Amorbimorpha mackayiana Kruse, new species
Creators: name: Kruse, James J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Tortricidae
Amorbimorpha
Amorbimorpha mackayiana

description: Amorbimorpha mackayiana Kruse, new species
Figs. 3, 4, 8, 11
Diagnosis. Amorbimorpha mackayiana is similar to several undescribed species in the genus. It exhibits exceedingly limited sexual dimorphism in contrast to other similar species. Its ground color is lighter orange, and the forewing markings are more subdued. Compared to A. powelliana, males of A. mackayiana have a more rounded apex of the valve, and the sacculus is less undulate; females of A. mackayiana have a sterigma that is more strongly lobed anteriorly, and the signum is shorter and has a more complex shape. Amorbimorpha mackayiana is among the smallest species in the genus.
Description. Male. Head: Frons brownish orange, rough scaled; vertex roughened, with brownish orange scales. Labial palpus yellowish orange mesally, brownish orange laterally. Antennal scaling brownish orange basally, lightening to yellow distally. Ocellus reduced. Thorax: Dorsum smooth scaled, brownish orange, tegula roughened with wide scales. Forewing length 9.7–12.8 mm = 11.4; n = 10). Forewing ground color brownish orange; brown basal fasciae in most specimens, restricted to near costa; brown median fascia prominent near costa, sometimes extending to mid-wing; indistinct brown subterminal fasciae, restricted to near costa; tiny brown spot at apex of discal cell in some specimens. Fringe pale brownish orange. Hindwing shining ivory white, uniformly and gradually yellowing toward distal regions. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 8; slide #USNM 188,839; USA, Texas, Brewster County, Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, The Basin, 8–10.v.1959, M.R. MacKay, CNC; n = 2) with uncus consisting of long, prominent, basal stalk, then widely bifurcate near middle, dorso-ventrally flattened beyond, the apices of bifurcations widened, bearing long setae ventrally; tegumen large, raised, and angular, strongly curled at base of uncus; socius lobed; gnathos arms long, slender, angled near middle, subapically widened, with small lobe at apex; transtilla a sclerotized, unmodified band, with numerous short spines over most of posterior margin, and small median lobe; valva subrectangular, narrowing toward tip, costa slightly concave, sclerotized over entire length, more heavily sclerotized at base, angled near terminus subapically; sacculus sclerotized over entire length, slightly convex; pulvinus present; phallus pistol-shaped, distal portion very gently curved, about equal in length to phallobase, attenuate apically, attached to juxta by a strong, tapered process; vesica with 15–20 cornuti in dense cluster; juxta large, broadly rounded at base.
Female. Head, Thorax: Essentially as described for male. Forewing ground color slightly darker brownish orange or ‘brick orange,’ markings suffused and less distinct than in male. Forewing length 11.8–13.4 mm = 12.6; n = 4). Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 11; slide #USNM 118,840; USA, Texas, Brewster County, Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, The Basin, 8–10.v.1959, M.R. MacKay, CNC; n = 2) with papillae anales parallel-sided, rounded posteriorly, narrower anteriorly; sterigma strongly sclerotized ventrally, narrow, strongly concavely curved anteriorly, strongly lobed anteriolaterally; ductus bursae moderate in length, widened anteriorly; corpus bursae large, rounded; signum narrow crescent-shaped, 3‒4 times as long as wide.
Type Material. Holotype: Male: USA: TEXAS: Brewster County: Big Bend National Park, The Basin, 4.v.1959, M. R. MacKay (CNC).
Paratypes (93, 4Ƥ). USA: TEXAS: Brewster County: Big Bend National Park, The Basin, 04.v.1959 (13), 8.v.1959 (1Ƥ), 10.v.1959 (1Ƥ), 11.v.1959 (13), 21.v.1959 (13), all M. R. MacKay (CNC); Green Gulch, 28.v.1981 (13, 1Ƥ), 12.ix.1982 (1Ƥ); Chisos Basin, 29.iii.1982 (33); 5200’, 6–7.v.1997 (13), all E.C. Knudson (ECK); Chisos Mts., Panther Pass, 6000’, 2.vi.1973, R.W. Hodges (13) (NMNH).
Biology. This species is recorded from West Texas – Big Bend National Park, Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Green Gulch, and Panther Pass at 5200–6000’ elevation. Capture dates from late-March to early-June and mid- September suggest either two broods or multiple broods throughout the year.
Remarks. A male from northern Mexico (Nuevo Leon, 3 mi E Galeana, 5000’, 7–9.viii.1963, Duckworth & Davis, NMNH) may be conspecific with the holotype. It is in good condition, is within appropriate size range, and the genitalia appear to be a good match. However, its dark brick orange forewing color is considerably divergent from other specimens of this species, so was excluded from the type series. Additional specimens are required to determine whether specimens from this area (i.e., Neuvo Leon) are conspecific with A. mackayiana and the conspicuous differences in forewing color merely represents geographic variation.
Etymology. The species is named for the late Margaret MacKay, tortricid systematist, and collector of the first known specimens of this species.
description: Published as part of Kruse, James J., 2012, Description of Amorbimorpha Kruse, new genus, from Mexico and the southern United States (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Sparganothini), pp. 33-42 in Zootaxa 3177 on page 38, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.214577