The Lepidoptera of White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico, USA 2. Rediscovery and description of Sparkia immacula (Grote, 1883) (Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Hadenini)

Abstract In 2006 the U.S. National Park Service initiated a long term study of the Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico. Sparkia immacula (Grote, 1883), previously known only from historical specimens collected in Arizona and New Mexico, was discovered in the Monument in 2007 during the second year of the study. The adult moths and male and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time.


Introduction
In 2006 the U.S. National Park Service invited the author to initiate a long-term study of the Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico. A primary purpose of the study was to compile an inventory of moths in habitats within and immediately adjacent to the white gypsum sand dunes in the Monument.
White Sands National Monument preserves 285 km 2 (110 mi 2 ), or about 40%, of the world's largest snow-white gypsum dune field. The remainder of the 712 km 2 (275 mi 2 ) dune field is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army in the White Sands Missile Range. The dune field is located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico's Tularosa Basin (Schneider-Hector 1993). A complete description of the study site and some of its unique biological resources is in .
There is a dearth of research on the invertebrate fauna in the gypsum dune field in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico. Details of previous research pertinent to insects is given in .
In the period extending from 9 February 2007 through 31 December 2010 we identified more than 430 species of Lepidoptera (Metzler et al. unpublished data) from the Monument. This is the fourth in a series of papers pertinent to a detailed study of the Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument , Metzler et al. 2010a, Metzler et al. 2010b).

Materials and methods
More than 250 samples of moths and other night flying insects were collected on 75 different nights in U.S.D.A. type black light traps, and at a black light or a mercury vapor light and sheet, as described in Covell (1984). A detailed description of the study methods is given in .
Genitalia were examined following procedures outlined in Clarke (1941), Hardwick (1950), Lafontaine (2004), and Pogue (2002). Abdomens were removed from the moths, wetted in 95% ethyl alcohol, and, using a dry bath, they were soaked in 10% KOH for 1.5 hours at 50°C. Genitalia were dissected in 5% ethyl alcohol, stained with Safranin O in 95% ethyl alcohol and Chlorazol Black E in water, dehydrated in 100% ethyl alcohol, cleared in clove oil, rinsed in xylene, and slide mounted in Canada balsam.
Terminology for elements of wing pattern, morphology, and genital structures follows Forbes (1954), Lafontaine (2004), and Mikkola et al. (2009). Forewing lengths were measured to the nearest ½ mm, from the base to the apex excluding fringe, using a stereo-microscope.
All specimens collected as part of a long-term study of Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument are deposited in the following collections: Type material. Sparkia immacula was described from "Arizona." The male holotype is deposited in the U.S. National Museum, Washington, DC (USNM). The abdomen of the holotype is missing. Another short series of S. immacula, from Arizona, in the USNM, contains one male, also missing its abdomen. Diagnosis. Sparkia immacula (figs 1-2) is a pale greenish-yellow noctuid moth without normal transverse markings or spots. The diagnostic features are 1) the pale yellowish-green color, and 2) lack of normal transverse markings and spots. Sparkia immacula might be mistaken for a species of Schinia Hübner, but Schinia have spines on the foretibia which are lacking in S. immacula. Sparkia immacula flies with and is the same size as Trichocosmia inornata Grote, 1883a (figs 3-4); Trichocosmia inornata is pale tan-ochre with faint transverse markings and a faint reniform spot. The frons is slightly rounded out.
Remarks. Sparkia immacula is known from Arizona and New Mexico. Adult flight dates are 20 June through 25 August. The immature stages are unknown.

Discussion
The study of Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument is projected to last approximately 10 years.