Nocloini New Genus 2 nanata (Neumoegen)

"Nocloa nanata"

Stiria nanata Neumoegen, 1884, Papilio, 4: 95.

Diagnosis: Nocloini New Genus 2 nanata is a bright yellow species with obscure maculation in the forewing except for a small gray-brown patch between the orbicular mark and the basal area and another gray-brown patch along the ventral side of the reniform mark. This second patch continues as a thin line upward between the reniform mark and the postmedial line. The reniform mark is confluent with the yellow of the costal region and neither it nor the orbicular mark and distinctly separate from the ground color of the forewing. Both the antemedial and postmedial lines are absent as is the medial line. The subterminal line is represented by a few dark brown dots. The male and female hindwing is usually yellow with at least some dull gray suffusion along the upper half of the outer margin. However the total hindwing in both males and females is suffused with dull gray brown in some specimens. The male genitalia have a distinct, although small clasper in the valve. The costa of the valve is slightly arcuate. The lateral diverticulum of the vesica usually contains two spines. The female genitalia are unique for both the genus Nocloini New Genus 2 and for the tribe as a whole. The bursae in other species of Nocloini New Genus 2 is roughly elongate, ovate with a elongate, cephalad tail containing the ductus seminalis. This cephalad position of the ductus seminalis is characteristic of the Nocloini. The bursae of nanata is heart shaped and the tail bearing the ductus seminalis is located at its caudal end. I am assuming that this caudal position is a secondary modification of the cephalad position found in the rest of the tribe even though a cephalad position is the usual condition in most of the trifid noctuids.

This species is variable. The distinctness of the dull gray-brown patch in the forewing median area is extremely variable and may be well defined in some specimens to nearly absent in others. The subterminal line is usually present, but the number and strength of the dots representing it is variable from clearly present to almost absent. A few specimens have the lower halves of the antemedial and postmedial lines represented by a couple of dark dots, although these dots are absent in most specimens. HIndwing color is extremely variable. The usual pattern is a light yellow hindwing with an obscure band of dull gray along the upper half of the outer margin. The strenth of the dull gray band is variable, however, and in some specimens the entire hindwing is suffused with dull gray. This variation does not appear to be sex linked. Wing length: mean = 11.77 mm, standard deviation = 0.45 mm, n = 10.

Adults have been collected in the United States from late July through the early half of September.

Distribution: This species occurs in western Texas, southern and central New Mexico, and southern Arizona. It has also been collected in the states of Chihuahua and Durango in Mexico.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Similar Species

Nocloini New Genus 2 cordova