Stenoptilodes taprobanes (Felder and Rogenhofer, 1875)

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 : 5-6

Stenoptilodes taprobanes (Felder and Rogenhofer, 1875)

Fig. 6 , 39

Diagnosis. Distinguishable from S. brevipennis by genitalia only, as noted above. Valvae of male genitalia with blunt tipped cucullus; phallus short and stout; uncus length similar or less than that of anellus arms ( Bahamas male not available, see illustration in Gielis (2006)). Female genitalia without lateral lobes flanking ostium and with ductus bursae separated from quadrate antrum by a slight constriction ( Fig. 39 ).

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: South Abaco, Schooner Bay, coppice trail, 26.167000°, −77.181167°, 30.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀); Grand Bahama Island : vic. Barbary Beach, 26.558526°, −78.536983°, 26.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀, slide DM 2157) .

Life history. Larvae are known to feed on several plant families, especially belonging to the order Lamiales ( Matthews and Lott 2005) . Known host genera throughout the range which also occur in The Bahamas include: Bacopa and Veronica L. ( Lamiales : Plantaginaceae ), Scutellaria L. ( Lamiales : Lamiaceae ), and Samolus L. ( Ericales : Primulaceae ). The specimen from Grand Bahama Island was collected in the vicinity of Scutellaria havanensis along with S. brevipennis , and P. flinti .

Distribution. The species has been recorded from all faunal regions within subtropical and tropical zones. In The Bahamas it is known from Abaco and Grand Bahama 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 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.