Farigia magniplaga Schaus, 1905

Cock, Matthew J. W., 2021, A new species and taxonomic changes relating to the Notodontidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad, West Indies, Zootaxa 5020 (2), pp. 307-327 : 313-314

Farigia magniplaga Schaus, 1905 ( Notodontidae , Heterocampinae )

( Figs. 7 , 8 )

Farigia xenopitha Druce, 1911 , syn. nov.

Schaus (1905) described F. magniplaga from French Guiana (♂ type USNM) and the type is illustrated by Schintlmeister (2016) and USNM (2020). Subsequently, Druce (1911) described F. xenopitha from Caparo, Trinidad, and a single male type from Cuparo (an alternative spelling of Caparo in material from the beginning of the last century) is in NHMUK. It resembles ♂ 1 in Fig. 7 , but is paler. This record was repeated by subsequent authors.

In their catalogue of Trinidad moths, Kaye and Lamont (1927) appear to have overlooked Druce’s description as they do not include F. xenopithia , but they do include F. moresca Schaus, 1910 (type USNM, ♂ Costa Rica), citing a specimen from St. Ann’s in NHMUK. Farigia moresca is now treated as a synonym of F. vecina Schaus, 1901 (type USNM, ♀ TL Mexico) ( Schaus 1928). I located the St. Ann’s specimen in NHMUK, and considered it, along with other material from Trinidad to represent a single phenotypically variable species, which at that time I identified as F. xenopithia by comparison with the type.

Thiaucourt (1988) noted that the type of F. xenopithia bears a close resemblance to the Central American species F. vecina . In the same paper, he suggested that of the seven species assigned to the vecina group, only F. magniplaga occurs in the Guiana-Amazon area. Paul Thiaucourt (pers. comm.) subsequently suggested to me that F. xenopithia may be a synonym of the variable species, F. magniplaga . The lectotype of F. magniplaga , shown online ( USNM 2020) and by Schintlmeister (2016), has an extensive dark patch on the forewing dorsum, and the rest of the forewing is mostly pale brown and mossy green; it does not fall within the range of variation I have observed in Trinidad ( Fig. 7 ). However, no taxonomic changes were formalized and Becker (2014) listed all seven species of this group as valid. I have now dissected a Trinidad male resembling the type of F. xenopithia ( Fig. 8 ), and found it to match Thiaucourt’s terminalia figures of F. magniplaga ( Thiaucourt 1988, Fig. 17 ). Taking into consideration the wing pattern variability observed in Trinidad material ( Fig. 7 ), I conclude that F. xenopithia should be treated as a synonym of F. magniplaga , as suggested by Thiaucourt.

Within the Trinidad fauna, this variable species is quite distinctive and can be recognised by the mostly mottled green dorsal forewing, which may or may not have a white postdiscal band or a black streak from the base to the submarginal area, the hindwing is uniformly brown on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. In Trinidad, F. magniplaga is an occasional species found in forested areas, with most records from the north of the island. It has not been recorded from Tobago ( Cock 2017).

Trinidad material examined. Arima Blanchisseuse Road , milestone 9.75, MVL: ♂ 21.ix.1982 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. Cumaca Road, 4.6 miles, MVL: 4♂, ♀ 21.x.1982 (M.J.W. Cock) [2♂ MJWC, dissection 1013]; 2♂, ♀ UWIZM CABI.8200–8202]. Cuparo: ♂ S.M. Klages [ NHMUK, type of F. xenopithia ]. Curepe, MVL: ♂ 13.vi.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. North Coast Road , milestone 6, Carisal Trace , MVL: ♂ 5.iv.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. Parrylands Oilfield , MVL: ♀ 13.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. St.Ann’s : ♀ [ NHMUK, as F. vecina = F. moresca ]. Valencia Forest , MVL: 2♂ 31.vii.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ NHMUK; UWIZM CABI.8199]; ♀ 5.viii.1981 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]

Figures

FIGURE 7. Farigia magniplaga from Trinidad: ♂1 Arima Blanchisseuse Road, milestone 9.75, at MV light, 21.ix.1982; ♂2 Curepe, MV light trap, 13.vi.1979; ♂3 Cumaca Road, 4.6 miles, at MV light, 21.x.1982; ♀ Parrylands Oilfield, at MV light, 13.xi.1980.

FIGURE 8. Male terminalia of Farigia magniplaga, Trinidad, Cumaca Road, 4.6 miles, at MV light, 21.x.1982 (MJWC dissection 1013). A, dorsal view; B, posterior view; C, ventral view; D, lateral view. E, aedeagus, dorsolateral view. F, A8 sclerites, tergite (left) and sternite (right). All to scale shown (i.e. x10).

FIGURE 17. Terminalia of Skaphita indirae sp. nov. A–E, genitalia in dorsal, ventral, lateral, dorsolateral and ventrolateral view; F–I, aedeagus, in lateral (left), lateral (right), ventral and dorsal views, with enlargement of apex of each; J–K A8 sclerites; J, dissected (sternite on left, tergite on right); K, sternite in situ. All to same scale, i.e. x10, apart from aedeagus apex enlargements.