitish,

genital whitish ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure

155 (drawn from para type, San Carlos Bay, JAP

prep. no. 800; four preparations examined); uncus

rudimentary, basal processes and valvae rather narrow, apical spur bunch of valva consisting of a

tight group of about six heavy setae, setation of

apical process of costa restricted to apex.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 5.4 to 6.5 mm. Essentially as described for male, eye and labial palpus as large as in male. Coloration as in male,

including abdominal scaling. Hindwing costal

area simple, convex beyond cell. Genitalia similar to E. marmorea and E. hodgesella (Figure 264)

but antrum unsclerotized and both sleeve at base

of ductus and signum somewhat smaller and less

heavily sclerotized (three preparations examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Rio del Fuerte, 13 miles north of Los

Mochis, Sinaloa, August 7, 1964 (J. A. Chemsak

and J. Powell), deposited in the California Academy of Sciences. Two hundred paratypes (lOOcf,

100 9), all Mexico, as follows: same data as holotype, 91 cf, 96$; Navajoa, Sonora, 6cf, VII-14-63

(P. J. Spangler); San Carlos Bay (Northwest of

Guaymas), Sonora, ltf, 3$ , VIII-10-60 (P. H.

Arnaud, E. S. Ross, D. C. Rentz). Numerous additional specimens in poor condition, from the

same localities, not designated as paratypic. Paratypes deposited in American Museum of Natural

History, British Museum, Canadian National Collection, California Academy of Sciences, California

Insect Survey, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—Although it was not collected until

recently, the species is abundant in the northern,

desert-scrub portion of the Sinaloan thorn forest,

flying at the beginning of the rain season. There

is little variation in external features in the material examined.

Ethmia baja Powell, new species

FIGURES 154, 265; PLATE 186; MA P 62

A moderately small moth in the Cape District of

liaja California that resembles the smaller E. playa

but with the costal dark portion of the forewing

and the white dorsal portion more strongly contrasting.

MALE.—Length of forewing 5.7 to 7.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, exceeding base

of antenna; second segment moderately strongly

curved, length 1.2-1.4 times eye diameter; third

segment nearly straight, length 1.0—1.2 times eye

diameter; smooth scaled, whitish, second segment

with broad subbasal and narrow subapical dark

bands, third with narrow subbasal and broader

subapical dark bands, the narrow ones incomplete

on inner side of palpus. Antenna dilated, width

of shaft near base about 0.25 eye diameter. Coloration as described for E. playa, the pale areas of

baja mostly white rather than whitish tinged with

gray brown. Forewing: Length 3.2 to 3.3 times

width; costal half darker than in playa, blackish
NUMBER 120 199

brown in cell adjoining pale dorsal area, fading to

gray brown at costa; apical whitish spot usually

present, not well defined; dorsal area white, sometimes tinged with pale gray-brown. Genitalia as

in Figure 154 (drawn from para type, San Jose del

Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2350; two preparations examined); similar to E. playa, differing by darker,

more elongate setation, by a less-produced peak on

the distal margin of the valva, and by a more well

developed cornutus in the vesica.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.7 to 8.0 mm. As

described for male; labial palpus more elongate,

second segment 1.5 times eye diameter; antenna

not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.75 that

of male. Genitalia (Figure 265, drawn from paratype, San Jose del Cabo, JAP prep. no. 2574; three

preparations examined); similar to E. marmorea,

base of ductus with more extensive sclerotization

than in playa, antrum membranous, signum relatively large, not differing in shape from marmorea

and related species.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, 26 miles west of La Paz, Baja California

(Territorio Sur), August 11 and 13, 1966, at lights

(J. A. Chemsak, J. T. Doyen, J. Powell); deposited

in California Academy of Sciences. Seventy paratypes, all Baja California, as follows: same data

as holotype, 2 c?; same data as allotype, 37 c?, 3 $ ;

1 mi SW Punta Palmilla, 6c?, 1$ , IX-11-67, at

lights (J. A. Chemsak and A. E. Michelbacher); 6

mi N San Jose del Cabo, 5c?, 1$, IX-10-67,

12c?, 2$ , IX-15-67, at lights (Chemsak and Michelbacher); 3 mi N San Jose del Cabo, lc?, IX11-67 (Chemsak and Michelbacher).

REMARKS.—This species is closely related to E.

playa but differs from that species by its larger

size, more contrasting colors, slightly larger labial

palpus, and minor genitalic features, particularly

the valva shape and more well developed cornutus.

Ethmia baja may represent a southern race of E.

p^.aya, but this will have to be shown through material originating from the gap in the allopatry of

the two, perhaps northward along the peninsula

or across some of the islands in the Gulf of California.

THE PENTHICA COMPLEX

Most members of the Trifurcella group are rather

similar in appearance, having the forewing brown

on the costal half, white on the dorsal area, with

the pattern divided by a sinuate line. However,

within this series, a small group in Mexico and

Central America consists of species which are so

similar in external appearance that reliable separation of them is not possible except by genital

characters. Moreover, female genital features are

variable (possibly geographically), the complex is

represented by females from more localities than

males, and I have not been able to associate the

female with one of the male genital types, so satisfactory treatment of the complex has not been

realized.

The first species, E. penthica Walsingham, 1912,

was described on the basis of a single male from

Oaxaca, Mexico, and no member of the complex

has been collected from that region subsequently.

The slide of the penthica type specimen, unfortunately, was mounted with the aedeagus in situ.

However, I believe that I am correct in referring

several collections from Puebla, Veracruz, and other

central Mexican areas to penthica, using as the

most distinguishing feature a heavy spurlike cornutus in the vesica. This species has slightly narrower forewings and more elongate labial palpi

than the other three members of the complex.

The second species to be described, E. similatella

Busck, 1920, from Guatemala, was distinguished by

Busck by its larger size, less sinuate line dividing

the colors of the forewing, and by a white patch

at the apex of the forewing surrounding two of the

terminal dots. Moths with male genital characters

apparently identical to those of the type series have

subsequently been taken in Costa Rica, Honduras,

and western Mexico. In this material all of Busck's

diagnostic features disappear. The Mexican specimens, in particular, reverse the comparison to penthica; most are smaller and all lack the white apical

patch, which is nearly always present in penthica.

There is a tendency for all these similatella to exhibit a less sinuate line, but this feature is better

seen in series than in individual specimens.

A third species is here described as E. cordia,

from Yucatan. This may prove to represent a race

of E. similatella in eastern Mexico, since the genital characters are very similar to those of Busck's

species. E. cordia is the only population in the

complex with pale hindwings; all the others have

dark brown hindwings in both sexes.
200 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Fourth and fifth male genital types turned up in

older material from Sonora and Nayarit on the west

coast of Mexico. When we collected in that area

in 1964 and 1965 considerable additional material

was accumulated, but this revealed both similatella

and penthica also present in the Sinaloan thorn

forest and failed to clarify the status of the two

new species. A few additional males of the Sonoran

species described below as E. scutula were collected,

but always along with E. similatella. The two are

nearly indistinguishable superficially, and recognition of the female of scutula has not been possible.

The other of the two west coast species, previously known from a single battered specimen from

Tepic, has subsequently been taken in Veracruz

and proves to be a larger, darker moth which is

superficially recognizable. The species is described

below as E. clava; it is also quite distinctive in

genital characters.

Only in the case of E. similatella was the female

included in the type series, and the one topotypical

genital preparation I have examined differs from

all others in the complex which I have studied.

Females associated by collection data for both

penthica and similatella in Mexico suggest that

structures associated with the ostium are geographically variable. Thus, I have not been able

to draw species limits in female genitalia. Localities in Mexico and Costa Rica are represented only

by females which do not closely match females from

any area where males have been taken. One of

these may represent E. scutula but cannot be assigned to species with certainty at present.

In the Mazatlan area, where three species have

been collected, E. penthica has been taken only in

late June, prior to the rainy season, while E. similatella was flying both then and in July and August,

well into the rainy season, and E. scutula was encountered only in the latter period. Ethmia scutula can be distinguished from west coast similatella by a white spot at the apex of the forewing

which encloses a single terminal dot; Sinaloan

similatella have at most a trace of white near the

apex, but as mentioned above this is a geographically variable character.

Ethmia penthica Waisingham

FIGURES 156, 266, 267; PLATE 18C; MAP 63

Ethmia penthica Waisingham, I9l2:146.-Powell, 1959:145.

MAP 63.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia penthica

Waisingham.

% typical populations

Q populations of uncertain affinity ($ only)

A species in southern Mexico with very elongate

palpi and a strongly sinuate line dividing the costal

brown and dorsal white areas of the forewing.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.9 mm. Head:

Labial palpus greatly elongate, well exceeding base

of antenna; second segment length 1.45—1.60 times

eye diameter, third slightly curved, 1.1—1.2 times

eye diameter; scaling white with blackish brown

bands, median and subapical on second segment,

submedian and subapical on third. Antenna

scarcely dilated, width of shaft near base 0.19 eye

diameter; dorsal scaling dark brown with some

scattered whitish near base. Scaling of tongue,

front, and crown white; a large, median black

spot at back of head. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white

with five black or brownish spots: a large median

one, a pair adjacent to tips of tegulae, and a pair

at sides of scutellum which sometimes coalesce.

Underside whitish, legs heavily marked with dark

brown. Forewing: Length 3.2-3.4 times width;

costa almost straight in middle; apex blunt, termen

rather strongly angled back. Ground color divided

by a sinuate line from base of Cu to termen above

tornus, forming three broad, triangulate to nearly

U-shaped projections of costal brown into the

white, extending about halfway from Cu to dorsal

margin, at basal one-fourth, middle of wing, and

above tornus; dorsal white area extended beyond

Cu between second and third brown projections
NUMBER 120 201

and in an irregular spur at end of cell; a blackish

brown spot centrally placed in interspace between

first two brown projections and another adjacent

to the third, just above tornus, at times joined to

third; dorsal white continued beyond tornus nearly

to midtermen and reappearing at apex, interrupted

by a narrow band of brown through termen. A

row of about eight blackish spots around termen,

two in apical white, one or two in terminal brown,

about four in white above tornus. Fringe white

at apex, broadly brown on termen, white at tornus.

Underside dark brown. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with a tight fold to end

of cell, with an external brownish gray hair fringe

and enclosing a whitish hair pencil; apex narrow,

termen strongly curved to anal angle. Ground

color dark brown, whitish inside fold. Fringe

slightly paler, gray-brown. Underside dark brown.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brown, basal segments

paler; underside whitish brown; genital scaling

ochreous, pale exteriorly. Genitalia as in Figure

156 (drawn from holotype, RWH slide no. 2324,

and plesiotype, Tehuacan, JAP prep. no. 2370; six

preparations examined); basal processes short, inconspicuous; valva moderately broad, costal

"plume" originating well back from apex, costa

evenly curved beyond, its apex round; vesica with

a twisted plate and elongate, heavy spurlike cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 to 9.4 mm. Essentially as described for male; labial palpus not

more elongate; antenna not dilated, width of shaft

basally 0.16 eye diameter; forewing ranging to

broader, length 3.0-3.4 times width; hindwing costal area simple. Genitalia (Figure 266, drawn from

plesiotype, Veracruz, JAP prep. no. 2736; four

preparations examined) similar to E. marmorea,

sterigma with a median, slightly flanged plate, ostium subtended by a short sclerotized band, antrum

with ill-defined, variable sclerotization, ductus with

about seven increasingly larger coils, signum not

differing from marmorea and related species.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca (W.

Schaus); unique male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mexico: Sinaloa;

Hidalgo, Veracruz, and Oaxaca to Campeche.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Late June to August.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The more elongate labial palpus and

spurlike cornutus in the vesica will most easily distinguish penthica. The narrower forewing with the

white (not tinged with gray) dorsal area more

strongly contrasting with and more serpentinely invaded by the brown costal portion, the apical patch

consistently enclosing two terminal dots, and the

paler ochreous genital scaling are features by which

the species can be superficially but less reliably

segregated from other members of the complex.

A series of 15 females from Costa Rica (4 km

N Camas, Guanacasta Province, VII-12/ 1JM55, D.

Veirs) does not differ from Mexican material of

penthica superficially, but the genitalia show the

sterigmal area sufficiently different to indicate that

another species may be involved (Figure 267,

drawn from JAP prep. no. 2757; three preparations

examined).

Ethmia similatella Busck

FIGURES 157. 269. 270: PLATE 18<r-f; MA P 64

Ethmia similatella Busck, 1920:83.

A variable member of the penthica complex which

has the dividing line between brown and white on

the forewing less sinuate, so that the lobes of brown

are less rounded and extend less broadly into the

pale dorsal area.

MAP 64.—Geographical distribution of members of the

Trifurcella group of Ethmia.

# E. similatella Busck (J E. cordia Powell
202 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.7-9.4 mm. Head:

Labial, palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna;

length of second segment 1.3-1.4 times eye diameter, of third 1.0-1.15 times eye diameter. Antenna

slightly dilated, width of shaft near base 0.19 'eye

diameter. General coloration as in E. penthica,

with the pale areas usually tinged with grayish

(usually somewhat less brownish than in E. scutula). Forewing: Moderately broad, length 2.9-3.1

times width. Color pattern similar to E. penthica,

the longitudinal line dividing brown and whitish

areas less sinuate so that the lobes of brown into

white and the intervening white projections are

less regularly U-shaped; outermost brown projection

without an additional spot above tornus (present

in penthica); white patch at apex present or absent. At times some ill-defined pale scaling in costal area near middle (similar to but less strongly

developed than in E. semiombra). Hindwing:

Modified with costal fold and hair pencil as in E.

penthica. Ground color dark brown. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling dark brown, ventral paler, genital

bright, deep ochreous (usually brighter than in E.

penthica). Genitalia as in Figure 157 (drawn from

plesiotype, Rio Temas, Guatamala, JAP prep. no.

1226; nine preparations examined); basal processes

elongate, conspicuous; valva broad, costa evenly

curved beyond "plume," drawn out into a narrow

tip at apex of distal spur row; vesica with an illdefined, twisted plate and a bunch of about 20

small spurs.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.0 to 10.2 mm.

Generally as described for male; eye slightly

smaller, about 0.95 that of male; labial palpus

variable, length of second segment 1.4—1.6 times

eye diameter, of third, 1.10—1.35 eye diameter. Antena not dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.16

eye diameter. Forewing pattern at times more contrasting than in male, with greater tendency for

pale scaling in costal area. Hindwing costal area

simple; ground color dark brown, slightly darker

than in male. Genitalia similar to penthica, differing by lack of the median plate of the sterigma

and by more extensive sclerotization of the antrum

and base of the ductus, which is greatly variable

(Figures 269 and 270, drawn from paratype, Cayuga, Guatemala, and plesiotype, Sinaloa, JAP

preps. 2169, 2355; six preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Guatemala, Cayuga (W. Schaus);

type male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Western Mexico

(Sinaloa) to Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Probably multivoltine; records

available for February, April, and August in Guatemala, July and August elsewhere.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The type series has greater development of whitish on the forewing than in either

Mexican or Costa Rican examples. Specimens from

both latter areas are smaller (forewing length:

o* o", 7.1-8.5 mm; ? $, 7.0-8.6 mm), with heavier

grayish in the pale areas and lacking the apical

white patch. Possibly some of these differences are

seasonal, since all the topotypical examples which

bear dates on the labels were collected in February

and April, while those from Mexico and Costa

Rica were taken in July and early August. Differences in female genitalia, primarily in the degree of sclerotization in the basal part of the

ductus, occur among several populations. Most

Ethmia have not shown intraspecific variation of

this magnitude.

Ethmia cordia Powell, new species

FIGURES 158, 268; PLATE 18d; MA P 64

Another brown and white marmorea-like species,

from eastern Mexico, with pale hindwings.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.9. to 8.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna;

second segment length 1.25 to 1.40 times eye diameter; third segment 0.88—0.92 as long as second

(1.15—1.25 eye diameter), nearly straight; scaling

appressed, white banded with brown, each segment

with submedian and subapical bands, not complete

interiorly. Antenna scarcely dilated, width of shaft

basally about 0.19 eye diameter; dorsal scaling

brown. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white,

a pair of lateral spots below eyes and occipital tufts

at middorsum dark brown. Thorax: Dorsal scaling

white, extreme base of tegula dark; notum with

five rather large blackish spots: one in middle, lateral pairs adjoining apices of tegulae and at sides

of scutellum. Underside whitish, prothoracic and

mesothoracic legs heavily marked with blackish exteriorly; hind tibial fringe short, pale ochreous.

Forewing: Length about 3.0 times width; costa
NUMBER 120 203

curve appearing flattened on middle one-third;

apex blunt, termen straight, moderately strongly

angled back. Ground color divided by a sinuate,

longitudinal line along Cu fold, dark brown above,

white below to dorsum; dark ground of cell dipping below Cu as shallow lobes at basal one-fourth

and middle, the white projected upward as a shallow triangulate lobe at end of cell; two dark spots

in dorsal area, first near margin between dark

lobes, second larger, beyond lower corner of cell;

a white blotch on costa just before apex, costal half

otherwise nearly unicolorous. A row of marginal,

blackish dots, slightly darker than costal half of

wing, from costa before apex to tornus, two in

apical white blotch, three scarcely visible in dark

terminal area, three or four in tornal area. Fringe

concolorous with adjoining areas. Underside dark

brown, the pattern of upperside faintly visible;

dorsal area pale whitish ocherous. Hindwing:

Slightly narrower than forewing; costa with a rather

broad fold to end of cell, having on its exterior

(ventral side of wing) a dark fringe and enclosing

a whitish hair pencil. Ground color whitish basally

becoming pale brownish distally. Fringe whitish.

Underside whitish except costal fold area and apex

brownish. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish

gray, ventral brownish basally becoming whitish

distally, genital ochreous. Genitalia (Figure 158,

drawn from paratotpotype, JAP prep. no. 1514;

two preparations examined); similar to E. similatella, valva apex blunt, distal "plume" before end

of costa with apical setation only, distal seta bunch

an elongate, curved row of stout setae; vesica with

an irregular platelike cornutus without a well-defined spur.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.0 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye slightly smaller,

labial palpus as large; antennal shaft narrower,

about 0.8 that of male. Forewing very slightly

broader, length 2.9-3.0 times width. Hindwing

costal area simple; broader, ground color brown.

Abdomen dorsum brown, genital ochreous reduced.

Genitalia similar to less strongly sclerotized forms

of similatella, sterigma with a small, median,

pointed projection, antrum lightly sclerotized (Figure 268, drawn from paratopotype, JAP prep. no.

2070; one preparation examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, May 27, 1955, and

February 26, 1956 (E. C. Welling), deposited in

California Academy of Sciences. Thirty-eight paratypes, all Yucatan, as follows: Chichen Itza, 2o"»

V-5, 27-54, ltf, VI-23-54, 3Q \ V-19, 25-56 (E.

Welling); Merida, 29d\ 3$ , VII-29/30-64 (P. J.

Spangler); deposited in California Insect Survey,

Carnegie Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—This species is similar to E. penthica

in color, but as discussed above, cordia may be a

race of similatella. The pale hindwing will serve

to distinguish the present species.

Ethmia scutula Powell, new species

FIGURE 159; PLATE 18g

A penthica-like species from the west coast of Mexico that has the dorsal pale area of the forewing

clouded with brownish gray, the labial palpus only

moderately elongate, and the antenna not dilated.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.7 to 8.4 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna;

second segment length 1.20-1.35 times eye diameter; length of third 1.10—1.15 times eye diameter.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft near base 0.16—

0.17 eye diameter. General coloration and pattern

similar to E. penthica except the pale areas clouded

with brownish gray. Forewing: Moderately broad,

length 2.9-3.1 times width. Pattern as in penthica

except tending to be less distinct in apical and

tornal areas owing to infusion of brown in pale

areas; the whitish dorsal area narrowly lacking its

brownish cast adjacent to the dark markings and

in apical patch. Hindwing: Modified with costal

fold and hair pencil as in E. penthica. Ground

color dark brown. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark

brown, ventral paler, genital ochreous, about as

pale as in penthica. Genitalia as in Figure 159

(drawn from paratype, Alamos, JAP prep. no.

1154; four preparations examined); basal processes

elongate, conspicuous; valva narrow, with costal

"plume" originating well subapicad and costa produced into a distinct apical peak beyond plume;

vesica with a twisted, well-defined plate, without

spurs or spines.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPES.—Holotype male: Mexico, 6 miles south

of Culiacan, Sinaloa, August 6, 1964, at black and

white lights (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell); deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Four
204 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

paratypes, all Mexico: 5 mi N Mazatlan, Sinaloa,

Id1, VII-24-64, Id1, VIII-5-64 (J. A. Chemsak

and J. Powell); Alamos, Sonora, 2d\ VII-25 to

VIII-7-53 (F. S. Truxal); deposited in California

Insect Survey, Los Angeles County Museum, and

U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—This species may be distinguished

from its sympatric close relatives by its shorter

palpi and more heavily infuscated pale areas than

in penthica and by possession of the apical white

spot which is lacking or reduced to a trace in similatella. However, scutula is virtually indistinguishable superficially from some Central American

similatella. The genital characters are quite distinctive, especially the produced apical area of the

valva, and this may be seen on the whole specimen

by brushing away some of the scaling.

Ethmia pala Powell, new species

FIGURES 160, 272; PLATE ISh-i

A small moth from the west coast of Mexico, resembling hodgesella but with restricted white

markings, intermediate in pattern towards penthica.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.7 to 7.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment length

1.45-1.55 times eye diameter; third segment 0.75-

0.80 as long as second (1.1—1.2 times eye diameter); smooth scaled, whitish, with basal half of

second segment exteriorly, narrow subapical band

and submedian, and subapical bands of third segment brownish black. Antenna slightly dilated,

width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diameter;

dorsal scaling grayish brown, scape white basally.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white, latter

with a few intermixed brownish scales, a pair of

small, lateral, brownish spots under eyes, at times

some middorsal brownish in occipital tufts. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, tegula basally and five

rather large spots on notum dark brown: a median

one and lateral pairs adjoining apices of tegulae

and at sides of scutellum. Underside white, legs

heavily marked with dark gray-brown exteriorly.

Forewing: Length 3.0-3.1 times width; costa gently

curved from base to apex, termen convex, moderately strongly angled back. Pattern divided by

a line along Cu fold, strongly sinuate, as in E.

hodgesella, with rounded lobes from dark costal

half extended about halfway from Cu to dorsal

margin, at basal one-fourth and beyond middle

and nearly to margin at tornus, the intervening

whitish lobes extended across Cu at middle and

end of cell; a small, dark spot just beyond and

below basal dark lobe; a white spot at end of cell,

nearly detached from the subtending whitish lobe;

apex rather broadly white, subtended by a narrow,

dark band along termen; some scattered pale scaling in costal area; a row of blackish spots along

termen, at midtermen beyond the white band

blending with brownish gray fringe. Underside

brown, a spot at base of cell and fringe at apex

and tornus paler. Hindwing: Narrower than forewing; costa with a rather narrow, tightly appressed

fold to beyond end of cell, with a thick grayish

fringe above, exteriorly (ventral side of wing) and

enclosing a white hair pencil from base; apex

blunt, termen rather strongly angled back, tornal

angle scarcely evident. Ground color uniform

gray-brown; fringe paler. Underside grayish

brown, somewhat mottled. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale grayish brown, tinged with ochreous basally, ventral and genital scaling paler, whitish gray

(Not ochreous). Genitalia as in Figure 160 (drawn

from paratype, Venadio, JAP prep. no. 802, two

preparations examined); uncus lacking, anal sheath

not sclerotized, basal processes short, valva attenuated apically, apical projection of costa elongate,

narrow, with scarcely any setation; distal seta-bunch

a dense, broad row of numerous heavily sclerotized

spurlike setae; vesica with a poorly defined sclerotized band.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 6.5 to 7.4 mm.

Generally as described for male. Labial palpus

relatively more elongate (second and third segments each 1.4-1.5 times eye diameter). Antenna

scarcely narrower than male. Forewing slightly

narrower, length 3.1-3.2 times width. Hindwing

costal area simple. Abdominal scaling slightly

darker, not tinged with ochreous. Genitalia as in

Figure 272 (drawn from paratype, JAP prep. no.

2305; one preparation examined); sterigma a simple, three-sided hood; ductus with a weak sclerotization near base, tightly coiled; signum as in

related species but with relatively smaller inner

ridge and emargination.
NUMBER 120 205

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, 6 miles south of Culiacan, Sinaloa, August

6, 1964 (J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell), deposited

in California Academy of Sciences. Six paratypes,

all Mexico, as follows: same data as holotype,

2dd, 2? ? ; "Venadio, Sinaloa," 1 d\ 1$, B. P.

Clark, donor (no further data); deposited in. collections of California Insect Survey and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—The unique male genitalia place E.

pa la apart from the remainder of the Trifurcella

group.

Ethmia clava Powell, new species

FIGURES 162, 274; PLATE 18;

A brown and white moth resembling E. similatella,

superficially differing by its larger size and relatively larger palpi, and by having the pale markings

gray instead of white.

MALE.—Length of forewing 9.4-11.0 mm. External features generally as described for E. similatella, differing as follows: Head: Labial palpus

somewhat more elongate, well exceeding base of

antenna; second segment length 1.40 to 1.55 times

eye diameter; third segment 1.1—1.2 times eye diameter; dark markings enlarged to all but narrow

white bands, postmedian and apical on each segment. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

basally 0.21 eye diameter. Dark middorsal scaling

of occipital tufts more extensive. Forewing: Length

3.3-3.5 times width; color pattern similar but

darker, dorsal pale area gray, narrowly white adjacent to brown markings; costal area blackish

brown, more extensive, the lobes into dorsal area

reaching more than half way from Cu to dorsal

margin, the pale area between them scarcely touching Cu; costal area with some indistinct gray

blotches along costa and an apical spot; dorsal area

with a brown spot just above dorsal margin preceding tornus, below pale spur at end of cell.

Hindwing: Costal fold broad, with a large exterior

brush, its hair scales blackish becoming whitish

apically and enclosing a dense, elongate hair pencil, gray basally becoming ochreous apically.

Ground color dark gray-brown. Abdomen: Darker

brown than in similatella; genital tufts bright

ochreous, relatively smaller. Genitalia as in Figure

162 (drawn from paratypes, Tepic, Cordoba, JAP

prep. nos. 1091, 2093; two preparations examined);

anal sheath moderately strongly sderotized, valva

broader than in related species, with a pointed

projection along distal margin of saccullar area,

"plume" subapical, broad, heavily sclerotized; distal seta-bunch a compact group of about eight

spurlike setae; vesica without a well defined cornutus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.4 to 10.6 mm.

Essentially as described for male; labial palpus relatively slightly shorter, second segment length 1.4—

1.6, third 1.3 times eye diameter; antenna not

dilated, width of shaft near base about 0.85 that

of male. Hindwing costal area simple. Genital

scaling bright ochreous, reduced from that of male.

Genitalia (Figure 274, drawn from paratopotype,

JAP prep. no. 2096; one preparation examined);

similar to E. marmorea, sterigma a narrow ring,

ostium subtended by a narrow, sclerotized sleeve

and greatly enlarged, heavily sclerotized antrum,

ductus with about six tight coils, signum with a

slightly smaller emargination than in penthica and

related species.

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, Cordoba, Veracruz, July 20, 1966 (J. S.

Buckett and M. R. and R. C. Gardner); deposited

in American Museum of Natural History and California Academy of Sciences. Twelve paratypes, all

Mexico: same data as holotype, 9<?, 2$ , VI—29 to

VII-25-66; Tepic, Nayarit, ltf, IX-8-34 (C. C.

Hoffmann); deposited in American Museum of

Natural History, California Insect Survey, and U.S.

National Museum.

Ethmia sphenisca Powell, new species

FIGURES 161, 275; PLATE 19a; MAP 65

A moderately large, black and white Ethmia superficially resembling E. semilugens, from the high

mountains of Arizona and northwestern and central Mexico.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.0-13.0 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment length 1.30—1.35 times eye

diameter; third segment 0.85-0.93 as long as second; smooth scaled, white, basal half of second

segment black exteriorly, third segment with basal

and apical black bands. Antenna only slightly dilated, width of shaft basally about 0.20 eye diam-
206 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

MAP 65.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia sphenisca

Powell.

eter; dorsal scaling dark gray. Scaling of tongue

dark gray, of front and crown white, a small spot

below eye and occipital tuft at middorsum broadly

dark blue-black. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white,

marked with blue-black; on tegulae basally and

adjoining lateral areas of collar, notum with a

large median spot, at times contiguous with lateral

spots adjoining apices of tegulae, a pair of spots at

sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, prothoracic

and me;othoracic legs mostly dark gray exteriorly,

hind tibial fringe rather short, pale brownish.

Forewing: Length 3.2 times width; costa gently

curved from base to apex, termen strongly angled

back. Ground color divided by a sinuate longitudinal line from base to termen, dorsal area below

line narrowly white, sending a pointed projection

to Cu fold at basal one-fourth and another beyond

Cu at end of cell, each projection containing a

conspicuous black spot; remainder of wing costad

of longitudinal line brownish black or black, only

slightly paler toward costa; a white spot on costa

just before apex, containing a marginal black dot;

two other marginal dots in white area at tornus,

the remainder not discernible in dark ground.

Fringe concolorous with adjoining wing areas. Underside dark brownish gray; the dorsal white areas

of upperside visible. Hindwing: About as broad as

forewing; costal area with a narrow fold from base

to end of cell, containing a thin, white hair pencil, apex rather acute, termen strongly angled back,

straight, tornal angle visible. Ground color whitish

gray, slightly darker distally; fringe irregularly

grayish. Underside paler, mottled grayish in apical

and costal areas. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling graybrown, basal two segments tinged with fJark ochreous; underside paler, genital scaling bright

ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 161 (drawn from

paratype, Mexico City, JAP prep. no. 805; five

preparations examined); uncus absent, apical

"plume" of valva densely setose throughout, apical

seta-bunch borne on a flaplike extension, containing two elongate, recurved and three or four

smaller, heavy setae, preceded by a broad projection at end of saccular margin.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 10.5 to 11.9 mm.

As described for male; eye slightly smaller (diameter about 0.9 that of male), labial palpus as large;

antenna scarcely smaller. Hindwing costal area

simple. Genitalia with sterigma a simple ring produced ventrad, subtended by a long, sclerotized

sleeve and an enlarged, membranous antrum and

four membranous coils in ductus; signum not differing from E. marmorea and related species (Figure 275, drawn from paratype, Michoacan, JAP

prep. no. 2299; two preparations examined).

TYPES.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, 10 miles west of El Sal to, Durango, 9,000

feet elevation, June 6 and July 9, 1964 (H. F. Howden and J. E. H. Martin), deposited in Canadian

National Collection. Eight paratypes, as follows:

Mexico: same data as holotype, lcT, VI-26-64; 8

mi W El Palmito, Sinaloa, 1 $, VIII-19-64 (J. A.

Chemsak and J. Powell); 60 mi E Zamora, Michoacan, 1 9, VI-24-57 (J. A. Chemsak); Mexico City,

D. F., lcf, July 1918 (R. Muller). Arizona: White

Mountains, Apache Indian Reservation, Greenlee

County, 7,000 feet, ltf, VI-15-30, 1925 (O. C.

Poling); Tonto Creek Campground, near Kohls

Ranch, Gila County, ltf, 1$, VI-27-29-56 (Martin, Comstock, Rees); Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery,

6,400 feet, Gila County, ltf, VI-30-56 (Martin,

Comstock, Rees). Deposited in California Insect

Survey, Canadian National Collection, Los Angeles

County Museum, and U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—This species is similar to darker forms

of E. marmorea, but complete lack of whitish scaling along the costa will distinguish E. sphenisca,

which is not closely related to the rest of the Trilurcella group according to genitalia characters.
NUMBER 120 207

Ethmia heptastica Walsingham

FIGURES: 34, 35. 163, 273; PLATE 19&; MAP 66

Ethmia heptastica Walsingham, 1912:146, pi. 5, fig. 8.—

Powell, 1959:145.

A dark brownish moth in southern Mexico with

the general appearance of species in the penthica

complex but with seven rather than five spots on

the notum.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.4 to 11.0 mm.

Head: Labial palpus elongate, strongly curved, well

exceeding base of antenna; second segment length

1.5-1.6 times eye diameter; third segment 0.75—0.82

as long as second (1.15—1.33 times eye diameter),

smooth scaled, whitish, second segment with a

broad median and narrow subapical blackish band,

third segment with submedian and subapical black

bands. Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft

about 0.20 eye diameter; dorsal scaling dark gray.

Scaling of tongue, front, and crown whitish, small

spot below eye and occipital tufts at middorsum

blue-black. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish tinged

with grayish; seven well-defined, subequal blueblack spots: a pair adjoining collar between tegulae, a pair adjoining tegulae apices, a median one

between them, a pair at sides of scutellum. Underside whitish, legs marked with grayish brown exteriorly; hind tibial fringe rather elongate, pale

brownish. Forewing: Moderately broad, length 2.9

to 3.3 times width; costa evenly, gently curved from

MAP 66.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia heptastica

Walsingham.

base to apex; termen rather strongly angled back.

Ground color divided by a longitudinal line along

Cu fold, costal half dark brown, the line forming

two irregular, squarish spurs of dark from cell into

pale dorsal area at basal one-fourth and middle; a

dark dot just beyond and below basal spur; dorsal

area uniformly pale grayish brown except narrowly

whitish adjoining dark costal half, extended as an

irregular spur at end of cell, the dividing line becoming obscure beyond, some pale infusion extending along termen. Fringe brown. Underside brown.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; costa narrowly folded on basal half, enclosing a thin, whitish or pale brownish hair pencil; apex rather acute,

termen strongly angled back, straight, tornal angle

evident. Ground color uniform dark brown, fringe

scarcely paler; underside similar. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling dark brown, basal two terga tinged with

dark ochreous; ventral scaling dull whitish, genital

pale, dull ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 163

(drawn from plesiotype, Venadio, Sinaloa, JAP

prep. no. 799; four preparations examined); uncus

lacking, basal processes elongate, setose, originating

dorsad of the elongated fultura plates; apical

"plume" of valva a broad membranous flap with

sparse, broad, bified scale like setae; distal setabunch a compact group of three broad, flat setae

at the apex of a sclerotized projection; vesica with

a lightly sclerotized, ill-defined cornutal plate.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.0-10.7 mm. Essentially as described for male; eye smaller, and

as a result labial palpus relatively slightly longer;

antenna scarcely narrower. Hindwing costal area

simple. Genitalia as in Figure 273 (drawn from

plesiotype, Mazatlan, JAP prep. no. 2788; four

preparations examined); sterigma a broad, depressed plate, ostium rimmed anteriorly by a narrow, curved band, base of ductus with a weakly

sclerotized band, antrum small, with a weakly sclerotized band, signum a broad, shallow fold with

lateral flanges, its inner ridge notched as in E.

marmorea and related species, yet serrate on either

side of the notch as well.

TYPE DATA.—Mexico, Tonal apa, Guerrero, June

(H. H. Smith); unique female type in British Museum. Tonalapa is a village 26 km south of Iguala,

according to Selander and Vaurie (1962).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—West coast of Mexico from Sonora ("30 E of Carbo") and Sinaloa
208 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

(Culiacan, Mazatlan) south to Cuernavaca and

northern Guerrero.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June, July, August.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This species is similar in appearance

to members of the marmorea-penthica series, but

heptastica is distinguishable superficially by the

seven, rather than five, thoracic spots. Both male

and female genital characters place heptastica distinct from any of the other brown and white forewing species.

Inasmuch as Walsingham based the name on a

unique female, which I have not seen, there can be

room for doubt as to the identification. However,

the material available is little variable, matching

heptastica in the seven thoracic spots and the

smoky suffusion on the pale dorsal area of the forewing; and examples from Sinaloa compare well in

genital features with a male from Cuernavaca,

Morelos, which is near the type locality.

Etkmia oterosella Busck

FIGURE 164; PLATE 19C

Ethmia oterosella Busck, 1934:165, pi. 36, fig. 4.

A small Cuban Ethmia superficially resembling E.

macelhosiella in wing pattern and color.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.7—7.8 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately elongate, slightly exceeding base of antenna; second segment slightly longer

than eye diameter, third segment straight, 0.85 as

long as second; smooth scaled, whitish, indistinctly

blotched with brownish exteriorly, white interiorly.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft near base about

0.16 eye diameter; dorsal scaling pale brown, occiptal tufts without a defined spot. Thorax: Dorsal scaling concolorous with head, no defined spots

(all specimens available damaged at middorsum).

Underside whitish, prothoracic leg marked with

dark brown, mesothoracic and metathoracic legs

with pale brownish. Forewing: Length 3.3—3.4

times width; costa slightly more strongly curved

basally, apex rather acute, termen strongly angled

back, tornal angle scarcely evident. Ground color

divided by a line along Cu fold, dorsal half whitish,

costal half blackish along Cu, blending to brown

through cell and to whitish at costa; terminal area

mostly whitish brown; two indistinct, flat spurs of

pale brown extend beyond Cu in basal half, the

dividing line thence angled towards apex to form

a distinct, white spur at end of cell, beyond which

the line becomes indistinct; some scattered black

scales tend to form lines along the veins on costal

half and beyond cell. Fringe whitish. Underside

pale brownish. Hindwing: Slightly narrower than

forewing, costa with a tightly appressed, narrow

fold to end of cell, enclosing an elongate brush of

yellowish white hair scales; apex acute, termen

strongly angled back. Ground color whitish, becoming pale brownish distally. Fringe whitish.

Underside white. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling grayish, ventral white, genital whitish. Genitalia as in

Figure 164 (drawn from plesiotype, Santiago, JAP

prep. no. 1609; one preparation examined); uncus

lacking, basal processes large; valva narrow distally, lacking distal seta bunch, subapical "plume"

large, setate on the broad distal half, subtended by

a group of unsually elongate, fine setae on inner

face of valva.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.4-8.0 mm. Externally essentially as described for male, differing

as follows (one specimen): eye slightly smaller, labial palpus second segment slightly longer, third

segment shorter than in male. Hindwing costal

area simple, ground color slightly darker, mostly

pale brown. Genitalia not studied; signum figured

by Busck (1934), serrate, similar to E. heptastica,

but without a median notch.

TYPE DATA.—Estacion Experimental Agronomica,

Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba; holotype female in

U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Cuba (Santiago

and Trinidad Mountains).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—June, July, October.

FOOD PLANT.—The type is labeled "leaf tier on

bejuco de canasta" by Mr. Otero. This was reported by Busck (1934) to be "Stenospermum

hamilifolia"; a misspelling of Stegnospermum

halimifolia Benth. (Phytolaceae). Either this plant

("Bejuco de canasta Blanco") or Trichostigma octandrum (L.) (Phytolaccaceae ' ("Bejuco de canastas") appears to be a possible host if Busck's

identification originated from an inference from the

common name on the label (c.f. Roig y Mesa,

1953).

REMARKS.—The genital characters place this species as distinct from all other known Ethmia but

most similar to members of the Trifurcella group.
NUMBER 120 209

The Prattiella Group

Eye index ±1.0. Labial palpus short, II segment

0.8 eye diameter; rough scaled. Antenna of male

slightly dilated, index ±0.21. Forewing^moderately

broad; pattern transverse dot rows. Hindwing of

male unmodified. Abdomen scaling undifferentiated. Uncus and gnathos absent; basal processes

membranous, narrow; valva with cucullus "plume"

with flat sclerotized nonbifid scales on distal margin;

vesica-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae anales

membranous, setate; posterior apophyses elongate;

sterigma ornate, antrum enlarged with sclerotized

band; ductus bursae sclerotized basally, six membranous coils beyond; signum a broad cone.

A single species of southern Texas and northern

Mexico which shows close similarity to no other

species.

Ethmia prattiella Busck

FIGURES 165, 277-279; PLATE 19d; MAP 67

Ethmia prattiella Busck, 1915:85.—Barnes and Busck, 1920,

pi. 26.-McDunnough, 1939:83.

A rarely collected species of Texas and eastern

Mexico with white forewings marked by tiny black

dots.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.4 mm. Head: Labial palpus rather short, not much upcurved, not

attaining base of antenna; second segment slightly

MAP 67.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia prattiella

Busck.

curved, length about 0.8 eye diameter; third segment straight, as long as second; scaling white,

roughened on second segment. Antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft basally slightly about 0.21

eye diameter; dorsal scaling whitish basally becoming pale brownish gray beyond. Scaling of tongue,

front, and crown white, faintly tinged with brownish posteriorly. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, pairs

of small blackish spots on notum adjoining collar

near tegulae and at sides of scutellum. Underside

white, femora, tibiae, and tarsi mostly pale brownish gray exteriorly. Forewing: Length about 3.1

times width; costa gently curved from base to apex,

latter acute, termen strongly angled back. Ground

color white, markings of small black dots (about

0.4 eye diameter) as follows: a row of about five

dots from base toward apex through costal half of

cell (the fourth spot sometimes reduced to a trace),

the basal two each subtended by a spot in cell at

base and just beyond; a curving row of about six

dots from dorsal area at basal one-fourth upward

into cell to end of cell and thence toward tornus;

a single spot in terminal area beyond cell; a row

of about ten dots at margin, subtending fringe,

from well before apex to tornus. At times one or

more of the dots reduced or obsolete. Fringe entirely white. Underside pale brownish gray. Hindwing: As broad as forewing; costal area simple,

without fold or hair pencil, nearly straight; apex

narrow, termen strongly angled back. Ground color

uniform pale brown; fringe white. Underside

similar, with scattered whitish scaling. Abdomen:

Scaling shining whitish gray; genital tuft white.

Genitalia as in Figure 165 (drawn from plesiotype,

Hidalgo, Mexico, JAP prep. no. 1629; one preparation examined); uncus lacking, basal processes

elongate, slender; valva with short apical "plume"

and a row of 12 heavily sclerotized, bladelike setae

on distal margin; vesica with a row of toothlike

cornuti.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 8.5 to 8.7 mm. As

described for male, differing as follows: eye slightly

smaller (about 0.9 that of male), labial palpus

slightly smaller (second segment about 0.77-0.88

eye diameter), antenna not dilated, width of shaft

basally about 0.15 eye diameter. Forewing slightly

narrower, length about 3.3 to 3.5 times width.

Genitalia as in Figures 277-279 (drawn from plesiotype, Goahuila, JAP prep. no. 2591; one prepara-
210 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

tion examined); sterigma complex, produced

ventrally, contiguous with broad sclerotized area of

ductus, signum with a single, narrow keel.

TYPE DATA.-"Zavalla Co., Tex; April" (F. C.

Pratt); the unique female type in the U.S. National

Museum bears the additional data: Nueces River,

Zavalla [now Zavala] County, IV-26-10.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—West-central Texas

to eastern central Mexico. Only three specimens

in addition to the type have been available for

study: lcT, Junction, Kimble County, Texas, IV—

3-68 (A. Blanchard); 1 $, 3 mi S Gloria, Coahila,

Mexico, VII-28-59 (E. E. Remington); ltf, 10 mi

S Jacala, Hidalgo, Mexico, 1-6-41 (G. E. Bohart).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—January (central Mexico), April

(Texas), and July (northern Mexico).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This species bears a superficial resemblance to E. apicipunctella, but the male genitalia characters place E. prattiella well distinct

from any known species, perhaps closest to the Trifurcella group.

The Joviella Group

Eye index ±1.2. Maxillary palpus moderately

large, four segments, lengths about 3:3:3:5. Labial

palpus moderately elongate, II segment index 1.4;

smooth scaled. Antenna of male dilated, index

0.26—0.30. Forewing moderately broad; pattern

transverse dots. Hindwing of male with hair pencil

enclosed in Sc pinch-fold. Abdomen with specialized scaling on III terga. Uncus and gnathos absent; basal processes membranous, narrow; valva

with cucullus "plume," setate apically; with modified scalelike setae that are bifid apically; with distal

notch, fultura-manica simple; vesica armed. Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior apophyses

elongate; sterigma simple; antrum enlarged; ductus bursae membranous, one loose coil; signum simple spurs.

Two small species in Central America and northern South America and the lesser Antilles. The

pair shows no close similarity to other groups and

phenetic assessments yielded varying indications of

relationships among the Trifurcella, Confusella,

and Punctessa groups.

Ethmia linda Busck

FICURES 36, 37, 167, 280, 281; PLATE 19e; MAP 51

Ethmia linda Busck, 1914c:255.-Amsel, 1956:293, pi. 57.

A small, widespread Neotropical Ethmia having the

white forewing marked by about ten black dots.

MALE.—Length of forewing 7.0—7.3 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, well exceeding base of antenna; second segment moderately curved, length

1.15—1.20 eye diameter; third segment slightly

curved, 1.0—1.1 as long as second; smooth scaled,

white, second segment exteriorly with ill-defined

dark scaling on basal half and a distinct black

preapical band, third with some blackish near apex.

Antenna slightly dilated, width of shaft near base

0.21-0.24 eye diameter, dorsal scaling entirely

white. Scaling of tongue, front, and crown white,

a large, black middorsal spot on posterior half of

head. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, collar and

tegulae dark basally, four black spots on notum, a

large pair adjacent to tegulae distally and a smaller

pair at sides of scutellum. Underside white, prothoracic and mesothoracic tibiae and tarsi marked

with pale brown; hind tibial fringe rather sparse

but elongate. Forewing: Length about 3.0 times

width; costa evenly curved, apex blunt, termen

moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle distinct. Ground color white, faintly tinged with

grayish on costal half. Markings as distinct, black,

round spots about 0.5 to 0.75 eye diameter, as follows: one in cell at base contiguous with a black

shade on basal half of costa, a second spot just

beyond base in subcostal area, a row of three dots

upwardly oblique from dorsal area at basal one

fifth towards midcosta, the first below Cu followed

by two in cell, a second, almost parallel, row of

four spots from dorsal area at basal one-third to

costa before apex, the first just above dorsal margin,

second adjoining Cu before end of cell, third

adjoining end of cell and fourth before apex; a

single spot in tornal area beyond end of cell and

sometimes one just below and beyond the preapical

area; a row of small, black dots around termen at

base of fringe nearly confluent to form a line;

fringe white. Underside dark brown with scattered

white scales in subcostal and dorsal areas and a pale

area of reduced scaling below Sc beyond retinaculum; fringe pale. Hindwing: About as broad

as forewing; costal area with a broad pinch-fold

from base to beyond end of cell, bearing a fringe

of whitish hair scales externally while enclosing a

thick brush of distally broadened white scales;
NUMBER 120 211

costal margin nearly straight, apex blunt, termen

moderately strongly angled back. Ground color

brown, usually dark at least distally; fringe whitish.

Underside whitish, indistinctly brownish in costal

area. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling of basal two segments dull ochreous, remainder shining grayish;

underside whitish, genital scaling whitish, dorsolateral tufts ochreous. Genitalia as in Figure 167

(drawn from plesiotype, Guatemala, JAP prep. no.

1218; four preparations examined); uncus absent,

basal processes enlarged, valva with a cucullus lobe

preceded by a deep cleft, bearing the apical

"plume," distal margin with a pair of broad, flat,

bladelike setae, vesica with a lightly sclerotized,

ill-defined apical plate.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 7.0 to 7.3 mm. As

described for male in external features, except as

follows: eye slightly smaller, labial palpus as

large as in male, antenna not dilated, width of

shaft about 0.75 that of male. Hindwing costal area

simple, ground color darker. Second tergite of

abdomen only lightly tinged with ochreous scaling.

Genitalia with sterigma simple, only lightly

sclerotized, base of ductus with a short, sckrotized

sleeve; ductus membranous with only one loop;

signum variable, with one large and two or three

smaller or only a single, flat inner tooth (Figures

280—281, drawn from plesiotype, Veracruz, JAP

prep. no. 2592; three preparations examined).

TYPE DATA.—Caracas, Venezuela; type female in

U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Venezuela to southern Mexico (eastern Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Yucatan).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March (Yucatan), July (Veracruz and Oaxaca), August and October (Guatemala), November (Venezuela).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Ethmia joviella Walsingham

FICURF. 168; PLATE 19/; MAP 51

Ethmia joviella Walsingham, 1897:90.

A small Ethmia resembling E. linda, differing by

having fewer forewing spots; the unique type from

Grenada was not studied during this study, but

material from Dominica upon which the following

description is based matches Walsingham's description.

MALE.—Length of forewing 6.0-6.7 mm. Head:

Labial palpus greatly elongate, strongly curved,

exceeding crown; second segment length 1.25 times

eye diameter; third segment curved, slightly longer

than second, 1.25—1.30 times eye diameter; white,

dusted with brownish near base ventrally and near

apex. Antenna dilated, width of shaft near base

0.26 eye diameter; dorsal scaling including scape

brownish. Remainder of head scaling white.

Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, collar brownish at

base; meta thoracic brushes short, ochreous. Underside dull whitish; prolegs and mesotarsi marked

with dark gray. Forewing: Length 3.1—3.4 times

width; costa rather strongly curved, termen convex, fringe short, outline oval in appearance.

Ground color white, costal area broadly dusted

with brownish gray. Markings black, pattern

similar to E. linda, spots smaller (largest spots

about 0.6 eye diameter): extreme costal edge in

basal one-fourth; an indistinct spot at base of costa

(described from Grenada as a large quadrate spot),

followed by two similar spots in basal one-fourth

of costal area and a more distinct spot above cell

before middle of wing; three larger spots below Cu

fold in basal half, the middle one closer to dorsal

margin; a slightly larger spot above tornus. Fringe

white. Underside brown. Fringe narrowly whitish.

Hindwing: About as broad as forewing; subcostal

area with a large pinch-fold to end of cell, enclosing

a thick, whitish ochreous hair pencil; costa slightly

concave beyond, apex narrow, blunt. Ground color

gray-brown. Fringe whitish. Underside similar.

Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish gray, basal two

segments with short, ochreous scaling; ventral scaling whitish, genital tinged with pale ocherous.

Genitalia as in Figure 168 (drawn from plesiotype,

Dominica, JAP prep. no. 1933; one preparation

examined); similar to E. linda, differing primarily

by the shape of the cucullus.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 5.8 to 6.4 mm.

Essentially as described for male. Eye smaller but

labial palpus also shorter, ratio similar to male.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft basally about

0.15 eye diameter. Hindwing costal area simple.

Genitalia as in E. linda (Figures 280, 281), signum

small, with a single inner tooth (one preparation

examined).

TYPE DATA.—Grenada, Mount Gay Estate, 300
212 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

feet, leeward side, "1-5 X" (H. H. Smith); unique

type in British Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Dominica and

Grenada.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Evidently multivoltine; February, March, and July in Dominica.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—This species is closely related to E.

linda of the mainland.

The Hammella Group

Eye index ±1.15. Labial palpus moderately elongate, II segment index 1.3—1.4; smooth scaled.

Antenna of male moderately dilated; index 0.24.

Forewing broad; pattern dorsal blotch. Hindwing

of male unmodified. Abdomen scaling undifferentiated. Uncus membranous; gnathos lacking; basal

processes membranous, narrow; valva with cucullus

"plume"; with reduced bifid scalelike setae on and

below plume; fultura-manica simple; vesica armed.

Papillae anales membranous, setate; posterior

apophyses not elongate; anterior apophyses rudimentary; sterigma simple; antrum weakly enlarged; ductus bursae membranous, three tight

coils; signum simple spurs.

A single Central American species with extraordinarily broad wings which shows no close relationship to other groups.

Ethmia hammella Busck

FIGURES 166, 276; PLATE 19g; MAP 68

Ethmia hammella Busck, 1910b:53.—Walsingham, 1912:148,

pi. 5, fig. 15.

An atypical appearing species with extraordinarily

broad forewings which are pale yellowish blotched

with blue.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.0—10.5 mm. Head:

Labial palpus elongate, moderately strongly upcurved, exceeding base of antenna; length of second

segment 1.10—1.15 times eye diameter, third slightly

shorter to slightly longer than second; white with

some infuscation at extreme base. Antenna slightly

dilated, width of shaft near base 0.20-0.21 eye

diameter; smooth scaled, scape white, dorsal scaling

of shaft whitish. Front and crown smooth scaled,

cream-white, posterior margin of occipital tuft steel

blue. Thorax: Dorsal scaling steel blue with a

cream-white posterior fringe on tegula and around

margin of scutellum. Underside shining white,

prothoracic and mesothoracic legs exteriorly, except

tarsi, spotted steel gray. Forewing: Broad, length

about 2.6 to 2.9 times width; costa strongly arched

from base to apex, more so than any other New

World Ethmia; apex round, termen convex. Ground

color pale yellowish white, indistinctly speckled

and distinctly blotched with deep steel blue: costa

MAP 68.—Geographical distribution of Ethmia hammella Busck.
NUMBER 120 213

at base and a small spot just beyond; a large

quadrate spot on dorsal half near base; a double

spot, sometimes coalesced, in cell and subcostal

area before middle of wing; a spot crossing Cu

fold at about middle of wing; a small spot in cell

just before end, sometimes reduced to a trace; a

terminal band, broad near tornus, narrowed above,

usually discernible from two spots which precede

it. Fringe pale yellowish. Underside dark brownish

gray, an unsealed area in cell basally; costa and

fringe narrowly pale. Hindwing: Narrower than

forewing. Costal area simple, margin with fringe

and concavity before apex. Ground color pale

brown, darker apically; costal area white; fringe

whitish. Underside broadly brown on costal and

terminal margins extending along veins into basal

half which is translucent whitish. Abdomen: Dorsal

scaling brownish gray; caudal margin of posterior

segments, genital and ventral scaling whitish.

Genitalia as in Figure 166 (drawn from plesiotype,

Puntarenas, Costa Rica, JAP prep. no. 1636; two

preparations examined); uncus membranous, well

defined; gnathos poorly defined; basal processes

broad, short; valva with a short preapical "plume"

and bunch of about five large, flat setae distally;

cornuti numerous, short setae aggregated into a

curving spur-shaped group.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing 9.6 to 11.7 mm.

Essentially as described for male; labial palpus

appreciably longer, well exceeding base of antenna,

length of second segment 1.2 to 1.4 eye diameter

(eye slightly smaller than in male); third segment

length I.I that of second. Forewing slightly narrower than in male, length 2.8 to 3.0 times width.

Genitalia as in Figure 276 (drawn from plesiotype,

Panama, JAP prep. no. 2801; one preparation

examined); sterigma simple, surrounding ostium,

ductus with basal sclerotized sleeve and poorly developed antrum, membranous beyond, short with

about three coils in a tight spiral; signum similar

to E. linda, with about five teeth.

TYPE DATA.—Tuis, Costa Rica, 2,400 feet. (W.

Schaus); holotype female, No. 12884 in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Costa Rica, Panama,

and Gorgona Island, Colombia, so far as known.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—March, May, June, August,

October, November.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

REMARKS.—The specimens from Gorgona Island,

off the coast of northern South America, are smaller

(forewing length 8—9 mm) but otherwise are indistinguishable from Costa Rican material.

The Punctessa Group

Eye index 1.0—1.1. Labial palpus moderately short

to moderately elongate, II segment index 1.0—1.2;

smooth scaled. Antenna of male not or slightly

dilated, index 0.18—0.21. Forewing moderately

narrow; pattern obsolete or weakly costal-dorsal.

Hindwing of male unmodified. Abdomen scaling

not examined. Uncus membranous; gnathos absent;

basal processes membranous, narrow; valva with

cucullus "plume"; fultura-manica simple; vesica

armed or simple. Papillae anales membranous,

setate; posterior apophyses not elongate; sterigma

simple; antrum undifferentiated; ductus bursae

sclerotized basally, four loose coils distally; signum

a broad cone.

Two closely related species in northern Mexico

which have no close relatives in the known New

World fauna but appear to represent a derivative

of the Trifurcella group.

Ethmia punctessa Powell, new species

FICURES 169, 282; PLATES 19JI-»

A unique species in northeastern Mexico, with

short palpi and white forewings which are marked

by a single black dot at the end of the cell.

MALE.—Length of forewing 10.6 mm. Head:

Labial palpus short, only weakly upcurved; second

segment very slightly curved, length about 0.95

eye diameter; third straight, about 0.55 as long as

second; scaling white. Antenna scarcely dilated,

width of shaft near base 0.19 eye diameter; scape

and basal segments white, dorsal scaling beyond

brownish. Scaling of tongue and front white, crown

pale brownish. Thorax: Collar white; dorsal scaling

otherwise whitish interspersed with pale brownish.

Lateral brushes of metanotum dense, elongate,

whitish, nearly concealing scutellum. Underside

scaling sordid whitish; prothoracic and mesothoracic

legs brown exteriorly, hind legs pale brownish.

Forewing: Moderately narrow, length 3.4-3.5 times

width; costa nearly straight beyond base, apex

narrow, termen strongly angled back. Ground
214 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

color white, a few scattered brownish scales; a small

brownish black spot (8-10 scales) at end of cell;

some dark brown scales at base of the white fringe.

Underside pale brown; fringes white. Hindwing:

About as broad as fore wing; costal area simple;

costa nearly straight, apex blunt. Ground color

white basally, becoming pale brownish distally.

Fringe white. Underside pale brown except fringe.

Abdomen (not seen prior to dissection): Genitalia

as in Figure 169 (drawn from holotype, RWH

prep. no. 3234; one slide examined); uncus weakly

sclerotized; valva with elongate subapical "plume,"

setate only distally, and with distal projection;

aedeagus (mounted in situ) bears what appears to

be two elongate, sclerotized extension flaps, between which the vesica extends with a dentate

cor nut us.

FEMALE.—The one specimen examined is presumed to represent this species on the basis of wing

shape and labial palpus size. Length of forewing

10.2 mm. Generally as described for male, with

more brownish scaling. Labial palpus short, second

segment length 1.05 times eye diameter, third about

0.45 as long as second. Antenna not dilated. Forewing white with considerable brownish scaling,

tending to form two broad, longitudinal streaks,

along R fold and above Cu fold, leaving white

streaks in costal area, along Cu fold and a median

one through cell; latter emphasizing the small dot

at end of cell; dark brown scales at base of fringe

increased over that of male, forming suggestion of

a row of dots. Hindwing more uniform white than

in male. Genitalia as in Figure 282 (drawn from

allotype, RWH prep. no. 3236; one slide examined); sterigmal plate simple, contiguous with VIII

sternite; apophyses elongate, thin; ductus bursae

with a short sclerotized sleeve and dorsal plate near

base (antrum not denned), spiral portion ridged,15

not sclerotized; signum round with a deep fold

forming a pointed keel, without teeth.

TYPE.—Holotype male and allotype female:

Mexico, three miles east of Galeana, Nueva Leon,

5,000 feet, August 7-9, 1963 (Duckworth and

Davis); deposited in U.S. National Museum.

REMARKS.—This species and the following one,

both collected only once, show no close relationships with any other known Ethmia. E. punctessa

is perhaps most similar to E. linda, on the basis of

Possibly an artifact of preparation technique.

genital features of both sexes, but the short labial

palpus, narrower forewing, and simple hindwing

in the male distinguish E. punctessa from E. linda

and all other species which have the reduced uncus.

Ethmia angwtalatella Powell, new species

FIGURE 170; PLATE 19;

A unique species in northeastern Mexico with very

narrow forewings which are grayish, mottled with

whitish.

MALE.—Length of forewing 11.2 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately short, upcurved, not

quite reaching base of antenna; second segment

length 1.2 times eye diameter; third segment

straight, about 0.65 as long as second (0.77 eye

diameter); scaling brownish black, with ill-defined

white subbasal and apical bands on each segment.

Antenna not dilated, width of shaft about 0.18 eye

diameter; scape whitish, scaling of shaft almost

complete, pale brownish. Scaling of tongue, front,

and crown appressed, white, more or less uniformly

interspersed with brownish; lateral occipital tufts

white. Thorax: Dorsal and ventral scaling as on

head; lateral hair brushes of metanotum sparse,

scutellum densely scaled, ochreous. Forewing:

Narrow, length about 3.9 times width; costa nearly

straight from basal one-third nearly to apex; latter

acute, termen strongly angled back, curving as far

as end of cell. Ground color brownish gray, interspersed with white, which tends to form markings: several elongate dashes in apical area; a more

distinct streak along Cu fold in basal half of cell,

separated by a short dark streak from another white

mark in outer half of cell terminating in an upturned, white spur at end of cell which is the most

distinct mark of the wing. Fringe mostly whitish

with pale brownish, a darker brown streak below

apex. Underside brown, costa white, distal fringe

as above. Hindwing: Slightly broader than forewing; subcostal area with a weak pinch-fold but no

hair pencil; apex narrow, termen evenly curved to

anal area. Ground color whitish basally, becoming

pale brownish in distal half. Fringe white. Underside mostly brown, clouded with white in apical

area. Abdomen (not seen prior to dissection):

Genitalia as in Figure 170 (drawn from holotype,

RWH prep. no. 3235; one slide examined); uncus

membranous; valva without produced "plume" of
NUMBER 120 215

costa, valva distally strongly produced into a broad

hook, its outer surface with four strong, flat spines,

aedeagus (mounted in situ) bearing flaplike extensions or partially sclerotized vesica, which contains dentate apical process and spurred cornutus.

FEMALE.—Unknown.

TYPE.—Holotype male: Mexico, three miles east

of Galeana, Nueva Leon, 5,000 feet, August 7—9,

1963 (Duckworth and Davis); unique, deposited in

U.S. National Museum.

Pseudethmia Clarke

Pseudethmia Clarke, 1950:163.

TYPE.—Pseudethmia protuberans Clarke, 1950;

monobasic (North America).

Moderately small moth, forewing length 8-10

mm. Head: Front produced into a strongly protuberant, rounded cone, covered with short, compact, differentiated scaling. Maxillary palpus small,

4-segmented, the segments globose, II and IV

slightly longer. Labial palpus short, blunt, segment III very short; smooth scaled. Antenna of

male not broader than in female. Forewing:

Moderately narrow, length 3.6—3.7 times width;

apex blunt, termen moderately strongly angled

back, tornal angle scarcely visible. Vein Cu2 from

well before end of cell, not curved. Hindzuing:

Costal area not modified in male. Moderately

broad, apex blunt, termen moderately strongly

angled back. Vein M2 equidistant between M, and

M3+Cii], latter short-stalked, Male genitalia: Uncus and gnathos absent; basal processes well developed, sclerotized; valva weakly divided below costa,

without accessory lobe, with differentiated distal setabunch; sacculus not developed. Female genitalia:

Apophyses extremely elongate; sterigma simple;

annum not developed; ductus bursae membranous,

not coiled; signum of keel-shaped crease.

Pseudethmia contains a single species, in the low

desert of California.

Pseudethmia protuberans Clarke

FIGURES 38, 39, 171, 283, 284; PLATES 2/, 20a

Pseudethmia protuberans Clarke, 1950:163, fig. 3.

A desert species of California having pale gpay

forewings with ill-defined, longitudinal blackish

streaks.

MALE.—Length of forewing 8.4—9.9 mm. Head:

Labial palpus moderately short, little upcurved,

second segment length 0.63—0.68 eye diameter,

slightly curved; third segment about 0.25 as long

as second; whitish, second segment with a few

brownish scales outwardly towards tip. Antenna not

dilated, width of shaft near base 0.15 eye diameter;

scaling whitish dorsally, dusted with brownish

ventrally. Protuberant front clothed with modified,

small, tightly appressed, pale brownish ochreous

and white scales; scaling of crown white with some

brown intermixed at middle posteriorly. Thorax:

Dorsal scaling whitish with scattered brownish,

tending to form a median, longitudinal line; lateral

brushes of metanotum short, not reaching the fully

scaled scutellum. Underside dirty whitish and pale

gray-brown, legs without spotting. Hind tibia without fringe. Fureioing: Moderately narrow, length

3.6-3.7 times width; costa nearly straight, termen

moderately strongly angled back, tornal angle

scarcely evident. Ground color whitish, markings

variable in intensity, as dark brownish black streaks

between the veins, the most conspicuous of which

runs through the cell, broadening on its distal half.

Fringe white. Underside dirty whitish with intermixed pale brown. Hindwing: Aoout as broad as

forewing; costa nearly straight, apex rounded,

narrow, termen strongly angled back, tornal angle

not evident. Ground color white tinged with pale

brownish towards apex and at base of the otherwise

white fringe. Underside whitish, more or less

evenly tinged with pale brownish. Abdomen:

Dorsal scaling of small, tightly appressed, pale

ochreous to whitish scales; underside whitish.

Genitalia as in Figure 171 (drawn from plesiotype,

Twenty-Nine Palms, JAP prep. no. 1644; three

preparations examined); basal processes broad,

heavily sclerotized, reaching posterior margin of

tegumen; valva with a small, setate, membranous

cucullus and elongate, distal, sclerotized projection,

distal seta-bunch on exterior side, of 12-14 broad,

flat, curved setae; vesica without cornuti.

FEMALE.—Length of forewing about 8.0 mm. External structural features as in male. The single

specimen available is too worn to be used in discerning any color differences from male. Genitalia

is in Figures 283, 284 (drawn from plesiotype, near

Essex, JAP prep. no. 2331; one preparation

examined); sterigma simple, base of ductus with a
216 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

short, sclerotized sleeve, antrum not differentiated,

signum a short fold produced into an inner keel,

notched or slightly serrate at its apex.

TYPE DATA.—Dixieland, Imperial County, California, March 1-15, 1922 (O. C. Poling); holotype

male in U.S. National Museum.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — Lower elevation

deserts of southeastern California and doubtless

northeastern Baja California.

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Mid-February (Imperial Valley

at sea level) to early April (edge of the Mojave

Desert at 2,000 feet).

REMARKS.—Among the material available for

study there were more than 50 males, nearly all

taken at light. The single female, which confirmed

the protuberant front as a bisexual and generic

character, was taken net sweeping at night by P. A.

Opler, nine miles northwest of Essex, San Bernardino County.

Systematic List of New World Ethmiidae

(Synonyms in italics)

Pyramidobela Braun, 1923

Idioptila Mcyrick, 1927

1. quinquccristata (Braun, 1921), Western United States

2. angelarum Kcifer, 1936, California

3. agyrtodcs (Meyrick, 1927), Texas-Chihuahua

4. tctraphyta Meyrick, 1931, Hidalgo

5. ochrolepra Powell, 1973, Chiapas

6. cpibiyas Meyrick, 1931, Brazil

7. compulsa Meyrick, 1931, Chile

Ethmia Hiibner, 1819

Psecadia Hubner, 1825

Anesychia Hiibner, 1825

Disthynmin Hiibner, 1825

Melanoleuca Stephens, 1829

Aedia Duponchel, 1836

Chalybe Duponchel, 1836

Azinis Walker, 1863

Tamarrha Walker, 1864

Ceratophysetis Meyrick, 1887

Tlieoxenia Walsingham, 1887

Babniaxa Busck, 1902

Wtltshireia Amscl, 1949

SECTION I

/. The Albitogata Group

1. umbrimarginella Busck, 1907, Arizona, New Mexico

2. lassenclla Busck, 1908, Southwestern United States

3. coquillcttclla Busck, 1907, British Columbia, California

4. monachella Busck, 1910, Colorado

'>. scylla Powell. 1973, California

<>. brcvistriga Clarke, 1950

b. brcvistriga Clarke, 1950, California

b. aridicola Powell. 1973, California

7. albitogata Walsingham, 1907, California

8. plagiobothrac Powell, 1973, California

«>. ininuta Powell, 1973, California

10. tricula Powell, 1973, California

2. The Charybdis Group

11. charybdis Powell, 1973, California

3. The Scmilugcns Group

12. albistrigclla (Walsingham, 1880)

a. albistrigclla (Walsingham, 1880), Western United

States

chrysurella (Dietz, 1905)

a. icariella Powell, 1973, California

13. nadia Clarke, 1950, California

14. orestella Powell, 1973, Colorado

15. semilugens (Zellcr, 1872), Southwestern United States

multipunctella (Chambers, 1874)

semiopaca (Grote, 1881)

plumbeella (Bcutenmiiller, 1889)

16. epileuca Powell, 1959, Arizona, California

17. apicipunctclla (Chambers, 1875), Southwestern United

States, Northern Mexico

zavalla Busck, 1915

18. avctostaphylclla (Walsingham, 1880), Oregon to Baja

California, Arizona

nbscurellu (Bcutenmiiller, 1888)

mediella Busck, 1913

19. inansita Busck, 1914, Puebla

20. discostvgella (Chambers, 1877)

d. discostrigclla (Chambers, 1877), Western United

States

d. subcaerulea (Walsingham, 1881), California

21. scmitcnebrclla Dyar, 1902, Southwestern United States

4. The Papiella Group

22. papiella Powell. 1973, Sonora, Sinaloa

23. volcanella Powell, 1973, Oaxaca, Guatemala

5. The Macelhosiella Group

24. macelhosiella Busck, 1907, Eastern United States

25. geranella Barnes and Busck, 1920, California

26. timbcrlakei Powell, 1973, California

27. macncilli Powell, 1973, California, Arizona

6. The Piperella Group

28. piperella Powell, 1973, Jamaica

7. The Bipunctella Group

29. bipunctella (Fabricius, 1775), Europe; introduced in

Northeastern United States
NUMBER 120 217

echiella (Denis and Schiffermuller, 1775)

hochenwartiella (Rossi, 1790)

griseicostella Wiltshire, 1947

30. monticola (Walsingham, 1880)

m. monticola (Walsingham, 1880), Northwestern United

States

m. emmeli Powell, 1973, Colorado, Arizona

m. fuscipedella (Walsingham, 1888), Eastern North

America

31. caliginosella Busck, 1904, Colorado

8. The Hagenella Group

32. hagenella (Chambers, 1878)

h. hagenella (Chambers, 1878), Texas

h. Josephinella Dyar, 1902, New Mexico, Western Texas

33. mimihagenella Powell, 1973, Arizona to Western Texas

34. burnsella Powell, 1973, Northwestern Texas

35. zelleriella (Chambers, 1878), Southeastern Canada,

Texas

texanella (Chambers, 1880)

9. The Kirbyi Group

36. delliella (Fernald, 1891), Texas, Eastern and Western

Mexico

37. davisella Powell, 1973, Eastern Mexico

38. linsdalei Powell, 1973, Oaxaca

39. clarkei Powell, 1973, Quintana Roo

40. subsimilis Walsingham, 1897, Cuba, Jamaica

41. kirbyi (Moeschler, 1890), Haiti, Puerto Rico

42. bittenella (Busck, 1910), Texas, Eastern and Western

Mexico

10. The Mulleri Group

43. mulleri Busck, 1910, Puebla

11. The Cypraeella Group

44. proximella Busck, 1912, Puebla

45. festiva Busck, 1914, Mexico to Colombia

xantholitha Meyrick, 1928

46. cypraeella (Zeller, 1863), Venezuela

47. abraxasella (Walker, 1864)

a. abraxasella (Walker, 1864), Jamaica, Puerto Rico

aureoapicella (Moeschler, 1890)

abraxella Meyrick, 1914

a. Clarissa Busck, 1914, Cuba

48. scythropa Walsingham, 1912, Cuba, Mexico to Costa

Rica

49. nivosella (Walker, 1864), Greater Antilles

adustella (Zeller, 1877)

50. terpnota Walsingham, 1912, Costa Rica

51. iridella Powell, 1973, Puebla

52. perpulchra Walsingham, 1912, Veracruz, Honduras

53. elutella Busck, 1914, Trinidad, Venezuela, Panama

54. janzeni Powell, 1973, Mexico, El Salva'dor

55. submissa Busck, 1914, Greater Antilles

56. fritillella Powell, 1973, Brazil

57. epilygella Powell, 1973, Brazil

58. cupreonivella (Walsingham, 1880), Brazil

59. notomurinella Powell, 1973, Argentina

60. ungulatella Busck, 1914, Mexico to Panama

61. cypraspis Meyrick, 1930, Brazil

62. chalcodora Meyrick, 1912, Argentina, Paraguay

63. cellicoma Meyrick, 1931, Paraguay

64. chalcogramma Powell, 1973, Bolivia

65. phylacops Powell, 1973, Yucatan

12. The Exornata Group

66. exornata (Zeller, 1877), Mexico, Northern South

America

67. phylacis Walsingham, 1912

p. phylacis Walsingham, 1912, Eastern and Western

Mexico

p. ornata Busck, 1934, Cuba

68. mnesicosma Meyrick, 1924, Mexico, Northern South

America

69. gelidella (Walker, 1864), Jamaica

13. The Notatella Group

70. phoenicura Meyrick, 1932, Baja California

71. zebrata Powell, 1959, Puebla

72. chemsaki Powell, 1959, Puebla, Costa Rica

73. notatella (Walker, 1863), Florida Keys, Antilles

xanthorrhoa (Zeller, 1877)

74. hiramella Busck, 1914, Cuba

75. paucella (Walker, 1863), Haiti

76. wellingi Powell, 1973, Yucatan, Costa Rica

SECTION II

14. The Balsiostola Group

77. baliostola Walsingham, 1912, Mexico, Northern South

America

78. cubensis Busck, 1934, Cuba, Jamaica

15. The Confusella Group

79. confusella (Walker, 1863), Florida Keys, West Indies,

Yucatan

strigosella (Walker, 1864)

ingricella (Moeschler, 1890)

80. striatella Busck, 1913, Eastern and Western Mexico

81. duckworthi Powell, 1973, Panama

82. sandra Powell, 1973, El Salvador

83. confusellastra Powell, 1973, Yucatan, Cuba

84. julia Powell, 1973, Florida Keys, Puerto Rico

85. humilis Powell, 1973, Jamaica

86. farrella Powell, 1973, Florida Keys, Jamaica

16. The Longimaculella Group

87. coronata Walsingham, 1912, Guerrero, Puebla

abdominella Busck, 1912, new synonymy

88. nigritaenia Powell, 1973, Yucatan, British Honduras

89. subnigritaenia Powell, 1973, Mexico, Distrito Federal,

Puebla

90. catapeltica Meyrick, 1924, Guatemala to Bolivia

91. howdeni Powell, 1973, Sinaloa, El Salvador
218

92. longimaculclla (Chambers, 1872)

1. longimaculclla (Chambers, 1872) , Southern Canada

to Kentucky

ivalsingliamella Beutenmiiller, 1889

1. coranclla Dyar, 1902, Texas

93. llavicaudata Walsingham, 1912, Veracruz

94. lichyi Powell, 1973, Guatemala to Brazil

95. calumniella Powell, 1973, Brazil

9G. omega Powell, 1973, Brazil

97. plaumanni Powell, 1973, Brazil

98. transversella Busck, 1914, Costa Rica

99. hieroglyphica Powell, 1973, Bolivia

17. The Conglobata Group

100. conglobata Meyrick, 1912, Colombia

IS. The Cyanea Group

101. cyanea Walsingham, 1912, Veracruz

19. The Gigantea Group

102. gigantea Busck, 1914, Veracruz, Guatemala

20. The Trifurcclla Group

103. semiombra Dyar, 1902

s. semiombra Dyar, 1902, Texas to Tamaulipas

s. ncbuloinbra Powell, 1973, Yucatan

101. albicostclla (Beutenmiiller, 1889) , Manitoba to Durango

10"). mirusclla (Chambers, 1874) , Kansas to Texas

m'nelln Mc\ rick, 1914

106. tiifurcella (Chambers, 1873), Eastern United States,

Arizona, Wyoming

107. mavmorea (Walsingham. 1888) , British Columbia to

Chihuahua

108. hodgesella Powell, 1973, California to Veracruz

109. playa Powell, 1973, Sonora, Sinaloa

110. baja Powell, 1973, Baja California

111. pentliica Walsingham, 1912, Hidalgo to Campcche,

Sinaloa

112. similatclla Busck, 1920, Western Mexico to Costa Rica

113. cordia Powell, 1973, Morclos, Yucatan

114. scutula Powell, 1973. Sonora, Sinaloa

11.1. pala Powell, 1973. Sinaloa

116. tlava Powell, 1973, Xayarit, Veracruz

117. sphenisca Powell, 1973, Arizona to Mexico, Distrito

Federal

118. heptastica Walsingham, 1912, Sonora to Guerrero

119. otcrosclla Busck, 1934, Cuba

21. The Prattiella Group

120. prattiella Busck, 1915, Texas to Hidalgo

22. The Joviella Group

121. linda Busck. 1914. Southeastern Mexico to Venezuela

122. joviella Walsingham. 1897, Dominica, Grenada

2J. The Hammclla Group

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

123. hammclla Busck, 1910, Costa Rica to Colombia

2-t. The Punctessa Group

124. punctessa Powell, 1973, Xueva Leon

125. angustalatella Powell, 1973, Nueva Leon

Pseudethmia Clarke, 1950

I. protuberans Clarke, 1950, California

Summary

The family Ethmiidae is a group of small- to

moderate-sized moths which is worldwide in distribution. There are about 250 described species, of

which 133 comprise the New World fauna, including 19 described as new in this study.

There has been no previous classification of the

American ethmiids, and the present arrangement

treats three genera, Pyramidobela (7 species),

Ethmia (125 species), and Pseudethmia (1 species).

The classification is based primarily on morphological features of the adults and is the result of an

attempt to combine a traditional taxonomic approach with results of a numerical assessment of

phenetic similarities. On the basis of phenetic

clustering and supportive, albeit preliminary,

evidence from larval characters and pupal habits

and morphology, Ethmia is divided into two sections: Section I, with 13 species groups, is characterized by possession of a well-developed uncus and

gnathos in the male genitalia. Its components are

closely related to Palearctic species groups. Section

II, characterized by reduction or absence of uncus

and gnathos, is a New World derivative of considerable diversity (11 species groups) which makes

up about 10 percent of the fauna. Pseudethmia,

although distinct in many respects, shares several

features of Etfimia's Section II. Pyramidobela is a

closely-knit group which is of more distant and

uncertain relationships.

The systematic position of the ethmiids cannot

be adequately known until a taxonomic framework

for world Gelechioidea, particularly Oecophoridae,

is available. Aspects of larval, pupal, and adult

morphology all indicate that ethmiids are more

closely related to oecophorids than to any other

group. It is probable that when more is known

about tropical Oecophoridae, the ethmiids will best

be treated as a subfamily or tribe, with Pyramidobela
NUMBER 120 219

and Ethmia possibly showing affinities to different

oecophorid taxa.

Knowledge of the biology of Ethmiidae is summarized, based on literature for the world fauna.

Some information is available on the biologies of

about 40 Holarctic species and about 10 species

representing the three major sectors of the tropics

and Australia. Only three of these are members of

Section II of Ethmia. The habits of Pseudethmia

and Pyramidobela are poorly known; two North

American species of Pyramidobela have been

partially studied. Most of the detailed information

on Ethmia originates from an investigation of 14

Californian species which is published elsewhere

(Powell, 1971). Although that sample represents

only four species groups in Section I, remarkable

differences are shown.

A generalized life cycle is as follows: the eggs

are deposited singly, usually at the feeding site,

hatch in about 10 days, and the larvae feed on

either leaves or flowers, often without a shelter.

Growth requires 30—50 days, and at maturity larvae

wander in search of pupation sites, often appropriating holes or boring into soft woody substrates

for cocoon construction. The pupa is the diapause

stage for most Holarctic species.

On a world basis ethmiids in general are dependent on the large plant family Boraginaceae.

In North America the closely related family

Hydrophyllaceae assumes this role for about half

the ethmiid fauna. In temperate zones mainly

herbaceous plants are used, while in the tropics

the scattered records indicate that woody borages

are the principal hosts. In the Palearctic a pattern

is emerging wherein indiscriminate use of Boraginaceae obtains. In North America the same may

be true for boreal species groups, but few records

are available. Members of western species groups,

which generally occupy more xeric areas with more

strict seasonal demands, are each specific to one

plant genus.

Most temperate zone species and those dwelling

in scrub thorn forest areas of the northern Neotropical Region are univoltine or bivoltine, with

obligate diapause through the dry season and

winter. Records, while too fragmentary to permit

detailed analysis, suggest that many other Neotropical species are multivoltine, with flight records

at various times through the year.

Divergent strategies in life cycle pattern and

behavior have been developed, enabling speciation

in western Nearctic areas which feature a prolonged

dry season. A few species have adopted woody, evergreen host plants in Hydrophyllaceae and Rosaceae,

maintaining nocturnal habits and facultatively

multivoltine patterns which are characteristic of

species in more mesic temperate areas. However, as

most western Boraginaceae and Hydrophyllaceae

are annuals or herbaceous perennials with short

growing seasons in spring, divergence from the

common pattern was necessary to exploit this

habitat. Species groups have evolved in two ways:

(1) by diurnal behavior and early spring flight,

followed by larval preference for developing seed

of annual hosts, and an obligate, prolonged pupal

diapause; or (2) by late fall or winter flight, with

adults resistant to desiccation (having nonfunctional mouthparts), followed by egg diapause in

winter, early spring foliage-feeding, and pupal

diapause in summer.

The geographical distribution of American

ethmiids is analyzed. There are four major centers

of distribution, each with a high proportion of

endemism (percent given following species): southwestern Nearctic, 46 species (98 percent); Neotropical Mexico and Central America, 57 species (77

percent); West Indies, 21 species (76 percent); and

a probably largely unworked center in temperate

South America, 17 species (82 percent). Analysis of

distributions at the species group level indicates six

major patterns: (1) Holarctic Boreal Range; (2)

Western Nearctic Austral Range; (3) Eastern

Nearctic Range; (4) Nearctic Austral-Neotropical

Scrub Forest Range: (5) Central America-Antillean

Range; and (6) Neotropical Extensive Range. Although only 25 species are known from South

America, and many more are to be expected, there

are no endemic species groups there. All South

American ethmiids are members of Neotropical

Extensive groups.

Most ethmiids occupy areas of seasonal drought,

with high species density in seasonal communities

such as sclerophyllous chaparral zones of California

and deciduous tropical forests and microphyllous

forests (thorn forests) in Mexico. In this way

Ethmiidae and the closely related family Stenomidae are in general geographically nearly mutually

exclusive, with stenomids scarce in areas of ethmiid
220 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

diversity and ethmiids virtually absent from the

great centers of stenomid distribution, particularly

the tropical wet lowlands of central and northern

South America.

Possible phylogenetic relationships are briefly

considered. The New World ethmiid fauna consists of three separate elements: (1) Pyramidobela,

which may be of separate origin; (2) Ethmia,

Section I, the American fauna of which exhibits

affinities separately to Temperate and Tropical

Old World elements of the genus; and (3) Ethmia,

Section II and Pseudethmia, which appear to be a

New World derivative line from the tropical series

of Section I.

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226

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

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FICIRE I.—Diagram of phenctic similarity among 123 species of Etlunia and Pseudelhmia, with magnitude of correlation coefficient indicated at top. Correlations between any two joining stems can be found by reading the value corresponding to

the vertical line connecting the stems. Species, designated by finn-letter abbreviations (see Table 2), are given at the tips of

the stems to right, which terminate at the .92 correlation level. The broken, horizontal line superimposed on the phenogram

corresponds to thr division of Ethmia into Sections I and II in the text (note that Pseudethmia protuberans shows greater

similarity to Section II than I does to II in the characters selected for this analysis). The numbers along an imaginary

vertical line through the .8"> correlation level correspond to the species groups so numbered in the text. The three areas of

greatest discrepancy between the phenogram and the proposed classification are indicated by the following letters: a, species

group I is split at the .85 correlation level, while 1, 3, 5, and 6 are combined; b, group 11 is split and 9 and 11 are mixed;

and c, groups 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 23 are combined.
NUMBER 120 227

charybdis

hagenelfa.

macelhosiella

exornata i- mu||eri

V :^C

//

hommello

prattiella

FIGURE 2.—Minimally connected network (Primnet) of phenetic similarity among 123 species of Ethmia and Pseudethmia.

Each point, representing one species, is joined to its nearest neighlx>r by a straight line, the length of which is a measure of

the similarity. Distances between points not connected by lines are artifacts of the two-dimensional portayal and have no

meaning in terms of similarity. Curvilinear figures are superimposed on the Primnet corresponding to the clusters proposed

as species groups in the present classification (as named in lowercase lettering). Areas of discrepancy between the species

groups and phenetic similarities, indicated by broken lines, result from weighting features such as biological characteristics

which were not employed as characters in the phenetic assessment. Some key individual species which occupy "hub" and

peripheral positions are designated by four-letter abbreviations (sec Table 2). The broken diagonal line drawn across the

Primnet corresponds to the division of Ethmia into Sections I and II (note that Pseudelhmia protuberans links to Section II;

its distinctness could have been extended by inclusion of more characters).
228

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

10

FIGURE 3-11.—Head structures of Ethmia: 3, frontal aspect of head of E. coquillettella Busck: a,

vertical eye diameter; b, frontal heipht; 4—11. basal segments of antennae; 4, E. albitogata

Walsingham <$; 5, E. timberlakei Powell, $; 6, E. nadia Clarke $; 7, E. nadia, 9, 8, E.

arctostaphylella (Walsingham), $; 9, E. arctoslaphylella, 9; 10, E. scythropa Walsingham,

& ; 11, E. phoenicura Meyrick, $.
NUMBER 120 229

FIGURES 12-41.—Palpi of cthmiid moths; 12, labial; 13, maxillary, F.lhmin coqtiillettella Busck; 14, maxillary, £. nadia Clarke;

15, maxillary, E. timberlakei Powell; 16, maxillary, E. discostrigella (Chambers); 17, labial; 18, maxillary, E. arctostaphylella

(Walsingham); 19, labial; 20, maxillary, E. monticola fuscipedclla (Walsingham); 21 labial; 22, maxillary, E. mimihagcnella

Powell; 23, labial; 24, maxillary, E. detliella (Fernald); 25. apical two segments of labial; 26 maxillary, E. scythropa Walsingham; 27, maxillary, E. phylacis Walsingham; 28, labial; 29, maxillary, E. phoenicura Meyrick; 30, labial; 31 maxillary, E.

baliostola Walsingham; 32, labial; 33, maxillary, E. confusella (Walker); 34, labial; 35, maxillary, E. heptastica Walsingham;

36, labial; 37, maxillary. E. linda Busck; 38, labial; 39, maxillary, Pseudethmia protuberans Clarke 40, labial; 41, maxillary,

Pyramidobela angelarum Keifer.
230

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

44

43

FIGURES 42—45.—Wing venation

of Ethmia species: 42 E. coquillettella Busck; 43, E. charybdis

Powell; 44, E. epilygella Powell;

45, E. cyanea Walsingham.

45
NUMBER 120 231

FIGURES 46-50.—Male genitalia of Pyramidobela, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, acdeagus

separated and shown in lateral aspect: 46, P. angelarum Keifer; 47, P. quinquecristata (Braun);

48, P. agyrtodes (Meyrick) ; 49, P. tetraphyta Meyrick; 50, P. ochrolepra Powell.
232

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURFS 51-55.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 51, £. coquilleltella Busck (u, uncus; g, a, anterior gnathos; g, p,

posterior gnathos; vl, valva; b. p., basal process; ae, aedeagus); 52, E. scylla Powell; 53, E. brevistriga Clarke; 54, E. albitogata Walsingham; 55, E. plagiobothrae Powell.
NUMBER 120 233

FIGURES 56-60.—Male gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedcagus separated and shown in lateral aspect; 56, E. minuta Powell; 57, E. tricula Powell; 58, E. charybdis

Powell; 59, E. albistrigella (Walsingham) ; 60, E. nadia Clarke.
234 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

65

FICIRFS 61-65.—Male gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 61, E. semilugens (Zeller); 62, E. epileuca Powell; 63, E.

apicipunctella (Chambers); 64, E. arctostapliylella (Walsingham); 65, E. mansita Busck.
NUMBER 120 235

FIGURES 66-69.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 66, E. discostrigella (Chambers); 67, E. semitenebrella Dyar;

68, E. papiella Powell; 69, E. volcanella Powell.
236 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 70-74.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 70, E. macelhosiella Busck; 71, E. geranella Barnes and

Busck; 72, E. macneilli Powell (cl, "clasper") ; 73, E. piperella Powell; 74, E. aurifluella (Hubner).
NUMBER 120 237

FIGURES 75-82.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 75, E. bipunctella (Fabricius); 76, E. monticola (Walsingham) (cu, cucullus); 77, E. motiticota, gnathos enlarged; 78, E. caliginosella Busck, gnathos; 79,

E. hagenella (Chambers); 80, E. h. josephinella Dyar, basal process; 81, E. burnsella Powell;

82, E. zelleriella (Chambers), aedeagus lacking.
238 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

87

FICURES 83-87.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect with valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 83, E. delliella (Fcrnald) (m, manica); 84, E. davisella

Powell; 85, E. linsdalei Powell; 86, E. clarkei Powell; 87, E. subsimitis Walsingham.
NUMBER 120 239

FIGURES 88-92.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 88, E. biltenella (Busck); 89, E. mulleri Busck; 90, E. proximella

Busck; 91, E. /estiva Busck; 92, E. cypraeella (Zeller).
240

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

96

FIGURES 93—97.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 93, E. abraxasella (Walker); 94, £. scythropa Walsingham; 95, £.

tiivosella (Walker); 96, E. tcrpnota Walsingham; 97, E. iridella Powell.
NUMBER 120 241

FIGURES 98—103.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, acdeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 98, E. perpulchra Walsingham; 99, E. elutella Busck (f-m, fulturanianica); 100, E. janzeni Powell; 101, E. janzeni, (atypical manica); 102, E. submissa Busck; 103,

E. epilygella Powell.
242

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 104-108.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 104, E. fritillella Powell; 105, E. nolomurinella Powell; 106,

E. ungulalella Busck; 107, E. chalcogramma Powell; 108, E. phylacops Powell.
NUMBER 120 243

114

FIC;URF5 109-114.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 109, E. exornata (Zellcr); 110, undescribed species near exornata;

111, E. phylacis Walsingham; 112, E. tnnesicosma Meyrick; 113, E. gelidella (Walker); 114, E.

gelidella, outline of flattened valva.
244 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 115—119.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedcagus separated and shown in lateral aspect; 11"), E. phoenicura Meyrick; 116, E. chemsaki Powell, aedcagus

lacking (sc, sacculus); 117, E. zebrata Powell; 118, E. uotatella (Walker); 119, E. paucella

(Walker).
NUMBER 120 245

FIGURFS 120-124.—Male gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 120, E. ivellingi Powell; 121, E. hiramella Busck; 122, £. hiramella,

lateral scale brush; 123, E. confusella (Walker); 124, E. strialella Busck.
246 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

128

Fir.imrs 125—128.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 125, E. confusellastra Powell; 126, E. sandra Powell (c.p., costal

"plume"; d. sb., distal "seta-bunch"); 127, E. duckworthi Powell; 128, E. humilis Powell.
NUMBER 120 247

132

FS 129—132.—Male gcnitalia of F.thmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 129, E. farrella Powell; 130, E. coronata Walsinghatn; 131, E.

nigritaenta Powell; 132, t. submgritaenia Powell.
248 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

137

FIGURES 133-137.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 133, E. catapellica Mcyrick (Guatemala; aedeagus, Costa Rica);

134, E. catapellica (Colombia); 135, E. howdeni Powell, aedeagus; 136, E. I. longimaculella

(Chambers); 137, E. I. coranella Dyar.
NUMBER 120 249

139

FIGURES 138-141.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, acdcagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 138, E. baliostola Walsingham; 139, E. cubemis Busck; 140, E.

lichyi Powell; 141, E. flavicaudata Walsingham (acdcagus not shown).
250

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Fir.iREs 142—145.—Male genitalia of Elhmia, ventral aspect, valvae rcflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 142, E. calumniella Powell; 143, E. plaumanni Powell; 144, E.

transi>enella Busck; 143, E. hieroglyphica Powell.
NUMBER 120 251

149

FIGURES 146—149.—Male genitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated and shown in lateral aspect: 146, E. conglobnta Meyrick; 147, E. gigantea Busck; 148,

E. seiniombra Dyar; 149, E. albicostella (Beutenmiiller) .
252 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

153

150—153.—Male gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, valvac reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: I'M, E. miruselUi (Chambers); 151, E. trifurcella (Chambers); 152,

E. marmorea (Walsingham); 133, E. hodgesella Powell.
NUMBER 120 253

157

FIGURES 154-157.—Male gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect, vaivae rcflexed, acdeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 154, E. baja Powell; 155, E. playa Powell; 156, E. penthica Walsingliam (aedeagus not shown, oornutus in vesica shown in ventral aspect); 157, E. similatelta Busck.
254

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FICLRES 138-162.—Male genitalia of Elhmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 158. E. cordia Powell; 159, E. sculula Powell; 160, E. pa la Powell;

161, E. sphenisca Powell; 162, E. clava Powell.
NUMBER 120 255

166

FIGURES 163—166.—Male genitalia of Elhmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed, aedeagus separated

and shown in lateral aspect: 163, E. heplnslica Walsingham; 164, E. oterosella Busck; 165, E.

prattiella Busck; 166, E. hammella Busck.
256

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 167-171.—Male genitalia of Ethmia and Pseudethmia, ventral aspect, valvae reflexed:

167, E. linda Busck, aedeagus separated, shown in lateral aspect; 168, E. joviella Walsingham,

aedeagus separated, shown in lateral aspect; 169, E. punctessa Powell, acdeagus in situ; 170,

E. angustalatella Powell, aedeagus in situ; 171, P. protuberans Clarke, aedeagus separated and

shown in lateral aspect.
NUMBER ISO 257

FIGURFS 172-176.—Female genitalia of Pyramidobela, ventral aspect: 172, P. angelarum Keifer;

173, P. angelarum, lateral aspect of sterigma; 174, P. quinquecristata (Braun), stcrigma and

ductus bursae; 175, P. Utrapliyla Meyrick, sterigma and duct us bursae; 176, P. agyrtodes (Meyrick).
258

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

s. V.A

FIC.URFS 177-184.—Female genital structures of Ethmia: 177, E. coquillettella Busck, ventral

aspect (/;. an., papillae analcs) ; 178, £. coquillettella, segments VIII-X (2x) I 179, £. coquillettt'lla, sign inn. outer aspect (saniL- enlargement as Figure 178); 180, E. brevistriga Clarke,

signuni ami segment VIII; 181, E. brei'istriga, signum, outer aspect, (lx): 182, E. tninuta

Powell, lateral aspect (n. ap., anterior apophyses; p. ap., posterior apophyses); 183, E. tninuta,

ventral aspect of segments VIII-X; 184, E albitogata Walsingham, ventral aspect (st, sterigma;

o, ostium; d. s., ductus scminalis; bl. $., bnlla seminalis; d. b., ductus bursae; c. b., corpus

bursae; sg, signum).
NUMBER 120

259

FIGURES 185-189.—Female gcnitalia of Ethmia, ventral aspect: 185, E. ptagiobothrae Powell (a.g.,

accessory glands); 186, E. albistrigella (Walsingham), sterigma and VIII segment; 187, E.

albistrigella, signum, inner aspect (3x): 188, E. discostrigetla (Chambers); 189, E. apicipunctella (Chambers).
260 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FK:I'RES 100-192.—Female genitalia of Elhmia, ventral aspect: 190, E. arclostaphylella (Walsingham); 191, E. seniitenebrella Dyar, VIII segment and ductus bursae; 192, E. volcanella Powell,

VIII segment and base of ductus.
NUMBER 120 261

193

194

FIGURES 193-197. —Female genitalia of Ethmia: 193, E. papiella Powell, VII segment and ductus bursae, ventral aspect; 194, E. papiclla, signum, outer aspect (3x)'> '95, E. macelhosielta

Busck, vcntrolatcral aspect; 15)6, E. limberlnkei Powell, VIII segment and ductus bursae, ventral aspect; 197, E. timberlakei, signum, inner aspect (3x)-
262

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

206

FIGURES 198-206.—Female genital structures of Ethmia, ventral aspect except signa: 198, E.

pipertlla Powell; 199, E. piperella, signum, inner aspect (3x); 200, E. moyrticola fuscipedella

(Walsingham); 201, E. m. fuscipedella, sterigma (2x) («'»» antrum); 202, E. hagenella josephinella Dyar, ant mm and segments VIII-X (an, antrum); 203, E. mimihagenella Powell,

antrum and segments VIII-X; 204, E. mimihagenella, signum, inner aspect (lx): 205, E. zelleriella (Chambers), sterigma and segment VIII; 206, E. burnsella Powell, signum, inner aspect

(ix).
NUMBER 120 263

216

FIGURES 207-216.—Female genital structures of Ethntia, ventral aspect, signa inner aspect: 207,

E. dellielln (Fernald), sterigma, segment VIII, and base of ductus bursae; 208, E. delliella,

signum (7x ) ; 209, E. bittenella (Busck), sterigma and segments VIII-X; 210, E. festix>a Busck,

sterignia, segments VIII-X, and base of ductus; 211, E. fesliva, signum Ox) : 212, E. terpnota

Walsingham, segment VIII and basal half of ductus bursae; 213, E. terpnota, signum (lx) :

214, E. perpulchm Walsingham, sterigma, antrum, and segments VIII-X; 215, E. ungulatella

Busck, sterigma and segment VIII; 216, E. ungulatella, signum (lx) -
264

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 217—226.—Female genital structures of Ethmia, ventral aspect, signa inner aspect:

217-219, E. elutella Busck, annum plate variants; 220, E. janzeni Powell, antruni; 221, E.

submissa Busck, segment VIII, sterigma and ductus bursac; 222, E. phylacops Powell, segment

VIII, sterigma, and basal portion of ductus bursae; 223, E. phylacops, signum Ox); 224,

E, notoinurinella Powell, segment VIII and sterigma with scale ridges fused to VII sternite; 225,

E. notomurinella, signum (lx): 226.

 £

- phylacis Walsingham, antrum and segments VII-X.
NUMBER 120 265

FIGURES 227-234.—Female genital structures of Ethmia: 227, E. exornata (Zeller), ventral aspect;

228, E. exornata, signum, inner aspect (2x); 229, E. phoenicura Meyrick, VIII-X segments,

lateral aspect; 230, E. phoenicura, steiigma, ventral aspect (2x): 231, E. phoenicura, ductus

bursae (lx): 232, E. chemsaki Powell, lateral aspect; 233, E. chemsaki, signum, outer aspect

(3x) ; 234, E. zebrata Powell, sterigma and VIII segment, ventrolateral aspect.
266

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

240

FIGURES 235-241.—Female genital structures of Etltmia: 235, E. notatella (Walker), ventral

aspect; 236, E. notatella, sterigma, lateral aspect; 237, E. notatella, signum, outer lateral aspect

(2x): 238, E. ivellingi Powell, VII-VIII segments and ductus bursae, ventral aspect; 239, E.

hiramella Busck, sterigma, ventral aspect; 240, E. hiramella, sterigma and VIII segment, lateral

aspect; 241, E. hiramella, VII segment venter.
NUMBER 120 267

FIGURES 242-252.—Female genital structures of Ethmia, ventral aspect except signa: 242, E.

catapeltica Meyrick; 243, E. catapeltica, signum inner aspect (lx) ; 244, E. confusella (Walker),

VIII segment, sterigma, and basal part of ductus bursae; 245, E. confusella, signum, inner

aspect (3x); 246, E. striatella Busck, VIII segment, sterigma, and basal part of ductus bursae;

247, E. striatella, signum, inner aspect (3x): 248, E. sandra Powell, VIII segment, sterigma,

and annum; 249, E. humilis Powell; 250, E. farrelln Powell, VIII segment, sterigma, and antrum; 251, E. farrella, signum, inner aspect (3x); 252, E. confusellastra Powell, VIII segment,

sterigma, and antrum.
268

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

FIGURES 253-259.—Female genital structures of Ethmia: 253, E. nigritaenia Powell, ventral

aspect; 254, E. plaumanni Powell, ventral aspect, corpus bursae removed; 255, E. plaumanni,

signum. inner lateral aspect (2x): 256, E. longimaculella (Chambers), VIII segment, sterigma,

and annum, ventral aspect; 257, E. baliostola Walsingham, ventrolateral aspect, corpus bursae removed; 258, E. baliostola, signum, inner aspect (2x)'> 259, E. cyanea Walsingham, VIII

segment and ductus bursae, ventral aspect.
NUMBER 120 269

FIGURES 260-265.—Female genital structures of Ethmia, ventral aspect except signa: 260, E.

semiombra nebulombra Powell, VIII segment and ductus bursae; 261, E. s. semiombra Dyar,

signum, inner aspect (lx); 262, E. manuorea (Walsingham), corpus bursae removed; 263, E.

marmorea, signum, inner lateral aspect (3x): 264, E. hodgesella Powell, VIII segment, sterigma,

and basal part of ductus bursae; 265, E. bajn Powell, VIII segment, sterigma, and basal part of

ductus bursae.
270

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

271

FIGURES 266-271 .—Female genital structures of Ethmia, VIII segment, sterigma, and antrutn,

ventral aspect: 266, E. penthica Walsingham (Veracruz); 267, E. penthica (atypical, Costa Rica);

268, E. cordia Powell; 269, E. similalella Busck (Guatemala); 270, E. similatella (Sinaloa); 271,

undescribed species.
NUMBER 120 271

274

FIGURES 272-276.—Female genital structures of Ethmia, ventral aspect: 272, E. pala Powell;

273, E. heptastica Walsingham; 274, E. clax'a Powell, VIII segment, sterigma, and antrum; 275,

E. sphenisca Powell, Vlll segment, sterigma, and basal part of ductus bursae; 276, E. hammella

Busck.
272

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

281

FIGURES 277-284.—Female genital structures of Elhmia and Pseudethmia: 277, E. prattiella

llusck, stcrigma and VIII-X segments, ventral aspect; 278, E. prattiella, same, lateral aspect;

279, E. prattiella, signum, outer aspect (3x); 280, E. linda Busck, ventral aspect; 281, E. linda,

signum inner aspect (2x); 282, E. punctessa Powell, ventral aspect; 283, P. protuberans Clarke,

VIII-X segments and base of ductus bursae, ventral aspect; 284, P. protuberans, signum, inner

lateral aspect (2x)-
NUMBER 120 273

286

287

288

289

FIGURES 285—289.—Immature stages of Ethmia: 285, last instar larva of E. charybdis (thoracic

segments 1, 2, abdominal VI-X), same data as holotype; 286, abdominal segments II-III of last

instar larva of E. confusella (laterovcntral aspect), Plantation Key, Fla., V-28-69 (D. H. Habeck); 287, last instar larva of E. longimaculella, crotchet and setal arrangement on abdominal

proleg, Ottawa, Canada (J. Fletcher); 288, pupa of E. semilugens (ventral aspect), Darwin

Wash, Calif., V-14-69 (Rude and Powell, 69E79); 289, same pupa (lateral aspect).
274 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

290

292

sp

293 294

FIGURES 290-294.—Pupae of Ethmia: 290, E. scylla (ventral aspect), Del Puerto Cyn., Calif.

IV-27-69 (J. Powell, 69D90); 291, E. confusella (ventral aspect), Plantation Key, Fla., V-28-69

(D. H. Habeck); 292. E. semiombra (lateral aspect), Brownsville, Texas, V-14-41 (broken line

along VI-VII segmental junction indicates area of condylic grasp, see Plate 20g-h); 293, E.

confusella, same data as Figure 291, VI abdominal segment (lateral aspect, anterior margin to

left, dorsum at top) showing spiracle (sp) and "spiracular pit"; 294, same structure (anterior

aspect, inner side to left) showing trachea (tr) and bulbous interior portion of spiracular pit.
PLATES 1-22

NUMBER 120 277

PLATE I.—Heads of ethmiid moths: a, Pyramidobela quinquecristata, 13 mi S Ravcndale, Calif., VI-5-70, r.f. Penstemon

deustus (P. A. Opler); b. Ethmia coquillettelln, Del Puerto Cyi., Stanislaus Co.. Calif., Ill—19—69 (J. Powell); c. E. albitoC,ata, Arroyo Mocho, Alameda Co., Calif., 11-24-68 (J. Powell); d, E. scylla, same data as holotype; c, E. charybdis, holotype

(arrow indicates position of minute labial palpus hidden in vcstituie); /, E. monticola, 6 mi \V Ccdarville, Calif., VII-4—62

(J. S. Buckett).
278 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 2.—Heads of ethmiid moths: a, Ethtnia mulleri, Tehuacan, Pbla., Mcx., V-21-41 (C. C. Hoffmann) (arrow indicates

denuded, enlarged crown); b. E. nwosella, Green Hills, Portland Parish, Jamaica, III-1I-66 (W. D. and S. S. Duckworth);

c, E. paucella $ , Bourdon, Haiti, V1-24-56 (J. G. Coutsis) (arrow indicates minute third segment of labial palpus, hidden

in scaling of second segment); d, E. confusella, Grand Etang, Grenada, VIII-4-63 (O. Flint); e, E. lichyi, paratype, Lancetilla,

Honduras; /, Pseudethmia protuberant, Thousand Palms, Calif., 11-24-55 (D. F. Hardwick) (arrow indicates protuberant

front).
NUMBER 120 279

PLATE 3.—a, b, Frontal aspect showing modified antennal scape: a, Ethmia hiramella $, San Vicente, Cuba FV-22-66 (F.

Gregor) (arrow at distal end of scape); b, E. phoenicura $, San Jose del Cabo, Baja Calif., Mex., IX-15-67 (J. A. Chcmsak)

(arrow at broadest part of scape); c, lateral aspect showing modified scape and tegula, E. scythropa $, Chichen Itza, Yucatan Mex., VI-7-55 (E. Welling) (arrow at distal end of scape); d, dorsal aspect of abdomen covered with pollen, E. sandra,

paratype 13 km N San Salvador; e, lateral aspect of abdomen showing modified ovipositor (arrow), E. mmuta, paratype San

Diego.
280

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 4.—a-d, $ Hindwing modifications: a, Ethmia marmorea, Santa Clara Cyn; Chih, Mex., IX-1-56 (D. D. Linsdale)

(narrow fold); b, E. lichyi, paratype Honduras (broad fold with external fringe (arrow) and fold distally partially cut

away); c, E. semitenebrella, Pine Valley, San Diego Co., Calif., IV-17-50 (E. C. Johnston) (brush without fold); d, E. mulleri,

Tehuacan, Mex., V-21-41 (C. C. Hoffmann) (external brush subtended by fold enclosing a second brush); e, lateral aspect

showing metathoracic brush (arrow), E. notatella, $, Key Largo, Fla., IV-7-67 (S. Kemp).
NUMBER 120 281

r

PLATE 5.—a, Ethmia umbrimarginella $, Nogales, Ariz., 11-14-59 (E. H. Davidson); b, E. lassenella $, Globe, Ariz., Ill—7—37

(Parker); c, E. coquillettella $, Pinyon Flat, Calif., IV-13-63 (J. Powell); d, E. coquillettella 9, Del Puerto Cyn., Calif.,

11-13-67 (C. D. MacNeill); e, E. monachella <$, holotype; /, E. scylla $, allotype; g, E. b. brevistriga $, San Francisco, Calif.,

IV-7-61 (J- Powell); h, E. b. aridicola $, allotype; i, E. albitogata $, San Bruno Mts., Calif., 11-7-64 (J. Powell); /, E.

plagiobothrae $, holotype; k, E. minuta $, holotype; /, E. minuta $, allotype.
282 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 6.—a, Ethmia tricula <$, holotype; b, E. charybdis $, holotype; c, d, E. a. albistrigella $ $, Chipmunk Flat, near

Sonora Pass, Calif., IV-25-62 (J. Powell); e, E. a. icariella $, holotype; /, E. nadia $, 5 mi E McCloud, Calif., VIII-7-57

(J. Powell); g, E. nadia $, Riverside, Calif., V-13-62, r. f. Phacelia ramosissma (J. Powell); h, E. orestella $, holotype; i,

E. semilugens $, Gila Nat. Mon., N.M., VII-4-64 (D. R. Davis); ;, E. epileuca $, same data as holotype.
NUMBER 120 283

PLATE 7 a, Ethmia apicipunctella 9, Paradise, Ariz., Aug. 1 -7; b-d, E. arctostaphylella $ $: b, Alpine Lake, Calif., V-28-60,

r. f. Eriodictyon californicum (J. Powell); c, Pinnacles, Calif., VIII-24-62 (J. Powell) (summer form, mediella); d, Nacimiento Summit, Calif., IV-2-59 (D. J. Burdick) (spring form, obscurella); e, E. mansita $, Tehuacan, Mex., IX-18 (R.

Miiller); /, E. d. discostrigella 9, Kyle Cyn., Charleston Mts., Nev., VI-10-59 (J. M. and S. N Burns); g, E. d. subcaerulea

$, Lytle Cr., Calif., IV-14-65 (R. Langston); h, E. semitenebrella 9, 4 mi. W Portal, Ariz., VIH-3-64 (D. R. Davis); i, E.

piperella 9 , paratype; j , E. papiella $, holotype.
284 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 8.—a, Ethmica volcanella $, Pte. Tlacotepec, Oax., Mex. VI-8-66 (Flint and Ortiz); b, E. volcanella $, allotype; e,

E. macelhosiella <$, Plummer's I., Md. X-8-64 (J. F. G. Clarke); d, E. macneilli $, holotype; e, E. geranella $, same data

as holotype; /, E. geranella $, Ivanpah Mts., Calif. X-5-40 (J. A. Comstock); g, E. timberlakei $, allotype; h, E. bipunctella

$, Ottawa, Ont., VHI-2-65 (H. F. Howden); i,j, E. m. monti cola $ $: i, 6 mi W Cedarville, Calif. VII-4-62 (J. S. Buckett);

;, 23 mi NE Logan, Utah, Vl-20-63 (C. A. Toschi).
NUMBER 120 285

PLATE 9.—a, Ethmia monlicola emmeli $, same data as holotype; b, c, E. m. fuscipedella: b, $, Ruidoso, N.M., VII-29-62

(E. and I. Munroe); c, $, 11 mi W Walcott, N. Dak., V-26-61 (J. R. Powers); d, E. caliginosella $, Colo. (Bruce); e, E.

zelleriella $, Turkey Run State Park, Ind., V-18-51; /, E. h. hagenella $, Uvalde, Tex., III-1O-23; g, E. h. josephinella 9,

Davis Mts., Tex., IV-30-59 (J. M. and S. N. Burns); h, E. mimihagenella $, same data as holotype; i, E. hagenella complex

$, 25 mi W Hidalgo del Parral, Chih., Mex., VII-15-64 (Chemsak and Powell); ;, E. burnsella $, same data as holotype.
286 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 10.—a, Ethmia delliella 9, Monterrey, N. L., Mex., VIII-10-63 (Davis and Duckworth) ; b, E. davisella 9, paratype 6 mi

S Victoria, Mex.; c, E. linsdalei 9, holotype; d. E. clarkei 9, allotype; e, E. subsimilis £; Sierra Maestra, Cuba, 11-21-1930

(Querci); /, £. subsimilis 9, Hardwar Gap, Jamaica, VII-9-66 (H. F. Howden); g, E. kirbyi $, Coamo Spr., P. R., IV-7-30;

h, E. kirbyi 9. Constanza, Dom. Rep., VI-2-69 (Flint and Gomez); i, E. bittenella $, San Benito, Tex., May 8-15; /, E.

mulleri $, Tehuacan, Mex., IX-1937 (C. C. Hoffmann).
NUMBER 120 287

PLATE 11.—a, Ethmia proximella $, Tehuacan, Mcx., VI-1913 (C.C.Hoffmann); b, E. festiva $, Chichcn Itza, Yucatan, Mex.,

V-l-56 (E. Welling); c, E. cypraeella $, Aragua Nat. Park, Venez., V-31-49 (Cary and Cadbury); d, E. a. abraxasella $,

Santa Rita, P. R., VII-30-1913 (E. G. Smyth); e, E. a. clarissa <J , Santiago, Cuba, X-1902 (W. Schaus) ; /, E. scythropa $,

Cayuga, Guat. (Schaus and Barnes); g, E. nivosella 9, Santa Rita, P. R., VII-30-1913 (Smyth) ; h, E. terpnota $, Tuis, C. R.

(W. Schaus); i, E. iridella $, holotype; ;', E. perpulchra $, Cayuga, Guat. (\V. Schaus).
288

SMITHSONIAN' CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 12.—a, Ethmia elutella 9, Rancho Grande, Ar., Venez. 1-16-66 (S. S. and W. D. Duckworth) ; b, E. janzeni $, allotype;

c, E. submissa 9. Kingston, Jamaica, 111-12-66 (S. S. and \V. D. Duckworth); d, E. fritillella $, holotype; e, E. epilygella

<$ , holotypc; /. £. notomurinetta $. allotype; !,', E. ungulatella $, 6 mi S Victoria. Tamps., Mex. VIII-6-63 (Davis and

Duckworth); /). E. cyprasjm $, Santarem, Para, Brazil; i, E. chalcodora $, Villerrica, Paraguay, X-1934 (F. Schade); /, £.

clialcogramma $, Nova Teutonia, Brazil, IX-1963 (F. Plaumann).
NUMBER 120 289

PLATE 13.—a, Ethmia phylacops $, holotype; b, E. exornata $, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, XII-15-68 (J. A. Chemsak); c, E. p.

phylacis $, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mex.; d, E. mnesicosma $, Cordoba, Veracruz, VII-30-66 (Buckett and Gardner); e, E.

gelidella 9 , Green Hills, Jamaica HI-11-66 (S. S. and W. D. Duckworth); /, E. phoenicura ?, near Loreto, Baja Calif.,

Mex., XII-14-58 (H.B. Leech); g, E. zebrata $, paratype; h, E. chemsaki $, paratype; i, E. notatella §, Tavernier, Fla.,

IX-1955 (J. N. Todd); ;. E. hiramella $, cotype, Santiago, Cuba.
290 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 14.—a, Ethmia hiramella $, San Vicente, Cuba, IV-22-66 (F. Gregor); b, E. paucella 9, paratype St. Domingo; c, E.

wellingi $, paratype Puntarenas, C. R.; d, e, E. confusella $ $, Dominica: d, (typical), V-1965 (D. R. Davis); e (variant),

V-l 1-64 (O. Flint); /, £. striatella $, 27 mi E Villa Union, Sin., Mex., VII-26-64 (J. Powell); g, E. duckworthi $, allotype;

h, E. confusellastra 9 , allotype; 1, E. sandra 9» allotype.
NUMBER 120 291

PLATE 15.—a, Ethtnia farrella $, paratype Key Largo, Fla.; b, E. julia $, Key Largo, Fla., X-7-65 (S. Kemp); c, E. humilis

$, holotype; d, E. humilis ? , allotype; e, E. coronata $, 34 mi S Atlixco, Pbla., Mex., VI-27-57 (J. A. Chemsak); /, E.

nigritaenia $, paratype Merida, Yucatan; g, E. catapeltica $, Barro Colorado I., Panama, V-l-64 (S. S. and W. D. Duckworth) ; h, E. howdeni $, holotype; i, E. I. longimaculella 9, Ottawa, Ont., IX-1-06 (C. H. Young); ;'. E. I. coranella $, Palo

Duro Cyn., Randall Co., Tex., V-6-59 (J. M. and S. N. Burns).
292 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 16.—n, Ethmia baliostola 9, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mex., V-2&-56 (E. Welling); b, E. cubensis $, holotype; c, E.

lichyi $, holotype; d, E. calumniella $, holotype; e, E. omega <$, paratype; /, E. plaumanni <$, holotype; g, E. transversella $, holotype; h, E. hieroglyphica $, holotype; i, E. conglobata $, La Crumbre, Colombia (Parish); /'. E. cyanea $,

6 mi SE Rinconada, Veracruz, Mex., VI-21-62 (D. H. Janzen.)
NUMBER 120 293

PLATE 17.—a, Ethmia gigantea $, Zacualpam, Mex. (C. C. Hoffmann); b, E. s. semiombra $, Brownsville, Tex., 11-22-1926

(E. Piazza); c, E. s. semiombra 9, 4 mi SW Victoria, Tamps., Mex., VII-10-63 (Davis and Duckworth); d, E. s. nebulombra

9, paratype Chichen Itza, Yucatan; e, E. albicostella £, Florissant, Colo., VII-16-60 (T. C. Emmel); /, E. mirusella $,

Oklahoma City, Okla., VIII-27-55 (D. R. Davis); g, E. trifurcella $, Cedar Cr., Jefferson Co., Ky., V-7-41 (A. F. Braun);

h, E. marmorea 9, 5 mi W Portal, Ariz., VII-9-56 (Cazier and Ordway); i, E. hodgesella 9, paratype Pena Blanca Cyn.,

Ariz.
294

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 18.—a, Ethmia playa $, paratype Los Mochis, Mex.; b,, E. baja $, paratype; c, E. penthica $ , Cotaxtla, Veracruz,

Mex., VII-30-62 (D. H. Janzen); d, E. cordia $, paratype Chichen Itza, Mex.; e, E. similatella $, 21 mi E Villa Union, Sin.,

Mex., VII-25-64 (Chemsak and Powell); /, E. similatella $, Cayuga, Guat. (Schaus and Barnes); g, E. scutula $, holotype;

h, E. pala $ allotype; i, E. pala $, holotype; /, E. clava 9, allotype.
NUMBER 120 295

PLATE 19.—a, Ethmia sphenisca $, paratype El Palmito, Mex.; b, E. heptastica $, 5 mi N Mazatlan, Mex., VII-28-64

(Chemsak and Powell); c, E. oterosella $, Trinidad Mts., Cuba, VII-11-39 (C. T. Parsons); d, E. pratticlla 9, Gloria, Coah.,

Mex., VII-28-59 (E. E. Remington); e, E. linda 9, Cordoba, Veracruz, Mex., VII-20-66 (Buckett and Gardner); /, E. joviella

9, W. Cabrits, Dominica, IH-3-64 (D. Bray); g, E. hammella 9, holotype; h, E. punctessa 9, allotypc; i, £. punctessa $,

holotype; ;", £. angustalatella $, holotype.
296

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

PLATE 20.—-a, Pseudethmia protuberant $, 8 mi NW Essex, Calif., IV-1-70 (Dietz and Powell); b, Pyramidobela quinquecristata 9, IS mi S Ravendale, Calif., VI-5-70, r. f. Penstemon deustus (P.A. Opler); c, P. agyrtodes $, Alpine, Tex.,

IV-1-1926 (Poling); d, P. angelarum $, paratype Fanta Paula, Calif.; e, P. tetraphyta 9, same data as holotype; /, P.

ochrolepra $, holotype; g, h, pupa of Ethmia semiombra, Brownsville, Tex., showing condylic grasp of exuvium head

capsule: g, (lateral), h (ventral).
PLATE 21.—Eggs of Ethmia, approximate magnification indicated in parentheses (X): <*> E- scylla in leaf axils Collinsia

heterophylla (4.6 x); b-d, scanning electron micrographs E. scylla: b, (70 x)»

 c> (350 x). d, (1400 x); e> h E

- minuta in

floral buds Crypantha intermedia; e, (8.0 x)» / (14.5 x) : g> h, E. arctostaphylella on Eriodictyon californicum: g, on sooty

mould-encrusted lower stem (8.0 x); h> on leaf midrib (14.5 x)- (See Powell, 1971.)
PLATE 22.—Eggs of Ethmia, approximate magnification indicated in parentheses (x) :

 a> b, E. brevistriga on Phacelia distorts:

a, on sand-encrusted lower stem (8.0 x); b, on compound leaf underside (14.5 x) :

 c

» £• plngiobothrae on leaf underside,

Phacelia californica, an unnatural host (8.5 x ) '• d, E. arctost phylella on upper side leaf midrib, Eriodtctyon californicum

(8.5 x)- (See Powell, 1971.)
General Index

(New names and references to principal accounts in boldface; synonyms in italics)

abdominella, Ethmia, 172

adustella, Ethmia, 127

Aeolanthes sagulata, 27

Aetia bipunctella, 25, 27

Agonopteryx. 26. 27

agyrtodes. Pyramidobela, 55, 58

albicostella. Ethmia, 32, 42, 65, 66. 190

albistrigella. Ethmia, 32, 34, 36, 38, 39, 44, 61, 81

albitogata, Ethmia, 13, 31, 32, 38, 39, 41, 62, 76

Anchonoma, 28

Anesychia, 4

angelarum, Pyramidobela, 32, 42, 55, 57

angustalatella, Ethmia, 65, 214

Antaeotricha, 26, 27

frontalis, 27

manzanitae, 25, 27

Apachea, 25, 26, 27

Apanteles, 41

marginiventris, 41

apicipunctella, Ethmia, 13, 17, 19, 68, 81, 87, 102, 210

Arctoscelis, 28

arctostaphylella, Ethmia, 8, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,

40, 41, 66, 67, 88

aridicola, Ethmia brevistriga, 76

Atopotorna, 23, 28, 55

aurifluella, Ethmia, 30, 102

Azinidae, 5

Aunts, 5

abraxasella, Ethmia, 64, 125

Babaiaxa, 4

baja, Ethmia, 15, 66, 198

baliostola, Ethmia, 17, 18, 20, 21, 67, 160

biogeographical correlations, 47

bipunctella, Ethmia, 43, 65, 103

bittenella, Ethmia, 20, 63, 114, 119, 139

Blastodacnidae, 25, 27

Braconidae, 41

brevistriga, Ethmia, 13, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 62, 75

burnsella, Ethmia, 65, 111

caliginosella, Ethmia, 34, 43, 67, 108

calumniella, Ethmia, 52, 68, 182

Carcina. 26, 27

catapeltica, Ethmia, 52, 68, 162, 174, 179, 182

cellicoma, Ethmia, 15, 64, 142

Chaetocampa crotonella, 25, 27

chalcodora, Ethmia, 15, 64, 138, 141

chalcogramma, Ethmia, 52, 64, 139, 142

charybdis, Ethmia, 10, 19, 27, 28, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40,

41, 62, 80

chemsaki, Ethmia, 13, 62, 152

chrysopygclla, Ethmia, 31, 35

cirrhocnemia, Ethmia, 43, 103, 107

Cladobrostis melitricha, 27

Clarissa, Ethmia abraxasella, 127

clarkei, Ethmia, 63, 117

clava, Ethmia, 66, 200, 205

cocoon, 39

compulsa, Pyramidobela, 52, 55, 60

confusella, Ethmia, 6, 18, 21, 23, 32, 41, 42, 43, 68, 162

confusellastra, Ethmia, 21, 68, 164, 167

conglobata, Ethmia, 17, 20, 22, 68, 185

coquillettella, Ethmia, 31, 32, 36, 38. 61, 69, 72

coranella, Ethmia longimaculella, 178

cordia, Ethmia, 66, 199, 202

coronata, Ethmia, 21, 65, 171

cubensis, Ethmia, 16, 18, 20, 21, 67, 161, 165

cupreonivella, Ethmia, 63, 137

cyanea, Ethmia, 20, 21, 22, 62, 186

cypraeella, Ethmia, 16, 64, 124

cypraspis, Ethmia, 15, 52, 64, 140

davisella, Ethmia, 33, 63, 115

decemguttella, Ethmia, 40

delliella, Ethmia, 6, 32, 40, 63, 114

Depressaria, 26, 27, 29

diapause, 33, facultative, 40

diel periodicity, 35

discostrigella, Ethmia, 6, 19, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 66,

67, 90, 92

disease of larvae, 41

diurnal habit, 34

dodecea, Ethmia, 38

duckworthi, Ethmia, 21, 68, 165

Ectaga, 23, 28, 56

Ellabella, 5

elutella, Ethmia, 6, 33, 52, 64, 133

einmeli, Ethmia monticola, 65, 106

endemism, 43

Eomichla, 28

epibryas, Pyramidobela, 55, 60

epileuca, Ethmia, 18, 19, 65, 81, 86

epilygella, Ethmia, 63, 137

Epiphractis, 28, 29

Esperia, 26, 27

Eumeyrickia, 5

Eutorna, 28

exornata, Ethmia, 43, 52, 63, 144, 150

farrella, Ethmia, 68, 162, 170

festiva, Ethmia, 64, 123

flavianella, Ethmia, 31

flavicaudata, Ethmia, 21, 68, 162, 165, 176, 179

fritillella, Ethmia, 63, 136

fuscipedella, Ethmia monticola, 32, 43, 67, 103, 107

299
300 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Gelechiidae, 23

gelidella, Ethmia, 63, 149

geranella, Ethmia, 65, 99

gigantea, Ethmia, 21, 66, 187

Gonionota, 26

Gonioterma, 26

hagenella, Ethmia, 65, 109

hammella, Ethmia, 17, 21, 22, 33, 64, 212

heptastica, Ethmia, 66, 207

hieroglyphica, Ethmia, 52, 67, 185

hiramella, Ethmia, 16, 46, 62, 153, 155

hodgesella, Ethmia, 42, 43, 66, 196

hostplant specificity, 35

howdeni, Ethmia, 69, 176

humilis, Ethmia, 13, 68, 169

icariella, Ethmia albistrigella, 83

Ichneumonidae, 41

iridella, Ethmia, 64, 131

janzeni, Ethmia, 33, 64, 134

josephinella, Ethmia hagenella, 65, 110

joviella, Ethmia, 69, 169, 211

julia, Ethmia, 22, 69, 168

kirbyi, Ethmia, 63, 118

larval characters, 24, 25

lassenella, Ethmia, 39, 62, 69, 71

lichyi, Ethmia, 11, 20, 21, 52, 67, 176,179, 180

linda, Ethmia, 69, 210

linsdalei, Ethmia, 63, 116

longevity, 36

longimaculella, Ethmia, 18, 21, 24, 32, 38, 40, 43, 69, 177

Lotisma, 5

macelhosiella, Ethmia, 19, 24, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45,

65, 98

macneilli, Ethmia, 65, 101

Maesara, 27, 28, 29

gallegoi, 29

mansita, Ethmia, 18, 20, 52, 65, 90

marmorea, Ethmia, 66, 194, 206

mating, 35

mediella, Ethmia, 90

Microcolona technographa, 27

Microgaster, 41

mimihagenella, Ethmia, 15, 65, 111

minuta, Ethmia, 12, 13, 18, 32, 36, 37, 38, 62, 78

mirusella, Ethmia, 16, 21, 66, 67, 192

mncsicosma, Ethmia, 52, 63, 148

Momphidae, 27

monachella, Ethmia, 61, 73

monticola, Ethmia, 39, 67, 104

mulleri, Ethmia, 27, 52, 61, 89, 121

nadia, Ethmia, 15, 32, 34, 37, 38, 61, 81, 84

nebulombra, Ethmia semiombra, 190

nigritaenia, Ethmia, 67, 172

nigroapicella, Ethmia, 41, 42

nivosella, Ethmia, 9, 20, 62, 127, 129

nomenclatural change summary, 5-6

notatella, Ethmia, 9, 11, 62, 153, 154

notomurinella, Ethmia, 64, 138

obscurella, Ethmia, 90

ochrolepra, Pyramidobela, 55, 58

Oecophoridae, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29

omega, Ethmia, 67, 182

oresteUa, Ethmia, 15, 34, 44, 62, 81, 84

ornata, Ethmia phylacis, 147

oterosella, Ethmia, 22, 32, 45, 67, 188, 208

oviposition, 35

pala, Ethmia, 66, 204

papiella, Ethmia, 63, 95, 102

paucella, Ethmia, 46, 62, 153, 156

penthica, Ethmia, 66, 199, 200

perpulchra, Ethmia, 64, 132

Philomusaea, 28

phoenicura, Ethmia, 8, 34, 63, 150

phylacis, Ethmia, 16, 63, 139, 144, 146

phylacops, Ethmia, 64, 143

piperella, Ethmia, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 68, 102

plagiobothrae, Ethmia, 19, 31, 32, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 62, 77

plaumanni, Ethmia, 68, 183

playa, Ethmia, 6, 66, 197

prattiella, Ethmia, 17, 68, 209

Probolacma, 5

protuberans, Pseudethmia, 22, 45, 215

proximella, Ethmia, 63, 122

Psaltica, 28

Psecadia, 4

Pseudethmia, 5, 24, 27, 28, 30, 54, 55, 215

Pseudodoxia, 28

Pseudomonas, 41

pseudoscythrella, Ethmia, 35

Psilocorsis, 26, 27

punctessa, Ethmia, 68, 213

pupal characters, 25, 26

pusiella, Ethmia, 38

Pyramidobela, 5, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 40, 43, 53, 55

pyrausta, Ethmia, 31, 35

quinquecristata, Pyramidobela, 32, 55, 56

rothschildi, Ethmia, 35

sandra, Ethmia, 36, 68, 166

Schiffermulleria, 26, 27

scutula, Ethmia, 21, 66, 200, 203

scylla, Ethmia, 19, 26, 27, 32, 36, 38, 39, 40, 62, 74

Scythrididae, 25

scythropa, Ethmia, 9, 18, 20, 62, 127

semilugens, Ethmia, 19, 32, 38, 40, 66, 85, 195

semiombra, Ethmia, 18, 21, 23, 24, 32, 33, 40, 66, 67, 188

semitenebrella, Ethmia, 32, 37, 38, 39, 65, 91, 94

Setiostoma, 26, 27

similatella, Ethmia, 66, 199, 201

sphaerosticha, Ethmia, 27

sphenisca, Ethmia, 52, 65, 195, 205

Sphyrelata, 29

Stenomidae, 23, 26, 27, 28

striatella, Ethmia, 67, 164

subcaerulea, Ethmia discostrigella, 91, 93

submissa, Ethmia, 33, 64, 135

subnigritaenia, Ethmia, 21, 67, 173

subsimilis, Ethmia, 32, 63, 117

Tachinidae, 41

Tamarrha, 4

Tanyzancla, 28, 29
NUMBER 120 301

terpnota, Ethmia, 64, 130

tetraphyta, Pyramidobela, 55, 59

timberlakei, Ethmia, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 40, 65, 100

transversella, Ethmia, 67, 184

tricula, Ethmia, 62, 79

trifurcella, Ethmia, 32, 33, 66, 67, 193

umbrimarginella, Ethmia, 16, 62, 69, 70

ungulatella, Ethmia, 64, 138, 139

volcanella, Ethmia, 63, 97

Yponomeuta, 4, 23

wellingi, Ethmia, 62, 154, 158

xantholitha, Ethmia, 124

Xyloryctidae, 27

zebrata, Ethmia, 63, 151

zelleriella, Ethmia, 24, 32, 38,40, 44, 64, 108, 112,166

Index to Plant Names

Agavaceae, 31

Amsinckia, 30, 31, 33, 36, 38, 50, 52, 77

intermedia, 32

lunaris, 32, 77

ramosissima, 32

spectabilis, 32

tessellata, 32, 81

Anacardiaceae, 151

Anchusa, 30, 104

Arctostaphylos, 31, 39, 90

Boraginaceae, 30, 31, 34, 47

Bourreria, 51, 164

ovata, 32, 164

Buddleia, 30, 57

davidii, 32, 57

Caryophyllaceae, 30

Celosia floribunda, 151

Cercocarpus, 30, 31, 50, 91, 93

betuloides, 94, 95

breviflorus, 95

ledifolius, 32, 93, 95

minutiflorus, 94

montanus, 32, 94

parvifolius, 32, 95

Collinsia, 30, 31, 36, 38, 50

heterophylla, 32, 74

Compositae, 36

Cordia, 30, 41

Coreopsis californica, 36, 73

Cryptantha, 30, 31, 33, 38, 50, 52

circumcissa, 37

intermedia, 32, 36, 37, 79

Cynoglossum, 30, 33, 50, 51, 104

virginianum, 32, 194

Echium, 30

vulgare, 104

Ehretia, 30, 33, 50, 51

elliptica, 32, 115, 121

Ericaceae, 31

Eriodictyon, 31, 33, 50, 89

angustifolium, 89

californicum, 32, 89

tomentosum, 89

trichocalyx, 89

Heliotropium, 51

Hydrolea, 47

Hydrophyllaceae, 30, 34, 47

Lithospermum, 30, 33, 50, 51, 104, 191

canescens, 32, 107

gmelini, 32, 107

latifolium, 32, 178

officinale, 32, 178

ruderale, 106

Loganiaceae, 30

Lychnis, 30

Malvaceae, 31, 115, 120

Meliaceae, 30, 118

Meliosma, 30

Nemophila, 31

maculata, 32

Oenathera pallida, 115

Onagraceae, 115

Onosmodium, 33

hispidissimum, 32, 178

Penstemon, 30

confertus, 32, 57

deustus, 32, 57

Phacelia, 31, 33, 36, 38, 47, 50, 52, 99, 113

bipinnatifida, 32, 113

californica, 31

calthifolia, 32, 86

cicutaria, 73

covillei, 32, 99

crenulata, 32, 86

distans, 31, 32, 73, 76

dubia, 32, 113

frigida, 83

heterophylla, 106

leucophylla, 106

ramosissima, 32, 83, 84, 100

tanacetifolia, 31, 32

Phytolaccaceae, 30, 208

Plagiobothrys, 30, 31, 33, 38, 50, 52

nothofulvus, 32, 78

tenellus, 32

Pseudocymopterus montanus, 108

Ranunculaceae, 30, 31

Rosaceae, 30, 31

Rumex hymenosepalus, 71

Sabiaceae, 30

Sambucus, 39

Scrophulariaceae, 30, 31

Stegnospermum, 30, 51

halimifolia, 32, 208

Symphytum, 30, 104

Thalictrum, 30, 31
302

Tournefortia, 51

Trichilia, 30, 51

hirta, 32, 118

Trichostigma octandrum, 208

Umbelliferae, 108

SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY

Ulmus tacemosa, 113

Wissadula, 31, 39

lozani, 115, 120

Yucca, 31

whipplei, 39

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with a new paragraph. Number consecutively all pages, including title page, abstract, text, literature cited, legends, and tables. The minimum length is 30 pages, including typescript and illustrations.

The title should be complete and clear for easy indexing by abstracting services. Taxonomic

titles will carry a final line indicating the higher categories to which the taxon is referable:

"(Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)." Include an abstract as an introductory part of the text. Identify

the author on the first page of text with an unnumbered footnote that includes his professional

mailing address. A table of contents is optional. An index, if required, may be supplied by the

author when he returns page proof.

Two headings are used: (1) text heads (boldface in print) for major sections and chapters and (2) paragraph sideheads (caps and small caps in print) for subdivisions. Further

headings may be worked out with the editor.

In taxonomic keys, number only the first item of each couplet; if there is only one couplet,

omit the number. For easy reference, number also the taxa and their corresponding headings

throughout the text; do not incorporate page references in the key.

In synonymy, use the short form (taxon, author, date:page) with a full reference at the

end of the paper under "Literature Cited." Begin each taxon at the left margin with subsequent lines indented about three spaces. Within an entry, use a period-dash (.—) to separate

each reference. Enclose with square brackets any annotation in, or at the end of, the entry.

For references within the text, use the author-date system: "(Jones, 1910)" and "Jones

(1910)." If the reference is expanded, abbreviate the data: "Jones (1910:122, pi. 20: fig. 1)."

Simple tabulations in the text (e.g., columns of data) may carry headings or not, but they

should not contain rules. Formal tables must be submitted as pages separate from the text, and

each table, no matter how large, should be pasted up as a single sheet of copy.

Use the metric system instead of, or in addition to, the English system.

Illustrations (line drawings, maps, photographs, shaded drawings) can be intermixed

throughout the printed text. They will be termed Figures and should be numbered consecutively; however, if a group of figures is treated as a single figure, the components should be

indicated by lowercase italic letters on the illustration, in the legend, and in text references:

"Figure 96." If illustrations (usually tone photographs) are printed separately from the text as

full pages on a different stock of paper, they will be termed Plates, and individual components

should be lettered (Plate 9b) but may be numbered (Plate 9: figure 2). Never combine the

numbering system of text illustrations with that of plate illustrations. Submit all legends on

pages separate from the text and not attached to the artwork. An instruction booklet for the

preparation of illustrations is available from the Press on request.

In the bibliography (usually called "Literature Cited"), spell out book, journal, and

article titles, using initial caps with all words except minor terms such as "and, of, the." For

capitalization of titles in foreign languages, follow the national practice of each language.

Underscore (for italics) book and journal titles. Use the colon-parentheses system for volume,

number, and page citations: "10(2):5-9." Spell out such words as "figures," "plates," "pages."

For free copies of his own paper, a Smithsonian author should indicate his requirements

on "Form 36" (submitted to the Press with the manuscript). A non-Smithsonian author will

receive 50 free copies; order forms for quantities above this amount with instructions for payment will be supplied when page proof is forwarded.