Thyrocopa viduella Walsingham

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 39

31. Thyrocopa viduella Walsingham

( Fig. 49 )

Thyrocopa viduella Walsingham, 1907b: 494 , plate 14, fig. 8.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 1 Ƥ (slide 3945 BMNH), Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 666, 695 (as “ holotype ”). Thyrocopa viduella Walsingham ; Zimmerman, 1978: 991, figs. 666, 695.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa viduella is similar only to T. cinerella and it may be conspecific with it.

Description: Head: Light brown. Antenna ca. 0.6x forewing length; female with several short cilia on each segment of flagellomere; male unknown. Labial palpus mottled mostly brown with very light brown on second segment, mostly light brown with brown on the third segment; third segment ca. 0.9x length of second. Thorax: Very light whitish-brown. Forewing length 14–17 mm; ground color mottled dark brown and very light whitish-brown; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hindwing very light whitish-brown blending to light brown near anal margin; fringe very light whitish-brown. Abdomen: Very light whitish-brown. Male genitalia unknown. Female genitalia typical for genus; signum long.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: At least June–August.

Distribution: Kauai.

Remarks: Only two female specimens have been collected. This species is possibly conspecific with T. cinerella . In the absence of fresh material for genetic study or male specimens, I retain the two as separate.

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Honopu Trail: 1 Ƥ, 22 Aug 1973, K. & E. Sattler.

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.