Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864)

Matthews, Deborah L., Miller, Jacqueline Y., Simon, Mark J. & Goss, Gary J., 2019, Additions to the plume moth fauna of The Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) with description of four new species, Insecta Mundi 708, pp. 1-35 : 7-8

Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864)

Fig. 8, 45

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other Bahamas plume moths by the wing patterns and markings of the abdomen and hind tibia ( Fig. 8). Forewing cream buff with alternating white, cinnamondrab, and drab gray bands, second lobe with acute apex and distinctly excavate termen, cleft fringe with mixed white and fuscous spatulate scales. Hindwing cinnamon-drab except third lobe cream buff with a distinct double scale tooth on anal margin (minute scale cluster at apex subtended by larger triangular scale tuft), and scattered white and fuscous spatulate scales in fringes ( Fig. 8). Hind tibia with cinnamon-drab scale tufts at spurs, basal part before proximal spur pair white with alternating oblique cinnamon-drab and white band before tuft, without narrow longitudinal stripe on basal part as seen in Megalorhipida leucodactylus (Fabricius) and Dejongia californicus (Walsingham) which have similar banding of forewings. Female genitalia ( Fig. 45) characterized by a long narrow ductus bursae inserted into a tubular sclerotized collar with an excavate anterior. Male genitalia ( Bahamas specimen not available, see illustration in Gielis (2006)) with symmetrical ovate valvae and tegumen distally with acute apex subtended by stout recurved uncus.

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: New Providence Island: W Bay St. & Indigo Dr., Orange Hill Inn , 25.065479°, −77.457172°, 21.vii.2015, DLM (1 ♀) ; North Andros: Stafford Creek (Love at First Sight motel), 24.901449°, −77.936089°, 28.x.2011, DLM, MJS, JYM, GJG, MGCL Acc. No. 2011-32 (1 ♀, slide DM 2158) .

Life history. This species is polyphagous with larval hosts recorded from nine families, especially Fabaceae and Cucurbitaceae ( Matthews and Lott 2005) .

Distribution. Pantropical. In The Bahamas, known from New Providence Island and previously reported from North Andros ( Matthews et al. 2012).

Comments. As noted by Matthews et al. (2012), Bahamas specimens thus far observed have a somewhat paler ground color and lack the bold ochraceous-tawny coloration of mainland specimens.