Cirrhophanus pretiosa (Morrison)

Chariclea pretiosa Morrison, 1875, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 18:122.

Diagnosis: Cirrhophanus pretiosa has been confused with triangulifer. It is smaller than triangulifer (forewing length from base to apex 13 15mm versus 16 19 mm in triangulifer). No postmedial line is present in the hindwing of pretiosa but there usually is one in triangulifer. The ventral forewing of triangulifer normally has a distinct postmedial line, but pretiosa does not. The male genitalia are distinct. The clasper is an elaborate affair in triangulifer but far simpler in pretiosa. Indeed the male genitalia of pretiosa are virtually identical with those of dyari. The female ovipositor lobes of dyari are stronger and sharper than the blunt lobes of pretiosa. The ovipositor lobes of triangulifer are also blunted, but the sclerotization of the ductus bursae continues about one fourth the way down the corpus bursae. The sclerotization of the ductus bursae extends only slightly into the corpus bursae in pretiosa. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 14.22 mm., standard deviation = 0.65 mm., n = 10.

Distribution: This species appears to have a distribution largely restricted to the central Great Plains. It has been collected in the eastern and central parts of Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. It has also been taken in southwestern South Dakota. The most eastern record is from southwestern Arkansas. In Kansas, Okalahoma, eastern Texas, and Arkansas it is sympatric with triangulifer. Little, if any, discernable variation exists except in the degree of black suffusion in the hindwing.

Specimens have been collected in April, May, June, and July. The adults of triangulifer fly in August and September. A temporal displacement of pretiosa and triangulifer in habitat or foodplant requirements may exist.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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