Hellinsia chlorias (Meyrick, 1908)

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 : 6-7

Hellinsia chlorias (Meyrick, 1908)

Fig. 3a, b

Material Examined. Bahamas: Crooked Island, 1.0 mi. E of Colonel Hill 20.ix.1988 (at UV) L. D. Miller and M. Simon, Acc. No. 1988-55 (1 male, slide DM 717) [ MGCL].

Diagnosis. Wingspan 14.0–21.0 mm. Adults have a cream colored body and forewing with a contrasting pale gray hindwing. The forewing is marked with a distinct small dark brown spot at the cleft base and a few dark scales at the terminus of veins R 4, R 5, M 3, Cu 1, and Cu 2. Similar stem boring species known from the Nearctic Region, such as the goldenrod borer, H. kellicottii Fish , have more beige forewings but all are best confirmed with characters of the genitalia. In H. chlorias , the males have a curved saccular process ( Fig. 3 ) that is not finely drawn to a thread-like terminus as in H. kellicottii .

Life History. In Florida, larvae of this species are stem borer in three species of Asteraceae : Croptilon divaricatum (Nutt.) Raf. , Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist, and Heterotheca subaxillaris (Lam.) Britton & Rusby. Potential hosts occurring in the Bahamas are C. canadensis (L.) Cronquist var. pusilla (Nutt.) Cronquist , and C. parva (L.) Cronquist. Larvae are cream to tan colored with pale reddish longitudinal bands. Setae are unmodified, short and sparse except on the anal plate. Along with a fringe of short to long setae, the circular anal plate bears two thorn-like projections. Pupation occurs within the stem. The larvae are fully described and illustrated by Matthews (2006).

Distribution. This species is previously unknown from the Bahamas and the Neotropical Region. In the Nearctic Region it is primarily found in the southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The species was described from Colorado and is also recorded from Kansas.

Comments. While the morphological characters appear consistent, genetic sequencing may clarify the status and relationship of western vs. southeastern populations of this species and related borers of the genus.

Figures

Figure 3–5. Male genitalia of Hellinsia and Adaina: 3a) H. chlorias, slide DM 717; 3b) aedeagus, same individual; 4a) H. unicolor, slide DM 536; 4b) aedeagus, same individual; 5a) A. perplexus, slide DM 1625; 5b) aedeagus, same individual.