Stiria sulphurea Neumoegen

Stiria sulphurea Neumoegen, 1882, Papilio, 2:135.

Diagnosis: Stiria sulphurea is the smallest U.S. species of Stiria. Forewing length from base to apex is 14-17 mm. Forewing length in intermixta, the species it occurs most commonly with, is almost always over 17 mm. The male genitalia are also smaller on average than those of other species in the genus. Other than size there are no specific characters separting the male genitalia of sulphurea from those of other species. The markings and patches of the forewing are usually crisper than in intermixta and the yellow coloration of the forewing is slightly darker. A triangular basal brown patch is present in the forewing. Both male and female hindwings are suffused with brown, another useful feature separating sulphurea from intermixta. Wing length from base to apex: mean = 16.16 mm., standard deviation = 0.75 mm., n = 10.

The sister species of sulphurea appears to be Stiria sisaya Dyar from south-central Mexico. The two species are superficially close. The forewing median patch is usually mushroom-shaped in sisaya but quadrate in sulphurea. The forewing postmedial and antemedial lines are consistently present in sisaya, but often vague or absent in sulphurea. The brown suffusion of the hindwing is considerably darker in sisaya than in sulphurea.

Distribution: Stiria sulphurea ranges from western Texas, through southern and western New Mexico, and most of Arizona. It appears to be common in the mountains of southern Arizona. The forewing postmedial line varies from clearly present to totally absent. The patch of brown in the subterminal area also varies in strength from present to nearly absent. No clear geographical trend in this variation is obvious.

All adults have been collected in late summer and early autumn.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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