Phyciodes (Phyciodes): more progress
Date
2006-04-28
Authors
Scott, James A., author
James A. Scott, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Recent modest findings in Phyciodes are reported. P. tharos tharos older larvae are not always blacker than P. cocyta, although they average darker. P. tharos tharos in eastern U.S. sometimes has orange antenna nudum, even as far south as SW Mississippi where orange is slightly more frequent than black. Study of mitochondrial DNA by Wahlberg et al. suggests that P. tharos is a distinct species that has received little genetic influx from P. cocyta, while P. cocyta, P. batesii, and P. pulchella have enormous overlapping variation in mtDNA due to ancient variability plus some later introgression with each other and with P. tharos. P. (cocyta) diminutor has been found in northern Ohio, based on are examination of P. "tharos" specimens used in an electrophoresis study by Porter & Mueller. That study came to the erroneous conclusion that P. tharos and P. cocyta are conspecific, but actually found that Mich. P. cocyta could be conspecific (based on electrophoresis alone) with (misidentified) Ohio P. (cocyta) diminutor. Orange-antenna populations previously reported from Penn. and vicinity are probably mostly P. (cocyta) diminutor. The species/subspecies status of three cocyta-group taxa are discussed: P. diminutor could be a species, and diminutor and incognitus could be conspecific, and all three could be ssp. of P. cocyta (a lot of rearing will be needed to determine their status). A neotype of P. cocyta selenis is designated. P. cocyta arenacolor is a valid local subspecies. A synonym of P. batesii batesii (maconensis) is discussed. P. batesii lakota rarely has orange antenna club. A conclusive history of the travels and owners of the lectotype/neotype Phyciodes pulchella has now been finalized, including the discovery that Foster Hendrickson Benjamin actually wrote the "a/c [according to] Hofer [Carl Hofer]" labels found on numerous Boisduval specimens, in 1925. Other corrections involving Boisduval types are made. The pupal cremaster width of P. pulchella pulchella is studied further and averages not as small as previously thought, though it may average smaller. P. pulchella near pulchella populations from the E slope of the southern Sierra Nevada show past introgression from ssp. camillus, as do some intergrading synonyms in Nevada. Other recent synonymies are discussed and presented in a completely annotated synonymic checklist. More larval/pupal descriptions are presented. Improved identification/description tables are given.
Description
April 28, 2006.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 28-29).
Includes bibliographical references (pages 28-29).
Rights Access
Subject
Butterflies
Lepidoptera