USA, Oregon, Marion County, Salem.

Holotype, male. USA, Oregon, [Marion County], Salem, Blk Lt Trap, 20 VII 1959, Ken Goeden. CNC. Paratypes. 18 males, 18 females. USA: California: Alameda County: Oakland, 22 VI [19]08, J. R. Pilate / ex. Coll. Wolley-Dod / (Xylina) dentilinea Sm. A little darker [illegible] than the female type (xd I.10. Dod) (1 m); Marin County: Mill Valley, 20 IV [19]50 / H. B. Leech Collector / Genitalia CNC slide # 17409 female (1 f); Mendocino County: Albion, 14 VIII [no year], J. Sinclair / 15–7 / ex Coll. Wolley-Dod (1 f); Laytonville, 14 VII [no year], J. Sinclair / 15–7 / C. dentilinea ex. Coll. Wolley-Dod (1 m); Monterey County: Carmel, 10 VI [19]36, E. C. Johnston (1 f); High Meadow, Carmel, 36.562°N, 121.907°W, 19 IV 1991, F. P. Sala (1 m); San Diego County: S rim of Peñasquitos Canyon, 32°55.4676'N, 117°10.209'W, 5 V 2000, T. Mustelin (1 m); Sonoma County: Petaluma, 8 VI [19]39, Wm. R. Bauer Collector (1 f); Riverside County: 7.8 km N Aguanga, Wilson Vly Pres., 33.511°, -116.879°, 701 m, 10 III 2016, UV lt., C. Schmidt, D. Wikle CNC538380 (1 m); Same label data as last / CNC538381 (1 m); Oregon: Benton County: Marys Peak, 4021 ft. [1226 m], 7 VII 1991, [no collector] / OSAC_0000164672 (1 f); Corvallis, 225 ft. [69 m], 28 VI 1995, [no collector] / OSAC_0000164718 (1 f); Huntington Drive 4 mi. [6.4 km] N Corvallis, 18 VII 2007, J.C. Miller / OSAC_0000133697 (1 f); Philomath, Blakesley Creek, 300 m, 29 VI 2000, AVZ Brower leg. / OSAC_0000133713 (1 f); same locality & collector 1 VII 2000 / OSAC_0000133690 (1 f); same locality & collector, 24 VII 2001 / OSAC_0000133715 (1 f); same locality & collector, 25 VII 2001 / OSAC_0000133680 (1 f); Philomath, Woods Creek, 100 m, 14 VII 1999, AVZ Brower leg. / OSAC_0000133709 (1 f); Clatsop County: Gronnel Rd., Elsie, 24 V 1988, [no collector] (1 m); vic. Gronnel Rd., 2 mi. [3.2 km] E. Elsie, 4 VIII [19]63, Leg. S. G. Jewett, Jr. (1 f); same locality and collector, 9 VIII [19]63 (1 f); Lane County: nr. Triangle Lake, 692 ft. [211 m], 15 VII 1997, [no collector] / OSAC_0000164674 (1 f); Lincoln County: Siletz 25 km NE, 484 m, 24 VI 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445287 & OSAC_ 0000445288 (2 m); same locality, 19 VII 2012 / OSAC_0000445292 (1 m); same locality, 23 VI 2014. OSU / OSAC_0000448088 (1 m); same locality, 22 VII 2014. OSU. / OSAC_0000448107 (1 f); Nelscott, 9 VI [no year], 0 ft [0 m], C.W. Nelson / OSAC_0000164651 (1 m); Linn County: Hwy. 20, Santiam Pass, 29 NI 1995 / OSAC_0000164662 (1 m); Marion County: same locality, date, and collector as holotype / Genitalia CNC slide # 17398 male (1 m); Polk County: Luckiamute R., 349 m, 19 VII 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445266 (1 m); Tillamook County: Coast Range, Tillamook R., 28 VI 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445111 (1 m); Coast Range, Wilson R., 682 m, 26 VI 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445118 (1 m); Coast Range, Trask R., 934 m, 30 VII 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445367 (1 f); Tillamook 30 km NE, 657 m, 18 VII 2012, [no collector] / OSAC_0000445325 (1 m). CNC, JS, LGC, OSAC.

Dolocucullia poolei sp. n. (Figs 1–4) is similar to Dolocucullia dentilinea (Figs 5, 6), both in habitus and structure. Since they are allopatric, specimens can be assigned to species by locality: those from California, Oregon west of the Cascade crest, and Washington are D. poolei and those from east of California and central Oregon are D. dentilinea. Both are distinguished easily from Dolocucullia minor, found in Texas, by hindwing color, white in D. minor and darker gray in the others.

Figures 1–6. 

Dolocucullia adults. 1 D. poolei, male, USA, Oregon, Clatsop County, Elsie, Gronnel Road 2 D. poolei, holotype male, USA, Oregon, Marion County, Salem 3 D. poolei, female, USA, California, Mono County, Tioga Pass, Saddlebag Lake to Warren Fork 4 D. poolei, male, same locality as last specimen 5 D. dentilinea, male, USA, Idaho, Franklin County, Willow Flat Campground 6 D. dentilinea, female, same locality as last specimen.

Dolocucullia poolei and D. dentilinea are similar, but can usually be identified without dissection. The forewing lines of D. poolei are less distinct than those of D. dentilinea, appearing out of focus, whereas those of D. dentilinea are thin and crisp. The antemedial and postmedial lines of D. poolei are strongly zigzagged, joining once or twice across the medial area. Those of D. dentilinea are usually separate. The black spot near the tornus, conspicuous in D. poolei, is absent or small and faint in D. dentilinea, especially in males. The hindwing base is darker in D. poolei than in D. dentilinea, gray with a luteous cast in the former and nearly white in the latter. A typical D. dentilinea is shown as Figure 5; Figure 6 demonstrates an uncommonly-patterned female with fused lines and a tornal spot.

Structurally, males of D. poolei (Figure 7) and D. dentilinea (Figure 8) are similar. Both have a two-pronged clasper with medial and lateral spikes, clasper single in D. minor. Compared to D. dentilinea, D. poolei has wider valve base, more cephalad orientation of the base of the lateral ampulla spike, a shorter medial ampulla spike, and a smaller cucullus with fewer coronal setae. The width of the mid-sacculus divided by the width of the distal valve is greater than two in D. poolei (2.2–2.3), less than two in D. dentilinea (1.6–1.8). The vesicas are similar, but the left-sided diverticulum of the vesica is larger and the apical “sclerotized globule” of D. poolei is smaller than the corresponding structures of D. dentilinea.

The female corpus bursae of D. poolei (Figure 9) is slightly wider and shorter than that of D. dentilinea (Figure 10). The ratio of length to width is less than three in D. poolei, greater than that in D. dentilinea. Posterior segment A8 has convex lateral margins on each side of the ostium in D. poolei, forming a shallow “M,” but is nearly straight in D. dentilinea.

The barcodes of D. dentilinea (BOLD:AAF5239) and D. poolei (BOLD:AAF5240) differ by 8.0 %. Intraspecific variation is 1.3 % in D. dentilinea (n = 7; Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico) and 1.9 % in D. poolei (n = 11; California, Washington).

Figures 7–10. 

Dolocucullia genitalia. 7 D. poolei, male a valves b phallus with everted vesica 8 D. dentilinea, male a valves b phallus with everted vesica 9 D. poolei, female 10 D. dentilinea, female.

Adult.Head. Antenna of both sexes filiform, pubescent, single short cilia on anterior and posterior sides, dorsal scales sparse, very small, light gray. Scape long with anterior loose tuft, scales white, dark gray. Eye normal, surrounded densely by thin hair-like dark scales. Labial palpus scales dense, long, mixed strap-like white and hair-like dark gray, darkest laterally, longest anteriorly; apical segment short, scales mostly white. Haustellum normal. Frons scales dense, strap-like, mixed light and dark gray, forming median ridge. Dorsal head scales long, white, dark gray, lightest at antenna base and vertex, loose anterior tuft between antennae. Thorax. Dorsum, including patagium and tegula, scales long, narrow, hair-like, or apically forked, mixed white, light gray, and dark gray; appearing medium gray, darkest centrally; collar broadly striped, crested. Venter scales long, hair-like, light gray. Legs: Tibiae lacking spines; tarsal segments except terminal segment with three rows of spine-like setae. Wings: Forewing: Length 15.0–16.5 mm (males), 15.0–17.0 mm (females); elongate, length 2 × width, not strongly pointed, outer margin smoothly convex, strongest near anal angle; dorsal scales elongate, rounded, mixed white, light gray, dark gray; appearing slightly mottled medium gray, medial area posterior to cell darker; Sierra Nevada population lighter gray with contrasting dark areas; veins black, thin, Cu thick across medial area; basal line absent; antemedial line black, costa to Cu thick, indistinct, angled slightly distad, Cu to 1A+2A toothed across medial area to postmedial line, segment near posterior margin less strongly so, reaching postmedial line in some specimens; medial line black, anterior segment similar to anterior antemedial line, then obsolete; postmedial line black, thinner than antemedial line, followed by light gray in most specimens, scalloped, costal origin anterior to reniform stigma, broadly convex around stigma, then nearly straight to mid-posterior margin; subterminal line pale gray or absent, irregular, preceded by indistinct dark gray shade anteriorly and prominent ill-defined dark gray to black spot near tornus; terminal line of intervening small black spots, darkest and longest crossing CuA2 toward tornal spot; fringe light to medium gray, luteous; claviform stigma absent; orbicular stigma absent or small dark gray streak with pale halo; reniform stigma faint to moderately prominent dark gray lunule or smudge. Hindwing: ground light gray, slightly luteous, distal half darker gray; veins dark; discal spot very faint; fringe off-white, base striped yellow, gray. Abdomen – Coremata absent. Male genitalia: Uncus base and mid-section oval, distal cylindrical, arced evenly, apex with short slightly downturned spine. Juxta heart shaped, broad, height = width. Valve long, gracile, width at mid-sacculus 0.2 × length, tapered slightly to ampulla of clasper, distal half narrower, even, width 0.1 × valve length; cucullus slightly wider than adjacent valve, pointed bluntly, corona simple, ~ 20 claw-like setae; sacculus 0.4 × valve length and 0.33 × width; clasper base short, ampulla bifid with spike-like medial and lateral prongs extending dorsad from base near ventral margin, right longer than left; medial component triangular, directed dorsad and 20° distad, right process 0.6 × valve width, left process slightly shorter; lateral process length 1 × valve width, base directed distad and 30° cephalad from ventral mid-valve, apex upturned to just dorsal to valve edge; digitus absent. Phallus tubular, length 3.2 × width, bent slightly ventrad. Vesica bulbous, ~ 1.25 × as long and ~ 2.5 × as wide as phallus, bent 90° rightward and slightly ventrad at base and 90° rostrad near apex to end to right of phallus; medium-sized subbasal domed diverticulum directed ventrad and leftward from left side; larger subbasal conical diverticulum directed dorsad from dorsal surface bearing small rugose sessile transversely-oriented apical cornutus; two additional globular cornuti: moderate-size foot-shape directed rostrad from mid-vesica between distal phallus and large, complex, irregular, with flat base and perpendicular rhomboid apex from anterodorsal apex. Female genitalia: Papilla analis pad-like, blunt, lobes joined by dorsal sclerite, covered sparsely with hair-like setae, longest at base. Segment A8 length 1.8 × width, broad invagination across posterior margin, each side of ostium bursae slightly convex caudad. Posterior apophysis 0.8 × segment A8 length; anterior apophysis 0.8 × posterior apophysis. Ostium bursae funnel shaped. Ductus bursae length 1.25 × segment A8 length, tapering evenly from ostium to near mid-point, widening gradually to broad attachment to corpus bursae. Corpus bursae length 6.3 × ductus length, membranous, ovate, length 3.3 × width, blunt posterior end expanded slightly ventrad and leftward, ductus seminalis at apex.

Coastal D. poolei (Figs 1, 2) are uniform slightly bluish gray. Sierra Nevada populations (Figs 3, 4) are mottled whitish gray with contrasting dark markings. The barcodes of these populations are not significantly different. Specimens from the Sierra Nevada are excluded from the type series because of these differences.

The name honors Robert Poole for his work on the Noctuidae of North America. He laid the groundwork for the Dolocucullia and Plagiomimicus descriptions in this paper.

Dolocucullia poolei occurs near the Pacific Coast from southern California to the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington (Figure 48). It is most common in the California and Oregon Coast Ranges, with records as far inland as the Oregon Cascade Range. It is restricted to the immediate coast in Washington. An apparently disjunct population occurs in the Sierra Nevada, California.

Dolocucullia poolei occurs in a variety of habitats, including conifer forest, coastal chaparral, and dry mountain chaparral. It has a long flight season, from as early as March in southern California to as late as August in the Pacific Northwest. The Sierra Nevada population flies at high elevation near timberline during mid- to late summer. Dolocucullia poolei is unusual for a noctuid in that females are collected at lights as often as males. The early stages are unknown.

Draudt (in Seitz 1924) named Cucullia dentilinea form mexicanus Draudt, 1924 and Cucullia emungens Draudt, 1924. The type localities for both is “Mexico.” Form mexicanus describes specimens with “rusty yellow spots” found amongst more typical Mexican specimens of D. dentilinea that had been compared by Draudt to material from Arizona and Colorado. The Mexican Draudt types are destroyed according to Poole (1995). Illustrations of both taxa have been examined in Seitz (1924) to ensure that neither name applies to the species named D. poolei herein.

The barcode difference of 8 % between D. poolei and D. dentilinea is large for congeneric noctuids, and somewhat surprising given the similarity of the adult moths.

USA, Washington, Yakima County, Satus Creek.

Holotype, male. [USA], Washington, Yakima County, Satus Creek, 30 V [19]49, E. C. Johnston. CNC. Paratypes. 10 males, 3 females. USA: Washington: Kittitas County: Schnebly Coulee, 46.95°N, 120.09°W, 500 m, 2 VI 1990, L G Crabo leg (4 males, 2 females); same locality & collector, 3 VII 1990 (1 male); Schnebly Coulee, 46.955°, -120.095°, 500 m, 14 V 2010, L. G. Crabo leg.; Grant County: Wanapum Dam, 1.6 mi [2.6 km] N, 46.900°, -119.948°, 250 m, 14 V 2010, L. G. Crabo leg (1 m); Yakima County: Satus Creek, 30 V [19]49, E. C. Johnston, (2 m); same locality, date, & collector / Genitalia CNC slide # 17068 (1 m); same locality, date, & collector / Genitalia slide by P6 USNM 45.585 (1 f); same locality, date, & collector / Slide No. 10,789 (1 m). CNC, DLW, LGC.

The type series is restricted to Washington State.

Plagiomimicus yakama (Figs 11–13) is distinguished from the two other species in the P. tepperi species-group found in the United States in having an inconspicuous subapical spot, not darker than the adjacent medial area. Fresh P. tepperi (Figure 14) and P. mimica (not shown) are greener than P. yakama. Plagiomimicus incomitatus sp. n. (Figs 15, 16), only found in Mexico, has a dark smudged reniform stigma unlike the pale or absent stigma of P. yakama.

Figures 11–16. 

Plagiomimicus adults. 11 P. yakama yakama, holotype male, USA, Washington, Yakima County, Satus Creek 12 P. yakama mojave, holotype male, USA, Arizona, Mohave County, Hualapai Mountains, Wikieup 9.7 km W 13 P. yakama mojave, male, USA, Nevada, Clark County, Charleston Mountains, Kyle Canyon 14 P. tepperi, male, USA Arizona, Maricopa County, Cave Creek 15 P. incomitatus, holotype male, Mexico, Baja California Sur, Punta Colorada 11.3 km S 16 P. incomitatus, female, same locality as last specimen.

The ampullae of the male valve of P. yakama (Figs 17a, 18a) are nearly symmetrical, short and needlelike, arising perpendicular to the valve or at a slight angle. Those of P. tepperi (Figure 19a) and P. mimica (not shown) are longer, curved, and directed distad. Those of P. mimica are also asymmetrical. The female of P. yakama (Figure 21) has a longer and more strongly curved corpus bursae than P. tepperi (Figure 22).

The barcodes of P. yakama (BOLD:ACR9301) and P. tepperi (BOLD:AAF2198) differ by at least 1.63 %.

Nominate subspecies. Adults. Males and females similar in size and habitus. Head. Antenna filiform, ventral surface ciliate, dense (male), sparse (female); dorsal scales gray olive. Scape off-white. Eye round, bare. Frontal process sideways D-shaped, straight side ventrad, lateral and dorsal rims raised slightly, central process slightly caudal to “D” center, cone shaped, protruding slightly beyond edges; a transverse ridge caudal to process; frons and dorsal head scales short, tan off-white, palest near vertex. Labial palpus reaching dorsal eye, second segment long, third segment very short, scales short, light olive gray, darker than head. Haustellum normal. Thorax. Dorsum, including patagium and tegula, scales short, olive off-white; appearing uniform pale brownish olive gray similar to head and forewing base. Venter lighter. Legs: Pale olive gray; distal foretibia claw short, thornlike, tarsal segments equal length. Wings: Forewing: Length 11.5–12.5 mm; elongate with slightly pointed apex, lateral margin straight to CuA1, thence convex to posterior margin; scales mixed olive off-white, tan, and gray olive; base to antemedial line and basal postmedial area silver gray, distal postmedial area, terminal area, and subapical spot slightly darker gray, medial area dark olive gray; cubital vein basal to postmedial line slightly lighter; basal and medial lines absent; antemedial and postmedial lines white, wide, slightly indistinct; antemedial line oblique from mid-costa to inner third posterior margin, slightly convex; postmedial line from outer third costa to R5 angled strongly distad, bent basad acutely on R5 to cubital vein at end of cell, thence parallel to antemedial line to outer ⅓ of posterior margin; subterminal line pale gray, white adjacent to subapical spot, slightly sinuous; terminal line thin, slightly darker than terminal area or absent; subapical spot slightly lighter than medial area, elongate, caudal margin smoothly convex; fringe olive off-white, base slightly darker; claviform and orbicular stigmata absent; reniform stigma absent or few pale anterior and darker posterior scales. Hindwing: Dorsum uniform medium gray, postmedial area slightly lighter in some specimens; terminal line thin, slightly darker; fringe whitish, base pale olive gray. Abdomen. Male lacking basal modifications; scales pale fuscous. Male genitalia: Uncus short, thick, curved slightly, point short, covered by sparse short fine setae. Juxta shield shape, height = width. Valve length 2.4–2.7 × width, simple, outer margin convex, apex blunt, medial surface with sparse fine setae; cucullus unmodified, corona absent; sacculus ⅔ × valve length, 0.4 × width, basal process short, spike like, perpendicular to valve, mesial dorsum variable, smooth or with short broad triangular process; clasper base weak, origin near ventral margin; ampulla short, 0.14–0.18 × valve width, right slightly longer, thin, acute, nearly perpendicular to valve; digitus absent. Phallus cylindrical, straight, length 4 × width; vesica as long and slightly wider than phallus, straight beyond basal 120° bend, mesial and distal surface with large patch of similar-sized basally directed spike-like cornuti. Female genitalia: Papilla analis 2 × segment A8 length, width 0.33 × length, sclerotized, distal ⅓ tapered evenly to acute apex, setae short, sparse, membrane to segment A8 leathery; posterior apophysis 3.3 × segment A8 length; anterior apophysis 0.8 × posterior apophysis; ostium bursae sclerotized, cup shaped, slightly wider than ductus bursae; ductus bursae 0.8 × segment A8 length, sclerotized lightly; corpus bursae elongate, length 3.5 × width, posterior ⅓ sclerotized; anterior ⅔ membranous, lacking signa, constricted mesially to width of ductus bursae, anterior end bulbous, curved slightly rightward; appendix bursae short, truncate, moderately sclerotized, joined broadly to corpus bursae at junction with ductus bursae; ductus seminalis at ventral apex.

Figures 17–20. 

Plagiomimicus male genitalia. 17 P. y. yakama a valves b phallus with everted vesica 18 P. yakama mojave a valves b phallus with everted vesica 19 P. tepperi a valves b phallus with everted vesica 20 P. incomitatus a valves b phallus with everted vesica.

Populations of P. yakama are arranged in northern and southern subspecies, described below.

Barcodes samples of P. yakama exist for Washington (n = 2), Utah (n = 3), Nevada (n = 1), Arizona (n = 6), and California (n = 3). Washington samples differ from the others by 0.3 %.

The name refers to the Yakama people, the original human inhabitants of the type locality of this moth. It is a noun in apposition. The spelling of the Yakama Nation differs from the more familiar spellings of the city of Yakima and Yakima County, Washington.

Plagiomimicus yakama is found in two separate parts of the American West (Figure 49). The nominate subspecies occurs on the Columbia Plateau. Subspecies Plagiomimicus yakama mojave is found 1000 km farther south in the southern Great Basin and Mojave Desert.

This moth flies in dry desert habitats with exposed soil and rocks, favoring those with varied topography such as rim rock, coulees, and arroyos. Where known, the larva of P. yakama feeds on Brickellia species. The larva of subspecies P. y. mojave is described below.

Adults fly during spring, from April to June, in all parts of the range. Southern populations have at least a partial fall brood.

Figures 21–23. 

Plagiomimicus female genitalia 21 P. y. yakama, female 22 P. tepperi, female 23 P. incomitatus, female.

Syntypes of Schinia tepperi Morrison, 1875 at MSU and the holotype of its synonym Plagiomimicus richii Grote, 1886 at NHML, both described from “Texas”, match examined material of Plagiomimicus tepperi from Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern and central Arizona. When restricted to these populations P. tepperi is uniform in habitus and structure. Barcodes of P. tepperi from southeast Arizona (n = 6) and New Mexico (n = 1) differ by 0.3 %. Barcodes of topotypical Texas populations have not been sampled. The range of P. tepperi extends northwards to Colorado.

In naming P. yakama and restricting P. tepperi in the above sense, the species in the P. tepperi species-group become more uniform well defined entities. However, ongoing rearing and molecular work by DLW and David Wagner suggest that there could be additional unrecognized cryptic species.

Subspecies P. y. yakama (Figure 11) is darker and greener than P. y. mojave (Figs 12, 13), and the pale areas of the forewing are grayer. The postmedial line of the nominate subspecies is angled slightly basad on the cubital vein, straight or slightly convex in P. y. mojave. Other differences are described under P. y. mojave. No significant differences exist in the male or female genitalia. Barcodes of the two subspecies differ by 0.3 percent, similar to intraspecies variation in P. tepperi and less than interspecies differences in the species-group (1.5 to 2.6 %).

The nominate subspecies occurs in the Columbia Plateau ecoregion (Figure 49) and is the most northerly of all P. tepperi species-group taxa. All Pacific Northwest records are from close to the 120^th parallel, from Vantage, Washington to southern Wheeler County, Oregon.

Plagiomimicus y. yakama is single brooded and flies during late spring and early summer. Its early stages are unknown, but the most likely food plant in Washington is Brickellia oblongifolia Nutt. based on the presence of this plant near populations of the moth in Grant and Kittitas counties (pnwherbaria.org [accessed 23 January, 2018]).

USA, Arizona, Mohave County, Hualapai Mountains, 9.7 km west of Wikieup.

Holotype, male. USA, Arizona, Mohave County, 34°40.478'N, 113°41.934'W, Hualapai Mts., 6 mi [9.7 km] W of Wikieup, 10 IX 2013, leg. D. L. Wikle, to MV / DLWC 011176 / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00116215 / Barcodes of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted. CNC. Paratypes. 37 males, 6 females. USA: Arizona: Mohave County: Hualapai Mts, 6 mi [9.7 km] W Wikieup, 34°40.212'N, -113°42.299'W, elev 3590' [1094 m], 19 IV 2012, to B[lack] L[ight], D. L. Wikle leg. / DLWC011081 / [Crabo genitalia slide] 615 male / DNA CNCLEP 00116338 (1 m); same locality and collector as holotype, 9 V 2010 / DLWC011153 (1 m), DLWC011273 (1 m); same locality and collector, 5 IX 2012 / DLWC011018 (1 m), DLWC011039 / DNA CNCLEP 00116337 (1 m), DLWC011034 (1 m), DLWC011180 / DNA CNCLEP 00116336 (1 male), DLWC011187 (1 f), DLWC011262 (1 m), DLWC011298 (1 m), DLWC011342 (1 m), DLWC011350 (1 m), DLWC011377 (1 f); same locality and collector, 10 IX 2013 / DLWC 011126 (1 m), DLWC011291 / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00116216 / Barcodes of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted (1 f), DLWC011370 (1 m); Hualapai Mts, Wikieup 9 km WSW, 34.674°, -113.699°, 1060 m, 14 IV 2015, L. G. Crabo leg. / DNA CNCLEP 00116339 (1 m); Nevada: Clark County: Charleston Mts, Kyle Canyon, 26 IV 1950; E. C. Johnston (12 m), Genitalia Slide, By PG, USNM 45696 (1 m), Genitalia Slide, By PG, USNM 45697 (1 m); Spring Mts, Lucky Strike Canyon Rd., 36°18.061'N, -115°29.441'W, elev. 4885' [1489 m], RRCNCA #NV-052, to BL/MV, 21 IV 2013, leg. D. L. Wikle / DLWC011299 (1 f); same locality and collector, 12 V 2013 / DLWC011294 (1 f); Utah: Garfield County: Old Sheffield Rd off Hwy 12, 37°43.376'N, -111°26.266'W, elev. 6005' [1830 m], 5 V 2009, leg. D. L. Wikle / DLWC011035 / Specimen ID CNCLEP 00116214 / Barcodes of Life Project, Leg removed, DNA extracted (1 m), DLWC011099 (1 m), DLWC011118 (1 m), DLWC011123 (1 m), DLWC011243 (1 m), DLWC011246 (1 m), DLWC011264 (1 m), DLWC011347 (1 f); Spencer Flat Rd mi 1.7 [2.7 km] sta 1, 37°43.411'N, -111°26.273'W, elev. 6015' [1833 m], lt B[lack] L[ight], 11 V 2012, D. L. Wikle leg., GSENM Permit#UT-12-033-01-B / DLWC011201 / [Crabo genitalia slide] 616 male / DNA CNCLEP00116333 (1 m); Wolverine Loop “draw,” 37°49.924'N, -111°6.535'W, elev. 6440' [1963 m], GSENM #UT-12-033-01-B, leg. Opler + Wikle (1 m). CNC, DLW, LGC.

The type series is restricted to Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Subspecies P. y. mojave (Figs 12, 13) is pale olivaceous ochre tan, appearing paler, yellower, and more “washed-out” than the nominate subspecies. Dark areas of the forewing are tan rather than olive, less contrasting than in P. y. yakama (Figure 11), and the subapical spot is vaguely darker than the adjacent wing if visible at all. Most specimens lack angulation of the postmedial line on the cubital vein resulting in a wider medial area than in P. y. yakama. The antemedial and postmedial lines of darker specimens are two toned, tan on the medial-area side, whereas those of P. y. yakama are pale. The forewing apex tends to be most pointed in this subspecies. No significant genitalia structural differences are evident between the subspecies.

Plagiomimicus y. mojave is most likely to be confused with P. tepperi (Figure 14), the western range of which approaches to within 135 km of P. y. mojave in northwestern Arizona. In addition to structural characters noted in the P. yakama description Plagiomimicus tepperi is distinguished by slightly falcate forewing apex and a dark shade preceding the subterminal line. Differences between P. y. mojave and P. incomitatus (Figs 15, 16) are described under the latter species, though it is unlikely that these moths occur together.

Adult. Males and females similar in size and habitus. Head. Structure and vestiture similar to P. y. yakama, paler. Thorax. Dorsum pale yellow tan. Wings: Forewing: Length 11.0–14.5 mm; apex more pointed than in P. y. yakama; scales pale yellow and light tan; uniform pale yellowish tan outside medial area, subterminal area and subapical spot slightly darker in some specimens; medial area darker olivaceous yellow-tan, usually slightly darker on posterior ½; cubital vein slightly lighter basal to postmedial line in some specimens; basal and medial lines absent; antemedial and postmedial lines off-white, bordered by tan in medial area in dark specimens; antemedial line oblique from mid-costa to inner ⅓ of posterior margin, straight; postmedial line similar to nominate subspecies, but slightly convex near cell; subterminal line pale off-white, only visible in dark specimens; terminal line thin, tan, evident on anterior ½; subapical spot indistinct or absent, lighter than medial area when present; fringe same as terminal area; stigmata typically absent, reniform stigma occasionally a bar of few pale scales. Hindwing: Uniform pale yellowish gray, slightly darker on basal ½; fringe off-white. Abdomen. Paler than for P. y. yakama. Male genitalia and female genitalia: as for P. y. yakama.

The name refers to the distribution of this moth in and near the Mojave Desert. It is a noun in apposition.

This subspecies occurs in the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin (Figure 49), 1000 km south of nominate P. yakama. Specimens have been examined from Garfield and Kane counties of southern Utah, Clark County of southern Nevada, Mohave County in northwestern Arizona, and east of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California. The identity of a few populations of superficially similar moths from west of the Coachella Valley remain uncertain. California specimens are therefore excluded from the type series. The apparent large separation of the ranges of the two P. yakama subspecies could potentially be an artifact related to limited collection in the Great Basin during the spring flight period of this species.

Larvae of P. y. mojave (Fig. 24a, b) have been collected and reared to adults by DLW on Brickellia atractyloides A. Gray in the Hualapai Mountains of Arizona and Brickellia oblongifolia in Nevada. The following description is modified from a work on the larvae of western North American moths (DL Wagner, unpublished):

Ova are placed deep inside the discoid flower heads and the early instars are internal feeders on flowers as they are going to seed. Molting occurs inside the flower head and, as the larvae progress, frass is present externally on some flowers. Larvae leave the flowers as they become spoiled, and later instars rest on stems and seed heads and feed externally on multiple flowers. The early instars are pale with red spotting and a pale supraspiracular stripe.

Penultimate instars (Figure 24a) are similar, but the ground color is green. Red spotting is reduced, remaining most prominent on the thoracic segments. The supraspiracular stripe is better developed.

The last instar is greenish red with well-defined pale mid-dorsal, subdorsal, and lateral stripes. Minute red spots develop diffusely over the course of this stage such that the larva changes from green similar to the penultimate larva initially, to more or less pink through the second half of the instar (Figure 24b). The subdorsal stripe is twice as thick as the mid-dorsal stripe. A faint diffuse supraspiracular stripe extends A1–A8. The lateral (spiracular) stripe begins at A1 and continues to the base of the A10 proleg. The spiracles are black. The primary setae are not borne from white pinacula as in other members of the P. tepperi species-group.

The larvae of P. y. mojave are similar to those of P. mimica, which feeds exclusively on Brickellia californica (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray throughout its range. Its larva differs from P. y. mojave in that the lateral stripe is often cream or yellow rather than white, the subdorsal stripe is well developed, the mid-dorsal stripe is thin, and the larva is thickened through the thoracic segments.

Plagiomimicus y. mojave is at least partially double brooded, flying in late spring and again in early fall in areas where food plants flower in the spring and fall.

Figure 24. 

Plagiomimicus yakama mojave, late instars feeding on flowerheads of Brickellia atractyloides (USA, Arizona, Mohave County, Hualapai Mountains) a penultimate instar b last instar.

Mexico, Baja California Sur, 11.3 km south of Punta Colorada.

Holotype, male. Mexico, Baja Ca Norte [sic] [Baja California Sur], 7 miles [11.3 km] south of Punta Colorada, (arroyo), 23–30 XII, 1987, N. Bloomfield / USNM [genitalia slide] 46113. SDMC. Paratypes. 6 m, 3 f. Mexico: Baja California Sur: same locality, date, & collector as holotype (5 m 1 f); Same data, [genitalia slide] TM#465 (1 m); same data, [genitalia slide] USNM 46114 (1 f); Punta Colorada, 22 XII 1987, N. Bloomfield (1 f). CNC, SDMC, TM, USNM.

Plagiomimicus incomitatus (Figs 15, 16) can be recognized by the combination of small size (FW length 11–13 mm), pale yellow tan color, undulating brown forewing transverse lines, and S-shaped forewing outer margin with pointed apex. It is the only species in the P. tepperi species-group that has a large indistinct dark reniform stigma. Males (Figure 20) have short peg-like ampullae similar to those of P. yakama, but these are thicker in P. incomitatus. Females of P. incomitatus (Figure 23) are distinguished by having a long corpus bursae with a strong bend, but are best identified by forewing shape and maculation.

Plagiomimicus incomitatus has not been barcoded.

Adult. Males and females similar in habitus. Head. Antenna simple, venter finely setose, dorsal scales ochre. Scape pale ochre, ventral tuft short. Eye normal. Labial palpus reaching top of eye; first 2 segments long, short distal segment angled 45° rostrad; scales ochre. Haustellum normal. Frons scales tan; frontal process similar to P. yakama, central cone slightly longer. Dorsal head scales ochre. Thorax. Dorsal scales flat, bases moderately narrow, edges finely toothed, ochre, many with tan tips; patagium scales similar, slightly darker; tegula scales similar, many tan gray distally; entire dorsal thorax appearing similar to dorsal forewing; venter scales hair-like, ochre off-white. Legs: Foretibia apical spine short, thin; tarsal segments except apical segment with three regular rows of spiniform setae; scales tan. Wings: Forewing: length 11.0–12.5 mm (male), 12.0–13.0 mm (female); length 1.65 × maximum width. Apex acute, outer margin S-shaped, concave opposite cell, convex M3–CuA2. Dorsum: Scales mixed light to dark ochre and gray tan; appearing golden tan with dark dusting on costa, along veins (particularly Cu), and posterolateral medial, subterminal, and terminal areas (darkest in females), a gray-brown band in distal terminal area at concave margin; subapical spot tan, faint; basal and medial lines absent; antemedial and postmedial lines brown and cream, dark component bordering medial area; antemedial line smoothly undulating, convex at cell and fold, concave on mid-wing, angled slightly basad from costa to posterior margin; postmedial line adjacent to subapical spot pale, strongly angled distad, bent acutely basad at posterior subapical spot, thence smoothly S-shaped to posterior margin, convex from subapical spot to Cu, concave thence to posterior margin; subterminal line cream, evident mostly due to dark adjacent scales, evident adjacent to subapical patch and from M2 to posterior margin, latter segment S-shaped, parallel to postmedial line; terminal line, orbicular and claviform stigmata absent; fringe medium grayish tan, base ochre; reniform stigma brown, oval, diffuse. Hindwing: Lateral margin opposite cell weakly concave; ground color paler than forewing, whitish, dusted heavily with grayish tan scales (especially in females), darkest medial to postmedial line and near margin; discal spot diffuse, pale gray, elongate, C-shaped; postmedial line diffuse, light brown gray, anterior ⅓ perpendicular to costal margin, posterior segment perpendicular to medial margin, touching posterior discal spot; terminal line brown gray, darkest at concave margin; fringe gray off-white. Abdomen. scales flat, dorsum ochre tan, venter lighter. Male genitalia: Uncus arced, base thick, width 0.33 × length, tapered from mid-section to thin acute point. Juxta broad shield shape, height 0.67 × width. Valve flaplike, ovate, length 2.5 × width, cucullus unmodified, pointed bluntly, corona absent; sacculus 0.67 × valve length and 0.4 × width, basal process, short, triangular, median sacculus with dorsal obtuse triangular projection, shorter (1 specimen) or similar length (1 specimen) to basal process; ampulla of clasper short, 0.11 × valve width, right slightly longer and stouter than left (1 specimen) or much stouter than left (1 specimen), origin near ventral valve at end of sacculus, oriented 45° dorsad and distad to valve. Phallus tubular, length 4.5 × width; vesica length 0.7 × phallus length, width 1.5 × phallus width, bent 90° at base, bearing single median patch of numerous stout spine-like cornuti directed basad, basal cornuti absent. Female genitalia: Papilla analis conical, apex acute. Segment A8 length 1.2 × width. Posterior apophysis length 1.5 × segment A8; posterior apophysis 0.5 × anterior apophysis. Ductus bursae short, length 0.4 × segment A8, expanded slightly anterior to slight constriction at posterior origin; ostium bursae broad, funnel shaped. Corpus bursae elongate, length 2.8 × segment A8, slender, width 0.2 × length, anterior segment widest distal to 60° bend; appendix bursae extended posterior from broad junction to corpus bursae at junction with ductus, moderately sclerotized; ductus seminalis at ventral apex.

Incomitatus is Latin, meaning “unaccompanied” or “alone.” It refers both to the single known locality for this species as well as the solitude of its collector, Norris Bloomfield, during long collecting trips on behalf of SDMC in Baja California in the late 1980s.

Plagiomimicus incomitatus is only known from the type locality near the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Mexico (Figure 49). The habitat is a dry arroyo in Baja desert. All specimens were collected with black light in late December. The early stages are unknown.

Plagiomimicus incomitatus is classified in the P. tepperi species-group based the lack of the corona and basal patch of cornuti in the male genitalia. It resembles the other species in the group.

The moth fauna of the Baja Peninsula is poorly known, especially compared with that of adjacent southern California. Of what is known, much is due to Norris Bloomfield who made several collecting trips to the area during the 1980s on behalf of the San Diego Natural History Museum. Although the majority of the Noctuoidea collected by him also occur in southern California, he also encountered many species that are only known from southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas, as well as some not known from the United States. Plagiomimicus incomitatus is one of the latter species, currently only known from the type locality. The apparent rarity of this moth might be due the lack of collecting in this region as well as its late December flight period.

USA, Arizona, Cochise County, 31°55.07'N, 109°16.54'W, 2530 m.

Holotype, male. [USA], Arizona, Cochise County, 31°55.07'N, 109°16.54'W, 8300' [2530 m], 18 VIII 2009, C. D. Ferris leg. / Database # CNCLEP 00080368 / Barcodes of LIFE Project Leg removed DNA extracted. CNC. Paratypes. 2 males, 3 females. USA: Arizona: Cochise County: Same data as holotype / Database # CNCLEP 00080369 / Barcodes of LIFE Project Leg removed DNA extracted. (1 m); Graham County: Pinaleno Mountains, Grant Creek, 8,800 ft (2682 m), 12 VII 2005, B. Walsh leg., UV light trap, Mountain stream (1 f); New Mexico: [Colfax County]: Sangre de Cristo Mts., Cimarron Canyon, 7900' [2408 m], 9 VII 1962, E. & I. Munroe / CNC / Genitalia slide By RS USNM 43,457 (1 m); same locality & collectors, 10 VII 1962 / Genitalia slide By RS USNM 43,458; Otero County: High Rolls, Karr Canyon, 32.898°, -105.813°, 2400 m, 9 VI 2016, L. G. Crabo leg. (1 f). CNC, LGC, TM.

Sympistis ferrirena (Figs 25, 26) resembles S. dunbari (Figure 27) and S. definita (Figure 28). Sympistis definita occurs predominantly in the Great Basin and Colorado but has been collected with S. ferrirena in Arizona. Sympistis dunbari occurs west of S. ferrirena near the West Coast. Sympistis ferrirena is slightly larger (forewing length greater than 14 mm in S. ferrirena, less in the other two species) and can be distinguished by its smooth thick black transverse lines and large reniform stigma with brick-red filling. The antemedial and postmedial lines of S. ferrirena are straight or curved smoothly from the cubital vein to the posterior margin and lack an outer black component. The corresponding lines of S. dunbari and S. definita are toothed on the veins and double with two black components. The reniform stigmata of these species are smaller and contain fewer reddish scales than that of S. ferrirena.

Figures 25–28. 

Sympistis adults. 25 S. ferrirena, holotype male, USA, Arizona, Cochise County, 31°55.07'N, -109°16.54'W26 S. ferrirena, female, USA, New Mexico, High Rolls, Karr Canyon 27 S. dunbari, female, USA, Washington, Whatcom County, W slope Chuckanut Mountain above Chuckanut Bay 28 S. definita, female, USA, Oregon, Harney County, Catlow Rim.

The male genitalia of S. ferrirena (Figure 29) and S. definita (Figure 30) are similar. The distal valve of S. ferrirena tapers more than that of S. definita. The sacculus of S. ferrirena is narrower relative to valve length: 0.10 × compared to 0.16 × for S. definita. The anterior (concave surface) cornuti on the vesica of S. ferrirena are longer and much stouter than those of the posterior patch; this distinction is less dramatic in S. definita.

The female corpus bursae and appendix bursae of S. ferrirena (Figure 31) are similar in size and shape. In S. dunbari and S. definita the appendix bursae is smaller and more curved than in S. ferrirena.

The DNA barcode of S. ferrirena (BOLD:AAU2696; n = 3) differs from those of S. dunbari (BOLD:AAE1138) and S. definita (BOLD:AAE5103) by at least 4.0 %.

Figures 29–31. 

Sympistis genitalia. 29 S. ferrirena, male a valves b phallus with everted vesica 30 S. definita, male a valves b phallus with everted vesica 31 S. ferrirena, female.

Adults. Males and females similar in size and habitus. Head. Antenna filiform, venter densely pubescent, segments with single short anterior and posterior seta, dorsal scales sparse, gray. Scape untufted, scales even length, black or white. Eye normal, adjacent scales except near palpus long, lashlike, dark gray. Labial palpus scales mixed black and gray; flat laterally, long hair-like anteriorly; third segment length 0.3 × second segment, scales very short. Haustellum normal. Frons flat, scales short, mixed gray and off-white. Dorsal head scales narrow, bifurcate, mixed gray, white, and white tipped black; weak paramedian tufts anterior and dorsal to antenna. Thorax. Patagium scales mixed black, white, and white tipped light gray, truncate, fine toothed; dorsum appearing medium gray with black and light gray transverse stripes; tegula and dorsum scales mixed black- and white-tipped medium gray strap-like and black hair-like; appearing hoary with black-edged tegula and black weak metathoracic median tuft. Ventral thorax lighter gray, scales hairlike. Legs: Distal foretibia with claw-like seta over basitarsus; mid- and hindtibia lacking stout setae; scales spatulate, mixed gray, black, and white. Tarsal segments except distal segment with three rows of ventral spiniform setae, scales mixed black and gray, distal ring irregular, white. Wings: Forewing: Length 14.0–15.5 mm; length 2.0–2.1 × width, apex not pointed strongly, outer margin scalloped weakly, nearly straight from apex to CuA2, then curved slightly to trailing margin; dorsal scales mixed white, medium gray, dark gray, black, and dark umber, appearing hoary; basal line black, thin except tooth distad on R, curved to end at wing base on Cu; antemedial line light gray inner, thick black outer components, gull wing shape, apex basad on Cu; medial line black, thick, blurred, angled distad from mid-costa to orbicular and reniform stigmata; postmedial line components black inner, thinner than antemedial and medial lines, pale gray outer, costal origin near medial line, quadrate distad around reniform stigma, crossing posterior stigma, bent sharply caudad medial stigma to margin near medial line; postmedial line whitish gray irregular chevrons, preceded by long, thin dark, gray, intervenal wedges; terminal area diffuse black spots near costa and CuA2; terminal line black, thickest between veins; fringe scales mixed white and pale base dark gray; stigmata black lined with pale gray; claviform stigma reduced to curved black tip; orbicular stigma oval, moderately large, filling whitish gray, center slightly darker; reniform stigma ovoid, moderately large, weakly kidney shaped, thickest medially, filling diffuse, rust red. Hindwing: Outer margin straight from Rs to bend between M3 and CuA1, thence straight to anal angle; dorsum whitish gray, slightly opalescent, margin suffused medium gray; veins, discal spot, terminal line darker gray; fringe white, base striped yellow and gray. Abdomen. Scales flat, hair-like, medium gray; no tufts. Male with hair-like coremata from rugose patch at end of sclerotized band in membrane lateral to sternite A1. Male genitalia: Tegumen widest lateral to uncus base. Uncus thin, cross-section triangular, arced, tip acute. Juxta triangular, apex notched at phallus base, height 1 × width. Valve straplike, widest mesially, tapered slightly to both ends, length 3.6 × width, cucullus convex, lacking “neck,” corona of ~ 20 claw-like setae; sacculus 0.5 × length, 0.36 × width of valve, width nearly even except slight broadening at base and dorsal notch near clasper ampulla; clasper base weak, ampulla origin at mid-valve near ventral margin, directed dorsad and 45° distad, length 0.7 × valve width, straight, clubbed with rounded apex bearing cluster of small setae and thorn-like extension from lateral side; digitus absent. Phallus tubular, length 4.2 × width. Vesica 0.8 × phallus length, straight beyond basal 135° ventral bend; bearing stout apical cornutus 0.25 × phallus length, long broad band from dorsal distal phallus to posteroventral apex of innumerable cornuti, lengthening gradually from short, spike-like at base to quill-like distally, slightly smaller patch on rostrodorsal mid- to distal vesica of fewer, ~ 40, longer, stouter cornuti in parallel rows, and an apical tuft of thinner similar-length cornuti. Female genitalia: Papilla analis blunt tipped, trapezoidal, length 1 × basal width, covered moderately densely with fine hair-like setae, densest apically, longest basally; subapical “corona” loose double row of uneven stout, blunt spike-like setae curved slightly away from midline, longest 6 × as long as wide. Segment A8 width 1.5 × length, sparse very fine hair-like setae densest and longest at posterior and inferomedial margins. Posterior apophysis length 3.5 × segment A8; anterior apophysis length 0.7 × posterior apophysis. Ductus bursae length 2.5 × segment A8 length; ostium bursae width 0.67 × segment A8 width, ventral margin sclerotized lightly; posterior ⅓ ductus bursae triangular, tapered anteriorly, anterior segment membranous, tubular. Corpus bursae bisaccate, U-shaped, length 5 × segment A8 length, main part midline, posterior ⅓ tubular with broad attachment to appendix bursae on right, anterior ovate, length 2 × width; appendix bursae length 0.6 ×, width 1 × corpus bursae, elongate, ovate, base perpendicular to corpus bursae, distal ⅓ bent 90° ventrad, ductus seminalis slightly proximal to posterior apex.

The name is from the Latin ferrum, meaning iron, and renis, meaning kidney. It refers to the prominent rust-red filling of the reniform stigma of this moth.

Sympistis ferrirena occurs in Arizona and New Mexico (Figure 48). It has been collected at middle to high elevations within a limited range between 2400 and 2700 meters. The habitat is mixed forest.

The flight period of adults is from June to July. Like most temperate species in the genus, it is nocturnal and comes to light. The early stages are unknown.