Oxycnemis grandimacula Barnes & McDunnough.

Feminine.

Adults (Figs 2, 3) are medium-sized moths (FW length 11.5–16.0 mm) with gray forewings with large black-outlined spots, reniform spots weakly quadrate. They superficially resemble Psaphida or Pseudocopivaleria Buckett & Bauer (Amphipyrinae, Psaphidini, Psaphidina) but can be distinguished by their modified foretibial setae, a strong claw continuous with a knifelike ridge along the tibia and a distinct smaller lateral accessory claw in Poolea (Fig. 10), simple in the other genera. This claw shape also distinguishes Poolea from superficially similar species of Sympistis, which lack an accessory claw. The few Triocnemidina species that resemble Poolea in size and shape, particularly Triocnemis saporis Grote and Unciella primula Smith, are predominantly whitish or yellow tan instead of gray.

Male valves of Poolea (Figs 5a, 6a) are similar to those of Triocnemis, simple with a moderate sacculus and a narrow thornlike clasper of the ampulla arising near the ventral margin slightly past the midpoint of the valve. However, the uncus of Poolea is unique in Triocnemidina, straight and rodlike, oriented slightly dorsad at base, with slight subapical swelling and short fingerlike apex with a slight downward hook. That of Triocnemis is curved, tapering evenly from base to apex. The vesica of Poolea (Figs 5b, 6b) is bent subbasally and bears a single long band of spinelike setae of variable lengths.

The female genitalia of Poolea (Figs 8, 9) are also distinctive. The bursa copulatrix is asymmetric with the ovoid corpus bursae joined obliquely to the ductus bursae and extending posterior and leftward. The corpus bursae lack signa, and the ductus seminalis is joined to the conical posterior end. Most of the ductus bursae is sclerotized and has longitudinal rugae, with a membranous short posterior segment adjacent to the weakly sclerotized ostium bursae. The anterior apophysis is longer than the posterior apophysis. The ovipositor lobe is padlike.

Poolea grandimacula was described as an Oxycnemis, type species O. advena (Fig. 1). It remained in the genus until the most recent North American checklist (Pohl and Nanz 2023). A footnote by section author B. C. Schmidt states that there is no named genus for grandimacula, and it is placed in “Oxynemis” with quotation marks to distinguish it from Oxycnemis sensu stricto. Poolea is significantly structurally distinct from Oxycnemis in both sexes. The male valve of Oxycnemis advena (Fig. 4a) is a nearly featureless strap with a rounded apex, simpler than those of Poolea, lacking a distinct sacculus and bearing a small nubbinlike triangular ampulla. The uncus of Oxycnemis is curved, with well-developed sacculus and clasper. The vesica of Oxycnemis (Fig. 4b) is nearly straight with two bands of setae; that of Poolea is bent with a single band of setae. The female corpus bursae of Oxycnemis (Fig. 7) is entirely membranous, volumetric-flask-shaped with a spherical corpus bursae and tubular ductus bursae. Unlike Poolea it has a long segmented signum and the ductus seminalis is at the anterior end. The papilla analis of Oxycnemis is conical rather than padlike.

DNA barcodes also clearly support that Poolea and Oxycnemis are distinct genera (Fig. 11). The two Poolea species differ by over seven percent from O. advena, a larger difference than between most other genera in the subtribe.

Adult. Sexes superficially similar, of medium size (forewing length 11.5–16.0 mm). Vestiture of dorsal head and dorsal thorax black, grayish tan, and white long predominantly simple and scattered apically forked or spatulate serrate scales, concolorous with dorsal forewing. Head – Antenna of both sexes filiform, setose ventrally, dorsal scales small. Eye normal size, lacking hairs. Frons convex, lacking tubercle, scales thin, mesially directed. Labial palpus relatively short, reaching mid eye, vestiture of short straplike lateral and long piliform ventral scales. Haustellum normal. Thorax – Prothoracic collar with weak mesial crest and subbasal black transverse line; tegula with weak black line near medial margin; meso- and metathorax with loose tufts of curly spatulate glossy black scales, posterior tufts largest. Legs – Foretibia with distal stout trifurcate clawlike seta, apical process a large stout beaklike spine projected along foretarsus, middle process a small outer claw directed slightly laterally, basal process a knifelike ridge along tibia; mid- and hindlegs unmodified; ventral tarsi segments with scattered spiniform setae between haphazard inner and outer rows. Wings – Forewing elongate, length 2.3–2.6× width, with bluntly pointed apex and smoothly convex outer margin with slight indent at Cu2; dorsal scales smooth, short, slightly convex distally with finely crenulate margin; ground light to charcoal gray or dark olive, darkest in medial area outside spots; transverse lines and spot outlines black, single; basal line absent; antemedial line smooth, thick, excurved strongly from anterior margin to fold, less prominently thence to posterior margin, bordered medially by uniform pale line; medial line absent or a dark smudge posterior to orbicular spot; postmedial line nearly parallel to outer margin, drawn slightly basad in fold, moderately scalloped between veins, posterior segment thickest, bordered laterally by gray to white, palest and widest in fold; subterminal line absent; terminal line thin, preceded by triangular dark marks between veins in one species; spots large, filled with wing base color or slightly lighter shade; orbicular spot ovoid; claviform spot semicircular; reniform spot quadrate with rounded corners, slightly concave medially and laterally; fringe weakly checkered ground color or brown with slightly darker gray; scattered black dashes on veins (one species), strongest in fold in medial area and on Cu2 distal to postmedial line. Hindwing M2 strong, similar to mdc but weaker than M1 and M3, crossvein mdc concave anterior to M2, angled distad at M2, thence perpendicular to M3; dorsum white, few dark gray scales at tornus, on terminal line and distal veins, especially Cu2; fringe white with scattered gray scales. Abdomen – Lacking basal scent brushes and associated structures. A7 tergum large and strongly sclerotized, distal margin weakly bilobed. Spiracles with degenerate distal wall and long dorsal lever, resembling upper component of a question mark. Scales gray tan, weak darker dorsal tufts on segments 1, 3, and 4. Male genitalia – Uncus base directed posterior and slightly dorsad, with slight subbasal dorsad and subapical ventrad bends, cylindrical with slight subapical swelling bearing few short setae on flat venter, tip tapered to small downward hook with blunt tip. Juxta shield shaped, taller than wide. Valve nearly even width, widest near midpoint, length 3.6–4.0× width, with rounded slightly upturned apex bearing a mesial patch of downy setae; sacculus moderately strong, 0.5× valve length and 0.5× valve width at midpoint, tapered evenly from base to apex; clasper base a sclerotized bar near ventral margin distal to sacculus, ampulla base arising near valve midpoint (one species) or at outer ¾ (one species), perpendicular to valve, nearly reaching dorsal margin, thornlike, narrow, tapered to thin acute tip; digitus absent. Phallus tubular, length ~ 6× minimum width; vesica with broad basal dorsal bulge and subbasal 90–135° bend ventrad and anterior, about as long and slightly wider than phallus, widest near apex; mid and distal surface covered by broad band of multiple variable-length spiniform cornuti extending from left posterior surface distal to bulge to apex where it spirals ¾ around circumference, cornuti longest at mid vesica, gradually decreasing distally, subbasal cornuti longer and thicker than adjacent cornuti in one species. Female genitalia – Corpus bursae unisaccate, asymmetrically ovoid with membranous bulbous anterior end and thicker broadly conical thicker posterior end with ductus seminalis at apex, length about 1.5× width, lacking signa. Ductus bursae 5× segment A8 length, tubular (one species) or with anterior broad bulge rightward (one species), constricted slightly at junction of anterior ¾ and posterior ¼, short posterior segment membranous, anterior segment sclerotized with longitudinal rugae, joined obliquely to right posterior corpus bursae; ostium bursae weakly sclerotized. Papilla analis soft, padlike, covered with uniform thin piliform setae. Segment A8 short, length 2.7× width, dorsum longest; apophyses relatively short, posterior apophysis 1× segment A8 length, anterior apophysis 1.5× posterior apophysis.

The genus name honors Robert “Bob” Poole for his contributions to the systematics of Amphipyrinae.

Poolea species occur in southwestern United States and Mexico, predominantly in the Chihuahuan desert region. All United States records are from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Adults fly in arid shrubland from spring to fall (one species) or spring (one species). The early stages are unknown.

The large foretibial claw of Poolea is probably an adaptation to allow moths to escape from the pupal chamber in hard desert soils and dig their way to the ground surface.

Oxycnemis grandimacula was described from Redington, Arizona (NMNH) (holotype examined from photograph). Oxycnemis extremis was described from two syntypes, one from Brownsville and the other from San Benito, Texas (NMNH) (syntypes examined from photographs). The Brownsville syntype is darker than most P. grandimacula, but its forewing pattern is otherwise typical of this species.

Poolea grandimacula is distinguished by several longitudinal black lines on the forewing antemedial, medial, and postmedial areas which Poolea psaphidoides lacks. Poolea grandimacula tends to be smaller than P. psaphidoides (FW length of P. grandimacula 11.5–15 mm; P. psaphidoides 14–16 mm) and the FW is lighter gray with more discernible pattern. The ampulla of the clasper of the male valve arises more distally in P. grandimacula than in P. psaphidoides as described in the key. Females can be distinguished by the shape of the ductus bursae, tapered evenly in P. grandimacula and bulging rightward near the junction with the corpus bursae in P. psaphidoides.

Poolea grandimacula occurs in southwestern United States in Arizona, New Mexico, and western and southern Texas. Poole (2022) also examined a specimen from Nuevo León, Mexico. Adults fly in open xeric habitats and have been collected as early as March and as late as October, suggesting multiple broods. The early stages are unknown.

Figures 1–3. 

Adult males 1 Oxycnemis advena (abdomen removed), USA, Arizona, Maricopa County, Cave Creek 2 Poolea grandimacula, USA, Texas, Brewster County, Terlingua Ranch 3 Poolea psaphidoides, USA, New Mexico, Otero County, High Rolls.

This species and P. psaphidoides are sympatric in southern New Mexico, including at White Sands National Park, Otero County.

USA: New Mexico: Otero County: High Rolls, Steep Hill Rd., 32.9534, -105.8817, 1725 m.

Holotype, male. USA: New Mexico: Otero County: High Rolls, Steep Hill Rd., 32.9534, -105.8817, 1725 m, 11 III 2020, L. G. Crabo leg. / [Crabo genitalia slide] 651 male. CNC. Paratypes. 15 m, 3 f. USA: New Mexico: Eddy County: 32.272, -104.602, 4200’ [1280 m], 20 III 2021, J Vargo (8 m 2 f); Carlsbad, 32.4420, -104.2776, 1060 m, 4 III 2024, David Heckard / DLWC 011521 (1 m); Otero County: same data as holotype (3 males); same data as holotype / BOLD_F8 CHLC0068 (1 male); same data as holotype / BOLD_F9 CHLC0069 (1 male); White Sands National Park, SE edge of dunes, 32.761, -106.189, 1215 m, 11 III 2020, Eric Metzler leg. (1 female); Texas: Culberson County, Sierra Diablo W[ildlife] M[anagement] A[rea], 2 V [19]84, E. Knudson / CNCLEP7661 (1 male). CNC, CSUC, DLWC, JVC, LGC, NMNH.

Poolea psaphidoides resembles P. grandimacula but is usually larger (FW length 14–16 mm compared to 11.5–15 mm) and has a darker charcoal to dark olive gray forewing lacking black streaks; the FW of P. grandimacula is medium gray with prominent longitudinal black bars. Pale scales distal to the distal postmedial line in P. psaphidoides appear as a distinct white spot in the fold.

Figures 4–6. 

Male genitalia, valves (a) and phallus (b) with everted vesica 4 Oxycnemis advena 5 Poolea grandimacula 6 Poolea psaphidoides

Figures 7–9. 

Female genitalia 7 Oxycnemis advena 8 Poolea grandimacula 9 Poolea psaphidoides

Figure 10. 

Foretibial claw of Poolea psaphidoides (photograph and drawing).

The male genitalia of P. psaphidoides are most easily distinguished from P. grandimacula by the position of the clasper ampulla, close to the mid valve in P. psaphidoides and near the base of the cucullus in P. grandimacula. The cornuti on the vesica of P. psaphidoides are longer than those of P. grandimacula, forming a group of long stout spines in the proximal band that P. grandimacula lacks. Females of P. psaphidoides have a large rightward bulge in the anterior ductus bursae, lacking in P. grandimacula.

The DNA barcode BIN of P. psaphidoides, BOLD:AEK0144, differs from that of P. grandimacula, BOLD:AAI5464, by greater than 4.2% (Fig. 11).

Adults. Dorsal head and thorax charcoal gray. Head – As for genus. Antenna scales dark gray. Labial palpus scales mostly dark gray, scattered off-white on segments 2 and 3. Frons scales gray. Thorax – Vestiture as for genus; black lines on prothoracic collar and tegula indistinct. Legs – As for genus. Wings: FW length 14.0–16.0 mm (males); 15.0 mm (female); even charcoal gray, occasionally dark olive, with slightly darker gray medial area; lines and spots as for genus; medial line faint; pale scales abutting postmedial line white in fold; fringe weakly checkered brown gray and charcoal; horizontal black lines absent. HW as for genus, ground pure white. Abdomen – As for genus; tufts dark gray. Male genitalia – Uncus and juxta as for genus. Juxta height 2× width. Valve as for genus, length 5× width; ampulla arising slightly distal to mid valve. Phallus and vesica as for genus; a cluster of subbasal cornuti thicker and longer than adjacent cornuti; cornuti on mid vesica long and gracile, decreasing gradually in length toward vesica apex. Female genitalia – Papilla analis, segment A8, and bursa copulatrix as for genus. Ductus bursae with broad bulge rightward near attachment to corpus bursae.

The name refers to the superficial resemblance of this moth to several Psaphida species from eastern North America.

Figure 11. 

CO1 barcode neighbor-joining tree of North American Triocnemidina sensu Poole (2022): Crimona, Oxycnemis, Policocnemis, Poolea, Triocnemis, Unciella, “Unciella.” “Oxycnemis” gracillinea, now reassigned to Onconemidinae and placed provisionally in Sympistis, is included for comparison.

Poolea psaphidoides has a very limited distribution in the Southwest. It is only known definitively from four localities in southern New Mexico east of the Continental Divide, two each in Otero and Eddy counties, and one location in Culberson County in western Texas (Fig. 12). These localities span approximately 200 kilometers. Two specimens from near the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas called “Triocnemidini New Genus 1 new species 1” by Poole (2022) probably refer to P. psaphidoides based on the adult description and illustrated male genitalia but were not examined for this study. The Guadalupe Mountains are located within the known range of the species.

Figure 12. 

Distribution of examined material of Poolea psaphidoides in New Mexico and Texas, USA.

Poolea psaphidoides has been collected in open shrub desert at elevations from 1280 to 1725 meters. The type locality habitat consists of creosote bush [Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville, Zygophyllaceae] shrubland with scattered junipers [Juniperus sp. (Cupressaceae) and bunchgrasses (Poaceae)]. One female is from gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park, possibly a stray since it is the only specimen of this species found at this locality in over a decade of intensive collecting (E. Metzler pers. comm. 2020). Collection dates are from mid-March to early May suggesting a single brood.

The early stages are unknown.