Cosmosoma bolivarensis Klages, 1906

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Laguerre, Michel, 2022, Taxonomic changes in the Neotropical wasp moths, Euchromiina and Ctenuchina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) relating to the fauna of Trinidad & Tobago, with descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 5222 (2), pp. 101-132 : 109-110

Cosmosoma bolivarensis Klages, 1906 new status

Figs. 12–16 .

Druce (1905) described Cosmosoma anoxanthia from the Caura Valley, Venezuela, and Hampson (1914, pl. 8.25) provided an illustration. Kaye & Lamont (1927) record a capture of C. anoxanthia at Palmiste, Trinidad, by Sir Norman Lamont. There is an unlabeled specimen from the Lamont collection in NMS, which is considered to represent this specimen. Fleming (1957) records six males and three females of C. anoxanthia from Simla, Arima valley, Trinidad. MJWC has examined other specimens in NMS, OUMHN, MJWC, and UWIZM, and reports a record from Tobago ( Cock 2017).

However, Trinidad & Tobago material differs from the type of C. anoxanthia . In the type ( Hampson 1914) there is a relatively broad bar at the end of the cell, rather than a thin one as in Trinidad & Tobago material. In addition, the distal hyaline patch of the type forewing is wider, and where the type has a single blue spot on the posterior margin of the thorax, this is double in Trinidad & Tobago material, and the two blue spots on abdominal segment 1 are closer together. Trinidad & Tobago material matches the type of the taxon C. achemon var. bolivarensis Klages, 1906 described from Ciudad Bolivar and Suapure Province, Venezuela ( Klages 1906). The male type can be seen on-line ( USNM 2022). The red stripe on the patagia which is seen in Trinidad material ( Figs. 12–14 ) is present on the female types but absent on the male types ( Klages 1906). Klages (1906) and Fleming (1957) stated that the female lacks the tornal bar of the forewing found in the male, but this seems not to be consistently the case in Trinidad ( Fig. 14 ), so this character appears to be variable.

Fabricius (1781 –[1782]) described C. achemon ( Fabricius, 1781) from Jamaica, placing it in the genus Zygaena . We are aware of no type material. We interpret C. achemon as BIN BOLD:ACF3243 which includes sequences from Jamaica (TL), Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru and Paraguay. Material from French Guiana ( Cerda 2008) and Trinidad match the members of this BIN in habitus, although confirmation based on DNA barcodes would be useful. Cerda (2008) illustrates the male genitalia of C. achemon and C. thoracicum Schaus, 1905 (type USNM), but we have not located authoritative genitalia figures for C. anoxanthia . The genitalia of C. achemon , C. thoracicum and the Trinidad dissection matching bolivarensis are all similar, but the claspers of the Trinidad dissection are blunt distally compared to the two other species.

Klages (1906) described this taxon as a new variety: C osmosoma achemon var. bolivarensis, TL Venezuela, Ciudad Bolivar. Zerny (1912) listed it as ab. bolivarense [sic] of C. achemon . Hampson (1914) treated it as species level, but as a synonym of C. achemon . Draudt (1915 –1917) reverted to treating it as a form of C. achemon . Fleming (1957) followed Hampson (1914) and listed it as a full species, but now as a synonym of C. anoxanthia . Because Klages (1906) published bolivarensis as a ‘new variety’ before 1961, it is acceptable as a valid and available name (ICZN 45.6.4). Noting the consistent differences between it, C. achemon and C. anoxanthia , we consider it a valid species, Cosmosoma bolivarensis Klages, 1906 new status, also found in Trinidad & Tobago. However, clearly this genus needs further work based on genitalia and DNA barcodes.

Material examined: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. 1♀ Arima, 17.i.1938 [N. Lamont] [ NMS]. 1♁ Arima Valley, Simla, MVL, 7.viii.1981 (M.J.W. Cock) [ UWIZM CABI.5471]. 1♁ Curepe , to Heliotropium : 2–4.ix.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC, genitalia slide CIBC/ MJWC-20 )]. 1♁ Curepe, to Heliotropium , 7–13.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♁ Curepe, MVL, 30.viii.1978 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♀ Curepe, MVL, 14.ix.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 2♁ <15 mi from Port of Spain, <1,000 ft., xii.1913 – iv.1914 (F.W. Jackson) [ OUMNH]. 1♁ Morne Bleu, Textel Installation, at light, 14.vii.1989 (R.G. Brown & T. Cassie) [ UWIZM CABI.5472]. 1♀, St. Ann’s Ridge , 28.iii.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. 1♁ Trinidad, [18]98 (W.J. Kaye) [ MGCLB, ex coll Kaye ]. 1♀ Trinidad, 1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [ MJWC]. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Tobago. 1♁ (very poor condition; unidentifiable were it not for old images by M. Kelly) Englishman’s Bay , at light, vi–xii.2009, J. Ingraham [ UWIZM.2015.15.112, M. Kelly photos 11609 et seq.]

Material reported but not examined: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. Fleming (1957): 6♁, 3♀ Arima Valley, Simla [ AMNH].? [Palmiste], [N. Lamont] [ NMS]. ? ♀ Penal, 19.iv.2014 (K. Sookdeo photo, moths 41) .

Figures

FIGURE 12. Male Cosmosoma bolivarensis, Trinidad, Curepe, to Heliotropium, 7–13.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 13. Male Cosmosoma bolivarensis, Trinidad, Curepe, MVL, 30.viii.1978 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 14. Female Cosmosoma bolivarensis, Trinidad, Curepe, MVL, 14.ix.1979 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 15. Details of male Cosmosoma bolivarensis, Trinidad, Curepe, to Heliotropium, 7–13.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC].

FIGURE 16. Male genitalia of Cosmosoma bolivarensis, Trinidad, Curepe, to Heliotropium, 7–13.xi.1980 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC, MJWC dissection 1122]. A–D, genitalia with aedeagus removed: A, dorsal view; B, ventral view; C, posteroventral view; D, lateral view. E–F aedeagus: E, lateral view; F, dorsal view.