Noctuidae - Psaphidinae - Nocloini

 

 

 

 

Phaioecia duplicatus (Smith) 1891, REVISED COMBINATION

Cirrhophanus duplicatus Smith, 1891, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 18: 112.

Diagnosis: Phaioecia duplicatus is a species of the prairie regions of the western parts of the American Midwest east of the Rockies. This biogeographical distribution differs from that of all other species in the Nocloini. The adult flight period is in the early to mid-summer in contrast to the later appearance of most other species in the tribe. The species is easily recognizable by a combination of the characters of the Nocloini, the orange-brown coloration of the forewing and the heavy, triangular frontal process. The outer ring of the frontal process is smaller than usual, triangular (with the point of the triangle pointing upward), and the central region filled in so that no central protuberance is present except for a vague bump. The forewing is burnt orange in color. The maculation consists of a series of sharp, darker lines giving the forewing a slightly reticulate appearance. All of the forewing veins are accented with darker brown. The antemedial line is sharply dentate on the veins and the basal line is absent. The orbicular and claviform marks are absent and the reniform mark is represented by a vague, curved line continuous with the upper part of the median line. The medial area and basal areas are shaded with darker brown along the costal margin. The upper part of the median line is distinct and dark brown, but the portion below the cell is vague and nearly absent. The postmedial line is strongly curved around the position of the reniform mark forming an elongate loop and is minutely dentate on the veins. The subterminal line is an evenly curved line and is slightly dentate on the line. The most distinctive feature of the male genitalia is the thin, long valve. The female appendix bursae points in a caudal direction and the ductus seminalis arises from the caudal end of the appendix bursae. The corpus bursae is long and terminates in a bulb-like structure. Wing length: mean = 13.73 mm, standard deviation = 0.79 mm, n = 10.

Adults have been collected in late May, June, and early July.

Distribution: This species is found in western parts of the American Midwest. An extensive series from north-central Nebraska was collected near a marshy lake surrounded by sandhill prairie. I cannot be certain about the species' habitat, but it could be either prairie regions or riparian sections in the prairie. Phaioecia duplicatus occurs as far north as eastern Wyoming and is common in Nebraska. The western most part of its known range is on the eastern edge of Rockes in Colorado and the species reaches as far south as Oklahoma and northern Texas. There is no discernable variation in the species.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

 

Phaioecia duplicatus

Similar Species

No Similar Species