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Noctuidae - Condicinae - Condicini
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Condica charada (Schaus)
Diagnosis: This is the species refered to as Draudtia revellata in Hodges et al. (1983). The forewing of charada is a uniform medium gray and most of the maculation is obscure. The postmedial line is a lighter band accented very a very obscure set of dark gray and white dots on its outer side and a series of similarly obscure gray lunules on its inner side. The subterminal line is a lighter line and the subterminal area is usually, but not always, slightly lighter in color than the rest of the wing. The reniform spot is accented with a small white spot at its lower end and the white usually radiates out slightly along the veins crossing near the bottom of the reniform spot. The orbicular spot is usually obscure, but when visible is a small circle vaguely outlined with dull white. The claviform spot is absent. The male genitalia are unremarkable. The valve is thin and elongate, typical of the genus. The clasper is relatively short, triangular, and pointed at the apex. The tegumen is bulbous, ovate. The vesica of the aedoeagus has the usual long tail and two ventrally pointed diverticula, one somewhat longer than the other. The diverticula are bare. In the female genitalia the corpus bursae is elongate, approximately six to seven times longer than wide. The caudal end of the corpus bursae is not swollen. Distribution: This species has an extensive range in
the southwestern United States and southward. In the United States it
occurs in southern and central Texas, westward to the Big Bend region
of western Texas. The species has not been recorded from New Mexico, but
undoubtely occurs in the southern regions of that state. In Arizona it
has been collected in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, but has also
been collected in Mohave County in western Arizona. The species occurs
in Mexico and has also been collected in Guatemala. Males tend to have
the basal half of the hindwing distinctly lighter than the dark shaded
outer margin, but in females the hindwing is uniformly suffused with dull
gray. Within a population there is variation in the color of the forewing.
Although most individuals are a uniform gray, a few individuals are shaded
with areas of slightly violet brown. These individuals have a particularly
prominent subterminal line and the subterminal area tends to contrast
more with the rest of the wing than in the uniformly gray individuals.
Individuals from central Texas tend to be slightly smaller than populations
in other parts of the range of charada including those from western
Texas. These individuals are also consistently uniform gray without the
slightly purple tint sometimes found elsewhere in the range of the species. Identification Quality: Excellent Larva: Unknown Foodplants: There is a single specimen in the USNM reared from a larva feeding on the leaves of Baccharis neglecta (Asteraceae).
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Condica charada
The ductus bursae of charada is about two to three times longer than wide in charada, but four to five times longer than wide in andrena. There do not seem to be any consistent differences between the male genitalia of the two species. However on the whole the apex of the valve of andrena is somewhat quadrate (i.e. with an angulation along the outer margin near the apex), but not quadrate in charada. This species is most likely to be confused with leucorena. The differences between the two species are discussed under leucorena. Although clearly the sister species of andrena, the black forewing coloration and distinct range of andrena will readily separate it from charada. Within the range of this species charadra is most likely to be confused with leucorena and andrena. This species occurs with leucorena in Arizona, New Mexico, and presumably northern Mexico. In this area of overlap charada is a distinctly larger species (forewing expanse from apex to base 17-18 mm.) than leucorena (forewing expanse from base to apex 14-15 mm. Superfically the two species are very similar. However charada is on the whole darker and the maculation slightly more distinct. In particular the reniform spot of charada consists of a central dark lunule as in leucorena, but the lunule is surrounded by a lighter ring. The orbicular spot is always present and consists of a light ovate patch. In leucorena the reniform spot consists of a dark lunule, but this lunule is never surrounded by a distinct, light ring. The orbicular spot is usually absent, but if present contains a dark central dot. |
Similar Species
Condica andrena
Condica leucorena |
