Additions to the plume moth fauna of The Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) with description of four new species
Author
Matthews, Deborah L.
Author
Miller, Jacqueline Y.
Author
Simon, Mark J.
Author
Goss, Gary J.
text
Insecta Mundi
2019
2019-06-07
708
708
1
35
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.3673602
a6c229ee-b814-4e3f-b836-a9209628f6b6
1942-1354
3673602
1A8C637A-412B-41E9-8395-EA92FA40A239
Hellinsia chlorias
(Meyrick, 1908)
Fig. 17
Diagnosis.
Similar to
H. paleaceus
with white to light buff forewing ground color and a small drab or fuscous spot at cleft base (may be diffuse) (
Fig. 17
). Hindwing pale drab. Distinguished from
H. paleaceus
by drab or fuscous scales marking terminus of forewing veins R
4
, R
5
, M
3
, Cu
1
, and Cu
2
. Left valve of male genitalia enlarged and bearing long curved saccular process (figured in
Matthews et al. 2012
). Female genitalia distinguished from related species by characteristic shape and sclerotization of tergite VIII anterior margin and anterior apophyses (
Bahamas
specimen not available, Florida specimen figured by
Matthews (1989)
as
Hellinsia
sp. B).
Life history.
Larvae are stem borers on
Croptilon divaricatum
(Nutt.) Raf.
,
Conyza canadensis
(L.) Cronquist, and
Heterotheca subaxillaris
(Lam.) Britton and Rusby
in Florida.
Conyza canadensis
occurs throughout most of
The Bahamas
(
Correll and Correll 1982
).
Distribution.
This species has been collected sporadically across the
USA
with most records from the southeastern states. In
The Bahamas
it is known from only one specimen collected on
Crooked Island
and was previously reported by
Matthews et al. (2012)
.
Comments.
No additional specimens have been collected in
The Bahamas
. The
Crooked Island
specimen (
Fig. 17
) has more scattered drab scales basad of the forewing cleft spot than is typical of Florida individuals but falls within the range of variation seen for the species.