Noctuidae - Psaphidinae - Triocnemidini

 

 

 

Triocnemidini New Genus 2 primula (Barnes and McDunnough)

"Oncocnemis primula"

Oncocnemis primula Barnes and McDunnough, 1918, Contrib. Nat. Hist. Lep. N. Am., 4(2): 100, pl. 17, figure 3.

Diagnosis: Triocnemidini New Genus 2 primula is moderately distinctive species of the Mohave Desert region of the United States. On superficial characters it looks like a Oncocnemis. In particular the eyes are lashed, and there is a strong foretibial claw. On genitalic characters, however, it falls in this tribe and is allied to Triocnemis and Triocnemidini New Genus 3. A character apparently restricted to these three genera is the structure of the foretibial claw. In addition to the strong claw and its continuance up the distal edge of the tibia as a knife-like plate, there is a secondary claw proximal to the main claw, not distal to it as in genera in the Oncocnemidini. The forewing is elongate and it has the basic appearance of a yellowish Psaphida. The forewing is basically a dark cream or yellowish white with the median area suffused with black in the upper half and often in the lower half as well. The reniform spot is a large cream colored blotch but the orbicular spot is a black dot surrounded by a wide cream colored ring. The hindwing wing is white with a black dot in the tornus..

Adults have all been collected in the spring.

Distribution: This species is abundant in the Mohave Desert region of southern California. However a few specimens have been collected in Mohave County, Arizona. Presumably it occurs in southern Nevada as well. There is little variability in the species except for a slight variance in the amount of black suffusion in the median area of the forewing.

Identification Quality: Excellent

Larva: Unknown

Foodplants: Unknown

 

Triocnemidini new genus 3 primula

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