Adaina perplexus (Grossbeck, 1917)

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 : 8-9

Adaina perplexus (Grossbeck, 1917)

Fig. 2e , 5a,b , 6 a-d

Material Examined. Bahamas: North Andros, Stafford Creek (Love at First Sight motel), 24.901449°, -77.936089° 31.x.2011 D. Matthews, J. Y. Miller, M. Simon, G. Goss, ex. Melanthera aspera (1 male, slide DM 1625) [ MGCL].

Diagnosis. Wingspan 11.0–14.0 mm. This species is recognized by the pale gray ground color of the forewings with scattered dark scales along the costa and especially in the second forewing lobe. Dark brown to black spots mark the terminus of the radial veins on the first lobe with that of the first vein extended as a dark dash along the costa. The species is easily mistaken for pale or worn specimens of Adaina ambrosiae but can be distinguished by the smaller dark spot at the forewing cleft base which does not extend medially. The costal dash at the first radial vein is also proportionally longer than in A. ambrosiae . The male genitalia ( Fig. 5 ) have distinct saccular process with a flattened blade-like base and narrow curved distal portion as opposed to a more lobed process in A. ambrosiae . Several characters distinguish the female genitalia from A. ambrosiae , in particular, a pair of elongate signa.

Life History. The larva ( Fig. 6a,b ) found on North Andros was feeding externally on the leaves of Melanthera aspera (Jacq.) Small [ Asteraceae ]. Feeding damage was present from other larvae but only one individual of A. perplexus was found. The larval host for this species was previously unknown. Larvae of Adaina ambrosiae (Murtfeldt) also feed on Melanthera Rohr along with numerous other composites. The larvae of A. perplexus have middorsal setae present on the prothorax that are absent in A. ambrosiae . Another distinguishing feature is the exceedingly long lateral setae in A. ambrosiae , which exceed twice the segment width. In contrast, the lateral setae of A. perplexus do not exceed the segment width. The pupa ( Fig. 6c,d ) of A. perplexus is generally similar to that of A. ambrosiae but with shorter setae overall and with the spiracles on the second abdominal segment darkly sclerotized and surrounded by a dark sclerotized patch.

Distribution. Bahamas: North Andros; Cuba: Varadero ( Gielis 2011); Trinidad; United States: Florida: Monroe and Sarasota counties.

Comments. While A. ambrosiae has not been recorded from the Bahamas, it occurs in Florida, the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the West Indies, thus making it necessary to check the genitalia of suspected A. perplexus specimens for positive identification. As more material becomes available and larvae and pupae can be preserved, descriptions and additional characters may help distinguish the immatures of the two species.

Figures

Figure 2. Pterophoridae from North Andros Island: a) Lioptilodes albistriolatus; b) Stenoptilodes brevipennis; c) Sphenarches anisodactylus; d) Exelastis pumilio; e) Adaina perplexus; f) A. sp.

Figure 6. Larva and pupa of Adaina perplexus: a) larva (prepupa), dorsal view; b) larva (prepupa) lateral view; c) pupa, dorsal view; d) pupa, lateral view.

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.