Ogdoconta tacna (Barnes)

Caradrina tacna Barnes, 1904, Canad. Ent., 36:167.

Diagnosis: The forewing of Ogdoconta tacna is gray-brown with a slight green tint. The species is separable from all other species of Ogdoconta in North America by a pattern of fine white lines and a light scattering of white scales over the forewing. In particular the orbicular spot and reniform spot spots are clearly outlined by fine, white lines. The postmedial line is mostly straight and oblique from the costa to the inner margin, although there is a slight outward pointing angulation near the bottom of the reniform spot spot. The postmedial line is accented with vague dark gray-green rectangles on its inner side. The subterminal area is slightly lighter than the terminal area and the subterminal line is irregular and dull white. The terminal line consists of a series of dark rectangles accented on their inner sides by white lines. The hindwing of the male is white with dark scales along the fringe and a dusting of dark scales along the costal margin. The female hindwing is more generally suffused with dark scales, but the white still shows through, particularly along the inner margin. The male genitalia are distinctive. The cucullar part of the valve is triangular, not ovate and there are a series of small knobs along the outer margin of the valve. The vesica of the aedoeagus is elongate, but in contrast to the other species in Ogdoconta there is a double-row of short, stubby spines in it. The female genitalia are also unique. The ostium is strongly sclerotized and the sclerotization extends the entire length of the ductus bursae. The appendix bursae contains a series of series of sclerotized rugosities. The end of the appendix bursae is not distinguishable from the beginning of the ductus seminalis. The caudal end of the corpus bursae contains the same sclerotized rugosities found in the appendix bursae. The corpus bursae is constricted at its juncture with the ductus bursae and appendix bursae, and is roughly globular below that.

Distribution: This species is known only from central and southeastern Texas. There is little if any variation in the species.

Adults have been collected in April and May and again in September and October.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

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