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, 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.