Castnia argus Boisduval
C. argus
Pyrrhogyra crameri Aurivillius (Nymphalidae)
P. crameri
S. phalaris
S. phalaris
Bromeliaceae
Guzmania
Bromelia
Solanum
Solanaceae
Bromeliaceae
S. phalaris
A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad and Tobago
González, Jorge M.
Cock, Matthew J. W.
Zootaxa
2004
762
1
19
53YJW
Fabricius 1793
Fabricius
1793
[264,750,1564,1590]
Insecta
Castniidae
Synpalamides
Animalia
Lepidoptera
4
5
Arthropoda
species
phalaris
Castnia argusBoisduval[1875]: Lathy (1925); Kaye & Lamont (1927). Although widely distributed in southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay( Lamas 1995; Miller 1986), this species is rarely recorded in Trinidad. No other records are known to us from northern South America. Kaye & Lamont (1927)record one specimen (as C. argus) captured at Moruga, 16 Nov 1920, by E. E. Fabien, but we have not seen this specimen. Kaye (1940)noted that E. E. Fabien captured a specimen of Pyrrhogyra crameriAurivillius (Nymphalidae)at Moruga in March 1922. No further captures of this butterfly were made, and Barcant (1970)considered this a doubtful Trinidadspecies. Cock (1981)rediscovered P. crameriin lowland swamp forest near Moruga in 1980, suggesting that S. phalarismay also be found in this habitat. Furthermore, MJWC captured the second known Trinidadspecimen of S. phalarisat the edge of Caroni Swamp, in west Central Trinidadduring the dry season, Feb 1982. Epiphytic Bromeliaceaein the genera Guzmaniaand Bromeliaare known to be hosts of this dayflying moth ( Miller 1986). However, the 1982 area of collection in Trinidadwas grassy with scattered trees and a few bushes of a Solanumsp. ( Solanaceae) and Bromeliaceaewere not conspicuous. Probably S. phalariswas not breeding in the immediate vicinity, and this male could have been engaged in mate location at this site (J. Y. Miller, pers. comm.).
Material examined: CARONI: 1ɗ, Caroni Swamp, 0.75 mi. SSW of Cacandee Sluice, 20 Feb 1982, M.J.W. Cock ( MJWC).