A new species of Elasmia Möschler from New Mexico and Texas, and a new subspecies of Elasmia mandela (Druce) from Texas and Oklahoma (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae, Nystaleinae)

Abstract Hippia packardii (Morrison) and Hippia insularis (Grote) are moved to the genus Elasmia Möschler as comb. n. Elasmia cave Metzler, sp. n. is described from New Mexico and Texas, and Elasmia mandela santaana Metzler & Knudson, ssp. n. is described from Texas and Oklahoma. A key to the species of Elasmia of southwestern U.S. is provided. Adult male and female moths of Elasmia from southwestern U.S. and their genitalia are illustrated.

introduction Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) listed two species of Hippia Möschler, 1878 (Notodontidae: Nystaleinae) for North America north of Mexico: H. packardii (Morrison, 1875), described from Texas; and H. insularis (Grote, 1866), described from Cuba. They listed no species of Elasmia Möschler, 1886 (Notodontidae: Nystaleinae). Our investigations show that H. packardii and H. insularis belong in the genus Elasmia, and that H. insularis, reported from Texas (Knudson and Bordelon 1999), is an error. United States specimens thought to be H. insularis instead represent an undescribed species described here as E. cave. Our investigations further show an undescribed subspecies of Elasmia mandela (Druce, 1887) from the United States. Elasmia mandela santaana is described here from Texas and Oklahoma.

Methods
Adult moths were collected in U.S.D.A. type black-light traps and at black light and sheet as described in Covell (1984).
Genitalia were examined following procedures outlined in Clarke (1941), Hardwick (1950), Lafontaine (2004), and Pogue (2002). Abdomens were removed, wetted in 95% ethyl alcohol, and soaked in 10% KOH for 1.5 hours at 50˚C. Genitalia were dissected in 5% ethyl alcohol, stained with Safranin O in ethyl alcohol and Chlorozol Black in water, dehydrated in 100% ethyl alcohol, cleared in oil of cloves, rinsed in xylene, and slide mounted in Canada balsam.
The aedeagus of species of Elasmia is held firmly in place by membranes within the genital capsule, and the aedeagus is nearly always broken into two pieces during the process of removal. The anterior portion is short and abruptly flared out. The posterior portion with the everted vesica is illustrated in this paper (Figs 13,16,19).
Specimens of Lepidoptera from this study are deposited in the following collections: AMNH American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York BMNH Natural History Museum, London, England CMNH Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  Torre and Alayo (1959). We examined male specimens, and their genitalia, of E. 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 E. insularis in Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) was based on erroneous reports from Texas (Knudson and Bordelon 1999).
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.
Remarks. Elasmia cave was mistakenly identified in the U.S. as E. 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 E. lignosa, and the male genitalia are closely similar to those of E. mandela.
Distribution and biology. 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.

Elasmia mandela (Druce, 1887) http://species-id.net/wiki/Elasmia_mandela Figs 7, 8
Description. 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.
Remarks. 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).
Distribution and biology. 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). Etymology. 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
Diagnosis. Elasmia mandela santaana is gray overall. The adult resembles a large example of E. packardii; E. m. santaana has a contrasting dark scale patch in the reniform/subreniform area. Elasmia m. santaana (mean forewing length = 16 mm) is larger than E. packardii (mean forewing length = 14 mm) and E. m. santaana's Barth's Organ is relatively larger. The lateral margin of the uncus in E. packardii has a slight shoulder immediately below the apex, whereas in E. m. santaana the lateral margin of the uncus is flared outward. Elasmia m. santaana is a gray moth, and E. cave is a brown moth. The male and female genitalia of E. m. santaana are similar to those of E. cave. The costulae of E. cave are abruptly bent and swollen apically (Fig. 15); the costulae of E. m. santaana may be slightly swollen but not bent apically (Fig. 18).
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. Fore-wing 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.
Remarks. We make this a subspecies of E. mandela because the color of the forewings is different from E. m. mandela, it is slightly smaller, and it is geographically separated from E. mandela. The male and female genitalia, however, are indistinguishable from those of E. m. mandela. Some specimens from Oklahoma were previously misidentified as E. insularis.
Distribution and biology. In the U.S., E. m. 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.

Discussion
For all characters, except those we noted in the key and diagnoses, the species are closely similar in appearance.
The details of the shape of the costulae, in combination with the color and size of the adults, is important in defining the species. The costulae can be slightly variable within a species, thus all the characters should be consulted in making an identification.
The female genitalia of E. m. mandela, E. m. santaana, E. insularis, E. packardii, and E. cave are nearly identical. The male genitalia of E. packardii are distinct. The differences between the male genitalia of E. mandela, E. insularis, and E. cave are more subtle; the most reliable character we found was the shape of the terminal portion of the costulae (Figs 12, 15, 18). The costulae of E. insularis and E. mandela are closely similar; the superficial appearance of the adults are different. The costulae of E. m. santaana and E. cave are similar (see the key and Figs 15 and 18 for differences); most adults can be identified by external appearance, but a few specimens require examination of the male genitalia for positive identification.
The specimens from Carlsbad Caverns National Park were collected by Metzler as part of a 10-year study of the Lepidoptera of the Park initiated by the Park in 2006. This is the second in a series of papers (Metzler et al. 2010) detailing the moths of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
for the purpose of identifying specimens. She contributed financially to the study. Maurice Klapwald, New York City Library, J. Donald Lafontaine, and Michael Pogue helped with literature searches. Conversations with, and a thorough review by, James S. Miller were especially helpful. We thank two anonymous reviewers for reading the paper and offering valuable suggestions.