Exelastis montischristi (Walsingham, 1897)

Matthews, Miller, Jacqueline Y., Mark & Goss, Gary, 2012, Observations of plume moths on North Andros Island, Bahamas, and notes on new records and species previously recorded from the Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Insecta Mundi 2012 (236), pp. 1-12 : 5-6

Exelastis montischristi (Walsingham, 1897)

Material Examined. Bahamas: Mayaguana Island, 0–3 mi. N of Abrahams Bay 2.x.1987 M. Simon & L. Miller, Acc. No. 1987-20 (1 female, slide DM 182).

Diagnosis. Wingspan 12.0– 19.5 mm. Adults are recognized by the presence of scattered spatulate dark and light scales mixed in with fringe scales along the anal margin of the hind wing third lobe as in Exelastis dowi Matthews and Landry. The forewing ground color is grayish-brown as opposed to light buff or ochraceous-buff. Worn specimens can be distinguished by genitalia characters as illustrated in Matthews and Landry (2008).

Life History. Larvae feed on leaves and shoots of Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC [ Fabaceae ]. The larvae are green with pale cream colored dorsal longitudinal bands. Both primary and secondary setae are noticeably bifurcate tipped, with abundant secondary setae both scattered and grouped on tubercles.

Distribution. Bahamas: Mayaguana Island; Barbados; Cayman Islands; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Ecuador: Galapagos Islands; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Haiti; Jamaica; Martinique; Virgin Islands; United States: Florida and Texas.

Comments. Images of the adults and genitalia are available in Matthews and Landry (2008).