Thyrocopa kea

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 27-28

16. Thyrocopa kea nov. sp.

( Figs. 33–34 , 56, 57 , 62 , 82 )

Holotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp Trail, 3800’ [1158 m]: 1 3, 26 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH).

Paratypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 1600’ [488 m], Haupu Ridge: 5 3, 24 Nov 1978, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); 3700’ [1128 m], Na Pali-Kona FR, Mohihi Road: 1 3, 27 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); 4000’ [1219 m], Kokee St. Park, Honopu Trail: 1 Ƥ, 28 Aug 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Haupu Mt., 549 m: 2 3, 14 Mar 1974, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 2 3, 28 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros & D.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Nu’alolo Trail: 2 3 (slides 07B38 & 07B44), 1 Ƥ (slide 07B63), 7–10 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Mt. Kahili: 2 Ƥ, 15 Mar 1974, F.G. Howarth & S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp Trail, 1234 m: 2 3 (slide LA59), 8–9 Aug 2007, W. Haines & D. Rubinoff ( UHIM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Pihea Trail, 4200’ [1280 m]: 1 Ƥ (slide 31586 BMNH), 2 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH).

Diagnosis: The only sympatric species similar to T. kea is T. cinerella , but the former can be distinguishable by its almost entirely white wings.

Description: Head: Scales white, sometimes with darker scales near the eyes and frons. Antenna ca. 0.7x forewing length; very dense, very short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere on male, much less dense cilia on female. Labial palpus mostly white, occasionally with a few darker scales scattered throughout; third segment ca. 0.5–0.7x length of second. Thorax: White to mottled white and grey. Forewing length 12–20 mm; ground color shiny white to mottled white and grey, no other markings present, fringe minimal. Underside of wing mostly dark brownish-grey. Hindwing white, to very light brownish-white mottled with grey; fringe sometimes lighter. Abdomen: White. Male genitalia ( Fig. 80 ) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus very long, tapering to sharp tip and curving toward gnathos, somewhat scooped-out in appearance near apex. Female genitalia typical for genus; signum long.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: At least March–November.

Distribution: Kauai.

Remarks: There is some variation in the amount of dusting of black scales, as well as the shinyness of the white scales; some individuals are bright white and others off-white or matte.

Etymology: “ Kea ” is Hawaiian for “white,” reflecting the color of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 45. Adults of Thyrocopa. 31. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, forewing = 12 mm; 32. T. kanaloa (holotype), Kahoolawe, forewing = 7 mm; 33. T. kea, Kauai, forewing = 15 mm; 34. T. kea, Kauai, forewing = 20 mm; 35. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, forewing = 10 mm; 36. T. kokeensis (holotype), Kauai, forewing = 8 mm; 37. T. leonina (holotype), Lanai, forewing = 9 mm; 38. T. megas, Maui, forewing = 18 mm; 39. T. minor, Molokai, forewing = 9 mm; 40. T. neckerensis (holotype), Necker, forewing = 7 mm; 41. T. nihoa, Nihoa, forewing = 7 mm; 42. T. peleana (holotype), Oahu, forewing = 18 mm; 43. T. sapindiella (holotype), Oahu, forewing = 10 mm; 44. T. seminatella, Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 45. T. spilobathra, Oahu, forewing = 8 mm.

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 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).

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).