Rejectaria ritaashleyae Goldstein & Janzen & Hallwachs & Proshek 2022, sp. n.
Creators: name: Goldstein, Paul Z.
name: Janzen, Daniel H.
name: Hallwachs, Winnie
name: Proshek, Benjamin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuidae
Rejectaria
Rejectaria ritaashleyae

description: Rejectaria ritaashleyae Goldstein, sp. n.
Habitus Figs 19–20, 37–38. Male genitalia Figs 51, 73–74. Female genitalia Fig. 89–90, 98, 100. Larva Figs 110– 114.
Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. COSTA RICA. Alajuela, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Sector Cacao: Sendero Derrumbe, 10.92918, -85.46426, el. 1220m: larva on Asplundia microphylla: 06/20/2005, ecl. 07/31/2005, Harry Ramirez, collector, 05-SRNP-35567, USNMENT01493223. Paratypes. (27♂♂, 17♀♀) COSTA RICA: ALAJUELA, AREA DE CONSERVACION GUANACASTE, SECTOR RINCON RAIN FOREST (7♂♂, 3♀♀): 1♀, Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177,el. 461m,larva on Asplundia microphylla, 11/01/2014,ecl. 11/23/2014, Maria Cristina Hernandez, collector, 14-SRNP-81543, USNMENT01493044. 1♂, Rio Francia Arriba, 10.89666, -85.29003, el. 400m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 05/13/2011, ecl. 06/19/2011, Pablo Umaña, collector, 11-SRNP-42318, USNMENT01493242. 1♂, San Lucas, 10.91847, -85.30338, el. 320m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 01/25/2011, ecl. 03/12/2011, Jose Perez, collector, 11-SRNP-40412, USNMENT01493090. 1♂, Sendero Anonas, 10.90528, -85.27882, el. 405m: larva on Asplundia utilis, 08/01/2003, ecl. 08/28/2003, Jose Perez, collector, 03-SRNP-11914, USNMENT01493231, USNM slide 148597. 1♂, Sendero Juntas, 10.90661, -85.28784, el. 400m: larva on Asplundia utilis, 07/21/2005, ecl. 08/13/2005, Gloria Sihezar, collector, 05-SRNP-41839, USNMENT01479376. 1♂, Sendero Parcelas, 10.90777, -85.29137, el. 375m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 06/29/2006, ecl. 07/27/2006, Jose Perez, collector, 06-SRNP-42283, USNMENT01493213. 2♂♂, 1♀, Sendero Rincon, 10.8962, -85.27769, el. 430m, larva on Asplundia utilis: (1♂) 01/09/2002, ecl. 02/13/2002, Armando Rios, collector, 02-SRNP-6137, USNMENT01493006; (1♂) 12/18/2004, ecl. 02/03/2005, Jose Perez, collector, 04-SRNP-43093, USNMENT01493128; (1♀) 11/09/2004, ecl. 11/30/2004, Jose Perez, collector, 04-SRNP-42695, USNMENT01493108. 1♀, Camino Rio Francia, 10.90425, -85.28651, el. 410m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 01/08/2004, ecl. 02/05/2004, Minor Carmona, collector, 04-SRNP-40077, USNMENT01493183. SECTOR SAN CRISTOBAL (10♂♂, 3♀♀): 1♂, Bosque Trampa Malaise, 10.8628, -85.3846, el. 815m, larva on Cyclanthus bipartitus, 10/17/2005, ecl. 12/02/2005, Yessenia Mendoza, collector, 05-SRNP-6499, USNMENT01493110. 1♂, Finca San Gabriel, 10.87766, -85.39343, el. 645m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 03/05/2015, ecl. 04/11/2015, Yelba Vega, collector, 15-SRNP-696, USNMENT01493210. 1♂, Estacion San Ramon, 10.88354, -85.40974, el. 660m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 07/19/2005, ecl. 09/05/2005, Gloria Sihezar, collector, 05- SRNP-4064, USNMENT01493248. 1♂, Quebrada Cementerio, 10.87124, -85.38749, el. 700m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 10/04/2004, ecl. 11/13/2004, Anabelle Cordoba, collector, 04-SRNP-60032, USNMENT01493226. 1♀, Rio Areno, 10.91407, -85.38174, el. 460m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 09/13/2006, ecl. 10/08/2006, Osvaldo Espinoza, collector, 06-SRNP-7470, USNMENT01493038. 1♂, 1♀, Rio Blanco Abajo, 10.90037, -85.37254, el. 500m: (1♀) 10/07/2006, ecl. 10/19/2006, Osvaldo Espinoza, collector, 06-SRNP-8283, USNMENT01493071; (1♂) larva on Asplundia utilis, 12/24/2016, ecl. 01/31/2017, Carolina Cano, collector, 16-SRNP-1909, USNMENT01501082. 2♂♂, 1♀, Sendero Colegio, 10.89296, -85.3788, el. 520m, larva on Asplundia utilis, Gloria Sihezar, collector: (1♂) 10/11/2006, ecl. 11/18/2006, 06-SRNP-8360, USNMENT01493093; (1♂) 10/03/2005, ecl. 11/20/2005, 05- SRNP-6178, USNMENT01493081; (1♀) 10/03/2005, ecl. 11/14/2005, 05-SRNP-6177, USNMENT01493100, USNM slide 148568. 1♂, Sendero Palo Alto, 10.88186, -85.38221, el. 570m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 09/28/2004, ecl. 10/29/2004, Calixto Moraga, collector, 04-SRNP-4919, USNMENT01493281. 1♂, Sendero Perdido, 10.8794, -85.38607, el. 620m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 10/04/2004, ecl. 10/29/2004, Gloria Sihezar, collector, 04-SRNP- 60010, USNMENT01493052. 1♂, Sendero Perdido, 10.8794, -85.38607, el. 620m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 11/08/2005, ecl. 12/18/2005, Carolina Cano, collector, 05-SRNP-7010, USNMENT01493031; 1♀, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, el. 527m, larva on Asplundia utilis, 11/17/2006, ecl. 12/15/2006, Gloria Sihezar, collector, 06-SRNP-9411, USNMENT01479314. SECTOR DEL ORO (1♂, 1♀): 1♂, 1♀, Margarita, 11.03234, -85.43954, el. 380m, Roster Moraga, collector: (1♂) larva on Cyclanthus bipartitus, 08/09/2005, ecl. 09/13/2005, 05-SRNP-23618, USNMENT01493039; (1♀) 07/27/2005, ecl. 08/07/2005, 05-SRNP-23085, USNMENT01493147. SECTOR PITILLA (10♂♂, 8♀♀): 2♂♂, 1♀, Sendero Memos, 10.98171, -85.42785, el. 740m, larva on Asplundia microphylla: (1♂) 11/28/2003, ecl. 01/11/2004, Lucia Ríos, collector, 03-SRNP-37131, USNMENT01493065; (1♂) 01/05/2010, ecl. 02/06/2010, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-30036, USNMENT01493176; (1♀) 07/22/2011, ecl. 08/30/2011, Calixto Moraga, collector, 11-SRNP-32048, USNMENT01493111. 2♂♂, 1♀, Sendero Orosilito, 10.98332, - 85.43623, el. 900m, larva on Asplundia microphylla: (1♂) 12/11/2003, ecl. 01/15/2004, Petrona Rios, collector, 03-SRNP-37377, USNMENT01493191; (1♂) 04/28/2009, ecl. 06/04/2009, Manuel Rios, collector, 09-SRNP- 31391, USNMENT01493127; (1♀) 11/08/2016, ecl. 12/10/2016, Freddy Quesada, collector, 16-SRNP-31827, USNMENT01501724. 3♂♂, 1♀, Sendero Naciente, 10.98705, -85.42816, el. 700m, larva on Asplundia microphylla: (1♂) 12/06/2010, ecl. 01/21/2011, Manuel Rios, collector, 10-SRNP-32418, USNMENT01493280, USNM slide 148570; (1♂) 08/08/2011, ecl. 09/25/2011, Calixto Moraga, collector, 11-SRNP-32305, USNMENT01493146; (1♂) 08/18/2011, ecl. 09/28/2011, Calixto Moraga, collector, 11-SRNP-32389, USNMENT01493293. 1♂, 1♀, Sendero Cuestona, 10.99455, -85.41461, el. 640m, larva on Asplundia microphylla: (1♂) 11/15/2012, ecl. 01/05/2013, Freddy Quesada, collector, 12-SRNP-31713, USNMENT01493067; (1♀) 09/16/2009, ecl. 10/18/2009, Petrona Rios, collector, 09-SRNP-32560, USNMENT01493221, USNM slide 148584. 1♂, 1♀, Sendero Mismo, 10.98758, -85.41967, el. 680m, larva on Asplundia microphylla: (1♂) 08/14/2013, ecl. 09/17/2013, Manuel Rios, collector, 13- SRNP-31094, USNMENT01493270; (1♀) 09/24/2016, ecl. 10/20/2016, Manuel Rios, collector, 16-SRNP-31600, USNMENT01501770. 1♂, Gazo, 10.97995, -85.38593, el. 485m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 11/02/2016, ecl. 12/09/2016, Calixto Moraga, collector, 16-SRNP-71798, USNMENT01501765. 1♀, Estacion Pitilla, 10.98931, -85.42581, el. 675m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 08/08/2011, ecl. 09/09/2011, Manuel Rios, collector, 11- SRNP-32241, USNMENT01493025. 1♀, Sendero Laguna, 10.9888, -85.42336, el. 680m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 07/23/2017, ecl. 08/22/2017, Freddy Quesada, collector, 17-SRNP-31990, USNMENT01501763. 1♀, Sendero Nacho, 10.98445, -85.42481, el. 710m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 01/06/2009, ecl. 03/01/2009, Petrona Rios, collector, 09-SRNP-30032, USNMENT01493026. 1♀, Sendero Pilon, 10.99087, -85.4054, el. 561m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 07/19/2011, ecl. 08/30/2011, Petrona Rios, collector, 11-SRNP-32007, USNMENT01493177. SECTOR CACAO: 1♀, Sendero Derrumbe, 10.92918, -85.46426, el. 1220m, larva on Asplundia microphylla, 06/20/2005, ecl. 07/28/2005, Roster Moraga, collector, 05-SRNP-35569, USNMENT01493085.
Other material: COSTA RICA: La Fuente, C. R. Jan. 1940, Dr. A. Alfaro, USNMENT01756203
Diagnosis. Rejectaria ritaashleyae is readily identified by the combination of the sharp delineation of the uniformly chocolate brown basal and medial fields from the diffuse gray-brown terminal area, the absence of an am line, and the faint whitish st line. The male genitalia of this species are similar to those of villosa in that the costal terminus is free, but gently downcurved and not sinuous as in villosa. This is one of at least four species in which the corpus is transversed by an internal band of microspinules along which a series of serrate ridges runs perpendicular. There are 13 such ridges in ritaashleyae and 12–13 in magas, fewer than in the specimens examined of villavicencia (14) and villosa (17).
Description. Head. Predominantly cocoa-brown; antennae setose-ciliate; male palpi (Fig. 37) sweep backward, partially encircling the eye closely, a notch between 1 st and 2 nd palpal segments visible at mid-eye-level similar to that in villavicencia and villosa; male palpus uniformly chocolate brown except for tan-colored hair pencil, when everted; female palpi (Fig. 38) cocoa-brown, curved in a semicircle, 3 rd segment fine, nearly as long as 2 nd, scaled dark gray and faintly edged with white at base and tip.
Thorax. Wings— (males, 24.1mm, n=5; females, 23.7mm, n=5) Basal and medial fields uniformly chocolate brown with a minute gray medial stigma; basal and am lines barely visible as such; pm line sharp, with diffuse whitish-gray shading at the outer edge; st line faint, wavy, white; terminal line entire on both FW and HW, dark gray-brown inwardly, paler tannish-brown towards the fringe; pattern on HW recapitulates that on FW. Legs— (Figs 37–38) Predominantly cocoa-brown, intersegmental bands cream-colored; male forefemoral tuft present, brown towards base, otherwise gray; tannish hind-femoral tufts present.
Abdomen. Gray-brown above, concolorous with HW upperside.
Male genitalia. (Figs 51, 73–74) Uncus elongate, setose, sheepsfoot-shaped; costa free of valva for distal third of its length and gently curved, not sinuous; vinculum bluntly tapered; reduced phallic ridge present; vesica not highly differentiated, microspines largely confined to subbasal lobe; body of vesica flanked by sub-conical lobes comparable to those in splendida and paratrax, above; spinules concentrated on subbasal lobe, with localized apical sclerotization.
Female genitalia. (Figs 89, 90, 98, 100) Ductus bursae elongate but with sclerotized bands reduced relative to other species treated here, extending less than half the length of the ductus itself; ductus joins corpus bursae at oblique angle as in paratrax; corpus bursae oblong; well-developed internal mid-ventral band of micro-spinules (Figs 98, 100) punctuated by a series of 13 perpendicular serrate ridges similar to those in villavicencia, villosa, and magas; as in magas, the band itself nearly perpendicular to long axis of the corpus, and less angled towards the apex of the corpus than in the other species; appendix bursae whorled, comparable to that of villavicencia and villosa.
Immature stages. (Figs 110–114) Fifth instar larva smooth, uniformly shamrock- or emerald-green, with pale pinacula and a faint spiracular line; spiracles dark surrounded by pale ring; head calico-patterned fronto-laterally.
Etymology. Rejectaria ritaashleyae is named in honor of Rita Ashley of Texas and Nicoya, Costa Rica, in recognition of her many years of support for Biodiversity Development and Inventory of Area of Conservacion Guanacaste and its recent expansion nationally as BioAlfa, an effort to support Costa Rica’s bioliteracy.
Biology. Larvae have been documented feeding on Asplundia utilis (n = 19), Asplundia microphylla (n = 25), Cyclanthus bipartitus (2). Several parasitoids have been reared from ritaashleyae, including Euplectrus paulhansoni (Eulophidae) and an undescribed Diradops (“Wahl03OLD”; Ichneumonidae: Banchinae) from larvae feeding on A. microphylla (04-SRNP-34368 and 09-SRNP-32451, respectively), an undescribed Dusona (“INB099”) from larvae feeding on A. microphylla and A. utilis (05-SRNP-32624 and 06-SRNP-7891, respectively); and an undetermined Tachinidae. None of these have been recorded from other cyclanth-feeders.The parasitoid Zelomorpha paulgoldsteini (Braconidae: Agathidinae) was reared from R. ritaashleyae larvae on Asplundia utilis (4 records; 05-SRNP- 40147, 10-SRNP-68136, 10-SRNP-68138, 15-SRNP-45311), Asplundia microphylla (1 record; 13-SRNP-79938), Carludovica costaricensis (5 records: 02-SRNP-6055, 13-SRNP-45094, 13-SRNP-45097, 13-SRNP-45161, 13- SRNP-45284), and Cyclanthus bipartitus (1 record, 05-SRNP-23084). This parasitoid has also been reared from several related fern-feeding Herminiinae at ACG as well as from the fern-feeding noctuids Callopistria floridensis on Nephrolepis biserrata (Nephrolepidaceae; 11-SRNP-69208) and Blechnum occidentale (Blechnaceae; 13-SRNP- 3034), and Callopistria mexicana on Bolbitis portoricensis (Dryopteridaceae; 10-SRNP-21839).
Distribution. Known from Costa Rica
description: Published as part of Goldstein, Paul Z., Janzen, Daniel H., Hallwachs, Winnie & Proshek, Benjamin, 2022, New species in Rejectaria Guenée (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Herminiinae) with a focus on the Cyclanthaceae-feeders, pp. 451-483 in Zootaxa 5087 (3) on pages 464-466, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5087.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/5826945