Chrysoecia atrolinea (Barnes and McDunnough)

Antaplaga atrolinea Barnes and McDunnough, 1912, Contrib. Nat. Hist. Lep. N. Am., 1(5):25, pl. 1, fig. 23.

Diagnosis: Chrysoecia atrolinea is yellow-orange. The forewing maculation consists entirely of fine black lines. The forewing postmedial line is a double black line, the lines entire near the costa and inner margin, but breaking up into a series of black dots in the middle of the wing. The hindwing is brown to dark brown. The central areas of both the ventral forewing and ventral hindwing are dark brown surround by a yellow-orange border. The frontal process of the head is laterally elongate and the central tubercle is absent. The male genitalia are like those of gladiola except the outer process of the clasper is shorter and stubbier and the inner process larger. The basal process of the sacculus is larger than in either scira or gladiola. The basal group of spines in the vesica consists of only three large spines. The female genitalia are also similar to those of scira. However the sclerotization of the ductus bursae is slightly stronger and the ovipositor lobes slightly weaker. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 14.09 mm., standard deviation = 0.68 mm., n = 10.

Distribution: Chrysoecia atrolinea has been collected from Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise counties in southern Arizona, and Jeff Davis and Brewster Counties in western Texas. It has not been collected in New Mexico or the northern states of Mexico, but undoubtedly occurs there as well. Females tend to be slightly larger and darker than males but not greatly so. There is no apparent geographical variation.

Adults have all been collected in late summer and early autumn.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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