We examined the illustration of the type and the male and female genitalia of Hippia mumetes (Cramer, [1775]), the type species of Hippia Möschler (1878). Those examinations show that the North American species, placed in Hippia, are not congeneric with Hippia mumetes.

We examined the illustration of the type of Elasmia lignosa Möschler, 1886, the type species of Elasmia. The North American species, previously placed in Hippia, are determined to be congeneric with Elasmia

The adult and genitalia of Elasmia insularis were illustrated in Torre and Alayo (1959). We examined male specimens, and their genitalia, of Elasmia insularis from Cuba. Elasmia insularis is not known to occur in Florida (Heppner 2003), and it is doubtful that it occurs in the U.S. Inclusion of Elasmia insularis in Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) was based on erroneous reports from Texas (Knudson and Bordelon 1999).

Overall color light gray blue to gray with obscure transverse forewing markings, sometimes showing slight brownish shadings over reniform spot and in postmedial and subterminal areas. Males and females similar in appearance; male antenna narrowly bipectinate in basal ¾, with dense setae on ventral surface. Female antenna filiform for entire length, with sparse setae. Apex of forewing marked with a diagonal white and dark shade. Forewing length in males 12–15 mm (mean = 14 mm, n = 72), and in females 13–16 mm (mean = 14 mm, n = 25). Male genitalia (Figs 11–13) distinguished by a helmet-shaped uncus with gradually widening sides. Female genitalia (Fig. 20) with membranous papilla anales partially hidden from view. Ductus bursae broad and short, dorso-ventrally compressed; corpus bursae, round in profile, with a single shark tooth-shaped signum, also with a heavily sclerotized, perpendicular, thumb-like projection ventrally and a sclerotized finger-like pocket appressed to corpus bursae dorsally. Deciduous cornuti from male vesica may be found in corpus bursae.

Morrison (1875) described Elasmia packardii from Waco, Bosque County, Texas (Fig. 2) based on a single female specimen (Fig. 1). Adults are on the wing from April through early October.

Elasmia packardii occurs in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas (Fig. 26); it is common at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Its distribution in Mexico is unknown. The larvae feed on Ungnadia speciosa Endl. (Mexican buckeye) (R.O. Kendall specimens in TAM) and Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (Hook. & Arn.) L. Benson (soapberry tree) (both Sapindaceae) (R.O. Kendall specimens in AMNH and TAM).

Holotype male: “USA: NM: Eddy Co. Carlsbad Caverns N[ational] P[ark], riparian habitat, 32°06.566' N 104°28.257' W, 29 August 2006, Eric H. Metzler, CCNP4, uv trp Accsn #: CAVE - 02263", “HOLOTYPE USNM Elasmia cave Metzler” [red handwritten label] (USNM). Paratypes: 19 males; 14 females: NEW MEXICO: USA: NM: Eddy Co. Carlsbad Caverns NP, arroyo habitat 32°05.98'N 104°33.57'W, 5 September 2010, Eric H. Metzler, CCNP2 uv trp Accssn #: CAVE - 02263. TEXAS: Alpine, Tex., 1–7 May 1926, 8–14 May 1926, 1–7 July 1926, 8–14 July 1926, 15–21 July 1926, 1–7 Aug. 1926, 15–21 Aug. 1926, O.C. Poling, Coll[ector]. Barnes Collection (USNM), Texas, Uvalde Co. Concan, 12-V-90, leg. E.C. Knudson. 14-X-93, Concan, Uvalde Co., TX, Coll C. Bordelon. TX: Brewster Co., Big Bend N.P., Green Gulch/5400' 5–7-V-97/ECK. Big Bend, Tex. Brewster Co., 6–7000 ft., Poling, F. Johnson donor, 8-1-26. USA: Texas: Jeff Davis Co. Davis Mountains, Limpia Canyon, elev: 4920', 30°30.0'N 103°52.5'W, 8 August 1991, Eric H. Metzler. TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co., 25-VI-81, Davis Mt. St. Pk., Jeff Davis Co. TX: Ft. Davis, 3-x-94, leg. E. Knudson. 24 Aug 1995. Jeff Davis Co. Texas, 5-V-78, Kokernaut Creek, leg. E.C. Knudson. Jeff Davis Co., TX, Ft. Davis, 10, 11-IX-10 Bordelon & Knudson coll. Jeff Davis Co., TX, Ft. Davis, 24–26-V-07 Bordelon & Knudson coll. TX: Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. N.P., Lamar Cyn., Coll. C. Bordelon. TEXAS: Culberson Co., Guadalupe Mts. N.P., Pine Spring, 6–8-IX-91, leg. E.C. Knudson. Green Gulch 5400' Big Bend Natl. Park Brewster Co., Texas 4 May 1972 J. G. Franclemont ♂ Genitalia slide 6419 J. G. Franclemont. Alpine, Brewster Co. Texas 15–21 Aug. 1926 O.C. Poling ♂ Genitalia slide 2535 J. G. Franclemont. (EHM, MSU, CUC, TLSRC, USNM).

CAVE is the acronym, used by the U.S. National Park Service, for Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The specific name of this species, cave, treated as a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality, Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Elasmia cave is a dark brown-gray moth with obscure transverse markings. Elasmia cave looks like brown example of Elasmia mandela; Elasmia mandela is dark gray brown. The brown color of the imago and its genitalia will separate Elasmia cave from Elasmia packardii, whichis gray blue to gray. The uncus of Elasmia packardii (Fig. 11), narrow at its apex, gradually widens with evenly curved sides. The uncus of Elasmia cave (Fig. 14) is wide, like a manta ray, and narrows immediately before the apex. The distal end of the costulae of Elasmia insularis, n=3, are narrow, straight or slightly sinuous, and without bend or swelling apically (illustrated by Torre and Alayo 1959); the costulae of Elasmia mandela, n=3, are nearly identical to Elasmia insularis. In comparison to Elasmia insularis and Elasmia mandela, the costulae of Elasmia cave (Fig. 15) are broader, and they are abruptly bent upward and swollen at the distal end.

Adult male (Fig. 5): Head: smoky gray, scales strap-like, erect, a fuscous line between eyes below antennae. Labial palpus erect, extending upward to slightly beyond base of antenna, smoky brown gray with a fuscous lateral stripe, extends to slightly beyond base of antenna, ventral scales on 1st and 2nd segments long, not shaggy, 3rd segment closely scaled. Haustellum coiled between labial palpi. Antenna narrowly bipectinate for basal 3/4, each ramus tipped with long setae, apical 1/4 ciliate with short setae, dorsal surface alternating fuscous and smoky, closely scaled, ventral surface naked, brown. Thorax: collar black, sometimes preceded by brown, dorsum smoky brown gray, longitudinal narrow black lines anteriorly, posteriorly, and laterally, tegula smoky brown gray, scales strap-like; underside smoky dark gray brown, laterally smoky, scales erect long hair-like or narrowly forked. Legs: dark smoky gray brown, closely scaled, except lateral margin with shaggy scales, tarsomere apex yellow. Forewing: length 14–18 mm, mean 16 mm, n = 16; dorsal surface ground color smoky gray brown, sometimes slightly hoary; antemedial line obscure, pale basally, black mesally, sinuous; postmedial line vague, sinuous, black basally outer element pale; subterminal line a series of fuscous bars; terminal line narrow, black; orbicular spot absent or vaguely pale; reniform spot inconspicuous, dark with pale outline; costa brown except white shade at apex; subreniform spot fuscous, contrasting; dark line from apex running obliquely toward reniform spot; fringe smoky gray. Ventral surface: smoky dark gray black, apical markings similar to dorsal surface, fringe concolorous. Hindwing dorsal surface: dark smoky gray, slightly paler basally, markings absent, fringe pale smoky. Ventral surface: apex to tornus dark smoky gray, tornus pale gray along inner margin, base pale gray, markings absent, fringe pale gray. Abdomen: dorsum smoky gray, with fuscous tufts on first and second segments, elsewhere closely scaled, underside pale smoky gray. Genitalia (Fig. 14): Uncus broad, flattened, setose, apex bluntly pointed, dorsally with narrow ridge, ventrally with two short cornutus-like spines; socii broad, setose, bent at approximately 90°, with one ear-like dorsal projection; tegumen flattened; saccus short, broadly U-shaped; juxta shield shaped, dorsal margin a half circular cutout; diaphragma bearing two sclerotized processes (costulae) near bases of valvae costa, bent at 90°, bent and swollen club-like apically (Fig. 15), valve setose, dorsally sclerotized, ventrally membranous, Barth’s Organ large, with many chevron-shaped parallel pleats, cucullus not well differentiated, with three narrow, curved ridges, corona with weak, mesally-directed curved setae. Aedeagus (Fig. 16) straight, anterior end abruptly flared out, posteriorly flattened, spoon-shaped; vesica lightly sclerotized, subbasal diverticulum with a nipple-shaped cornutus; a patch of deciduous (may be dislodged during mating) stellate (like a starfish) spicule-shaped cornuti; basal diverticula lightly sclerotized, with two finger-like subbasal diverticulae.

Adult female (Fig. 6). Similar to male except; antenna filiform, without long setae, top of head yellow to orange, collar to disc of thorax yellow to orange. Forewing length 15–18 mm, mean 17 mm, n = 11. Genitalia (Fig. 21). Papilla anales membranous, setose, partially hidden from view between sclerotized extensions of ninth abdominal segment. Posterior apophyses slender. Anterior apophyses slender. Ductus bursae short, broad. Corpus bursae round, with a single shark tooth-shaped signum; sclerotized ventral wall forming a thumb-like extension with bulbous terminus; sclerotized dorsal wall with a pock-marked, finger-like extension appressed to surface of corpus bursae.

Elasmia cave was mistakenly identified in the U.S. as Elasmia insularis. The costulae of the male genitalia, figured in (Torre and Alayo 1959) from Cuba and noted in the diagnosis, separate the species. Elasmia cave is placed in the genus Elasmia Möschler, 1886, because the imago is closely similar to Elasmia lignosa, and the male genitalia are closely similar to those of Elasmia mandela.

Elasmia cave occurs in the U.S. in New Mexico and Texas; its distribution in Mexico is not known. Three specimens were collected in riparian habitats in Texas and New Mexico. Two specimens from Alpine, Texas and one from Big Bend, Texas, leg. Poling, have additional handwritten labels that say “Buckeye” or “bred Buckeye” respectively. The type locality was selected because it will be protected by the U.S. National Park Service into perpetuity.

Overall color dark gray brown with obscure transverse forewing markings. Males and females similar in appearance. Male antenna narrowly bipectinate in basal ¾, with dense setae on ventral surface. Female antenna filiform for entire length, with sparse setae. Apex of forewing with a diagonal white mark. Reniform spot outlined with pale-orange scales, not contrasting. Forewing length in males 17.0–18.0 mm (mean = 17.2 mm, n = 5), and in females 18.0–20.0 mm (mean = 19.3 mm, n = 7). Male genitalia distinguished by uncus with abruptly widening sides, like a manta ray, and robust saccular area (Barth’s Organ). Female genitalia with membranous papilla anales that are partially hidden from view. Ductus bursae broad and short, dorso-ventrally compressed; corpus bursae round in profile, with a single shark tooth shaped signum, also with a heavily-sclerotized, perpendicular, thumb-like projection ventrally and a sclerotized finger-like pocket appressed to corpus bursae dorsally.

Druce (1887) described Elasmia mandela from Presidio, Mexico, based on a single female specimen. We examined a photograph of the type and it’s genitalia. We also examined specimens from Vera Cruz and Yucatan, Mexico (AMNH), and from Costa Rica (JBS).

Elasmia mandela occurs in Mexico and Costa Rica. Its distribution in other Central American countries is unknown. The larval hosts in Costa Rica are one species of Rhamnaceae and 22 species of Sapindaceae (Janzen and Hallwachs 2009).

Holotype male: “Hidalgo Co. Texas 31-X-83 Santa Ana Refuge leg. E.C. Knudson” “HOLOTYPE USNM Elasmia mandela santaana Metzler & Knudson” [red handwritten label] (USNM). Paratypes: 13 males; 10 females: TEXAS: Harris Co: TX. Houston, Leg. E.C. Knudson, 9-VIII-75. Hidalgo Co. TX. Santa Ana NWR, 6-IX-92, leg. E.C. Knudson. Texas: Uvalde Co. Concan, 15-V-10, B/K. Tarrant Co. Texas Benbrook, 30-IV-78, leg. E.C. Knudson. Terrel Co. Tex. Sanderson, 25-IV-81, leg. E.C. Knudson. Kerrville. Texas, Barnes Collection. Kerrville, Texas. VIII 1904. Kerrville, TX. H. Lacy Collector. Kerrville, 4-23-08, TX. F.C. Pratt Collector. Texas, San Patricio Co. Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, Texas, 14-16-VI-85, leg. E.C. Knudson. Hidalgo Co., TX, Bentsen State Park, 6-VIII-94, E. Knudson coll. Montgomery Co. Tex. Sawdust Rd. & I.S. 45, leg. E.C. Knudson, 20-VI-75. Brownsville, Tex III-10-29, F.H. Benjamin collr, Barnes Collection. Alpine, TX. 8–14 May, 8–14 July, 15–21 Aug. 1926, O.C. Poling, Coll[ector]. TEXAS: Smith Cany., Guadalupe Mountains, Culberson Co., 5750’ May 22, 1973, Douglas C. Ferguson. OK: Caddo Co. Methodist Youth Camp 1 October 1994 J.M. Nelson Coll. OK: Tulsa Co. Sand Springs 145th & W. 19th St. Aug 27 - Sept 1, 2008 J.F. Fisher, Collr. at black light. OK: Tulsa Co. Sand Springs 145th & W. 19th St. September 12, 2008 J.F. Fisher, Collr. at black light. (TLSRC, ORU, USNM).

The name of this subspecies, santaana, refers to its type locality, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Elasmia mandela santaana is gray overall. The adult resembles a large example of Elasmia packardii; Elasmia mandela santaana has a contrasting dark scale patch in the reniform/subreniform area. Elasmia mandela santaana (mean forewing length = 16 mm) is larger than Elasmia packardii (mean forewing length = 14 mm) and Elasmia mandela santaana’s Barth’s Organ is relatively larger. The lateral margin of the uncus in Elasmia packardii has a slight shoulder immediately below the apex, whereas in Elasmia mandela santaana the lateral margin of the uncus is flared outward. Elasmia mandela santaana is a gray moth, and Elasmia cave is a brown moth. The male and female genitalia of Elasmia mandela santaana are similar to those of Elasmia cave. The costulae of Elasmia cave are abruptly bent and swollen apically (Fig. 15); the costulae of Elasmia mandela santaana may be slightly swollen but not bent apically (Fig. 18).

Adult male (Fig. 9): Head: smoky gray, scales strap-like, erect, a vague fuscous shade between eyes below antennae, a vague fuscous shade behind antennae. Labial palpus erect, extending to base of antenna, smoky brown gray with two dark-brown lateral lines, ventral scales on 1st and 2nd segments long, not shaggy, 3rd segment closely scaled. Haustellum coiled between labial palpi. Antenna narrowly bipectinate for basal 3/4, each ramus tipped with long setae, apical 1/4 ciliate, with short setae, dorsal surface smoky, closely scaled, ventral surface naked. Thorax: pale brown behind head; collar narrow, black, dorsum smoky with blackish brown-tipped scales on disc; tegula pale smoky, edged with black scales, scales strap-like; underside dark smoky gray with pale-tipped scales, smoky laterally, hair-like. Legs: smoky dark gray brown, closely scaled, each segment and each tarsomere apex ringed with pale. Forewing: length 15–17 mm, mean 16 mm, n = 7. Dorsal surface ground color smoky gray; basal line pale at costa, finely lined with black; antemedial line pale, sinuous, finely lined with black; postmedial line sinuous, pale, finely lined with black; subterminal line a series of fuscous black bars; terminal line a fine fuscous line; orbicular spot inconspicuous; reniform spot a black bar outlined with pale, dark blackish shade in lower part; subreniform spot contrasting black and fuscous; costa apex pale gray tan to white; dark line with dark shade from apex oblique to subreniform spot. Ventral surface smoky; terminal line black; fringe smoky. Hind wing. Dorsal surface ground color smoky gray, darker distally; fringe pale. Ventral surface ground color smoky, with scattered fuscous scales; fringe smoky. Abdomen: smoky, basal tuft blackish, underside smoky. Genitalia (Fig. 17): Uncus flattened, flared outward laterally, with narrow shoulders immediately below apex, apex setose, pointed; socii large, setose, bent at approximately 90°, each arm with an ear-like ridge; tegumen flattened; saccus U-shaped, short; juxta shield shaped, dorsal margin a half circular cutout; diaphragma bearing two sclerotized processes (costulae) near bases of valvae costa, bent at 90°, apex slightly swollen (Fig. 18); valve setose, sclerotized dorsally, membranous ventrally, Barth’s Organ robust, with numerous chevron-shaped parallel pleats, cucullus poorly defined with three narrow curved ridges, corona with weak, mesally-directed, curved setae. Aedeagus (Fig. 19) straight, abruptly flared out anteriorly, flattened, spoon shaped; vesica lightly sclerotized, with a patch of deciduous stellate (like a starfish) spicule-shaped cornuti; subbasal diverticulum with a nipple-shaped cornutus; apex lightly sclerotized, one large basal diverticulum with two subbasal lobes.

Adult female (Fig. 10). Similar to male except; antenna filiform without long setae; top of head yellow to orange; collar to disc of thorax yellow to orange. Forewing length = 16–18 mm, mean 17 mm, n = 9. Genitalia (Fig. 22). Papillae anales membranous, setose, hidden from view between sclerotized extensions of ninth abdominal segment; posterior apophyses slender; anterior apophyses slender; ductus bursae short, broad; corpus bursae round, with a single shark tooth-shaped signum; dorsal wall of corpus bursae sclerotized, forming a thumb-like extension, without bulbous terminus; sclerotized ventral wall with a pock-marked, finger-like extension appressed to surface of corpus bursae.

We make this a subspecies of Elasmia mandela because the color of the forewings is different from Elasmia mandela mandela, it is slightly smaller, and it is geographically separated from Elasmia mandela. The male and female genitalia, however, are indistinguishable from those of Elasmia mandela mandela. Some specimens from Oklahoma were previously misidentified as Elasmia insularis.

In the U.S., Elasmia mandela santaana has been recorded from Texas and Oklahoma; its distribution in Mexico is unknown. A larval host (R. O. Kendall specimens in TAM) is Unganadia speciosa Endl. (Mexican buckeye) (Sapindaceae). The type locality was selected because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will protect it into perpetuity.