PROCEEDINGS of the ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY of WASHINGTON NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOGRAMMA LEDERER, 1863 (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE: SPILOMELINAE): TYPE SPECIMENS AND IDENTITY OF SPECIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA M. ALMA SOLIS Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, National Museum of Natural History, E-517, MRC 168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, U.S.A. PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 112(3), 2010, pp. 451–463 NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOGRAMMA LEDERER, 1863 (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE: SPILOMELINAE): TYPE SPECIMENS AND IDENTITY OF SPECIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA M. ALMA SOLIS Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, National Museum of Natural History, E-517, MRC 168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected]) Abstract.—Type specimens or the type series of 27 North American Herpetogramma species names were located, mostly in European museums, verified, and dissected. Acharana descripta (Warren) is designated as a new synonym of Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Guene´e). Fifteen lectotypes and 14 paralectotypes are designated where it was deemed necessary to fix and stabilize the current concept of the name. A checklist and a key to nine North American species are provided with photographs of the adults. Key Words: checklist, lectotypes, pests, southern beet webworm, tropical sod webworm DOI: 10.4289/0013-8797.112.3.451 Herpetogramma Lederer is a crambid Macrobotys Munroe as a placeholder genus with over 108 described species for many of the species discussed in this worldwide. The North American spe- paper. Presumably after seeing more cies richness of nine species is small in type specimens and material, Munroe comparison to the world fauna (Table (1983) synonymized Macrobotys with 1). McDunnough (1939) established the Herpetogramma. Additionally, Munroe historical concept of North American (1983) consolidated 20 species names species assigned to Herpetogramma in into nine species. his North American checklist as a The identities of Herpetogramma polyphyletic group of species within species in Canada and United States Pyrausta Schrank. Since then the num- were unclear for many decades. The ber of species names has ballooned due moths are large and collected frequently to an over reliance on external charac- at light traps throughout the United ters and an abundance of brief, written States. Externally, most species are descriptions of new species in the 19th various shades of brown, and in the and early 20th century. In an early key there are three adjectives to de- attempt to create natural groups within scribe the three major shades: light Pyrausta, Munroe (1950) proposed brown, brown, and dark brown (Figs. * Edited by John W. Brown; accepted by Robert 1–15). Some species are highly variable R. Kula externally and were described several 452 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Table 1. North American Herpetograma (Munroe 1982, 1995) and current list. Munroe (1982, 1995) Solis (2009) aeglealis (Walker 1859) aeglealis (Walker 1859) quinquelinealis (Grote 1875) quinquelinealis (Grote 1875) bipunctalis (Fabricius 1794) bipunctalis (Fabricius 1794) detritalis (Guene´e 1854) detritalis (Guene´e 1854) lycialis (Walker 1859) lycialis (Walker 1859) philealis (Walker 1859) philealis (Walker 1859) repetitalis (Grote 1882) repetitalis (Grote 1882) terricolalis (Mo¨schler 1881) terricolalis (Mo¨schler 1881) centrostrigalis (Stephens 1834) centrostrigalis (Stephens 1834) fluctuosalis (Lederer 1863) fluctuosalis (Lederer 1863) ipomoealis (Capps 1964) ipomoealis (Capps 1964) phaeopteralis (Guene´e 1854) phaeopteralis (Guene´e 1854) vecordalis (Guene´e 1854) vecordalis (Guene´e 1854) vestalis (Walker 1859) vestalis (Walker 1859) additalis (Walker 1862) additalis (Walker 1862) plebejalis (Lederer 1863) plebejalis (Lederer 1863) cellatalis (Walker 1866) cellatalis (Walker 1866) communalis (Snellen 1875) communalis (Snellen 1875) intricatalis (Mo¨schler 1890) intricatalis (Mo¨schler 1890) descripta (Warren 1892) n. syn. theseusalis (Walker 1859) theseusalis (Walker 1859) thesealis Lederer 1863, emend. thesealis Lederer 1863, emend. feudalis (Grote 1875) feudalis (Grote 1875) pertextalis (Lederer 1863) pertextalis (Lederer 1863) thesealis (Zeller 1872) thesealis (Zeller 1872) part, not thesealis (Lederer 1863) part, not thesealis (Lederer 1863) gentilis (Grote 1873) gentilis (Grote 1873) genitalis (Grote 1873) genitalis (Grote 1873) Missp. of gentilis (Grote 1873) Missp. of gentilis (Grote 1873) abdominalis (Zeller 1872) abdominalis (Zeller 1872) fissalis (Grote 1881) fissalis (Grote 1882) thestealis (Walker 1859) thestealis (Walker 1859) magistralis (Grote 1873) magistralis (Grote 1873) gulosalis (Hulst 1886) gulosalis (Hulst 1886) times. The genitalia structures are very purpose was to verify externally the conservative, exhibiting only subtle synonymies associated with the senior differences among species. Many of name. A morphological study showed the type specimens were not studied genitalia characters to be conservative externally or dissected to more accu- as in many Spilomelinae (Crambidae). rately define their morphology. These characters will be discussed in a The purpose of this research was to review of Herpetogramma species. search for and locate type specimens, Photographs and a key for identifying determine their identity, and dissect North American Herpetogramma are them if necessary. Lectotypes and provided so that material can be incor- paralectotypes are designated where porated into a more thorough study in necessary to fix and stabilize the current the future, new species can be discov- concept of the name, and each was ered, and more accurate distributions labeled as described below. The second can be determined. VOLUME 112, NUMBER 3 453 MATERIALS AND METHODS deposited in the BMNH from the This study is based on the species ‘‘United States.’’ It has the following listed under Herpetogramma in North labels: ‘‘Type’’ [round green-bordered American (Munroe 1983) and Neotrop- label]; ‘‘U.S.’’ [round label]; ical checklists (Munroe 1995). Type ‘‘41.BOTYS AEGLEALIS’’ [clipped specimens are deposited at The Natural from Walker’s text]; ‘‘B.M. Pyralidae History Museum, London, England Genitalia slide No. 21200 [square (BMNH); National Museum of Natural label]’’; ‘‘BMNH(E) #846365’’ [oblong History, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. label]. (USNM); Naturhistorisches Museum Synonym.—Botis quinquelinealis Wien, Vienna, Austria (NMW); Rijks- Grote (1875: 231) was described pre- museum van Natuurlijke Historie, Lei- sumably from five Grote specimens den Museum, the Netherlands (RMNH); deposited in the BMNH. I hereby Zoologisches Museum, Humboldt Uni- designate as LECTOTYPE a male with versita¨t, Berlin, Germany (ZMHB); the following labels: ‘‘Botis 5-linealis, American Museum of Natural History, Grote, Type’’ in Grote’s handwriting New York, U.S.A. (AMNH); and Mu- [oblong red-bordered label]; ‘‘LECTO- seum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard TYPE, designated by, A. Solis, 2009 University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, [white label].’’ One PARALECTO- U.S.A. (MCZ). The search for type TYPE: 1 male, no locality label, ‘‘Botis, specimens associated with specific au- 5-linealis, Grote’’ in Grote’s handwrit- thors was facilitated by a very useful ing [oblong blue-bordered label]. The publication known as ‘‘Horn & Kahle’’ original description indicated that spec- (Horn et al. 1990) in which the history imens were collected in New York and of collections and photos of labels with Massachusetts. I found three males author’s handwriting are summarized. from New York in the BMNH, their Material was dissected as needed. labels with ‘‘Evans Centre, NY, July General distribution is based on speci- 1877, A. R. Grote, Coll.,’’ but the 1877 mens examined. A preliminary study of date implies that they were not part of host plant information with respect to the syntype series. I was unable to find H. pertextalis Lederer, H. abdominalis specimens from Massachusetts at the Zeller, H. thestealis Walker is based BMNH. only on specimens examined by the Remarks.—This species occurs in author at the USNM. The moths are eastern Canada and northeastern United highly variable externally, and Herpe- States as far west as Iowa and Louisi- togramma identifications in the litera- ana. Specimens in the USNM indicate ture may be incorrect. With the excep- that Solidago sp. (Asteraceae), raspber- tion of Allyson (1984) and Landry ry, and ferns are host plants. (1993, see H. pertextalis below), host plant data from the literature or any Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fabricius) database was not included in this paper (Figs. 4–5) and will be addressed in another paper. Phalaena bipunctalis Fabricius (1794: 232) was described from ‘‘Amer- RESULTS ica Insulis’’ [West Indies]. The type, Herpetogramma aeglealis deposited in the Zoological Museum, (Walker) Copenhagen, was not examined. (Figs. 1–3) Synonym.—Botys detritalis Guene´e Botis aeglealis Walker (1859: 565) (1854: 347) was described from seven was described from a male holotype specimens from ‘‘Bre´sil, Colombie, 454 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON VOLUME 112, NUMBER 3 455 Guyane.’’ There are six specimens in male, ‘‘Cayenne’’ in Guene´e’s handwrit- the USNM that likely are part of the ing [small, round white label]; ‘‘Ex type series. A search at the BMNH Musaeo, Ach Gue´ne´e’’ [oblong, white resulted in no other potential syntypes. I label]; ‘‘Oberthur Collection’’ [yellow hereby designate as LECTOTYPE