Noctuidae - Condicinae - Condicini

 

 

Condica leucorena (Smith) 1900
NEW COMBINATION

Caradrina leucorena, Smith, 1900, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus., 22:477.

Diagnosis: Condica leucorena is a non-descript moth. The forewing is a light clay brown with a slight adobe red tint. The maculation is all indistinct. The color of the forewing varies somewhat, particularly with regard to the extent of the slight red tint. Some specimens have a distinct light red-brown tint, but others are light brown gray. The antemedial and postmedial lines are represent by slightly lighter bands, accented with dull dark brown dots on the veins. The hindwing of the male is dull white with very vague indications of a postmedial line and discal dot. There is a fine brown terminal line. The reniform spot is a dull dark brown arc with a small white dot at its ventral apex. In a few specimens the orbicular spot is represented by a small dark dot surrounded by a lighter halo.

Distribution: This species occurs throughout much of the southwestern United States. It has been collected in southern California, most of Arizona, southwestern and south-central New Mexico, and southwestern Utah. There is some intra-population variation in the tint of the forewing from flesh colored to specimens with a distinct rusty color. Specimens from southern California appear to be slightly larger than those from the rest of the range of the species by (i.e. 15-16 mm. forewing length from base to apex in southern California and 14-15 mm. in the rest of the range).

Adults have been collected in April, June, July, August, and September.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: There is a single female in the USNM reared from Baccharis salicina (Asteraceae). A note on the specimen indicates the larva was a leaf feeder.

 

Condica leucorena

Within the range of this species leucorena is most likely to be confused with charada and andrena. This species occurs with charada in Arizona, New Mexico, and presumably northern Mexico. In this area of overlap charada is a distinctly larger species (forewing expanse from apex to base 17-18 mm.) than leucorena (forewing expanse from base to apex 14-15 mm. Superfically the two species are very similar. However charada is on the whole darker and the maculation slightly more distinct. In particular the reniform spot of charada consists of a central dark lunule as in leucorena, but the lunule is surrounded by a lighter ring. The orbicular spot is always present and consists of a light ovate patch. In leucorena the reniform spot consists of a dark lunule, but this lunule is never surrounded by a distinct, light ring. The orbicular spot is usually absent, but if present contains a dark central dot. Condica leucorena co-exists with andrena is southern California. Condica andrena is a larger species (of the same size as charada and the forewing is dark (not light). In males the hindwing is pure white with dark streaks along the veins at the outer margin. In leucorena the hindwing is dull white, usually suffused with some light gray and never with the contrasting brown streaks along the outer margin. The orbicular spot is a well defined light ring with a central dark dot in andrena. Both the male and the female genitalia are distinctive and will immediately distinguish this species from both charada and andrena. In the aedoeagus of the male genitalia there is a single spiney ventral diverticulum of the vesica (in the orientation of the figure). In andrena and charada the ventral diverticulum is double or triple and lacks spines. The vesica also has a small caudally projecting diverticulum and the usual dorsal projection with the tail of the vesica. There is a small denticulate bar at the base of the vesica. In the valve of the male genitalia. The clasper is elongate and oriented along the long axis of the valve. The apex of the clasper angles upward toward the costa of the valve. In contrast the clasper in andrena and charada is relatively short and stubby and runs perpendicular to the long axis of the valve.
The female genitalia of the three species are much more similar. The ductus bursae of leucorena swells just before its junction with the corpus bursae. This swell is smaller to absent in charada. The appendix bursae portion of the bursae is slightly smaller and narrower in leucorena than charada, but perhaps not significantly so. The female genitalia of andrena are the most distinctive. The caudal half of the corpus bursae is ovate and contrasts with the elongate cephalad half of the corpus. In contrast the entire corpus bursae is elongate in leucorena and andrena.

Similar Species

Condica charada

Condica andrena