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Photo#1243950
Psara dryalis

Psara dryalis
Davis Mountains (private ranch), Jeff Davis County, Texas, USA
June 5, 2016
Size: FW 13 mm.
I can find no definitive info on how to separate this SW species from the more widespread P. obscuralis. Only dryalis is mapped in West Texas--and specifically in Jeff Davis County--on MPG. Ph. at a porchlight on a private ranch; elev. 4700 ft.

Psara issues, esp in w TX
I checked out Psara obscuralis and P. dryalis at USNM last night. In our collection we have dryalis only from AZ, while obscuralis is reported widely in the southeast extending into TX, mostly the eastern part of the state. Over most of the range, coloration seems to separate the two species: the eastern obscuralis being a drab brown, while dryalis is bright yellow to a burnt umber/yellowish brown and often has an iridescent sheen. It is in TX that the wicket get sticky, as several specimens from there are almost equally yellow to the AZ material. I could see no other consistent superficial differences between the two species. My guess is that there is no information available on the genitalia of each species. For now, I guess we should call AZ material dryalis, and eastern material obscuralis. It would be desirable to obtain material from west TX and NM (if any exists). I would be happy to receive it and put it on my list of projects.

 
West Texas
Thanks for the additional research, Hugh. As you are likely aware, the ecology of West Texas is much more closely related to AZ than to east Texas, and this is a standard starting framework for my ID efforts for unusual/uncommon specimens in that region. I pay more attention to biogeographical realms than to political boundaries when trying to ID such material.

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