A Subspecific Assessment of the Genus Hesperia (Hesperiinae) in Eastern North America (Part I: The South): New Subspecies of Hesperia metea, Hesperia sassacus and Hesperia meskei

Authors

Ronald R. Gatrelle, International Lepidoptera Survey
Marc C. Minno, Gainesville, Florida, United States
Alex Grkovish, Peabody, Massachusetts, United States

Date of this Version

7-5-2003

Document Type

Article

Citation

Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey (July 5, 2003) 4(3): 1-7

Also available at https://lepsurvey.carolinanature.com/ttr/ttr-4-3.pdf

Mainly authored by Gatrelle with sections by Minno and Grkovich

Comments

Copyright 2003, International Lepidoptera Survey. Open access material

License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-SA-NC 4.0 International)

Abstract

Hesperia meskei pinocayo Gatrelle and Minno is described from Big Pine Key, Monroe County, Florida, United States. This subspecies is thought to be nearly extinct. Its mainland status is uncertain. It is characterized by bi-colored ventral hindwings with more prominent ventral hindwing spots. Hesperia metea intermedia Gatrelle is described from Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. Its range is from northwestern South Carolina, United States west through Mississippi, United States and probably into Missouri, United States. Males have the least dorsal fulvous of the metea subspecies; ventrally they are well marked. Females are similar to subspecies licinus. Hesperia sassacus nantahala Gatrelle and Grkovich is described from Clay County, North Carolina, United States. It is often boldly spotted on the ventral hind wing especially in females. The ventral ground color is often dark mottled brown in both sexes rather than yellowish as in the nominate subspecies. Its known range is the southern Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina, United States. but likely extends from northern Georgia to West Virginia, United States.