Alheita caudina ( Schaus, 1905 )

St Laurent, Ryan A. & Cock, Matthew J. W., 2017, Annotated list of Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea) from Trinidad and Tobago, with the description of a new species of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852 and taxonomic notes, Zootaxa 4268 (1), pp. 53-70 : 55

Alheita caudina ( Schaus, 1905)

( Figs. 7, 8 )

Type locality. French Guiana [ USNM, syntype examined]

This species is broadly distributed in Latin America, from Guatemala, the Amazonian region, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado (R.A. St Laurent unpublished; Herbin & Mielke 2014). Given the broad distribution and uniqueness of this species, it is easily recognizable and well represented in many collections and seems quite common where it occurs. Therefore, its presence in Trinidad is expected.

The male specimen from Trinidad ( Fig. 7 ) is quite dark in maculation in comparison to most other specimens of this species. However, an examination of the genitalia revealed no distinct differences from a mainland, Amazonian population (Brazil, Amazonas, in CUIC). Furthermore, the maculation of the female specimen from Trinidad ( Fig. 8 ) is typical of the species.

The two known specimens from Trinidad are from lowland forest localities: Valencia Forest, to the East of the ‘Long Stretch’ between Arima and Sangre Grande, which has mostly been cleared now, and the Parrylands Oilfield, which has changed little since collecting in 1980.

Material examined. (1 ♂, 1 ♀ total) TRINIDAD : 1 ♀, La Brea Ward , Parrylands Oilfield: 13.XI.1980, M.J.W. Cock [leg.], MV light ( MJWC) . 1 ♂, 2.5 mi. SE of Valencia , Valencia Forest: IV.1980, M.J.W. Cock [leg.], MV light ( MJWC) .

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 16. Mimallonidae of Trinidad. 7. Alheita caudina male, Trinidad, 2.5 mi SE of Valencia, Valencia Forest (MJWC). 8. A. caudina female, Trinidad, La Brea Ward, Parrylands Oilfield (MJWC). 9. Cicinnus magnapuncta (putative), male, French Guiana, St. Jean du Maroni, photo courtesy of P. Collet (MNHN). 10. C. magnapuncta female, Trinidad, Cumaca Road, 4.6 mi (MJWC). 11. C. trini male, paratype, Trinidad, Hollis Reservoir (MJWC). 12. C. trini male, paratype, Trinidad, Cumaca Road, 4.6 mi (MJWC). 13. C. incerta male, Trinidad, Curepe (MJWC). 14. C. incerta female, French Guiana, Mont Itoupé, 800 m, photo courtesy of P. Collet (CPC). 15. C. joanna male, French Guiana, Saül, Point de Vue, photo courtesy of P. Collet (CPC). 16. C. joanna female, Trinidad, Brigand Hill Lighthouse (MJWC). Scale bar = 1 cm.