Thyrocopa gigas (Butler)

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 22

13. Thyrocopa gigas (Butler)

( Figs. 25 , 78 , 102 )

Depressaria gigas Butler, 1881: 397 . Meyrick, 1883a: 32.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Maui: Haleakala, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4048 BMNH), 1881, Blackburn(?) (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 658, 674 (as “ holotype ”).

Thyrocopa gigas (Butler) ; Walsingham, 1907b: 493, plate 14, fig. 7.

Thyrocopa gigas (Butler) ; Zimmerman, 1978: 987, figs. 658, 674, 686.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa gigas is among the largest species in the genus. It is rivaled in size only by T. cinerella , T. decipiens , T. kea , and T. megas . Thyrocopa gigas is almost always larger than any of these species except for T. decipiens , but unlike T. decipiens , the male antennae of T. gigas are filiform. Thyrocopa gigas is much darker in color than any of the above species except for T. decipiens .

Description: Head: Dark brown to brown. Antenna ca. 0.7x forewing length; very dense, extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of male flagellomere; female with 2 slightly longer, piliform cilia on the ventral side of each segment of the flagellomere. Labial palpus with third segment dark brown; second segment mottled very light whitish-brown and dark brown to brown; third segment ca. 0.8x length of second. Thorax: Dark brown to brown, with apex of scales often lighter. Forewing 17–23 mm; forewing ground color mottled blackish-brown or dark brown and light brown; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; usually with evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hindwing light brown, spots at vein endings along termen sometimes visible; fringe minimal. Abdomen: Light brown to dark brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 78 ) with uncus moderately to shallowly cleft apically; sacculus somewhat scooped-out and typically cleft apically, though sometimes barely so. Female genitalia ( Fig. 102 ) typical for genus; signum short.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: At least April–September.

Distribution: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui. However, T. gigas is possibly extinct on Oahu, where two females were collected by Perkins in 1892 but no further specimens have been collected since then.

Remarks: Blackburn reported taking one specimen “at sugar” on Maui ( Zimmerman 1978:987).

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 3500–4500’ [1069–1372 m]: 21 3 (slides 86554, & 86557), 2 Ƥ (slides 86552 & 86556), Apr 1919 -–1920, B.P. Clark ( USNM); Alakai Swamp: 1 3, 24 Jul 1968, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Haupu Mt.: 1 3, 14 Feb 1974, collector unknown ( BPBM); Alakai Swamp, Kelekua Hut, 4520’ [1378 m]: 5 3, 5–7 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler; Kaholuamano: 5 3, Mar–April 1920, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM); Kaholuamano, 4000’ [1219 m]: 8 3 (slide #1), Apr 1895, Perkins ( BPBM); Kaholuamanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 8 3 (slide 2035 BMNH), Apr 1895, Perkins ( BMNH); Kaholuamanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 2 3, Apr 1895, Perkins ( USNM); Kokee: 3 3, 1 –2 Jun 1978, J.C.E. Riotte & E. Perry ( BPBM); Kokee: 3 3, 1 Ƥ, 19–24 Jun 1981, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee: 5 3, 26 Jun 1981– 25 Jun 1982, JCE Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee: 1 3, 13 Jun 1982, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee, 1060 m: 7 3, 1 Ƥ, 17 Jun–8 Jul 1979, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee, 1060 m, 1 3, 10 Jul 1980, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee, 1140 m: 2 3, 3 Jun 1973, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Kokee, Air Nat Guard Station: 1 3, 28 May 1079, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Kokee, Rice Residence: 1 3, 11 Jun 1978, E. Perry ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Awaawapuhi Tr.: 1 3 (slide 06A05), 20 Jun 2005, P.T. Oboyski; Kokee St. Park, Awaawapuhi Tr., 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3, 17 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler; Kokee St. Park, Halemanu Tr.: 1 3, 26 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 1 3, 25 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Mt. Kahili: 1 3, 15 Mar 1974, F.G. Howarth & S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 4 3, Jun 1894, Perkins ( BMNH; one at BPBM); N. Alakai Swamp: 1 3, 24 Jul 1968, DM Tsuda ( BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Jnct.: 2 3, 24 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros & D.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp Tr., 3800’ [1158 m]: 1 3, 29 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler; Na Pali-Kona FR, Pihea Trail, 4200’ [1280 m]: 4 3, 10 –20 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Olokele Canyon: 2 3 (slide #201), 2 Feb 1919, JA Kusche ( BPBM); Puu Ka Pele: 1 Ƥ (slide #202), 22 Feb 1919, JA Kusche ( BPBM); Waimea Canyon St. Park, Puu Hinahina area, 3400’ [1036 m]: 4 3, 5–19 Jun, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH). Oahu: 1800’ [549 m], Mokuleia: 1 3, 1 Jan 1974, collector unknown ( BPBM); Honolulu: 1 Ƥ, 1920, EH Bryan Jr. ( BPBM); Mt Kaala, 700 m: 2 3, 5 May 1975, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Mt. Kaala, 3600’ [1097 m]: 1 3, 28 Aug 1984, W.D. Perreira ( BPBM); Palikea Trail, 840–930 m: 1 3, 12 Nov 1975, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Waianae Mts. 2,500–3000’ [914 m]: 2 Ƥ (slide 2036 BMNH), 1892, Perkins ( BMNH); Waianae Mtns, Kamaileunu Ridge, N Puu Kawiwi, 760 m: 1 Ƥ, 19 Oct 1975 ( BPBM); Waianae Mtns, Ohikilolo Ridge: 1 3, 21 May 1976, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Molokai: Kamakou Pres., Kawela Gulch: 1 3 (slide LA33), 20 May 2004, no collector listed ( UHIM); Kamakou, Pu’u Kolekole: 1 Ƥ (slide 07A36), 21 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Nearly 5000’ [1524 m]: 1 3, 22 Sep 1893, Perkins ( BMNH); 1 mi [1.6 km] N of Puu Kolekole: 1 3, 26 Jul 1979, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM). Maui: Haleakala, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3, Blackburn [no date] ( BMNH); Haleakala, 5000’ [1524 m]: 3 3, May 1896, Perkins ( BMNH, except one at BPBM); Haleakala National Park, Upper Kipahulu Valley, Charlie Camp, 1450 m: 7 3, 6 Jul 1983, WC & BH Gagne ( BPBM); Kipahulu Valley, Palikea, 680 m: 1 Ƥ, [no date], S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Makawao FR: 3 3 (slide 04A16), 18 Jun 2004, W. Haines; Makawao FR, 4200’ [1280 m]: 1 3, 3 Jun 2006, M.J. Medeiros ( 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 75 – 89. Male genitalia of Thyrocopa; for all figures, lower left box shows detail of uncus, lower right box shows detail of sacculus. 75. T. elikapekae, Kauai, male genitalia (slide LA 60 UHIM); 76. T. epicapna, Maui, male genitalia (slide LA 81 BPBM); 77. T. geminipuncta, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 44 BPBM); 78. T. gigas, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 33 UHIM); 79. T. indecora, Maui, male genitalia (slide 06 B 14 BPBM); 80. T. indecora, Oahu, male genitalia (slide LA 18 BPBM); 81. T. kanaloa, Kahoolawe, male genitalia (08 A 54 BPBM); 82. T. kea, Kauai, male genitalia (slide LA 59 UHIM); 83. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, male genitalia (slide 05 A 45 BPBM); 84. T. kokeensis, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 21909 BMNH); 85. T. megas, Maui, male genitalia (slide LA 73 UHIM); 86. T. neckerensis, Necker, male genitalia (slide LA 10 BPBM); 87. T. nihoa, Nihoa, male genitalia (slide LA 13 BPBM); 88. T. peleana, Oahu, male genitalia (slide # 151 BPBM); 89. T. seminatella, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 90 BPBM).

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).