Protoperigea umbricata Mustelin, NEW SPECIES
Creators: name: Mustelin, Tomas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2006
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Protoperigea
Protoperigea umbricata

description: Protoperigea umbricata Mustelin, NEW SPECIES
Figs. 9, 36 a, 36b, and 71
Type material. Holotype: Male, Mount Palomar, Road to Observatory, 1500 m, 7­12 September 1999, N. Bloomfield & T. Mustelin. Paratypes: 54 males and 14 females. San Diego County: Same locality and collectors as holotype, 18­20 August 1998 (1 male), 29 August–4 September 1999 (3 males), 1­5 September 1999 (1 male), 7–12 September 1999 (3 males, 1 female), 13–15 September 1998 (2 males), 20–22 September 1998 (2 males), 20­23 September 1998 (1 male); 4 km east of Julian, 15­17 August 1998 (1 male), 29 August–4 September 1999 (1 male), N. Bloomfield; Jacumba, 30 September 2000, T. Mustelin (3 males); McCain Valley, 30 September 2000 (1 male), 6 October 2005 (1 male), T. Mustelin; Laguna Mountains, 8 August 1999, T. Mustelin (1 male); Miramar Naval Air Station, 13 October 1996 (1 male), 20 October 1996 (1 male), 6 November 1996 (1 male), N. Bloomfield; south rim of Peñasquitos Canyon, 18 July 1998 (1 male), 22 August 1999 (1 male), 16 September 1997 (1 male), 7 October 1999 (1 male), 7 November 1996 (1 female), 18 November 1998 (1 male); no label (1 male); Lakeside, 15 October 1991, R. Leuschner (1 male); Silverwood Sanctuary, 15 October 1991, R. Leuschner (2 females). Riverside County: Pinyon Crest, 1300 m, 1 October 1966, R. Leuschner (1 female). Los Angeles County: Wrightwood, 2,000 m, 2 August 1964, R. Leuschner (1 male, 1 female); Charleton Flats, 1500 m, 27 September 1964, R. Leuschner (1 female). San Bernardino County: Sugarloaf Mountain, San Bernardino Mountains, 2300 m, 9 August 2004, T. & S. Mustelin (2 males, 1 female); Santa Ana River, San Bernardino Mountains, 2000 m, 14 July 2004, T. & S. Mustelin (1 female); Onyx Summit, San Bernardino Mountains, 2800 m, 14 July 2004 (1 female), 9 August 2004 (1 male), T. & S. Mustelin. Ventura County: Cuyama Valley, Apache Canyon, 1020 m, 23 August 1996 (1 male), 30 August 1997 (2 males, 2 females), 5 September 1997 (1 female), 11 September 1999 (4 males), 20 August 2000, T. E. Dimock (1 male); Upper Ojai Valley, 650 m, 1 October 1999 (2 males, 1 female), 2 October 1999 (1 male), 15 October 1999 (2 males); Pine Mountain, 1930 m, 29 August 1998, T. E. Dimock (1 male), 2030 m, 2 August 1997, P. M. Jump (1 male). Santa Barbara County: Santa Barbara, 200 m, 10 October 1999, P. & S. Russell (1 male). San Bernardino County: 6 km south of Big Bear City, 2400 m, 26­28 June 1998, R. Leuschner (1 male); Santa Ana River, near Sugarloaf Mountain, 2000 m, 21 July 2001, S. & T. Mustelin (1 male). Kern County: Mount Pinos, McGill Campground, 2230 m, 9­10 August 1996, T. E. Dimock (1 male, 1 female). Holotype and genitalic slides #58/TM and #175/TM deposited in SDNHM, paratypes in SDNHM, LACM, CNC, USNM, and the private collections of L. Crabo, T. Dimock, R. Leuschner, F. Sala, J. Troubridge, and the author.
Etymology. The specific name umbricata is derived from umbra, which means shadow, and refers to the dark shaded appearance of the moth.
Diagnosis. Protoperigea umbricata is distinguished from its close relative P. posticata (Harvey, 1875) by having darker coloration, less defined lines, and different male valve shape (compare Fig. 36 a and 37a) and vesica structure (Fig. 36 b and 37b). The ground color of Protoperigea umbricata varies from tan gray to dark gray brown, overlaid with variable black dusting especially in the median and subterminal areas, but often with the anterior edge of the forewing lighter (a, Fig. 9). The antemedial and postmedial lines are diffuse, but often traceable, particularly the pm line. The reniform spot often contains a few white dots. The hindwing is white (Fig. 9 b). The diffuse markings give even fresh specimens a worn look.
Description. Antenna finely ciliate in males, filiform in females; palpus laterally covered with black scales, apex pale; eye naked; frons covered with dark hairs; collar and thorax covered with pale tan hairlike scales mixed with black along inner margin of tegula; venter covered with concolorous hair mixed with black hairs under head; area behind eyes black with streak under wing base; legs covered with black and pale tan gray hairs; tarsi black with pale scales at joints; abdomen covered with pale tan gray short and flat scales, venter paler; forewing ground color pale tan gray variably overlaid with black scales; orbicular and claviform spots absent; reniform spot rimmed with some paler scales, filled with darker than ground color; antemedial line double, black, weak, small dark dot on costa; median line absent in middle, faint dark dot on costa; postmedial line black, weak, thin, finely serrate, black dot on costa; subterminal line serrate, dark, diffusely dark­shaded inward; terminal line thin black chevrons between veins; fringe of ground color with some black scales; ventral side whitish basally, darkening gradually towards outer margin; discal spot diffuse, dark; postmedial line dark, subterminal shade dark. Hindwing white, very faint subterminal shade near apex; terminal line brown gray, fringe white; ventral side as dorsal side, discal spot absent. Male genitalia (Figs. 36 a and 36b): Juxta round; valve length 4.2 mm, width at middle 1.3 mm, broad, dorsal margin with 20° angle, ventral margin straight, tapering laterally; cucullus a broad dorsal fingerlike projection, straight, broadening slightly towards apex, width at apex 0.4 mm; projection from valve (pollex) 0.7 mm long, 0.2 mm thick at base, nearly straight up; aedeagus length 4.0 mm, width 0.5 mm tapering to 0.4 mm distally, with dorsal 30° curve; everted vesica length 4.0 mm, width 0.6 mm, tapering to 0.25 mm distally, at <10° angle to distal aedeagus, no basal diverticula, one row of small cornuti. Female genitalia (Fig. 71): Ovipositor lobes rounded, 0.55 mm wide, covered in small setae; posterior apophyses 2.2 mm long, anterior apophyses 0.75 mm long; rounded U­shaped sclerotized plate at 8th sternite; ductus bursae short and very broad, length 1.8 mm, width 1.4–1.5 mm, abruptly narrowing to 0.6 mm at 2/3 of length, sclerotized, smooth; corpus bursae oval, 2.3 x 1.5 mm, points to right, surface smooth with faint wrinkles, no appendix bursae, signa absent.
Distribution and habitat. This species occurs in Oregon and California. In southern California, it ranges from sea level to about 2000 m in the mountains of San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. This is the most abundant member of the genus. In inland areas this species often flies with P. parvulata Mustelin; in the desert­mountain transition zone (e.g., McCain Valley and Jacumba) it flies with P. subterminata Mustelin. The flight period is July–November, earlier than other members of the genus.
description: Published as part of Mustelin, Tomas, 2006, Taxonomy of southern California Erebidae and Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) with descriptions of twenty one new species, pp. 1-47 in Zootaxa 1278 on pages 20-22, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.273509