Lioptilodes albistriolatus (Zeller, 1871)

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 : 3

Lioptilodes albistriolatus (Zeller, 1871)

Fig. 2 , 25a, b , 37 .

Diagnosis. Adults are typically drab-gray with the forewing ground color composed of mixed drab-gray and white scales with fuscous spots. Abdomen with pale lateral stripes. The species is recognized by the small paired anterior and posterior fuscous dark spots at the base of the forewing cleft, and one at the middle of the discal cell, and a white costal dash along the costa at the base of the first lobe ( Fig. 2 ). The forewing discal cell is pleated from the middle of the discal cell to the cleft so that in live or unspread specimens, the paired fuscous dots and dark scales along the costa appear contiguous. Male genitalia with symmetrical simple valvae; phallus with aedeagus strongly curved, phallobase with short rounded coecum penis and well-developed ventral process ( Fig. 25a, b ). Female genitalia ( Fig. 37 ) with posterior half of ductus bursae sclerotized, antrum not differentiated; paired signa thorn shaped.

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: South Abaco, Schooner Bay , coppice trail, 26.167000°, −77.181167°, 30.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀) ; Cat Island: Ocean Dream Resort , E of Smith Town, 24.232273°, −75.454536°, 23.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG (1 ♀) ; Grand Bahama Island : Freeport, area SE of Britannia Blvd. & Sunset Hwy., 26.513233°, −78.679429°, 28.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (2 ♀, slide DM 2150) ; vic. Barbary Beach , 26.558526°, −78.536983°, 26.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀) ; North Andros Island: Nicholls Town , hammock area, 25.143945°, −78.006715°, 30.x.2011, on Baccharis , DLM, GJG, MJS (1 ♂, slide DM 2159, 5 ♀) .

Life history. Larvae feed in the flower heads of various composite genera including Baccharis L., Conyza Less. , Erigeron L., Solidago L., and Symphyotrichum Nees ( Matthews and Lott 2005) , all of which occur in The Bahamas ( Correll and Correll 1982). In The Bahamas, adults were observed in association with flowers of Baccharis dioica Vahl. Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., an introduced weed, occurs throughout the islands and is also likely used in The Bahamas as it is in the USA.

Distribution. Widespread in the Neotropical and Nearctic Regions. Recorded in The Bahamas from Abaco, Andros, Cat, and Grand Bahama Islands. Previously reported from The Bahamas on North Andros Island ( Matthews et al. 2012).

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 25–28. Bahamas Pterophoridae male genitalia. 25a) Lioptilodes albistriolatus, slide DM 2159. 25b) phallus, same individual. 26a) Lantanophaga pusillidactylus, slide DM 2161. 26b) phallus, same individual. 27a) Postplatyptilia flinti, slide DM 2099. 27b) phallus, same individual. 28a) Stenoptilodes brevipennis, slide DM 2101. 28b) phallus, same individual.

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.