Noctuidae - Psaphidinae - Nocloini

 

 

 

Redingtonia alba Barnes and McDunnough 1912

Redingtonia alba Barnes and McDunnough, 1912, Canad. Ent., 44: 91.

Diagnosis: Redingtonia alba is an easily recognized species. The fore-shortened prothoracic segments, their irregular spination, and the very large tarsal claws immediately identify the genus as a member of the Nocloini. The forewings are pure white without any maculation. The frontal process is distinctive, although similar in basic structure to species placed in the Azeniini. The outer ring is absent. There is a lower tridentate plate. The medial process of this tridentate plate is much longer and more triangular than the two lateral projections. This central projection is connected by a medial lamina to an elongate, almost nose-shaped, dorsal process. The outer ring is absent. The combination of the strongly developed frontal process and a mass of shaggy hair-like scales on the occiput of the head given the head a large, protuberant quality difficult to describe in words. The forewings have a more rectangular than triangular or round appearance, a quality that should be apparent in the color figure. Wing length: mean = 13.79 mm, standard deviation = 0.59 mm, n = 10.

Distribution: Redingtonia alba is rare in collections. Most specimens have been collected in Cochise and Pima counties in southeastern Arizona. The species is also known from southwestern New Mexico and from southern Navajo county in Arizona. There is no noticeable variation in this species.

Adults have been collected in July, August, and early September.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

Redingtonia alba

Redingtonia alba might be confused with Nocloini New Genus 4 pura or Nocloini New Genus 1 tripuncta. The forewings of neither of these species are pure white, and both have some yellow, obscure maculation with one or more dark dots. The frontal process of both of these latter species is essentially round and does not consist of the complicated system of plates and projections found in Redingtonia alba. This species is most likely to be confused with Sexserrata hampsoni Barnes and Benjamin, a genus and species placed in the Azeniini. Both species are pure white and the frontal processes are similar in structure. The absence of the typical Nocloini prothoracic leg will immediately eliminate Sexserrata from the Nocloini. Sexserrata hampsoni is consistently smaller than Redingtonia alba.

Similar Species

Nocloini New Genus 1 tripuncta

Nocloini New Genus 4 pura

Sexserrata hampsoni