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Schinia varix new species
382
Accepted: 5 December 2003; published: 12 December 2003

1
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN

1175-5334

(online edition)
Copyright © 2003 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 382: 1 7 (2003)
www.mapress.com
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zootaxa
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A new species of Schinia Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Helio-
thinae) from Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana
ED KNUDSON
1
, CHARLES BORDELON
1
& MICHAEL G. POGUE
2
1
Texas Lepidoptera Survey, 8517 Burkhart Rd., Houston, TX 77055, USA; eknudson@earthlink.net;
legitintellexit@earthlink.net
2
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, c/o
Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, NMNH, MRC-168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
mpogue@sel.barc.usda.gov
Abstract
Schinia varix, new species, is described, illustrated, and compared to similar species. Male and
female adults and genitalia are figured. Comparative adults of S. siren (Strecker), S. roseitincta
(Harvey), and S. antonio (Smith) also are figured.
Key words: Schinia varix, Schinia siren, Schinia roseitincta, Schinia antonio
, Asteraceae, Big
Thicket National Preserve, Texas Nature Conservancy
Introduction
The recent monograph on the Heliothinae of North America (Hardwick 1996) did not
include this new species of Schinia, Schinia varix, new species. Because of this omission,
we decided to describe this species to make the name available for the Texas Lepidoptera
Survey. Beginning in 1944 a series of S. varix was collected in eastern Texas. Subsequent
material was collected in Louisiana and Oklahoma.
From 19941997, Knudson and Bordelon accumulated a moderate-sized series of S.
varix from various locations along road and trail margins within, or adjacent to, Big
Thicket National Preserve in southeastern Texas. In other areas of Texas, S. varix was col-
lected in the vicinity of mature beech-loblolly pine forest, pine savannah, and bay-gall-
berry bogs. Examples from Oklahoma were collected in oak-hickory areas.
Attempts were made to discover the biology of this species. The closely related spe-
cies S. siren (Strecker) and S. antonio (Smith) both use Asteraceae as larval host plants. By
searching and sweeping various Asteraceae in habitats where specimens of S. varix were KNUDSON ET AL.
2


© 2003 Magnolia Press
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ZOOTAXA
collected at lights, we hoped to collect larvae and determine the host, but we were not suc-
cessful. The suspected larval host is a Gaillardia species (Asteraceae). The distribution of
S. varix conforms to the distribution of this plant genus in humid habitats. No attempts
were made to induce confined females to oviposit.
Abbreviations
BITH: Big Thicket National Preserve, Beaumont, TX
CEH: Charles E. Harp private collection, Littleton, CO
CWB: Charles W. Bordelon private collection, Houston, TX
LSU: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
MSU: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
RSP:
Richard S. Peigler private collection, San Antonio, TX
TAMU: Texas A&M University collection of Insects and Spiders, College Station, TX
TLS:
Texas Lepidoptera Survey, Houston, TX
USNM: National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
VAB: Vernon A. Brou, Jr. private collection, Abita Springs, LA.
Schinia varix Knudson, Bordelon and Pogue, new species
(Figs. 12, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15)
Diagnosis.
Maculation: Forewing pattern is similar to that of S. siren (Figs. 34), except
that the darker basal and subterminal areas are a rich, reddish purple (maroon) in varix and
orange to greenish yellow in siren. The median paler area is wider in siren than in varix
and is more heavily shaded with the basal and subterminal coloring in the females of both
siren and varix. The basal area of the male hindwing is black in varix with no trace of the
basal white scaling present in siren. The hindwing fringe is immaculate white in siren and
cream with a dark inner band in varix. The wings undersurface in varix is similar in gen-
eral pattern to those of siren, but in varix, the pale areas are strongly suffused with reddish
purple, whereas in siren, they are white to pale yellow. Abdomen: Males of siren have
prominent, eversible, hair pencils, with scent pockets on sternite 2. Males of varix have
only vestigial scent pockets.

Male genitalia:

The uncus is short in varix,

approximately

2/3
the length of the uncus in siren. The outer margin of the valve is slightly angulate at 2/3
length in varix and more smoothly curved in siren. The coronal spines are heavier and
extend about 15% of valve length from apex along the outer margin of the valve in siren
and are thinner and extend about 10% of valve length from apex along the outer margin of
the valve in varix. The ampulla is shorter in varix than in siren. The vesica is shorter in
varix with 3 coils and longer in siren with 3 1/2 coils. Female genitalia: The ovipositor
lobe in varix has a slightly more pointed apex; the apex is more rounded in siren. The
signa is not as well developed in varix, but in siren it is more conspicuous. © 2003 Magnolia Press



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SCHINIA VARIX N. SP.
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ZOOTAXA
FIGURES 16.
Adults. 1, Schina varix, Holotype male. 2, Schinia varix, paratype female, Texas,
Hardin Co., RE Larsen Sandyland Preserve. 3, Schinia siren, male, Texas, Hardin Co., RE Larsen
Sandyland Preserve. 4, Schinia siren, female, Texas, Briscoe Co., Caprock Canyon State Park. 5,
Schinia roseitincta, male, Texas, El Paso Co., W. Montana Hwy. 6, Schinia antonio, male, Texas,
McMullen Co., 18 mi N of Freer.
Description:
MALE: Head: Front and vertex yellow orange, antenna and palpus yel-
low orange; ventral lip of frons slightly projected; eye large and globular. Thorax: Yellow
orange, clothed dorsally with long hairlike scales; legs yellow orange; foretibia with one
inner and one outer pair of heavy spines and a variable number of smaller spines dorsal to
these; underside with shiny white flat scales and yellow-orange hairlike scales. Abdomen:
Yellow orange, but slightly lighter than thorax; sternite 2 with lateral vestigial scent pock-
ets. Forewing: Length 8.610.2 mm, average 9.6 mm (n = 12). Dorsally with extreme base
clothed with long yellowish, hairlike scales, which partially obscure a small basal patch of
lead-colored scales; basal third to antemedial line reddish purple (maroon); antemedial
1
2
3
4
5
6 KNUDSON ET AL.
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© 2003 Magnolia Press
382
ZOOTAXA
line obscure, pale yellow, angled outwardly over cell; median third pale yellowish, vari-
ably shaded with darker scales; orbicular spot absent; postmedian line pale yellow,
obscure, slightly expanded at costal margin, gently sinuate from outer 1/3 of costa to inner
1/3 of inner margin; subterminal space maroon, variably spotted with blackish scales,
especially near tornus; subterminal line obscure, yellowish, somewhat dentate; terminal
space brownish, variably suffused with maroon scales; terminal line absent; fringe yellow-
ish white with dark inner band. Ventrally blackish, with costal margin and apex maroon,
inner margin pale yellowish. Hindwing: Dorsally black, with extreme costal margin to
outer 1/3, pale yellow; fringe whitish yellow, with dark inner band. Ventrally with costal 2/
3 maroon, anal 1/3 black. Genitalia (Figs. 9, 11): Uncus short (0.3 X valve length), robust.
Valve of medium width (length 6.25 X width), costal margin slightly angulate at approxi-
mately 2/3 length; ampulla short (0.03 X valve length); corona at apical 10% of valve
length; sacculus well developed and 1/3 length of valve; ventral margin produced. Aedoe-
agus slightly curved; vesica with 3 coils and minute spicules.
FEMALE: As in male except forewing length 8.910.2 mm, average 9.6 mm (n = 8);
maculation of forewing darker maroon; median space narrower, more suffused with
maroon and blackish scales; antemedial and postmedial lines better defined. Genitalia
(Figs. 13, 15): Papillae anales broadly rounded, apex broadly rounded. Seventh segment
longer than eighth; short setae randomly scattered. Eighth segment with fine spicules.
Ductus bursae moderately elongate, approximately 1 1/4 times length of corpus bursae.
Appendix bursae with 3 coils. Corpus bursae ovate; signa composed of 2 faint scobinate
bars.
Type material.
HOLOTYPE: Male, Texas, Hardin Co., Big Thicket National Pre-
serve, Turkey Creek Unit, Kirby Nature trail (HQTRS), 4 Oct. 1994, collected by Ed
Knudson. Deposited in USNM.
PARATYPES: LOUISIANA: Bossier Parish, Barksdale A.F.B., 14 Sep. 1996 (5
males), R. L. Brown, shortleaf pine forest (MSU). Natchitoches Parish, Red Dirt National
Wildlife Refuge, Kisatchie National Forest, 6 Sep. 2002 (31 males, 3 females), V. A. Brou
(VAB). Vernon Parish, Kisatchie National For