Chalcopasta territans (H. Edwards)

Basilodes territans H. Edwards, 1884, Papilio, 4:45.

Plusia arianda Druce, 1889, in Godman and Salvin, Biologia Centrali Americana, Insecta, Lepidoptera Heterocera, 1:329, pl. 30, fig. 11.

Plusia arizona French, 1889, Canad. Ent., 21:161.

Chalcopasta anopis Dyar, 1918, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus., 54:348.

Chalcopasta chalcophanis Dyar, 1918, Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus., 54:348.

Diagnosis: Chalcopasta territans is the only U.S. species of the territans group without a brown, triangular basal region in the forewing. A small, light brown area is sometimes present at the base of the inner margin, but when present it is insignificant. The spination of the male vesica is very heavy. In contrast only about half as many spines are present in howardi. The secondary group of setae (interepreted here as the basal row and located on the lower right part of the vesica in the figures) is fused into a spiny node in howardi, but in territans the spines are separate. The vesica setal pattern are similar in howardi and fulgens. However there are more spines and the basal setal knob is more denticulate in fulgens than howardi. The female genitalia are similar in all three species. However the ovipositor lobes are relatively short and the tips recurved in territans, but are longer and straighter in the other two species. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 16.56 mm., standard deviation = 1.01 mm., n = 10.

Distribution: Chalcopasta territans has been collected in Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz Counties in southern Arizona. The species has also been collected commonly in the trans-volcanic belt in the general vicinity of Mexico city and in northern Sonora. It undoubtedly occurs more widely in Mexico, but western Mexico has not been well collected.

Most adults were captured in August and September.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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