Megalorhipida leucodactylus (Fabricius, 1794)

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 (708), pp. 1-35 : 8-9

Megalorhipida leucodactylus (Fabricius, 1794)

Fig. 9 , 29a, b , 42

Diagnosis. Forewing cleft extending just beyond one-half wing length, lobes narrow with acute apices (without termen); ground color cinnamon-buff to pale clay with mixed ochraceous-tawny and pecan brown banding on lobes. Diffuse clusters of white scales flanking pecan brown band on first lobe. White, cinnamon-buff, ochraceous tawny, and fuscous spatulate scales forming clusters within lobe fringes. Hindwing vinaceous-brown, third lobe anal margin fringes interspersed with white scales and a minute fuscous scale patch one-third from lobe apex. Distinguished from related taxa by the distinctive oblique dorsal white, cinnamon-buff, and pecan brown banding pattern of the second and third abdominal segments ( Fig. 9 ). Male genitalia with quadrate valvae; tegumen reduced to a narrow band bearing enlarged lobe shaped uncus ( Fig. 29a ). Female genitalia with small c-shaped antrum and short narrow ductus bursae; corpus bursae oval, with paired small dentate signa ( Fig. 42 ).

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Crooked Island: Pittstown Point , 22.831211°, −74.348717°, 6.vi.2014, MJS, Michael Simon, at light (1 ♀) ; same data except 7.vii.2015 (1 ♀) ; Great Exuma Island: vic. Hoopers Bay, Queens Hwy. , 23.530022°, −75.798092°, 27.v.2014, DLM, MJS, GJG, JYM, on Boerhavia sp. (4 ♂, slide DM 2160, 2 ♀) ; Mayaguana Island: Pirates Well, Baycaner Beach , 22.435833°, −73.102222°, 31.v–1.vi.2014, MJS, GJG (1 ♂) ; San Salvador Island: Gerace Research Centre , 24.118723°, −74.465246°, 23.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, on Boerhavia (3 ♂, 3 ♀) ; same data except 26.vii.2015 (2 ♂, 4 ♀, slide DM 2154) .

Preserved material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: Central Abaco, Treasure Cay Marina , 26.674277°, −77.282622°, 2.xi.2014, DLM, fruits of Boerhavia sp. (1 L) ; Great Exuma Island: vic. of Hoopers Bay, Queens Hwy. , 23.530022°, −75.798092°, 27.v.2014, DLM, MJS, GJG, JYM, on Boerhavia sp. (1 LS, 1 P) ; San Salvador Island: Gerace Research Centre , 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 22–26.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, on fruits of Boerhavia sp. (15 L, 9 LS, 11 P) ; South Andros Island: Kemp’s Bay Settlement, vicinity of Nathan’s Lodge , 24.019937°, −77.531602°, 31.iii.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, on Boerhavia fruits (3 L) .

Life history. Larvae feed on species of Nyctaginaceae , especially Boerhavia L. ( Matthews and Lott 2005). In The Bahamas, larvae were found boring in the tiny unripe fruits of Boerhavia growing in lawns and untended flower beds. Three species of Boerhavia occur in The Bahamas, B. diffusa L., B. coccinea Mill. , and B. erecta L. ( Correll and Correll 1982). Commicarpus scandens (L.) Standl., a recently reported larval host in Cuba ( Matthews et al. 2019) is also widespread in The Bahamas (Correll and Corell 1982) but was not encountered during surveys.

Distribution. Pantropical, extending into southern temperate areas. In The Bahamas, the species has been collected on Abaco, Crooked, Exuma, Mayaguana, San Salvador, and South Andros islands.

Figures

Figures 2–9. Bahamas Pterophoridae pinned adults. 2) Lioptilodes albistriolatus ♀, Cat Island, 23.vi.2014. 3) Lantanophaga pusillidactylus ♂, South Andros Island, 31.iii.2014. 4) Postplatyptilia flinti ♀, Grand Bahama Island. 5) Stenoptilodes brevipennis ♀, Grand Bahama Island. 6) Stenoptilodes taprobanes ♀, Abaco. 7) Michaelophorus salensis Matthews, new species, ♀, holotype, Great Inagua, 24–25.vii.2014. 8) Sphenarches anisodactylus ♀, New Providence Island. 9) Megalorhipida leucodactylus ♀, San Salvador Island, 23.vii.2015. Scale line below each name equals 1 mm.

Figures 29–32. Bahamas Pterophoridae male genitalia. 29a) Megalorhipida leucodactylus, slide DM 2160. 29b) phallus, same individual. 30a) Dejongia californicus, slide DM 2164. 30b) phallus, same individual. 31a) Exelastis pumilio, slide DM 2163. 31b) phallus, same individual. 32) Exelastis dowi, slide DM 2165, phallus in situ.

Figures 37–42. Bahamas Pterophoridae female genitalia. 37) Lioptilodes albistriolatus, slide DM 2150. 38) Lantanophaga pusillidactylus, slide DM 2155. 39) Stenoptilodes taprobanes, slide DM 2157. 40) Stenoptilodes brevipennis, slide DM 2156.41) Postplatyptilia flinti, slide DM 2100. 42) Megalorhipida leucodactylus, slide DM 2154.