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
Sphenarches anisodactylus
(Walker, 1864)
Fig. 8
,
45
Diagnosis.
This species is distinguished from other
Bahamas
plume moths by the wing patterns and markings of the abdomen and hind tibia (
Fig. 8
). Forewing cream buff with alternating white, cinnamondrab, and drab gray bands, second lobe with acute apex and distinctly excavate termen, cleft fringe with mixed white and fuscous spatulate scales. Hindwing cinnamon-drab except third lobe cream buff with a distinct double scale tooth on anal margin (minute scale cluster at apex subtended by larger triangular scale tuft), and scattered white and fuscous spatulate scales in fringes (
Fig. 8
). Hind tibia with cinnamon-drab scale tufts at spurs, basal part before proximal spur pair white with alternating oblique cinnamon-drab and white band before tuft, without narrow longitudinal stripe on basal part as seen in
Megalorhipida leucodactylus
(Fabricius)
and
Dejongia californicus
(Walsingham)
which have similar banding of forewings. Female genitalia (
Fig. 45
) characterized by a long narrow ductus bursae inserted into a tubular sclerotized collar with an excavate anterior. Male genitalia (
Bahamas
specimen not available, see illustration in
Gielis (2006))
with symmetrical ovate valvae and tegumen distally with acute apex subtended by stout recurved uncus.
Pinned material examined.
BAHAMAS
:
New Providence Island
:
W
Bay St.
&
Indigo Dr.
,
Orange Hill Inn
, 25.065479°, −77.457172°,
21.vii.2015
, DLM (
1 ♀
)
;
North Andros
:
Stafford Creek
(Love at First Sight motel), 24.901449°, −77.936089°,
28.x.2011
, DLM, MJS, JYM, GJG, MGCL
Acc. No.
2011-32
(
1 ♀
, slide DM 2158)
.
Life history.
This species is polyphagous with larval hosts recorded from nine families, especially
Fabaceae
and
Cucurbitaceae (
Matthews and Lott 2005
)
.
Distribution.
Pantropical. In
The Bahamas
, known from New Providence Island and previously reported from North Andros (
Matthews et al. 2012
).
Comments.
As noted by
Matthews et al. (2012)
,
Bahamas
specimens thus far observed have a somewhat paler ground color and lack the bold ochraceous-tawny coloration of mainland specimens.