Microledrida fuscata Van Duzee, 1914

Microledrida fuscata Van Duzee, 1914 View in CoL

( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 )

Material examined. Lectotype: “ San Diego Co., / 3-11-’14 Cal / E.P.VanDuzee // LECTOTYPE fuscata [red paper] // LECTOTYPE Microledrida / fuscata Van D. / [designated] By J.P. Kramer // EPVanDuzee / Collection” (1♂, CASC, CASTYPE 2253 ) . Paralectotype: Same information as lectotype, plus “Fuscata figs. 58-60” [yellow paper], AMNH_IZN 00300689 [2D barcode] (1♂, USNM) .

Additional material: USA: Arizona, Yarnell Hts., 27.VIII.1935, E.D. Ball, (1♂, 1♀; UDCC, barcode UDCC _ TCN 00003435 View Materials , UDCC _ TCN 00003436 View Materials , respectively); Same , 20.VIII.1929 (1♀, USNM, barcode AMNH_IZC 00300687); Santa Cruz Co., Patagonia, 31.540223, -110.731370, 19.VIII.2018, Jason T. Botz (photographs of a specimen by Salvador Vitanza, gender not recorded) GoogleMaps . Texas, Dimmit Co., Catarina, 3.VI.1953. P.W. Oman (2♀, USNM); Cameron Co. , Brownsville , 2.I.1932, E.D. Ball, Fuscata figs. 61-63 [yellow paper] AMNH_IZN 00300688 [2D barcode] (1♂, USNM) . Mexico: Hidalgo; None or Unknown ; Mexico City Area; 1940s (1♂, UKIC) .

Identification. Van Duzee (1914); Kramer (1983).

Distribution. Mexico (Baja California, Sonora), USA (Arizona, California, Texas) ( Bartlett et al. 2014).

Remarks. The studied material of M. fuscata exhibits high variation, both in the external habitus and male terminalia. This is evident also from Kramer’s (1983: 34) assessment of the species, where forms from San Diego County, CA (the lectotype) and Brownsville, TX were illustrated. The illustrated specimens from these localities differ greatly in the form of the phallothecal processes. Additionally, material studied from Yarnell, AZ (determined by Lois O’Brien) was compared to the lectotype; this form differs greatly in colouration. Morphological study of the taxa of the southwestern U.S. is needed to determine whether M. fuscata represents a single species or rather several reproductively isolated taxa.