Lioptilodes albistriolatus (Zeller, 1871)

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 : 2

Lioptilodes albistriolatus (Zeller, 1871)

Fig. 1, 2a

Material Examined. Bahamas: North Andros, Captain Bill’s Blue Hole , 24.742046°, -77.862031°, 29.x.2011, at light, D. Matthews, J. Miller, M. Simon, G. Goss (1 male) [ MGCL] ; Nicholls Town , ham- mock area, 25.143945°, -78.006715°, 30.x.2011, on Baccharis halimifolia L., D. Matthews, G. Goss, M. Simon (1 male, 5 females) [ MGCL] .

Diagnosis. Wingspan 9.5–16.5 mm. Adults of this species are typically light gray and recognized by the paired anterior and posterior dark spots at the base of the forewing cleft, a pale costal mark at the base of the first lobe of the forewing, with the forewings pleated basad of the cleft in live specimens.

Life History. Larvae feed on developing flowers and unripe seeds within the flower heads of several genera of Asteraceae including Baccharis L., Conyza Less. , Erigeron l., Solidago L., and Symphyotrichum Nees ( Matthews 2006, Matthews and Lott 2005). On North Andros, adults, primarily females, were observed in association with Baccharis halimifolia L. var. angustior DC. Adults hovered or perched on plants bearing developing inflorescence heads (Fig. 1) and flew for a short distances and settled again on the same plant when disturbed. While we did not notice females actively ovipositing, eggs of this species are typically deposited on the floral bracts. Baccharis was by far the most common composite observed on the island. Larvae have simple short to medium length primary setae and are beige with pink or reddish longitudinal bands. Pupation occurs within flower heads or within a spun mass of silk and floral debris attached to the inflorescence pedicles.

Distribution. This species is widely distributed in the neotropics and has been recorded from Argen- tina, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Puerto Rico as well as Hawaii. In the Nearctic Region it occurs across the southern United States from Florida to California and extending north on the east coast to Maryland. We are not aware of previous records from the Bahamas.