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 Adaina ambrosiae (Murtfeldt, 1880) Fig. 24 , 36a, b , 58 , 67–71 Diagnosis. Distinguished from A. perplexus by the usually darker, mottled fuscous and white ground color and fuscous lateral patches on abdominal segments A4 and A5. Male genitalia with a small circular sclerotized disc protruding from the ventral margin of the right valve near the apex which can often be seen without dissecting specimens ( Fig. 36a ). Female genitalia with a short stout ductus bursae and broad irregularly shaped corpus bursae without signa ( Fig. 58 ). Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS : Abaco : Central Abaco , vic. Wilson City , 26.372500°, −77.010667°, 3.vi.2016 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, ex. leaves of Neurolaena lobata ( 2 ♂ , 1 ♀ ) ; South Abaco , Schooner Bay Institute, 26.161333°, −77.187667°, 31.x.2014 , DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♂ ) ; Schooner Bay , coppice trail, 26.167000°, −77.181167°, 6.vi.2016 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, ex. Melanthera leaves ( 1 ♂ ) ; vic. ferry landing SE of Lobster Rd. , 25.995000°, −77.398500°, 1.xi.2014 , ex. Melanthera , DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♀ ) ; Eleuthera Island : 4.3 mi. S of Palmetto Pt. , 25.109584°, −76.151370°, 29.vi.2014 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata ( 9 ♂ , 10 ♀ ) ; Grand Bahama Island : Lucayan National Park , S of Grand Bahama Hwy. , 26.602538°, −78.400230°, 25.x.2014 , ex. Melanthera sp., DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♂ ) ; S of Owl’s Hole , 26.583820°, −78.467092°, 28.x.2014 , ex. leaves of N. lobata , DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 3 ♂ , 3 ♀ ) ; Long Island : Deadman’s Cay , vic. airport, 23.175500°, −75.096333°, 29.v.2014 , ex. Melanthera sp., DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG ( 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ ) ; San Salvador Island : 0.25 mi. W of Gerace Research Centre , 24.119145°, −74.469955°, 12.vi.2018 , JYM, DLM ( 1 ♂ ) ; Brandy Hill Road , SE of lighthouse, 24.090794°, −74.440046°, 13.vi.2018 , DLM, JYM ( 1 ♂ , 2 ♀ , slide DM 2153) ; Gerace Research Centre , Alfred Pike Trail , 24.117166°, −74.463864°, 10.vi.2018 , DLM, JYM, ex. leaves of Wedalia bahamensis ( 1 ♂ ) ; Gerace Research Centre , vic. Water Tanks , 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 22.vii.2015 , DLM, TAL, R.W. Portell ( 1 ♂ , slide DM 2162, 1 ♀ ) ; same location, 11.vi.2018 , JYM, DLM ( 1 ♀ ) . Preserved material examined. BAHAMAS : Abaco : Central Abaco , Public Beach access of Treasure Cay Road, 26.696815°, −77.303424°, 7.vi.2016 DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of Neurolaena lobata (3 L); vic. Wilson City, 26.372500°, −77.010667°, 3.vi.2016 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata (4 L); South Abaco, Schooner Bay Institute, 26.161333°, −77.187667°, 30.x.2014 , DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, on leaves of N. lobata (15 L); same location, 1.vi.2016 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata (1 L); same data except 4.vi.2016 (1 L); vic. ferry landing SE of Lobster Rd., 25.995000°, −77.398500°, 4.vi.2014 , DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata (1 L); same data except on leaves of Melanthera (1 L); Eleuthera Island: 4.3 mi. S of Palmetto Point, 25.109584°, −76.151370°, 29.vi.2014 , JYM, MJS, GJG, DLM, larvae feeding on leaves of N. lobata (10 L); Grand Bahama Island: S of Owl’s Hole, 26.583820°, −78.467092°, 28.x.2014 , DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, on leaves of N. lobata (3 L, 1 LS); San Salvador Island : Brandy Hill Road, SE of lighthouse, 24.090794°, −74.440046°, 13.vi.2018 , DLM, JYM, on leaves of Wedalia bahamensis (5 L, 1 LS, 1 PC); Gerace Research Centre, Alfred Pike Trail, 24.117166°, −74.463864°, 10.vi.2018 , DLM, JYM, on leaves of N. lobata (1 L); same data except on leaves of W. bahamensis (2 L); Gerace Research Centre, Lucayan Trail, 24.114762°, −74.465374°, 14.vi.2018 , DLM, on leaves of W. bahamensis (1 L); Gerace Research Centre, vic. water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207, 22–26.vii.2015 , DLM, TAL, on leaves of W. bahamensis (11 L); same data except, on leaves of N. lobata (6 L). Life history. In the USA , larvae feed on the leaves of several genera of composites including Ambrosia L., Borrichia Adans. , Helianthus L., Melanthera Rohr , Pluchea Cass. , Rudbeckia L., and Xanthium L. ( Matthews and Lott 2005 ). In The Bahamas , larvae were found feeding on the upper surface of leaves of Melanthera aspera (Jacq.) Small , Wedalia bahamensis (Britt.) O.E. Schulz , and Neurolaena lobata (L.) R.Br. ex Cass. Larvae have the peculiar habit of chewing out a resting groove, usually along a leaf midvein, from which the larva stretches out to feed on surrounding leaf tissue or makes forays to other parts of the leaf, then returns when not feeding ( Fig. 67, 68 ). These grooves are visible on leaves many weeks after larvae have matured and moved to another leaf to pupate. Larvae were most commonly found on N. lobata ( Fig. 66 ). Usually only one larva is found on a leaf. In rare cases, several larvae may be found on the same leaf, also favoring the midvein ( Fig. 67 ). Pupation occurs on the hostplants with the larval skin usually adhering to silk near the tip of the abdomen ( Fig. 70, 71 ). Adults come to light and may also be found perching in the vicinity of the hosts ( Fig. 69 ). Distribution. This species is known from Bermuda , the Dominican Republic, Ecuador , Mexico , Puerto Rico , USA , and the Virgin Islands . It was not previously recorded in The Bahamas , and has now been collected on Abaco , Eleuthera , Grand Bahama , Long, and San Salvador Islands.