Amphiphala Roberts and Sabourin, 2024

Amphiphala Roberts and Sabourin , new genus

Type species. Amphiphala liatriana Roberts and Sabourin , new species.

Diagnosis. Superficially, the three known species of Amphiphala are virtually indistinguishable, with a yellow ochre forewing ground color that features a dark brown, subtriangular median fascia, narrowest at the costa and broadened to the hind margin, and a dark tawny, slightly sinuous, narrow, incomplete preapical fascia ( Fig. 3–6 View Figures 1–6 ). The forewing pattern alone serves to distinguish the genus from superficially similar North American Cochylina, except Cochylichroa hospes . In C. hospes ( Fig. 1, 2 View Figures 1–6 ), the intersection of the medial fascia with the costa is usually slightly narrower than in Amphiphala , often subtly isolating a small, pale, somewhat rounded region at the costa beyond the median fascia that is conspicuous in series of specimens but less so in individuals; the base of the triangular fascia is usually slightly broader at the hind margin; the fascia is usually dark brown in Amphiphala and more dark reddish brown in C. hospes ; and the preapical fascia is less defined. However, these pattern elements are rather variable, and hence, often unreliable for accurate identification, especially in flight-worn specimens.

The male genitalia of Amphiphala ( Fig. 7–10 View Figures 7–11 ) are distinguished from those of all other Cochylina by the highly modified, tripartite valva, represented by three distinct elements: 1) an isolated, long, crescent-shaped costal portion (possibly representing the fusion of the socii with the costa of the valva) widely separated from 2) a longer, slenderer, somewhat digitate, saccular portion, and 3) a median process (of uncertain homology) arising from the juxta or attached to the dorsal corners of the juxta, extending parallel to (but not fused with) the vinculum to the lateral junction with the transtilla and tegumen, and with a long, curved, attenuate process near its tenuous connection with base of the sacculus ( Fig. 7–10 View Figures 7–11 ). The median process may possibly be homologous with a furca (of the juxta); however, its attachment to the juxta is uncertain. The female genitalia ( Fig. 12–16 View Figures 12–17 ) are characterized by an unusual, large, recurved, rounded or subquadrate, lobe-like process ventrad to the ostium. In addition, a signum and other conspicuous sclerotization of the corpus bursae are absent, a feature shared with a few other cochyline genera.

Owing to the highly modified valva in the male genitalia, it is difficult to identify the putative sister genus of Amphiphala . Some species of Ceratoxanthis Razowski (e.g., C. argentomixtana (Staudinger) and C. externana (Eversmann)) (see Razowski 1970: fig. 141, 142) and Fulvoclysia Obraztsov (see Razowski 1970: fig. 144, 145) have an elongate process of the juxta (i.e., a furca) that is reminiscent of the median process of the valva in Amphiphala , but the homology of the features between those genera and Amphiphala is uncertain (see Discussion below). In addition, Cochylis caulocatax Razowski and C. sierramastre Razowski and Becker have a digitate median process of valva that is similar of that of Amphiphala . Nevertheless, DNA barcodes (the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I) place Amphiphala closest (3.21% difference) to C. hospes , with which it is superficially most similar as well.

Description. Head. Vertex with a pair of sublateral, fan-shaped clusters of scales meeting at the mid-line of the head; scaling on frons bushy, ascending; ocellus well developed; chaetosemata present; antennae ca. 0.5 length of forewing, with 37–39 flagellomeres, short ciliate in male, cilia virtually absent in female; labial palpus porrect, all segments combined ca. 1.5 times diameter of compound eye; haustellum present, presumably functional; maxillary palpus minute, two-segmented.

Thorax. Dorsum smooth scaled, tegula conspicuous, metathoracic tuft short; legs unmodified, without secondary sex scales in male. Forewing relatively narrow, length ca. 3.0 times width; median fascia complete from costa to hind margin; preapical fascia narrow, incomplete. All veins present and separate; R 1 from middle of discal cell; R 5 to costa, R 4 to termen; origin of M 2 closer to M 3 than to M 1; M 3 and Cu 1 approximate at base; Cu 2 arising ca. 0.67 length of discal cell; CuP absent; A 1 and A 2 separate in basal ca. 0.5. Hindwing trapezoidal, widening distad, with costa straight in basal 0.66, then slightly convex; male with costal roll of sex scales, extending ca. 0.6 wing length, enclosing hairpencil; Sc fused with Rs ca. 0.67 length of discal cell, extending abruptly to costa at ca. 0.33 of wing in male; Sc separated from Rs in female; male frenulum with one bristle, female with two.

Abdomen. Without modified sex scales. Male genitalia ( Fig. 7–10 View Figures 7–11 ) with tegumen broad; uncus small, sparsely setose; socius small, thumb-shaped; transtilla broad with well-developed median process, with two to eight short apical teeth, lateral extremities of transtilla forming anteriorly folded lobes; vinculum stout, sulcate, recurved, continuous with outer basal membrane of ventral process of valva; valva tripartite: dorsal portion (representing costa or fused costa and socius) long, setose, broadly crescent-shaped, tapering to rounded apex, with sclerotized dorsal margin; ventral portion (representing sacculus) elongate-digitate, slightly tapered distally, with slightly concave dorsal margin; third portion a broad-based, heavily sclerotized, sickle-shaped process (possibly homologous with a furca) extending from juxta to basal membrane of ventral part of transtilla; juxta broad, shield-like; phallus robust, long, straight or weakly curved in distal 0.4, attenuate and pointed apically; vesica with variable number of small non-capitate, non-deciduous cornuti and a small plate. Female genitalia ( Fig. 12–16 View Figures 12–17 ) with papillae anales slender, setose, fused at posterior end of lobes; apophyses slender, ca. 2 times length of papillae anales; lamella postvaginal a broad band posteriorly, with median suture (absent in A. carolana ), well-sclerotized, arched, with rough margin, sparsely setose, with long, attenuate sublateral arms flanking ostial plate; ostium round with thickened margin, concealed by anterior end of unusual, large, recurved, rounded or subquadrate, lobe-like process ventrad to ostium ( Fig. 13 View Figures 12–17 ), with ( A. liatriana and A. landryana ) or without ( A. carolana ) paired sublateral sclerites; ductus bursae short, broad, weakly differentiated from corpus bursae, often spiculate; corpus bursae irregularly oblong, lacking signum and other sclerotization; accessory bursae from long, slender ductus, arising from ductus bursae near ostium; corpus bursae large, ovate, delicately spiculate throughout, lacking signum.

DNA barcodes. A specimen of A. liatriana from the type locality submitted to the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University (JWB-DNA-21-035) failed to yield sequence data. Of two specimens of A. carolana (CCDB-30812-H02 and CCDB-29467-H06) submitted to the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Guelph University, the first yielded only 250 bp and the second yielded no sequence data. We assume the lack of sequence data is the result of the age (>20 years) of the specimens. However, the female holotype of A. landryana has a fulllength barcode (BOLD: AAB3055) that is 3.21% different from that of C. hospes (BOLD: AAB3054).

Biology and distribution. Amphiphala comprises three species, two of which exhibit rather disjunct distributions: A. liatriana from Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the midwestern U.S. (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin); and A. carolana from midwestern U.S. (Illinois, Missouri) and Mississippi. Owing to subtle variation in structures of the genitalia (some geographic, but others possibly artifacts of slidemounting), it is possible that one or more cryptic species are hidden within the three species we circumscribe. Hence, we have restricted the type series to specimens from Maine for A. liatriana , Manitoba for A. landryana , and Missouri and Illinois for A. carolana .

The genus may be associated with remnant prairie or savannah habitat throughout its range. Amphiphala liatriana appears to be univoltine at its type locality in Maine, but appears to be bivoltine in the southern portion of its range (e.g., North Carolina). Amphiphala carolana is likely bivoltine with cumulative capture records from late June to early October. Amphiphala liatriana has been reared from northern blazing star, Liatris scariosa ( Asteraceae ), on numerous occasions in Maine, and this is the only documented host plant for the genus.

Etymology. Amphiphala is a Latinized Greek feminine noun for a two-horned ancient warrior’s helmet and refers to the median process of the valva, characteristic of the genus.