Research Article |
Corresponding author: Lars G. Crabo ( lcrabo@nwrads.com ) Academic editor: Kevin Keegan
© 2023 Lars G. Crabo, Marian L. Kirst.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Crabo LG, Kirst ML (2023) Protogygia pryorensis Crabo & Kirst (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Noctuini), a new moth species from Montana, United States of America. ZooKeys 1175: 311-319. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1175.107619
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Protogygia pryorensis sp. nov. (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Noctuini) is described from a single arid active sands habitat in the south foothills of the Pryor Mountains in south-central Montana, USA. It flies during early May. The adult male and its genitalia are illustrated and are compared to similar Protogygia McDunnough species. The female is unknown. Protogygia species groups are discussed and P. pryorensis is assigned to the album-group. The Pryor Mountains foothill habitat of P. pryorensis is described and illustrated.
Agrotina, Montana endemic, relict species, sand habitat, Wyoming Basin ecoregion
An ongoing survey of the moths of Montana, USA—the Montana Moth Project—has been conducted by MLK and Mat Seidensticker of Northern Rockies Research and Educational Services since 2020. A series of a distinctive but unrecognized noctuid moths was collected by this group in a small area of active sands and hoodoos (weathered stone pinnacles) in Carbon County during early May, 2022. Additional specimens of this species were collected by a larger group of collectors during the same time of year in 2023. This moth, Protogygia pryorensis sp. nov., is described herein.
The North American noctuid genus Protogygia McDunnough was revised by
Wing pattern and genitalia structure terminology follow
Forewing lengths from base to apex, excluding the fringe, were measured to the nearest half millimeter.
Genitalia dissection techniques follow those of
Moth sampling at Petroglyph Canyon was conducted during the potential flight season of P. pryorensis on May 6, 2022 (three light traps, one illuminated sheet), June 3, 2022 (three light traps, one sheet), May 8–9, 2023 (13 light traps, two sheets, one malaise trap), and May 19, 2023 (two light traps). Several similar light traps were used, all modified Robinson trap design consisting of 5-gallon (19 L) buckets with various light sources [20 W Ecolite ultraviolet bulbs (Control Zone Products Ltd, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England) and Bioquip 12 V DC and 12 V AC ultraviolet lights with F15T8/BL bulbs] positioned between vanes over funnel tops. Ethyl acetate was used as the killing agent in all light traps. The sheets were hung vertically and were illuminated by self-ballasted mercury vapor bulbs [1000bulbs.com (Mesquite, Texas)] plus one or two ultraviolet tube lights (Bioquip). The light traps and malaise traps were deployed from dusk to dawn, while the sheets were run from dusk until 0000–0100 hrs. Trap distribution at the Petroglyph Canyon locality is described in the Distribution and ecology section, below.
All specimens collected by the Montana Moth Project were pinned and identified by Chuck Harp (CSUC).
JVC James Vargo private research collection, Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
LGC Lars Crabo private research collection, Bellingham, Washington, USA
MKC Marian Kirst private research collection, Billings, Montana, USA
USA: Montana: Carbon County: Pryor Mountains, Petroglyph Canyon Natural Area, 45.0167, -108.5022, 1520 m.
Holotype, male. USA: Montana: Carbon County: 45.01671°N, 108.502244°W, Petroglyph C[an]y[o]n Natural Area, high desert sand dunes. Juniper, sage, pine, currant, skunk sumac. 6 May 2022, 4990’ [1520 m], uv/mv trap, leg: M. L. Kirst/I. Sommerdorf. / [Crabo genitalia slide] 665 male.
Protogygia pryorensis is a superficially distinctive moth (Fig.
Protogygia pryorensis is the only brownish Protogygia with a forewing pattern of complete transverse lines and distinct spots that has male genitalia with a cylindrical uncus ending in a hook and a teardrop-shaped clasper (Fig.
Protogygia milleri (Grote) is structurally similar to P. pryorensis and has an unstreaked forewing with somewhat similar pattern elements (
The female of P. pryorensis is unknown but is likely to resemble the male based on the females of other species in the genus.
Adult male. Head – Antenna biserrate and bifasciculate, width 2× central shaft; dorsal scales yellow gray; scape white. Labial palpus scales cream and scattered gray, additional long dark gray hairlike scales on sides; haustellum well developed. Frons bulging; scales of frons and vertex hairlike, long, cream, with scattered medium gray scales near eyes and between antennae. Eye normal size, hairless, with long dark posterior lashes. Thorax – Dorsal vestiture long, narrow, forked, or weakly spatulate serrate, cream, ochre, and black scales, appearing hoary light gray with faint dark pattern, a diffuse darker gray line across prothoracic collar and dark tufts in some specimens; tegula with diffuse black V and gray-tan or tan medial margin; short loose dorsal tufts on meso- and metathorax. Legs: Prothoracic tibia with ~ 5 spinelike setae along sides, apical pair slightly longer and ~ 2× as stout as the others; mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsi with three rows of setae. Wings: Forewing length 12.5–15.0 mm (N =16); distal wing elongated to bluntly pointed apex with smooth convex outer margin; scales straplike, serrate, mixed orange tan, cream, and black; wing base proximal to antemedial line, postmedial area, and veins olivaceous pale gray; veins bordered by thin black lines in medial and terminal areas; medial and subterminal areas medium dark olive gray, posterior half of medial area frosted with light gray; transverse lines dark gray, single, diffuse except as noted; basal and medial lines absent; antemedial line indistinct, convex laterally thrice, strongest on mid-wing, distal side variably shaded dark gray to black; postmedial line strongly dentate, diffuse except for long thin teeth on veins, proximal shade similar to distal shade of antemedial line; subterminal line jagged, diffuse dark brown with intervenal smudgy dark wedges; terminal line thin, black; fringe mostly cream with light tan base and thin medial line; spot outlines thin, black; claviform spot complete or incomplete, thicker than other spots, filled with adjacent ground; orbicular spot ovoid, size variable, filling light cream; reniform spot strongly kidney-shaped to crescentic, filling darker cream, rarely with light gray center. Hindwing medium gray with slightly darker veins, diffuse discal spot, and diffuse postmedial line; fringe white with cream base and thin light gray medial line. Abdomen – Lacking structural modifications such as hair pencils or pockets; vestiture uniform grayish cream. Male genitalia: (Fig.
The species epithet pays homage to the ecologically rich Pryor Mountains in south-central Montana, where MLK as a child spent many happy hours exploring. The Pryor Mountains are named for Nathaniel Hale Pryor, a Sergeant with the Lewis and Clark Expedition that traveled through Montana in 1805.
The only known locality for P. pryorensis near the north mouth of Petroglyph Canyon is located in the Petroglyph Canyon Natural Area, a 97-ha system of high-desert bluffs and drainages in the southern foothills of Big Pryor Mountain in southern Carbon County, Montana. This area is in the most northern portion of the Wyoming Basin Ecoregion, a region centered in western Wyoming that barely extends into southern Montana (
The P. pryorensis type locality (Figs
Protogygia pryorensis habitat at Petroglyph Canyon Natural Area, Carbon County, Montana, USA 3 shows active sands and sandstone hoodoos at a canyon entry, while 4 is a nearby area of mixed soils and interspersed bedrock above the canyon rim. Sparse woody vegetation of Juniperus osteosperma, Pinus flexilis, Chrysothamnos viscidiflorus and Artemisia tridentata and mats of Opuntia polyacantha are depicted.
All P. pryorensis were collected within a 200 m radius (approximately 3.2 ha) centered on 45.016, -108.502, where most of the traps were placed. This area includes areas of confluent sand as well as areas of mixed sand, bedrock, and fine-grained soil. The sand habitat with which P. pryorensis appears to be most closely associated extends farther to the north as well as into the canyon, but these areas were sampled only with one trap placed on the canyon floor on May 8, 2023 and one placed between the canyon floor and upper sand habitat on May 19, so the local distribution of this species is probably underestimated. All specimens were collected in traps and none at sheets, suggesting either that the flight is after midnight or that P. pryorensis is not attracted to bright mercury vapor light. All specimens were found from May 6 to May 9, with none collected May 19 or June 1, indicating a brief flight period. All six specimens from May 6, 2022 are fresh, while a few of the specimens from May 8 and 9, 2023 demonstrate slight wear. No females have been found.
The early stages of P. pryorensis are unknown. It is possible that the larvae burrow in sand, a habit of known larvae from the closely-related genus Copablepharon Harvey (
Protogygia pryorensis might occur in other desert, active sands systems in the western Great Plains, but could have been overlooked due to its specialized habitat and early flight season. It is only known from Montana, but probably also occurs in Wyoming considering that the type locality is just 2 km north of the Montana-Wyoming border in the Wyoming Basin Ecoregion. It is conceivable that P. pryorensis is an isolated relict species with a very restricted distribution since the Pryor Mountains are unglaciated, have an unusually xeric climate for the region, as well as a unique flora.
The Pryor Mountains and surrounding region are subject to human-use pressures, including mining, grazing, energy development, and ATV recreation (
We thank the following persons: Merrill Peterson for photographing specimens; Chuck Harp for curatorial work, introducing us to each other, and encouragement; Mat Seidensticker, Northern Rockies Research and Educational Services (Lolo, MT), for creating and developing the ground-breaking Montana Moth Project without which this moth might never have been discovered; the Billings, Montana, BLM Field Office and, in particular, Wendy Velman and Rebecca Newton for their help with permitting and permissions; and Monte Smith for providing geological information.
MLK is grateful to: Izzy Sommerdorf for her companionship and field support on multiple sampling trips; Jennifer and Thomas Lyman for their field support and instilling in her a formative enduring love of the natural world and its smallest creatures; David and Julianne Kirst for generous financial and emotional support; Dick Walton and Susan Newell for their enduring love for and stewardship of the Pryor Range and its natural treasures; Ralph Scott for his mentorship and candor; Deb BanDrosky for generous financial and emotional support; and Tom Astle for his inspiring curiosity and tenacity. She is especially grateful to Mabel and Fay Kirst, who galvanized in her their infectious love of six-legged beasts, and to Michael Kirst for supporting and tolerating her sampling efforts with patience, humor, and hours of solo parenting.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
This work was supported by Northern Rockies Research and Educational Services.
Investigation: LGC, MLK. Writing - original draft: LGC. Writing - review and editing: MLK.
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.