Neadysgonia smithii Sullivan 2010, comb. n.
Creators: name: Sullivan, J. Bolling
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Neadysgonia
Neadysgonia smithii

description: <i>Neadysgonia smithii</i> (Guenée), comb. n. Figs 4, 9a, b, 13 <i>Ophiusa smithii</i> Guenée <i>in</i> Boisduval and Guenée, 1852: 266, pl. 22, fig. 4. <b>Type material.</b> <i>Neadysgonia smithii</i> was either described from an unknown number of specimens from an unknown locality, or it may have been described from a painting by John Abbot and sent to his colleague at the British Museum, J. E. Smith who in turn sent it to Guenée. As stated above, the type locality was probably near Savannah, Georgia. Th e location of any type material is unknown. Th e identity of <i>Ophiusa smithii</i> Guenée can not be determined from the published illustration, or from the original description, so a <b>neotype</b> is hereby designated: male, “ April 24, 1974, Wedge Plantation, McClellensville, S. C., D. C. Ferguson,” so labeled and located in USNM. I have dissected it and the slide number is USNM 50786. <b>Material dissected and/or barcoded.</b> <b>USA.</b> Alabama: Munroe Co.; Georgia: no location (USNM 50787); Mississippi: Forest, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Rankin, Tishomingo, and Warren Counties; Missouri: Greene Co.; North Carolina: Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Jones Counties; South Carolina: Charleston Co.; Texas: Jasper Co. <b>Note.</b> This species as well as <i>N</i>. <i>similis</i> and <i>N</i>. <i>consobrina</i> were all described by Guenée at the same time in the genus <i>Ophiusa</i> and probably from specimens or paintings he received from Abbot via Smith. Th ey probably originated from eastern Georgia or South Carolina in the vicinity of Savannah, where Abbot lived. Th e brief description of <i>N</i>. <i>smithii</i> by Guenée and accompanying painting could refer to one of two externally similar species, one of which is described as new below. Neither the description nor the painting of the species that served as a model for the description can be identified as to species. However, Abbot also painted the caterpillar and Guenée included a brief description of it as well. Most importantly, the food plant was identified as <i>Fagus ferruginea</i> Aiton (now <i>Fagus grandifolia</i> Ehrhart) and the pupae was said to be covered with a thick effl orescence of white purple. A white, waxy bloom on the pupa is characteristic of <i>N</i>. <i>similis</i> as well as species of <i>Argyrostrotis</i> Hübner and <i>Catocala</i> Schrank. Apparently <i>N</i>. <i>smithii</i> has not been reared again but beech trees are characteristic of mesic forests in the coastal plain and do not occur in the swamp forests where the new species <i>N</i>. <i>telma</i> has been collected. <b>Diagnosis.</b> Adults of <i>N</i>. <i>smithii</i> are readily distinguished from <i>N</i>. <i>consobrina</i> and <i>N</i>. <i>similis</i> by the two triangular outward projections of the PM line. However, there is no reliable external character to distinguish it from the newly described species, <i>N</i>. <i>telma</i>. Upon dissection of the male genitalia <i>N</i>. <i>smithii</i> has a shorter and broader valva and the medial projection on the tegumen is more than half the length of the valva. In <i>N</i>. <i>telma</i> the valva is much narrower and longer and the medial projection of the tegumen is rarely as long as half the length of the valva. In females of <i>N</i>. <i>smithii</i> the distance between the lateral edges of the lodix and the main plate is less than the thickness of the lateral edge at its base. In <i>N</i>. <i>telma</i> this distance is much greater than the width of the base of the lateral edge. <b>Figures ΙΙ–Ι4.</b> <i>Neadysgonia</i> female genitalia. <b>ΙΙ</b> <i>Neadysgonia similis</i> (Gn.). Craven Co., North Carolina (JBS 2863) <b>Ι2</b> <i>Neadysgonia consobrina</i> (Gn.). St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (JBS 2755) <b>Ι3</b> <i>Neadysgonia smithii</i> (Gn.). Brunswick Co., North Carolina (JBS 2756) <b>Ι4</b> <i>Neadysgonia telma</i> Sullivan. St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (JBS 2784). <b>Distribution and biology.</b> <i>Neadysgonia smithii</i> occurs throughout North Carolina and southward to Georgia and westward to Texas northward in the Mississippi Valley to Missouri. It is not yet recorded from Virginia, Florida, Louisiana or Arkansas, although it does occur close by and would be expected in those states as well. <i>Neadysgonia smithii</i> occurs in open savanna and mesic woodland habitats. Th e adults are multiple brooded.
description: Published as part of <i>Sullivan, J. Bolling, 2010, A new genus and species for Dysgonia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Erebinae) from Southeastern United States, pp. 85-97 in ZooKeys 39 (39)</i> on pages 91-92, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.39.434, http://zenodo.org/record/576634
description: {"references": ["Guenee A (1852) Volume 6, Noctuelites. Tome 2. In: Boisduval JBAD de and A. Guenee. Histoire Naturelle de Insectes. Species General des Lepidopteres. Roret, Paris, 444 pp."]}