Table Of ContentPROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
96(2). 1994. pp. 357-366
NEW GENERA AND SPECIES OF MEXICAN PHYCITINAE
(LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)
H. H. Neunzig
Department ofEntomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
27695-7613.
Abstract.—Two new genera ofphycitine moths from Mexico are described. They are
Nevacolima, n. gen. with N.jaliscoensis, n. sp. and A', zodia, n. sp., and Megacerdresa, n.
gen. with M. cordobensis, n. sp. Also described from the Republic is Homoeographa
mexicana, n. sp.
Key Words: Moths, phycitines, Mexico
Seventy-nine species of phycitines have 13). Maxillary palpus simple. Haustellum
been previously reported from Mexico (Ci- well developed. Ocellus present. Basal half
brian-Tovaret al. 1986, Hedlin et al. 1981, of costa of forewing of male (Figs. 6, 7)
Heinrich 1956, McGufhn 1967, Mutuura slightly convex or slightly concave; under-
and Neunzig 1986, Neunzig 1983, 1986, side ofwing ofmale simple, without costal
1990). Based on the size of the Republic, fold orsex-scaling. Forewingwithout raised
the diversity ofhabitats found in the coun- scales; with eleven veins, R: at base close
try, and the abundance ofphycitine species to, but separate from R^j and R^; R,.4 and
elsewhere in North America, this number R5 stalked for over Vi their lengths; M,
obviously represents only a small fraction slightly curved to straight; M, and M, sep-
ofthe Mexican fauna ofPhycitinae. arate, but close at base; CuA, from lower
Whileidentifyingphycitinesonloanfrom outer angle ofcell; CuA, from well before
the San Diego Natural History' Museum lower outer angle ofcell. Hindwing(Figs. 6,
(SDNHM), andthe UniversityofCalifornia 7) with eight veins (lA, 2A and 3A consid-
at Davis (UCD), 1 found four additional ered together to be one vein); Sc + R, and
Mexicanspeciesbelongingtothesubfamily. Rs fused for about Vi their lengths beyond
Allarenewspecies,oneisaHomoeographa. cell; M| from upper outer angle ofcell; M,
and the others are ofparticular interest be- and M, stalked for about '/s their lengths;
causetheybelongtopreviouslyundescribed CuA, from lower outer angle ofcell; CuA,
genera. from well before angle ofcell; cell less than
'/2 length ofwing. Male abdominal segment
Nevacolima Neunzig,
New Genus 8 with ventralscaletufts(Figs. 16, 19); scales
forming tufts pale to black, short to long,
—
Gender. Feminine. mainly straight and slender; sclerotized bar
Type sptcifi.—Nevacolima jaliscoensis associatedwith tuftswithratherlarge, swol-
Neunzig. len, distally-rounded, medial projection or
Antenna of male simple (Fig. 9) or with slender medial projection. Male genitalia
sinusat base ofshaft (Fig. 8). Front convex, (Figs. 14, 15, 17, 18) with uncus absent;
roughly scaled. Labial palpus oblique (Fig. gnathos with distal part consisting of two
PROCEEDINGS OFTHE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
358
well-developed, posterolaterally diverging, ple (Fig. 9); labial palpus white basally,
acute elements; transtilla a well-developed mostlyfuscous, orblack, with some redand
transverse bar, borneby very slenderlateral white medially and distally; maxillary pal-
bases; juxta a weakly sclerotized plate with pus fuscous, or black, and white. Thorax
short, setiferous, lateral lobes; valva tri- with dorsum brown, and with patch ofred
lobed, divided into short, basal, weakly andblacklaterally;collarsimilartodorsum.
sclerotized, subtriangular, costal lobe, a Forewing without antemedial line; most of
more usual appearing, elongate, spatulate costal halfofwing dusted with white, with
element and a lobelike sacculus; inner base redandblack,elongate, medial,costal patch,
ofelongate spatulateelementwith pale, dig- andsuffused with fuscous, orblack, distally;
itate lobe; linearaggregation oflong slender posteriorhalfochre, red and reddish brown
scales originating at base ofvalva and sac- with fuscous, or black, distally; postmedial
culus; aedoeagus with two clusters ofstout, line mostly white, weakly developed; discal
spinelikecomuti; vinculum welldeveloped. spots black, obscure to moderately distinct.
The female ofNevacolima is unknown. Hindwingsmokyfuscous,darkeralongveins
In some respects, particularly the reduc- and near costal and outer and posterior
tion,orextensive modification, oftheuncus margins. Male genitalia (Figs. 14. 15) as in
andgnathos,andthetrilobedvalva,themale description ofgenus. Female unknown.
genitalia of Nevacolima resemble those of Distribution.—Known only from the type
GabiniusHeinrich, OhigginsiaNeunzig, and locality, west-central Mexico.
Peadus Heinrich, however, there are major Holotype.—(5-Highway 54, 10.8 mi N.
differences. Forexample, inNevacolimathe Nevado de Colima, Jalisco, Mexico, 27-30
only posterior structure that is clearly de- May 1989, Bloomfield, genitalia slide 3501
fined is the gnathos, whereas in Gabinius. HHN (SDNHM).
Ohigginsia. and Peadus elements that usu- Paratypes.—Same collection data as for
ally comprise the gnathos are considered to holotype, 5 (5, genitalia slides 3503, 3504
be absent, and an uncus although reduced, HHN (SDNHM, NCSU).
ispresent.Also,thetranstillainNevacolima
Nevacolima zodia Neunzig,
is complete and a distinct part ofthe geni- New Species
talia; in the related genera the transtilla is
absent, or weakly developed (but never Figs. 2, 7, 8, 17-19
complete). Type locality.— 10.8 mi N. Nevado de
Colima, Jalisco, Mexico.
Nevacolimajaliscoensis Neunzig, Diagnosis.—The complex male antenna
New Species (Fig. 8) with its basal sinus and associated
Figs. 1, 6, 9, 13-16 sensilla, along with the appearance of the
Type locality.— 10.8 mi N. Nevado de male genitalia (Figs. 17, 18) provide diag-
Colima, Jalisco, Mexico. nostic features.
—
Diagnosis.—The simple male antenna Description. Length of forewing: 7.0
(Fig. 9), in conjunction with the genitalia mm. Head with front brownish white; ver-
that lack an uncus and have a complete tex mostly pale brown and brownish red
transtilla (Figs. 14, 15) distinguish jalis- with fuscous, or black, laterally; antenna of
coensis from other Phycitinae. male (Fig. 8) with sinus at base of shaft;
Description.—Lengthofforewing: 6.5-8.5 mesially projecting spinelike sensillum at
mm. Head with front brownish white; ver- baseofsinus, andanothersimilarsensillum
tex mostly dark brown and reddish brown from apex ofsinus; sinus and sensilla par-
withfuscousorblacklaterally;antennasim- tially covered with appressed scales; seven
VOLUME 96. NUMBER 2 359
m
.p;-.
,ur~
-^*>"
':^~
Figs. 1^. Male adults. 1, Nevacolimajaliscoensis n. sp., holotype (7.0 mm). 2, Nevacolima zodia n. sp.,
holotype (7.0 mm). 3, Megacerdresa cordobensisn. sp.. holotype(9.0 mm). 4, Homoeographa mexicana n. sp.,
holotype (7.0 mm). (Length offorewing m parentheses.)
segments ofshaft just distad of sinus with jaliscoensis with the following differences:
smaller, mesially projecting, basally-scaled distal elements ofgnathos shorter; sacculus
sensilla: labial palpus white basally, seg- more completely fused to valva; vinculum
ments 2 and 3 red, fuscous, or black and distinctly longer than greatest width; ae-
white; maxillary palpus fuscous basally, doeagus more elongate, with clusters of
white distally. Thorax with dorsum mostly spines curved. Female unknown.
brown; collar similar to dorsum, with some Distribution.—Known only from the type
red anteriorly. Forewing without anteme- locality in west-central Mexico.
dial line; most ofcostal halfofwing dusted Holotype.—3—Highway 54, 10.8 mi N.
with white, with red and black, elongate, Nevado de Colima, Jalisco, Mexico, 27-30
medial, costal patch and suffused with fus- May 1989, Bloomfield, genitalia slide 3502
cous, or black, distally; posterior half pale HHN (SDNHM).
brown and red suffused with fuscous, or Although obviously related to N. jalis-
black; postmedial linemostlywhite, weakly coensis, zodia is significantly different, par-
developed; discal spots black, indistinct. ticularly with regard to the male antennae,
Hindwingsmokyfuscous,darkeralongveins to possiblyjustify placing the latter species
and near costal, outer and posterior mar- in a different genus. However, inasmuch as
gins. Male genitalia (Figs. 17, 18) as in A'. females ofboth species are unknown, it is
360 PROCEEDINGS OFTHE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 5-7. Male wing venation. 5, Megacerdresa cordohensisn. sp. (9.0 mm). 6, Nevacolimajaliscoensis n.
sp. (7.5 mm). 7, Nevacolima zodia n. sp. (7.0 mm). (Length offorewingin parentheses.)
best, at this time, to group the species to- enlarged and formingadistinct sinus; inner
gether. margin ofsinuswith basal and distal, small,
spinelikesensilla;outermarginofsinuswith
Megacerdresa Neunzig,
basal tuft ofslender scales; female antenna
New Genus
simple; sensilla trichodea (cilia) ofshaft of
—
Gender. Feminine. male short and abundant. Frons convex.
Type s'pecxt^.—Megacerdresa cordohen- Labial palpus (Fig. 12) upcurved, reaching
sis Neunzig. above vertex. Maxillary palpus simple.
Antenna of male (Fig. 10) with scape Haustellum well developed. Ocellus pres-
elongate,cylindrical;basalsegmentsofshaft ent. Forewing of male (Fig. 5) with basal
VOLUME 96, NUMBER 2 361
8
s^^
m
m
Mi
m 10
Ulml i
M/4
m
Figs. 8-13. Maleantennaeand labial palpi. 8. Nevacolima zodia n. sp., frontal view ofbase. 9, Nevacoluna
jaliscoensisn. sp., frontal viewofbase. 10, Megacerdresacordohensisn. sp., frontal view ofbase. 11, Hoinoeo-
graphamexicanan.sp.,lateralview. 12,Megacerdresacordobensisn.sp..lateralview. 13,Nevacolunajaliscoensis
n. sp., lateral view. (All scale lengths 0.5 mm.)
362 PROCEEDINGS OFTHE ENTOMOLOGICALSOCIETY OFWASHINGTON
half of costa slightly convex; underside of shaftenlargedandwith adistinct sinus, sen-
wing,ofmale,with sex-scalingincostal half; sillae and scale tufts; the male genitalia of
upperside of wing with groups of slightly Megacerdresaare like those ofCeracanthia.
raised scales; with eleven veins; R^ separate Drescoma. Drescomopsisand Megarthria in
from R,,4 and Rs at base; R,+4 and Rs possessingbroad valvaewith thebaseofthe
stalked forabout-Atheirlengths; M, slightly sacculus enlarged and bearing large scale
curved; M, and M, separate; CuA, from tufts; the female genitalia, to some extent,
lower outer angle ofcell. Hindwing (Fig. 5) look like those of Drescoma cyrdipsa with
with eight veins (lA, 2A and 3A together theirlong, stronglydeveloped, spinelikesig-
considered as one vein). Sc + R, and R, num in the corpus bursae), I propose a new
fused, or very close, for less than '/: their genus for cordobensischiefly for the follow-
lengths beyond cell; M, with basal fourth ing reasons: (1.) the contrasting, diagonal,
very close or fused to base ofSc + R, and white bands on the forewing, so character-
Rs; M, and M, stalked for about '/: their istic ofspecies ofDrescoma. Drescomopsis.
lengths; CuA, with basal fifth fused, or very and Megarthria, are lacking in cordobensis;
close, to base ofM. + M,; CuA. from near (2.) the male genitalia of cordobensis have
lower, outerangleofcell;cellabout 'Alength the gnathos broadly spatulate and weakly
of wing. Male abdominal segment 8 with sclerotized distally, but in Ceracanthia.
ventral scale tufts (Fig. 22). Male genitalia Drescoma, Drescomopsis. and Megarthria
(Figs. 20, 21) with uncus hoodlike (only produced into a strongly developed, well
slightly tapering); apical process ofgnathos sclerotized, slender hook, and the aedoea-
a broad, weakly sclerotized, spatulate pro- gus is short and has robust comuti in cor-
cess; transtilla absent; juxta with well de- dobensis. but is elongate and unarmed in
veloped setiferous, rather elongate lateral the related genera; (3.) the female genitalia
arms; valva short, broad, sacculus with an- ofcordobensis only resemble those ofDres-
teriorlyprojectingarm supportinglargescale coma cyrdipsa. and even in cyrdipsa the
tuft; aedoeagus robust, with two slightly ductus bursae is much shorter, and differs
curved, short, well-developed comuti, and in configuration, internal spining and irreg-
numerous microspines; vinculum shorter ularities.
than greatest width, broadly rounded an-
Megacerdresa cordobensis Neunzig,
teriorly. Femalegenitalia(Fig. 23)withduc-
New Species
tus bursae about as long as corpus bursae.
twisted,witha fewscobinationsneargenital Figs. 3, 5, 10, 12, 20-23
opening, a dense, elongate, medial patch of Type locality.—Cordoba, Vera Cruz,
many microspines, and numerous sclero- Mexico.
tized, irregular ridges near junction with Diagnosis.—The broadly spatulate distal
corpus bursae; corpus bursae membranous, elementofthegnathosofthemalegenitalia,
with large, curved, denticulate, spinelike and the large curved, denticulate signum in
signum, and many scobinations, particular- thecorpusbursaeofthefemalegenitaliawill
ly near signum; ductus seminalis attached separate cordobensis from similar phyci-
to corpus bursae nearjunction with ductus tines.
bursae. Description.—Lengthofforewing8.0-8.5
Although the genus Megacerdresa shows mm. Head with frons and vertex brownish
affinities to Ceracanthia Ragonot, Dres- whitetopalereddishbrown,sometimeswith
coma Dyar, Drescomopsis Dyar, and Me- fuscousand/orreddishbrown scales; anten-
garthrla Ragonot (the male antenna ofMe- na (Fig. 10)asindescription ofgenus; labial
gacerdresa resembles those of Ceracanthia palpus(Fig. 12)mostlybrownishwhitewith
and Megarthria in having the base of the some fuscous scales and white basally in
VOLUME 96, NUMBER 2 363
1 9
15
1?
fc,>
16
Figs. 14-19. Male genitalia and scale tufts of abdominal segment 8. 14, Nevacolima jaliscoensis n. sp.,
aedoeagus removed, and long scales originating at inner base ofvalva omitted. 15, aedoeagus. 16. scale tufts.
17. Nevacolima zodia n. sp.. holotype. ventral view, aedoeagus removed, and some long scales originating at
innerbase ofvalva omitted. 18, aedoeagus. 19, scale tufts. (All scale lengths0.5 mm.)
3
364 PROCEEDINGS OFTHE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
male, segments 2 and 3 less uniformly col- thos,alongdigitateclasperontheinnerbase
ored in female, with many fuscousand with ofthe valva, and groups ofslender comuti
some pale red scales; maxillary palpus in the aedoeagus.
—
mostly brownish white, simple, vestiture Description. Length of forewing 7.0
flared basally. Thorax dorsum and collar mm. Headwith fronswhitetoochreouswith
palebrown, in somespecimenssuffusedwith patchesofbrownish red; maleantenna with
brownish red or fuscous. Forewing with sinus and strongly developed tuft ofscales
ground color pale brown, costal halfdusted at base ofshaft; labial palpus (Fig. 1 1) long,
with white, particularly near costa; fuscous appressed to frons. mostly ochre, brownish
patchatbaseofwing;antemediallinewhite, red and white (white chiefly along inner
difficult to detect (its location defined by margin, and some fuscous, orblack, on dis-
fuscousand reddish brown patches forming tal part ofsegments 2 and 3); maxillary pal-
itsbasalanddistal borders); postmedial line pus aigrettelike, mostly ochre with pink tip.
white, faint; small fuscous and reddish Thorax dorsum and collar ochre. Forewing
brown, indistinct, lunuatepatchabout mid- mostly ochre and reddish brown; anteme-
way on costa; discal spots black, separate, dial line white, weakly developed; post-
moderately distinct. Underside offorewing medial line white, well developed only near
of male, with streaks of pale orange and costa: small groups ofblack scales, in part
fuscous sex-scales. Hindwing pale smoky interspersed with white and brownish-red
brown, darker on veins and near costal and scales, in basal, medial and terminal areas;
outer margins. Male abdominal segment 8 discal spots moderately distinct, lower spot
with ventral scale tufts (Fig. 22): scales elongate and distinctly larger than upper
forming tufts straight, moderately long and spot. Underside of wing of male without
simple. Male and female genitalia as given costal fold or sex-scaling. Hindwing pale
under generic description. smoky fuscous, darker on veins and near
Distribution.—Known only from Cor- costal and outer margins. Male abdominal
doba, in east-central Mexico. segment 8 with complex scale tufts: some
Holotype.—3—Cordoba, Vera Cruz, scales formingtuft verybroad, greatlymod-
Mexico, 4 November 1966, Alfredo B. Lau. ified and angulate distally. Male genitalia
HHN
genitalia slide 3491 (UCD). (Figs. 24. 25) with uncus hoodlike, some-
Paratypes.—Same collection site as ho- what elongate; gnathos with apical process
lotype, 5, 8, 13, 18 August 1966, 8 Septem- a short, rather robust hook with a long,
ber 1966, 8, 10, 11, 20. 21. 22. 27. 31 Oc- straplike, basal projection (projection ex-
tober 1966, 3, 4, 29 November 1966, 6, 9 tending almost to lateral arms of juxta);
December 1966, 1 specimen collected by J. transtilla absent;juxta with short, rounded,
S. Buckett, M. R. and R. C. Gardner, all setiferous lateral arms; valva slender, with
others collected by Alfredo B. Lau, 9 3, 1 inner, basal, digitateclasper(clasperalmost
2. genitalia slides 2072, 2073. 2080. 3490. aslongas '/:lengthofvalva); vinculumabout
3492 HHN (UCD, NCSU). 2x as long as greatest width, medially
pointed; aedoeagus elongate, slightly bul-
Homoeographa mexicana Neunzig,
New Species bous in distal 'A, with twogroups ofseveral,
slender comuti. Female unknown.
Figs. 4, 11. 24, 25 H. mexicanadiffersmostnoticeablyfrom
Typelocality.— 13 miN. Manzanillo,Co- the only other known species in the genus,
lima, Mexico. lanceolella Ragonot, in havingthe forewing
Diagnosis.—The male genitalia ofmexi- mostly ochre and reddish brown with more
cana have a long, slender, basal, anteriorly black scales and a large, lower discal spot,
projecting element on the apex ofthe gna- and in havingthe malegenitalia with a Ion-
VOLUME NUMBER
96. 2
365
21
25
Figs. 20-.5. Male genitalia, scale tuft of abdominal segment 8. and female genitalia. 20 Megacerdresa
cordobensisn. sp., holotype, ventral view, aedoeagus removed. 21, aedoeagus. 22, scale tufts 23 ventral view
ductusbursae, corpusbursaeandductusseminalis. 24. Honweographamexicanan. sp.. holotype ventralview
aedoegus removed. 25, aedoeagus. (All scale lengths0.5 mm
)
366 PROCEEDINGS OFTHE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OFWASHINGTON
gerbasal projection on the apical process of sects ofMexican conifers. General Technical Re-
the gnathos, a longer clasper on the valva, port. SE-40. United States Department of Agri-
shorter, morerobustlateralarmson thejux- culture. 110 pp.
Hedlin, A. P.. H. O. Yates, III. D. Cibrian-Tovar. B.
ta,anapically pointed, ratherthan truncate, H. Ebel.T. W. Koerber.and E. P. Merkel. 1981.
vinculum, and an aedoeagus with more nu- ConeandseedinsectsofNorthAmericanconifers.
merous and more slender comuti. Can. For. Serv., LI.S.D.A. For. Serv., and Soc.
Distribution.—Known only from the type Agric. Recur. Hidraul. Mexico. 122 pp.
locality, near Manzanillo on the west-cen- Heinrich,C. 1956. Americanmothsofthesubfamily
Phycitinae. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 207: 1-581.
tral coast ofMexico. McGuffin,W.C. 1967. ImmaturestagesofsomeLep-
Holotype.—<3— 13 mi N. Manzanillo, Co- idoptera ofDurango, Mexico. Can. Entomol. 99:
lima, Mexico, 24-26 May 1989, N. Bloom- 1215-1229.
field, genitalia slide 3498 HHN (SDNHM). Mutuura, A. and H. H. Neunzig. 1986. NewCentral
American Dioryctna and notes on previouslyde-
Acknowledgments scribed species ofthe genus in the region (Lepi-
doptera: Pyralidae), pp. 8-18. In Cibnan-Tovar,
I thank D. K. Faulkner (SDNHM, San D.,B. H. Ebel, H.O. Yates. HI.andJ.T. Mendez-
Diego,California)andA. Porter(UCD, Da- Montiel. eds.. Cone and seed insects ofMexican
vis, California) forprovidingthe specimens Conifers.GeneralTechnical Report. SE-40. Unit-
ed States Department ofAgriculture.
for study, R. L. Blinn, L. L. Deitz, and D. Neunzig, H. H. 1983. A new species ofAcrobasis
L. Stephan (NCSU, Raleigh, North Caro- fromMexico(Lepidoptera:Pyralidae:Phycitinae).
lina) for critically reading an initial draft of Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 85: 256-259.
thispaper,and E.G. Munroe(Ontario,Can- . 1986. New recordsofPhycitinae from Mex-
ada)and M. A. Solis (NMNH, Washington, ico and a description ofa new genus and species
(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc.
D.C.) for additional suggestions for im-
Wash. 88: 122-126.
provement. 1990. Anewspeciesof£)/onr/na(Pyralidae:
.
Phycitinae) from Mexico. Proc. Entomol. Soc.
Literature Cited
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