Haemonides cronis cronis (Cramer 1775)

González, Jorge M. & Cock, Matthew J. W., 2004, A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad and Tobago, Zootaxa 762, pp. 1-19 : 6-7

Haemonides cronis cronis (Cramer 1775) (Fig. 6)

Haemonides cronis urichi Lathy 1923 , syn. nov.: Lathy (1923). Castnia cronis urichi ( Lathy) : Lathy (1925).

Castnia cronida auct.: Kaye & Lamont (1927).

Bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae ) are listed as the primary host for the genus Haemonides ( Miller 1986; Moss 1945). However, larvae have been found feeding on several orchid genera ( Orchidaceae ) ( González 1998; González & Fernández Yépez 1993; Miller 1986). This species appears to be active from mid morning to early afternoon hours ( González 1998; Miller 1986). Romero (1997) observed adults feeding between 1320 and 1430 h.

It was reported from Trinidad by Lathy (1923, 1925) based on several specimens. Lathy (1923) described the subspecies urichi based on a Trinidad male collected by R. Dick (now in the BMNH). G. Lamas (pers. comm.) believes that most species and subspecies in the genus are based on small color differences and they are all likely to be synonyms of H. cronis . Even though we do not completely agree with Lamas’ statement, we consider that the morphological differences that led Lathy (1923, 1925) to treat the Trinidad specimens as H. c. urichi are not sufficient to retain it as a separate subspecies. The ground color of the hindwing of Trinidad specimens varies from pure white to creamy yellow, the latter color well shown in the type of urichi (Fig. 6). Females usually can be distinguished from males by a continuous, complete black submarginal line on the underside of the hindwing, which is also apparent from above. However, some females have an incomplete submarginal band in the hindwing, formed by nearly isolated black spots, only on the underside.

Kaye & Lamont (1927) list this species from Trinidad from “near Port of Spain (R. Dick)”. This record probably refers to the specimens of R. Dick from St. Ann’s now in the BMNH, including the male type of urichi Lathy.

This species is found occasionally on ridgetops and hilltops of the Northern Range (e.g. St. Ann’s, Lalaja Ridge) and the Central Range (e.g. Brigand Hill). MJWC has noted adults feeding on flowers of chaconia ( Warscewiczia coccinea ) on Lalaja Ridge. Romero (1997) reported adults of this species feeding on flowers of the same genus in Venezuela.

Material Examined: ST. ANDREW: 1ɗ, Brigand Hill, 4 Sep 1979, M.J.W. Cock (MJWC); 1Ψ, Brigand Hill, 17 Apr 1982, M.J.W. Cock (MJWC); ST. GEORGE: 4ɗɗ, St. Anne’s, R.Dick (BMNH).