Thyrocopa brevipalpis (Walsingham)

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 15-17

7. Thyrocopa brevipalpis (Walsingham)

( Figs. 16–19 , 72 )

Psychra brevipalpis Walsingham, 1907b: 490 , plate 14, fig. 5.

Lectotype: Thyrocopa brevipalpis : UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Kaholuamano, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4158 BMNH, wings and genitalia), Apr 1895, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman 1978: figs. 651, 672 (as “ holotype ”).

Paralectotypes: Thyrocopa brevipalpis : UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 3 3 (slide #2; one missing abdomen), Jun 1894, Perkins (BPBM).

Thyrocopa brevipalpis (Walsingham) ; Zimmerman, 1978: 984, figs. 651, 672, plate 4, fig. 7.

Psychra phycidiformis Walsingham, 1907b: 490 , plate 14, fig. 4. Type species of Psychra.

Lectotype: Thyrocopa phycidiformis : UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4159 BMNH), Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH) designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 647, 663, 678 (as “ holotype ”).

Paralectotypes: Thyrocopa phycidiformis : UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 3 3 (slide 2045 BMNH) (one missing abdomen), 3 Ƥ (slide 2046 BMNH), May–Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH); Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 86559), Jun 1894, Perkins (USNM).

Thyrocopa phycidiformis (Walsingham) ; Zimmerman, 1978: 989, figs. 647, 663, 667, 678, 693. NEW SYNONYMY.

Diagnosis: This species has the third segment of labial palpus much shorter (ca. 0.2–0.4x length of second) than in any other Thyrocopa species.

Description: Head: Scales ranging from light brownish-grey and brownish-grey to brown. Antenna ca. 0.7–0.8x forewing length; dense, short, piliform cilia surround male flagellomere; female with less dense, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere. Labial palpus mottled light brownish-grey and brownish-grey or light brown and brown; third segment ca. 0.2–0.4x length of second. Thorax: light brownish-grey to brown. Forewing length 9–16 mm; ground color mottled very light brownish-grey to brownish-grey, or mostly brown; discal area often with several small blackish spots in cell and curving, poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings usually also present; however, these spots and line sometimes quite faint in brown individuals and occasionally absent altogether. Note: a rare form also has been collected, which has much lighter coloration (fig. 2A). Hindwing: brownish-grey or brown, sometimes darker than forewing; fringe brownish-grey or brown. Abdomen: Dark brown to light brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 72 ) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus long and tapering to a sharp, free tip. Female genitalia typical for genus; signum long.

Food plants: M.L. Henneman reared a larva from Hedyotis terminalis (Hawaiian = manono) (information on the label of a pinned specimen at the BPBM).

Flight period: Year-round.

Distribution: Kauai.

Remarks: This species has a remarkably variable wing pattern ( Figs. 16–19 ), but also see the accounts for Thyrocopa sp. A and B.

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 3500–4500’ [1069–1372 m]: 3 3 (slide 86560), 5 Ƥ (also labeled as slide 86560), Apr 1919 –1920, BP Clark ( USNM); 3600’ [1097 m], Waialae Valley (Waialae Cabin): 8 3, 3 Ƥ, 5–7 Oct 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 3700’ [1128 m], Kokee St. Park, Kumuwela Ridge: 1 3, 25 Aug 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Awaawapuhi Trail: 13 3, 1 Ƥ, 29 Aug 1973 – 17 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Honopu Trail: 17 3, 5 Ƥ, 22 Aug–12 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH except one 3 at BPBM); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Trail: 4 3, 1 Ƥ, 5 Sep 1973 – 9 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH, except one 3 at BPBM); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Kamuahaa Flat: 36 3, 4 Ƥ, 21 Aug 1973 – 21 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH, except one 3 at BPBM); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Kaunuohua Ridge: 5 3, 2 Ƥ, 30 Aug–6 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4520’ [1378 m], Alakai Swamp, Kelekua Hut: 2 3, 3 Ƥ, 20 Sep 1973 – 7 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Awaawapuhi Ridge: 1 3, 9 Feb 1999, M.L. Henneman (reared from Hedyotis terminalis ) ( BPBM); Kaholuamano: 14 3 (slides #48 and #170, one missing abdomen), 1 Ƥ (slide #149), Feb 1919 – Apr 1920, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM); Kokee: 5 3 (slides MJM 11 and MJM 32), 10–20 Aug 1959, J.W. Beardsley ( BPBM); Kokee: 2 3, 3 Ƥ, 17 Aug 1977 – 18 Aug 1987, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Canyon Tr. head, koa forest, 1008 m: 1 3, 28 Feb 2005, P.T. Oboyski; Kokee St. Park, Ditch Tr.: 3 3, 26 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 13 3 (slides 05A75, 07A64, 07A54, 07B57), 2 Ƥ, 1 Jun 2005 – 28 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, near Alakai Jct.: 1 3, 11 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Nu’alolo Tr.: 2 3, 7 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Pihea Tr.: 3 3, 27 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Mt. Kahili: 1 3, 15 Mar 1974, F.G. Howarth & S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Junction: 2 3, 24 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp @ Junct. Pihea Tr.: 3 3 (slide LA57), 18 May 2005 – 23 Jul 2006, D. Rubinoff ( UHIM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp @ Jct. Pihea Tr., 1200 m: 1 3, 18 Aug 2006, D. Rubinoff & J. Eiben ( UHIM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Pihea Trail, 4200’ [1280 m]: 9 3 (slides 21910 BMNH & 27652 BMNH), 2 Ƥ, 11 Sep 1973 – 15 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH except one 3 at BPBM).

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 30. Adults of Thyrocopa. 16. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 13 mm; 17. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 18. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 13 mm; 19. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 20. T. cinerella, Kauai, forewing = 19 mm; 21. T. decipiens, Hawaii Island, forewing = 18 mm; 22. T. elikapekae, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 23. T. epicapna, Hawaii Island, forewing = 10 mm; 24. T. geminipuncta, Maui, forewing = 9 mm; 25. T. gigas, Kauai, forewing = 23 mm; 26. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 12 mm; 27. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, forewing = 9 mm; 28. T. indecora, Oahu Island, forewing = 11 mm; 29. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 14 mm; 30. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 12 mm.

FIGURES 60 – 74. Antenna and male genitalia of Thyrocopa; lower left box with detail of uncus, lower right box with detail of sacculus. 60. T. decipiens, Molokai, male, antenna; 61. T. vagans, Kauai, male, antenna; 62. T. kea, Kauai, male, abdomen showing transverse bands of spines (slide LA 59 UHIM); 63. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing very shallowly cleft uncus (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 64. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing sacculus with scooped-out appearance (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 65. T. abusa, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 31580 BMNH); 66. T. albonubila, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 85 BPBM); 67. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, male genitalia (slide Jon # 2 BPBM); 68. T. apatela (intermediate winged specimen), Maui, male genitalia (slide 05 A 97 HALE); 69. T. apatela (brachypterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 19860 BMNH); 70. T. apatela (macropterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 21906 BMNH); 71. T. apikia, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 26 UHIM); 72. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 05 A 75 BPBM); 73. T. cinerella, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 08 A 24 BPBM); 74. T. decipiens, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 25 UHIM).