Toxonprucha killamae Troubridge, new species
Creators: name: Troubridge, J. T.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Toxonprucha
Toxonprucha killamae

description: Toxonprucha killamae Troubridge, new species
(Fig. 7a, 7b, 7c, 71, 123)
BIN: BOLD:AAI4900
Diagnosis. Toxonprucha killamae is extremely variable but is easily distinguished from the other North American Toxonprucha Möschler species by its smaller size. Its closest relative is T. stunia (Schaus) from Central America, but is distinguished from it by the dark, mottled-brown wing pattern, often frosted with light mauve in the postmedial area. Toxonprucha killamae is much more variable, usually with dark medial shading on all wings.
Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, thorax, and abdomen brown. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 7–10 mm. Ground color gray brown; antemedial line dark chestnut to black, bending inward around orbicular spot; orbicular spot black; thin medial line curves evenly around orbicular spot and then straight to anterior margin; undulating postmedial line dark chestnut, extends from posterior margin to lower, anterior corner of reniform spot and then sweeps outward, widely encircling reniform spot, reaching costa above reniform spot; subterminal line obscure, dark brown basally, light brown distally; reniform spot dark gray, encircled with scattered black scales; terminal line black, fringe brown. In occasional specimens, the area between the subterminal line and the medial line is heavily suffused with black scales. Dorsal hindwing. Forewing coloration and pattern extends onto hindwing; medial line dark brown to black, meets postmedial line of forewing of spread specimens; three or four evenly spaced dark brown lines occur basal to medial line; subterminal line obscure, dark brown basally, light brown distally; terminal line black, fringe brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 71). Valve long and with even sides, about 5× long as wide, rounded at tip, clasper, pollex, and digitus all absent; uncus talon-like, pointed and downturned at tip, a broad, raised, dorsal, setose, subapical hat-like process present on dorsal surface; anal tube with dorsal sclerite grooved to accommodate uncus and more deeply grooved at tip to receive downturned apical spine of uncus. Female genitalia (Fig. 123). Ovipositor lobes short, setose, rounded at tip; ostium bursae lightly sclerotized with bifid plate on ventral margin; ductus bursae very short, membranous; appendix bursae spirals toward ductus seminalis; posterior half of corpus bursae constricted to form a narrow tube, widening to anterior, bulbous section; signa absent.
Type material. Holotype male: USA: Florida, Monroe Co.: No Name Key, 24.695°N, 81.329°W, 20–21.Jun.2017, J. Troubridge, in the CNC. Paratypes: 12♂, 18♀: Monroe Co.: No Name Key, 25.May.1986, L.C. Dow, 1♂ (MGCL); Big Pine Key, 24.710°N, 81.383°W, 2.Jun.2020, J.M. Farnum, slide MGCL 5853 ♀, 1♀ (FSCA); No Name Key, 24.695°N, 81.329°W, 20–21.Jun.2017, J. Troubridge, 4♂, 2♀; Bahia Honda State Park, 24.665°N, 81.254° W, 19.Jun.2014, 1♂, 2♀; 24.Jul.2016, 1♀, all J. Troubridge; Islamorada, 24.962°N, 80.566°W, 21.Jun.2014, J. Troubridge, 6♂, 7♀; Upper Key Largo, 25.179°N, 80.366°W, 25.Jul.2016, 1♂, 1♀; 9.Jul.2015, 1♀; 25.287°N, 80.292°W, 12.Apr.2016, 1♀; 25.263°N, 80.313°W, 4.Apr.2019, 1♀, all J. Troubridge.
Etymology. I take pleasure in naming Toxonprucha killamae to honor Kristie Killam, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who kindly facilitated access to National Key Deer Refuge, the type locality of T. killamae. Her interest and support for the study of moths in the Florida Keys is greatly appreciated.
Distribution. This species is presently known only from the Florida Keys, where it can be found in disturbed and natural habitats.
Remarks. The DNA was analyzed and the 658 COI base pairs compared with those of specimens of Toxonprucha in the BOLD database. The results showed that there is a 5.71% difference between T. killamae and T.stunia, from Mexico and Central America, its nearest relative.
description: Published as part of Troubridge, J. T., 2020, A new genus and 37 new noctuoid species from peninsular Florida and the Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), pp. 1-56 in Insecta Mundi 2020 (789) on page 20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4585782