Thyrocopa usitata (Butler)

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 37-38

29. Thyrocopa usitata (Butler)

( Figs. 47 , 91 )

Depressaria usitata Butler, 1881: 396 .

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Near Honolulu (81.7/69, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 5 (5) 7, 1881: 396): 1 Ƥ (slide 3900 BMNH), Blackburn (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: 956, fig. 666 (as “ holotype ”). Paralectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Near Honolulu (81.7/69, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 5 (5) 7, 1881: 396): 1 Ƥ (abdomen missing), Blackburn (BMNH).

Thyrocopa usitata (Butler) , Meyrick, 1883a: 33, “but error in identification; see abusa Walsingham, 1907b: 504 , 733, plate 14, fig. 28” ( Zimmerman 1978: 991).

Thyrocopa usitata (Butler) ; Zimmerman, 1978: 991, figs. 666, 694.

Thyrocopa criminosa Meyrick, 1915a: 372 ; Zimmerman 1978: 985, figs. 655, 671. NEW SYNONYMY. Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: 1 3 (slide 9552 Clarke in BMNH), 1908, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 655, 671.

Paralectotypes: HAWAII: Oahu: 3 3, 1Ƥ, 1908–1910, Perkins (BMNH).

Thyrocopa criminosa Meyrick ; Zimmerman, 1978: 985, figs. 655, 671. NEW SYNONYMY.

Thyrocopa librodes Meyrick, 1915a: 370 .

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 1 Ƥ (slide 9555 Clarke, BMNH), 1900, Palmer (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 660, 689 (as “ holotype ”).

Thyrocopa librodes Meyrick ; Zimmerman, 1978: 988, figs. 660, 689. NEW SYNONYMY.

Thyrocopa sucosa Meyrick, 1915a: 371 .

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Koolau Mts.: 1 3 (slide 9553 Clarke, BMNH), 1908, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 665, 673 (as “ holotype ”).

Thyrocopa sucosa Meyrick ; Zimmerman, 1978: 990, figs. 665, 673. NEW SYNONYMY.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa usitata lacks the dorsal median ridge on the uncus of T. abusa ; the antennal cilia surround the flagellomere of the male in contrast to only on the ventral side in T. albonubila , T. elikapekae , T. kokeensis , T. seminatella , T. spilobathra , and T. peleana ; the uncus is more deeply cleft apically than in T. epicapna , T. indecora , or T. kikaelekea ; and T. usitata has a much darker forewing ground color than T. alterna .

Description: Head: Scales brown with apex often lighter. Antenna ca. 0.7–0.8x forewing length; very dense, very short, piliform cilia surround male flagellomere; female flagellomere with less dense, slightly longer, piliform cilia on ventral side. Labial palpus variable in color, ranging from brown to mottled brown and very light brown; third segment usually less mottled and darker in color; third segment ca. 0.8x length of second. Thorax: Brown. Forewing 7–11 mm; ground color brown; pattern variable; discal area sometimes clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; sometimes with curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; sometimes with evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hingwing light brown, area near anal margin sometimes darker brown, fringe light brown. Abdomen: Whitish-brown to brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 91 ) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus short, tapered to sharp apex. Female genitalia with signum long.

Food plants: A larva collected from rotting bark of Acacia koa on 5 Aug 1984 emerged on 3 Sep 1984.

Flight period: Year-round.

Distribution: Kauai, Oahu, Hawaii Island (possibly extinct).

Remarks: Very similar to T. subahenea , but occurs on Kauai and Oahu (and possibly Hawaii Island). Due to the particularly drab appearance of some specimens, this species may at first glance be mistaken for a rubbed T. indecora . However, although the male sacculus is similar to T. indecora , the male uncus is distinctive.

Additional material examined: no locality label: 1 Ƥ, T. Blackburn ( BPBM). UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 3400’ [1036 m], Kokee St. Park, Halemanu: 1 Ƥ, 3 Oct 1973, K. E. Sattler ( BMNH); 3800’ [1158 m], Kokee St. Park, Nualolo Trail: 1 Ƥ, 30 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Kahuamaa Flat: 1 3, 13 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Kaunuohua Ridge: 1 Ƥ, 6 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Alakai Swamp, Pihea: 1 3 (slide MJM31), 28 Nov 1975, E. Perry ( BPBM); Kaholuamanu: 1 3 (slide MJM19), 1 Ƥ, Apr 1920, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM); Kaholuamanu 4000’ [1219 m]: 2 3, 1 Ƥ, Apr 1895, Perkins ( BMNH); Kaholuamanu 4000’ [1219 m]: 3 Ƥ (slide 15), Apr 1895, Perkins ( BPBM); Kokee: 2 Ƥ (slide 51), Jan–Mar 1919, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM); Kokee: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Oct 1926, E.J.K. Rice ( BPBM); Kokee: 1 Ƥ, 10–20 Aug 1959, J.W. Beardsley ( BPBM); Kokee: 1 Ƥ, 15 Jun 1982, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park: 1 3, 6 Jul 1986, Chemsak & Katsura ( EMEC); Kokee St. Park, Honopu Trailhead: 1 3 (slide 08A00), 23 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 1 3 (slide 07A61), 1 Ƥ (slide 07A68), 24–25 May 2007, 1 3 (slide 07B56), 9 Oct 2007, 1 3, 28 July 2008, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, nr. Alakai Jct.: 3 3, 11 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Nu’alolo Tr.: 3 3 (slide 07B43), 2 Ƥ (slide 07B34), 7–10 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Pihea Tr.: 2 3 (slides 07A89 & 07B47), 27 May–8 Dec 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Mtns. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 2 Ƥ, May–June 1894, Perkins ( BMNH); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp @ Junct. Pihea Trail, 1200 m: 3 3 (slide LA49), 1 Ƥ, 18 Aug 2006, D. Rubinoff & J. Eiben ( UHIM); Waialeale: 1 Ƥ, 5 Mar 1929, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM). Oahu: 2500’ [762 m], Waianae Range, Gulch NE of Puu Kanehoa: 1 3, 10 Oct 1976, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Ko’olau Mtns., Konahuinui Tr., above 2500’ [762 m]: 2 3 (slide LA43), 1 Jun 2006, W. Haines ( UHIM); Ko’olau Mtns., Wiliwilinui Trail: 1 3 (slide LA37), 6 Jun 2006, J. Eiben & W. Haines ( UHIM); Mount Tantalus,,800–2,000’ [610 m], ex. rotting bark of Acacia koa 3 Sep 1884: 1 3 (slide MJM49), 5 Aug 1984, W.D. Perreira ( BPBM); Near head of Kawailoa Gulch: 1 Ƥ, Apr 1893, Perkins ( BMNH); NW Koolau Range: 5 3 (slide 31570 BMNH) (one abdomen missing), 1 Ƥ, Jul 1901, Perkins ( BMNH); Round Top, ex. Lantana (?): 1 Ƥ (slide USNM 86558), 13 Jun 1908, no collector information (originally identified as abusa ); Round Top: 1 3 (slide 86551 USNM), 13 Jun 1908, no collector information (this specimen appears to be the source of the drawing and misidentification of abusa in Zimmerman (1978, pg. 957, fig. 667) ( USMN); SE Koolau Range: 1 Ƥ, 2 Ƥ (slide 31583 BMNH) (one abdomen missing), July 1900, Perkins ( BMNH); Waianae Mts, 915 m, Ohikilolo Ridge: 1 3 (slide MJM26), 2 Ƥ, 21 May 1976 ( BPBM); Waianae Mts., Mokulela For. Res., Pahole Gulch, 550 m: 2 3, 1 Jan 1974, F.G. Howarth & S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Waianae Range above Makua Valley, 2200’ [671 m]: 1 3, 1Ƥ (fig. 47) (slide 31571 BMNH), 11 Sep 1976, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH). Hawaii Island: Mt. Kilauea: 2 3, Aug 1896, Perkins ( BMNH); Mt. Kilauea: 1 Ƥ (abdomen missing), Aug 1896, Perkins ( BPBM).

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 59. Adults of Thyrocopa. 46. T. subahenea, Molokai, forewing = 11 mm; 47. T. usitata, Oahu, forewing = 10 mm; 48. T. vagans, Kauai, forewing = 8 mm; 49. T. viduella (holotype), Kauai, forewing = 17 mm; 50. T. sp. A, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 51. T. sp. B, Kauai, forewing = 13 mm; 52. T. sp. C, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 53. T. sp. D, Molokai, forewing = 10 mm; 54. T. sp. E, Molokai, forewing = 14 mm; 55. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, male, wings (slide 05 A 45 wings, BPBM); 56. T. kea, Kauai, female, head; 57. T. kea, Kauai, male, aedeagus (slide LA 59 UHIM); 58. T. abusa, Maui, detail showing antennal flagellomere with cilia only on ventral side; 59. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, detail showing antennal flagellomere with cilia surrounding.

FIGURES 90 – 104. Male and female genitalia of Thyrocopa; for figures of male genitalia, lower left box shows detail of uncus, lower right box shows detail of sacculus. 90. T. subahenea, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 51 BPBM); 91. T. usitata, Oahu, male genitalia (slide 31570 BMNH); 92. T. vagans, Kauai, male genitalia (slide LA 51 UHIM); 93. T. sp. A, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 31577 BMNH); 94. T. sp. B, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 31578 BMNH); 95. T. sp. C, Kauai, male genitalia (slide MJM 44 BPBM); 96. T. sp. D, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 37 BPBM); 97. T. sp. E, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 50 BPBM); 98. T. peleana, Oahu, female genitalia (slide Z- 70 - 12 BPBM); 99. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, female, detail showing bursa with long signum (slide 06 A 62 BPBM); 100. T. abusa, Maui, female, detail showing bursa with short signum (slide 06 A 25 BPBM); 101. T. abusa, Maui, female genitalia, detail showing segments VIII – X (slide 06 A 25); 102. T. gigas, Molokai, female genitalia (slide 07 A 36 BPBM); 103. T. megas, Maui, female genitalia (slide 06 B 25 BPBM); 104. T. seminatella, Kauai, female genitalia (slide 31585 BMNH).