HOLOTYPE. ♀ – with the following labels: ΄U.S.A. NM: Sandoval Co. │ 1.1 mi NE jct. 10 & 266 │ on 266, 7319 ft. │ 35.70860° N 106.61876° W │27 July 2013 MA Solis΄ [white printed]; ΄HOLOTYPE ♀ │ Oxyptilus │ eleanerae │ D. Matthews΄[red printed]; ΄USNMENT │ 01338013΄ [white thermal printed with data matrix code]. PARATYPES. 13 ♂, 20 ♀ as follows: 4 ♂ – USA: ARIZONA: Apache Co.: White Mts., 7200 ft, 1 – 15 Aug 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338024, 01338029 [slide DM 1822], 01338031, 01338033; 2 ♀ – same data, USNMENT01338022, 01338032 [slide DM 1835]; 2 ♂ – same data except, 1–15 Sep 1925, USNMENT01338015 [slide DM 1817], USNMENT01338026; 1 ♀ – same data, USNMENT01338027; 1 ♂ – White Mts., near McNary P.O., 15 – 30 Aug 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338028; 1 ♀ – same data, USNMENT01338030; 1 ♀ – White Mts., near Rice, 7000 ft, 15 – 30 Jul 1925, O.C. Poling, USNMENT01338025 [slide DM 1831]; 1 ♀ – Coconino Co.: Chiricahua Mts., Herb Martyr forest camp, 5840 ft, 7 Aug 1966, Robert G. Beard, at UV light, Barcode of Life DNA voucher specimen, SmplID CCDB-20275-B04, BOLD Proc. ID LNAUS2296-13, USNMENT00869147; 1 ♂ – Clover Springs, 25 Aug 1978 R. Wielgus, CUVBL, Barcode of Life DNA voucher specimen, SmplID CCDB-20275-B05, BOLD Proc. ID LNAUS2297-13, USNMENT00869148; 1 ♂ – Fort Valley, 7 ½ mi. NW Flagstaff, 7350 ft, 16 Aug 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338020; 1 ♀ – Hochderffer Hill, 12 ½ mi. NNW Flagstaff, 8500 ft, 4 Aug 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338017; 1 ♀ – Kehl Spring Forest Camp, 7450 ft, 30 Jul 2014, R.S. Wielgus, 15 watt UV light trap, USNM [no number]; 1 ♂ – West Fork, 16 mi. SW Flagstaff, 6500 ft, 13 Jul 1961, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338016 [slide USNM PYR. 93 / RWH USNM 63,602]; 1 ♀ – same data except 13 Aug 1961, USNMENT01338023; 2 ♀ – same data except 20 Aug 1961, USNMENT01338019, 01338021; 1 ♀ – County unspecified [locality near Santa Cruz/Pima border]: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mtns., 4880 ft, 29 Jul 1959, Ronald W. Hodges, USNMENT01338018; 1 ♂ – NEW MEXICO: Sandoval Co.: Valles Caldera National Preserve, 0.5 mi. past jct. VC033 & VC06 on VC06, 9610 ft, 35.8994°N, 106.5670°W, 24 Aug 2010, M. Pogue & M. Metz, collected in MV light trap 3, USNMENT01338014 [slide DM 1829]; 1 ♂ – TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co.: Davis Mtns. Resort, 5800 ft, 29 Sep 1994 D.G. Marqua, Acc. No. 2009-30, MGCL 100049 [slide DM 1823]; 1 ♀ – same data except 21 Jul 2004, MGCL 168736 [slide DM 1812]; 1 ♀ – Davis Mts. Pres., Madera Canyon 5800’ 12,13 Sep 2001 B/K [Bordelon/Knudson] (MGCL); 1 ♂ – Davis Mts. State Park 27 Jun – 1 Jul 1987 J.B. Heppner, MGCL 168735 (FSCA) [slide DM 1613]; 3 ♀ – same location, 22,23 Aug 1995, E. Knudson (MGCL); 1 ♀ – same location 3 Oct 1999 ECK [Knudson] (MGCL); 1 ♀ – Ft. Davis, 19 Aug 1984 E. Knudson (MGCL); 1 ♀ – 18.5 road mi. NW of Fort Davis, along St. Hwy. 118, 10–11 Aug 2005 James & Eleaner Adams, light trap, MGCL 168734.

The holotype and 23 paratypes are property of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. (USNM). In addition, ten paratypes are deposited at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity (MGCL), one of which [MGCL 168735] is the property of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA) housed within the McGuire Center.

1 ♂ – USA: Arizona: Pima Co. Santa Rita Mts., Madera Canyon 17 Aug 1949 C.W. Kirkwood, CPK collection, slide DM 634 (MCZ). This specimen is identified as O. eleanerae based on images of the genitalia slide. The specimen was previously examined by the author and returned to MCZ identified as O. delawaricus. This specimen is excluded from the type series as it was not on hand at the time of preparation of the present description.

This species is distinguished from the only other nearctic Oxyptilus, O. delawaricus, by the drab or grayish ground color as opposed to ochraceous-tawny in O. delawaricus. It is further distinguished by having white as opposed to ochraceous-tawny or clay colored apices on both ventral forewing lobes. The anterior dorsal forewing lobe has two transverse white bands, with the more basal band distinctly wider as opposed to similar widths in O. delawaricus. The hindwing second lobe has a distinct patch of white linear fringe scales two-thirds from the wing base along the anal margin which only appears as a trace in some O. delawaricus. In O. eleanerae, the ventral surface of the abdomen has a strong mesal band, about twice the width of that in O. delawaricus. Key differences in the male genitalia include distinctly shorter tegumen lobes in males of O. eleanerae and the bilobed process of sternite VIII with triangular as opposed to finger-shaped lobes. Females of O. eleanerae have proportionally larger and robust signa and simple cup-shaped antrum without a dorsal bilobed marginal lip.

(male, female). Based on the holotype (female) and 33 paratypes (13 males, 20 females). HEAD (Figs 13–14) with labial palpi slender, length 1.5× eye diameter. Second segment with ventral scale tuft reaching one-third to half of third (distal) segment. Palpi white and drab or chestnut-brown with middle segment white with drab lateral stripe; distal segment usually white dorsally, drab ventrally. Frons and vertex drab with scattered white scales, front with narrow white band just anterad of antennae and another narrow white band along anterior margin. Eye bordered by narrow ring of white appressed scales. Occipital fringe scales bifid or trifid, mixed drab and white, mostly white dorsally, drab and longer laterally, white ventrally close to eye. Antenna with scape and pedicel with three white and three chestnut-brown or drab alternating stripes; flagellum drab or chestnut-brown dorsally, dotted with white scales; drab or chestnut-brown, minutely ciliate ventrally. THORAX with anterior half of tegulae and mesoscutum covered with mixture of drab and cream, drab-tipped scales. Posterior half of tegulae, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum white to cream colored; metascutum with weak medial and subdorsal patch of buff scales flanked by white stripes. Foreleg (Fig. 2) chestnut-brown and white striped except coxa proximally white, distal surface solid drab or chestnut-brown; tibia with variably white and chestnut-brown scaled tuft at epiphysis; tarsomeres variable, mostly drab or chestnut-brown dorsally, pale drab ventrally, distal ends of each segment somewhat darker. Midleg coxa striped with buff and cream colored scales; femur and tibia chestnut-brown and white striped, venter mostly white, tibial spurs subequal, dorsally white, ventrally chestnut-brown, scale tuft laterally white, proximally chestnut-brown, tarsomeres as on foreleg. Hindleg coxa as on midleg, femur with double chestnut-brown stripe laterally, tibia mostly white with a narrow oblique chestnut-brown stripe and solid band preceding spurs. Spurs equal, white dorsally, chestnut-brown ventrally, length just less than that of first tarsomere. Tarsomeres strongly banded with distal part of each chestnut-brown. FOREWING (Figs 1–2, 4–5, 7–8) length, males xˉ = 10.35 mm ± 0.59 (n = 13), females, xˉ = 10.30 mm ± 0.76 (n = 15), holotype 10.50 mm. Cleft origin 0.49–0.53× wing length from base, lobe apices acute, second lobe with concave termen. Dorsal ground color appearing drab to grayish-olive at a distance, composed of mixed drab and pale orange-yellow to light orange-yellow scales. Costal margin drab mixed with chestnut-brown. Discal cell with small central chestnut-brown spot. Area between veins 1A and 2A with diffuse elongate patch of chestnut-brown scales near wing base surrounded by white scales. Cleft base marked with white crescent-shaped patch subtended basally at M₂ by small chestnut-brown spot. First lobe transected in thirds by two oblique white bands, basal band distinctly wider and projecting at a more acute angle from the long axis of the wing than distal band. White scaling of bands extending to costa, interrupting darker scales of costal margin. Second lobe similarly transected by white bands except basal band diffuse. Cleft margins of both lobes bordered by chestnut-brown to fuscous-black scales. Fringes mixed white, pale orange-yellow, and drab with a few spatulate scales of cleft margin overlapping linear fringe scales. Forewing anal margin with terminal and subterminal groups of drab linear fringe scales, the subterminal patch (between terminus of Cu₁ and Cu₂) larger and flanked by white patches of linear scales. Subterminal patch with scattered overlapping white and pale orange-yellow scales. Fringes at basal third of second lobe with small patch of 2–4 spatulate fuscous-black scales. Fringes of anal margin basad of cleft mostly drab, with distinct patch of white overlapping elongate spatulate white scales just basad of cleft. Ventral forewing drab except for white or cream colored border along costa, diffuse oblique white band across basal third of first lobe, and white scaling covering distal third of both lobes. HINDWING (Figs 1–2, 4–5, 7–8) first and second lobes dorsally uniform drab or chocolate brown with drab fringe except for patch of white linear fringe scales two-thirds from wing base along second lobe anal margin. Third lobe white or cream colored with row of drab scales along anterior margin and few scattered drab or fuscous-black scales along anal margin. Distal third of lobe with distinct patch of spatulate fuscous-black scales extending into fringes along anterior margin with scattered white scales. Third lobe anal margin with small patch of 4 or 5 drab or fuscous-black spatulate scales in fringes at apex and second larger patch of 10–20 fuscous-black spatulate and elongate scales at 0.23× from apex. A similar sized patch of white scales present just basad of the latter patch and including some white linear fringe scales. White linear fringe also present at lobe apex. Remaining linear fringe scales uniformly drab. Ventral hindwing with first lobe white except for drab or mixed drab and pale orange-yellow band covering central 0.2× of part of lobe beyond cleft. Area near and basad of cleft mixed white, drab, and pale orange-yellow. Fringes of first lobe mostly white, mixed with some drab linear scales distally. Second lobe drab with some scattered white scales near apex; fringes drab except for white patch along anal margin as on dorsum. Venous scales antique brown. Third lobe venter entirely white or white with drab margins on distal part near scale tooth. Third lobe fringes as on dorsum. ABDOMEN dorsum mottled drab and white, with white dorsal line diverging laterad toward posterior margin of segments A2–A6. Two broken, narrow white lines laterally on A2–A7. Abdomen venter with strong mesal white band, flanked posteriorly by white domed spots on A3–A6 and contiguous white band on A7–A8.

Male genitalia (Figs 19, 20) (n=6). Uncus bilobed, weakly sclerotized, mesally articulated with tegumen, longer than and extending distad of tegumen for most of length. Tegumen bilobed, lobes equal or shorter than valvular lobes, basally widened, distally rounded. Valvae symmetrical, with terminal membranous valvular lobe accounting for 0.25 – 0.40× entire length of valve. Valvular lobe bearing deciduous scale tuft and short setae, basal connection only slightly constricted. Sacculus well developed, distinctly wider in basal half. Juxta a short curved sclerotized fulcrum lacking anellus arms and fused with membranous sheath of phallobase. Phallus very large, length about 1.5× that of valvae, width at base equal or slightly greater than that of valvae, with slight bend at middle near connection point of juxta, dividing phallobase and aedeagus. Vesica tubular, without cornuti, preceded at tip of phallus by dense concentric arrangement of spiculae. Inception of bulbus ejaculatorius at about 0.5× length of phallobase. Sternite VIII produced as bilobed structure medially supported by the saccus, overall length similar to that of tegumen lobes, notch between lobes reaching about 0.3× distance to base. Lobes widened basally, appearing triangular.

Female genitalia (Figs 22–24) (n=3). Apophyses posteriores about 3.6× length of papillae anales, moderately sclerotized, anterior ends simple. Apophyses anteriores absent or represented by small laterally curved sclerotized area at anterolateral margin of tergite VIII. Sternite VII overriding VIII and forming recessed elongate irregularly shaped pocket in which ostium is centrally placed. Ostium a circular moderately sclerotized rim on simple cup-shaped antrum extending anterad of sternite pocket. Antrum length similar to ostial diameter. Ductus bursae and corpus bursae similar in length. Width of ductus bursae about 0.5× ostium diameter. Width of ductus seminalis similar or just less than ductus bursae, inception point with corpus bursae directly adjacent to that of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae ovoid, with paired oblong signa. Signa with central ridge and equal or just exceeding ostium diameter in length.

This species is named in honor and memory of Eleaner Ruth Adams who together with her son James, collected one of the paratypes in the Davis Mountains of Texas. Eleaner is fondly remembered for her sense of adventure and passion for natural history which she passed on to her sons and grandchildren. The epithet is a noun in the genitive case reflecting the meaning of the common name Eleaner’s Oxyptilus.

Unknown. Other species in the genus feed on Hieracium. Seven native species of Hieracium are known to occur within parts of the range of O. eleanerae. Of particular interest as a potential host is Hieracium carneum Green (Huachuca hawkweed) which has a similar range to O. eleanerae, restricted to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas (USDA 2017) and also extends into Chihuahua, Mexico.

The holotype was collected in Sandoval County New Mexico, within the Santa Fe National Forest southeast of Jemez Springs and just east of Paliza Canyon. The area is dominated by ponderosa pine with some Douglas fir, oak brush, and nearby pinyon-juniper woodland. The habitat where the holotype was collected (based on an image provided by M.A. Solis) was a canopy gap adjacent to Highway 266. This opening was surrounded by Pinus ponderosa, a few Populus tremuloides, and shrub oaks. Ground cover included Ericameria (rabbit brush) in bloom and sparse grasses. Low groundcover also included some rosette leaf clusters which could be Hieracium as well as Antennaria but these cannot be identified with certainty from the photo. The altitude of the type locality is 2231 meters (7319 feet).

The known distribution (Fig. 31) covers parts of three states: New Mexico, Arizona, and a small area of western Texas restricted to the Davis Mountains. Locality elevations range from 1585 to 2929 meters (5,200 to 9,610 feet). These “sky island” habitats, with pine-oak woodlands and ponderosa pine, are isolated by surrounding desert. Populations of O. eleanerae are likely to be present further south in other Madrean Sky Islands of northwestern Mexico. Collection dates range from 27 June to 3 October with no detectable flight patterns based on material available. Interestingly, significantly more females have been collected than males and in most cases, samples are indicated as coming from light traps. No explanation for this imbalance is apparent.

Figures 1–12. 

Oxyptilus adults and corresponding labels: 1 dorsal view of O. eleanerae, holotype, female, New Mexico, Sandoval County 2 ventral view of holotype 3 holotype specimen labels 4 dorsal view of female paratype, Texas, Jeff Davis County 5 ventral view of female paratype 6 female paratype labels 7 dorsal view of male paratype, Arizona, Coconino County 8 ventral view of female paratype 9 male paratype labels 10 dorsal view of male O. delawaricus, Montana, Mineral County 11 ventral view, same individual 12 specimen labels.

Figures 13–16. 

Close up of Oxyptilus heads: 13 lateral view of O. eleanerae, holotype 14 dorsal view of holotype 15 lateral view of O. delawaricus (same specimen as figure 10) 16 dorsal view of same specimen.

Figures 17–20. 

Oxyptilus male genitalia: 17 O. delawaricus phallus, slide DM 1837, California, El Dorado County, S. Lake Tahoe, Cold Creek, 10 Aug 1991, D.L. Bauer, MGCL Acc. # 2010-29 18 same individual and slide, genitalia in situ at sternite VIII, with sternite VIII bilobed structure folded open toward anterior, and phallus removed 19 O. eleanerae male paratype, phallus, slide 1829, New Mexico: Sandoval County (see Type material section) 20 same individual, genitalia in situ at sternite VIII, with sternite VIII bilobed structure folded open toward anterior, and phallus removed.

More than 284 specimens were examined from various institutions and label data captured. In the interest of brevity, locality data is given in captions for figured specimens and summarized for all other O. delawaricus specimens examined in the distribution map (Fig. 31). In some cases, where only a state was given on labels and no other state records available, a dot was placed in the center of the state. An exception is Kansas where the dot was centrally placed in Eastern Kansas, reflecting the most likely distribution based on the known distribution of Hieracium within the state (USDA 2017).

As in O. eleanerae, the second segment of the labial palpus bears a scale tuft that extends partway alongside the distal segment distinguishing it from related genera. The species is recognized externally by the ochraceous-tawny ground color; the metascutum with three ochraceous-tawny or clay color stripes, as opposed to buff in O. eleanerae (mid-dorsal stripe may be obscure), and flanked by narrow white stripes with the pattern continued on the first abdominal segment; and patterns of the forewing first lobe. Dorsally, the first lobe is traversed by equally narrow white stripes, as opposed to a wider proximal band as in O. eleanerae. The trajectory of the distal white stripe is also at a smaller angle than in O. eleanerae. Ventrally, the forewing apex is ochraceous-tawny or clay colored as opposed to white in O. eleanerae. The midventral white band of the abdomen is narrow in O. delawaricus, about half the width of that in O. eleanerae. Genitalia characters also distinguish the two species including the longer tegumen lobes and constricted base of the valvular lobe in O. delawaricus males, and the bilobed ostial margin and smaller signa in females.

(male, female). HEAD (Figs 15, 16) with labial palpi slender, length about 1.5× eye diameter. Second segment with ventral scale tuft reaching 0.3× to .0.75× of distal segment. Palpi white and clay colored, with clay colored lateral stripe. Basal segment mostly white, distal segment dorsally with white tip. Frons and vertex ochraceous-tawny or clay colored with transverse single row of white scales anterad of antennae and cluster of white scales laterally at anterior margin or across entire frontal margin. Eye bordered by white scales as in O. eleanerae except sometimes with clay colored scales mixed in. Occipital fringe scales mostly bifid, ochraceous-tawny with some white scales mid-dorsally. Antenna with scape and pedicel with three alternating white and brown stripes, anterior stripes chestnut-brown; posterior stripe ochraceous-tawny; flagellum dotted with alternating chestnut-brown and white scales dorsally, drab and minutely ciliate ventrally. THORAX with anterior part of tegulae and mesoscutum russet or ochraceous-tawny, grading posteriorly to clay, cream, and white; mesoscutellum mostly cream colored and white; metascutum with three ochraceous-tawny or clay colored stripes flanked by white stripes. Foreleg (Fig. 11), chestnut-brown and white striped, except coxa proximally white, distally ochraceous-tawny; femur evenly striped, tibia chestnut-brown dorsally, white ventrally; first tarsomeres with dorsal dusky-brown stripe, ventrally white, second and third tarsomere white and dusky-brown banded, fourth and fifth tarsomere solid dusky-brown. Mid and hindleg coxa ochraceous-tawny and white or cream striped; femur white and chestnut-brown striped; tibia white with chestnut-brown bands terminating in scale tufts at spurs. Spurs nearly equal, white dorsally with dusky-brown apex, dusky-brown to black ventrally. Tarsomeres white and dusky brown banded, somewhat variable, with distal tarsomere usually dusky-brown. FOREWING (Figs 10, 11) length, males xˉ = 9.58 mm ± 0.56 (n = 25), females, xˉ = 8.71 mm ± 0.80 (n = 6). Cleft origin 0.48–0.53× wing length from base, lobe apices acute, second lobe with concave termen. Dorsal ground color ochraceous-tawny. Costal margin dotted with white and chestnut-brown. Discal cell with small central chestnut-brown spot with distal trail of white scales. Area between veins 1A and 2A with diffuse elongate patch of russet and chestnut-brown scales. Cleft base with white spot with smaller chestnut-brown spot posterad. First lobe transected in thirds by two oblique narrow white bands of similar width; basal band projecting at more obtuse angle from long axis of wing than distal band. White scaling of bands extending to costa, with some ochraceous-tawny scales mixed in at margin. Forewing apex ochraceous-tawny, between white bands russet, area just basad of basal white band, russet, gradually grading basally to ochraceous-tawny. In some cases, forewing ground color appearing entirely russet with area between white bands not distinctly darker than apex. Second lobe similarly patterned to first except basal white band diffuse and area just basad ochraceous-tawny. Cleft margins of both lobes with scattered spatulate chestnut-brown scales, and elongate clay colored scales overlapping drab linear fringe scales; white spatulate scales likewise overlapping fringe at white bands. Forewing anal margin with terminal and subterminal groups of drab linear fringe scales as in O. eleanerae, the subterminal patch larger, flanked by white patches of linear scales, and with dense row of shorter overlapping russet and ochraceous-tawny scales. Fringes at basal third of second lobe with small patch of chestnut-brown and white. Fringes of anal margin basad of cleft mixed drab and white with patch of overlapping elongate white scales basad of cleft. Ventral forewing russet basad of cleft, with mixed ochraceous-tawny, clay, and white scales closer to wing base and trailing along narrow chestnut-brown costal margin. Russet scales grading into lobes to ochraceous-tawny, including lobe apices. White oblique bands as on dorsum except wider and with basal band of second lobe absent. Costal margin of first lobe with short conspicuous dusky-brown or chestnut-brown fringe, contrasting white fringe at basal band and apical third of lobe. Fringes of cleft margin mostly drab. Anal margin fringe alternating white and drab as on dorsum but with spatulate scales mostly hidden by linear fringe scales. HINDWING (Figs 10, 11) first and second lobes dorsally russet, basally grading to drab. Fringes drab, sometimes with trace of white two-thirds from wing base along second lobe anal margin. Third lobe ochraceous-tawny on basal two-thirds, russet on distal third adjacent to scale tooth, occasionally uniformly russet. Scale tooth at distal third of lobe with short spatulate russet and fuscous-black scales extending into fringes along anterior margin; anal margin with russet and fuscous-black in distal third forming triangular patch with basal scales longest. Anal margin also with small apical patch of 2–5 fuscous-black spatulate scales in fringes at apex; fringes drab, mixed with white elongate scales and a few fuscous-black scales basad of scale tooth. Ventrally with basal half of first lobe ochraceous-tawny, banded distally by white, russet, white, and ochraceous-tawny respectively; fringes drab or drab mixed with clay or cream color. Second lobe dull russet; venous scales russet or antique brown; fringes drab. Third lobe ochraceous-tawny or russet, with solid white just basad of scale tooth or mixed white and ochraceous-tawny and trail of white bordering anal margin; fringes as on dorsum. ABDOMEN dorsum mixed ochraceous-tawny and clay with varying amounts of chestnut-brown. A white diverging longitudinal subdorsal band present on A1, on posterior half of A2, reduced to patch of white scales on posterior margin of A3–A7. Segments A2–A7 also with small marginal patches of white scales laterally. Males with distinct, mostly pale chestnut-brown, scale tuft laterally on A8, female with banding contiguous from A7. Abdomen venter clay colored, with narrow white mesal band flanked posteriorly by white scale patches. Males with clay colored and white lateral tuft at A8.

Male genitalia (Figs 17, 18) (n=5). Uncus mesally articulated with tegumen, length less than half that of tegumen, bilobed, weakly sclerotized except for lobes which bear short setae. Tegumen bilobed; lobes distinctly longer than valvular lobes, with widened base, slightly concave medial margin, and distally truncate. Valvae symmetrical, with terminal membranous valvular lobe accounting for about one-third of valve length. Valvular lobe bearing deciduous scale tuft and short setae, basal connection constricted and inserted just anterad of apex of main part of valve. Sacculus mostly parallel to valve margin, not distinctly wider at base. Juxta a short curved sclerotized fulcrum attached to membranous sheath of phallobase. Phallus slightly curved; length similar to valve length. Phallobase width similar or just exceeding valve width. Aedeagus slightly longer than phallobase, with subapical spinous crest-shaped process. Vesica tubular, without cornuti. Inception of bulbus ejaculatorius at 0.5× length of phallobase. Sternite VIII produced as bilobed structure medially supported by saccus, overall length about one-half that of tegumen, notch between lobes reaching about 0.7× distance to base. Lobes not distinctly widened basally as in O. eleanerae.

Female genitalia (Figs 21, 25, 26) (n=5). Apophyses posteriores about 3.5× length of papillae anales, moderately sclerotized. Apophyses anteriores absent. Sternite VII overriding VIII but not extending beyond ostium and forming separate recessed pocket on each side of antrum. Ostium formed from margin of dorsal and ventral antrum plates; dorsal (outer) plate projecting as single rounded medially convex rim; ventral plate weakly bilobed or medially emarginate. Antrum length similar to width, generally appearing funnel-shaped with outer collar where fused with sternite VII. Ductus bursae and corpus bursae similar in length. Width of ductus bursae about 0.2× ostium diameter. Ductus seminalis similar in width to that of ductus bursae; inception point with corpus bursae directly adjacent to that of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae ovoid, with paired, small, serrated blade-like signa, length about 0.6× ostium diameter.

Larvae web together leaves and feed within these masses on the developing inflorescences of Hieracium (hawkweeds) (Asteraceae). Three species have been recorded as hostplants: H. abiflorium Hook., H. cynoglossoides Arv.–Touv. (= H. albertinum Farr), and H. scouleri Hook. (Clarke 1934, Dyar 1904, Landry 1987, McDunnough 1927).

Oxyptilus delawaricus occurs in both the western and eastern United States and Canada with a large gap in the distribution representing the Great Plains (Fig. 31). Collection records are concentrated in the Northern and Middle Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, extending south along the Pacific Border into Southern California, and north into the middle of British Columbia. Populations may follow the hostplant range further north and across the northern Interior Plains and Canadian Shield, joined by those known from the Appalachian Highlands and southern Interior Plains. Additional study of material from northern Alberta and Saskatchewan is necessary to determine the northern limits and potential for east-west gene flow within the species.

Distribution records of O. delawaricus do not overlap with those of O. eleanerae which is restricted to sky islands within the southern part of the Intermountain Basin and Plateau Region. No records of O. delawaricus have been found as yet for Colorado, likewise showing a separation of the two species by the Wyoming Basin and Southern Rocky Mountains. Adults have been collected from the middle of May through the first week of September. The earliest confirmed spring records (mid May) are from Northern Mississippi, and are also the southernmost records with dates included on the labels. Late season records (August, September) are from more northern latitudes but no clear flight patterns are evident.

Zeller (1873) described O. delawaricus from a male collected along the Delaware River. Barnes and Lindsey (1921) indicate the holotype should be in the British Museum (Natural History Museum, London). Grinnell (1908) described Oxyptilus bernardinus and O. bernardinus form finitimus . Form finitimus was named based on one specimen that differed in the white forewing markings from the rest of the series. Barnes and Lindsey (1921) synonymized Oxyptilus bernardinus with Capperia ningoris (Walsingham) and bernardinusform finitimus with O. delawaricus. Barnes and Lindsey (1921) selected and designated a [lecto]type from five of Grinnell’s specimens which is currently in the USNM type collection. They also found an unlabeled specimen with Grinnell’s bernardinus series which they recognized as the specimen Grinnell referred to as form finitimus and labelled this specimen “type”. The later specimen, however, has not been found in USNM holdings. Male valvular lobes are easily broken off during dissection and frequently missing on older specimens.

Figures 21–26. 

Oxyptilus female genitalia: 21 O. delawaricus, slide DM 1836, Washington, Chelan County, Wenatchee NF, Swakane Canyon Rd. (FR 7415), 4.2 mi. W of jct w/Hwy 99, 8 Jul 2010, James Adams (DMC) 22 O. eleanerae paratype, slide DM 1831, Arizona: Apache County (see material examined) 23–26 enlargements of ostium/antrum - 23 O. eleanerae paratype, slide DM 1835, Arizona: Apache County 24 O. eleanerae paratype, slide DM 1831, Arizona: Apache County 25 O. delawaricus, slide DM 1811, California, El Dorado County, S. Lake Tahoe, Cold Creek, 1 Aug 1977, D.L. Bauer, MGCL Acc. # 2010-29 26 O. delawaricus, slide DM 1836, data cited above for same slide.

Figures 27–30. 

Oxyptilus abdominal segments I and II: 27 O. delawaricus male, slide DM 1837, California, El Dorado County, S. Lake Tahoe, Cold Creek, 10 Aug 1991, D.L. Bauer, MGCL Acc. # 2010-29 28 O. delawaricus female, slide DM 1836, Washington, Chelan County, Wenatchee NF, Swakane Canyon Rd. (FR 7415), 4.2 mi. W of jct w/Hwy 99, 8 Jul 2010, James Adams; 29 O. eleanerae male, slide DM 1829, New Mexico: Sandoval County 30 O. eleanerae female, slide DM 1831, Arizona: Apache County.

Figure 31. 

Distribution of Oxyptilus delawaricus and O. eleanerae. Assembled with simplemappr.net, accessed March 2017.