Exelastis montischristi (Walsingham, 1897)

Matthews, Deborah L., Miller, Jacqueline Y., Simon, Mark J. & Goss, Gary J., 2019, Additions to the plume moth fauna of The Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) with description of four new species, Insecta Mundi 708 (708), pp. 1-35 : 11

Exelastis montischristi (Walsingham, 1897)

Fig. 12 , 47

Diagnosis. Forewing cleft extending just beyond one-third from apex to wing base; ground color pale olive buff to light grayish brown, fringes with small fuscous scale tufts present. Hindwing drab, noticeably darker than forewing ( Fig. 12 ). Third lobe anal fringe with mixed pale buff spatulate scales along entire length and some fuscous spatulate scales along basal third. Valvae of male genitalia symmetrical, rounded; sacculus terminating in recurved spine ( Bahamas specimen not available, see illustration in Gielis (2006)). Female genitalia characterized by oblong corpus bursae with symmetrical paired bladelike signa ( Fig. 47 ).

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Cat Island: SE of Old Bight Settlement, 2 mi. from Queen’s Hwy. on road to Port Howe , 24.220000°, −75.355500°, 25.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, GJG, MJS (1 ♀, slide DM 2113) ; Grand Bahama Island: Freeport, area SE of Britannia Blvd. & Sunset Hwy. , 26.513233°, −78.679429°, 25.x.2014, on Rhynchosia , DLM, JYM, (1 PC, pinned) ; South Andros Island : W of The Bluff Settlement, 24.106939°, −77.557659°, 29.iii.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀) .

Preserved material examined. BAHAMAS: Grand Bahama Island: Freeport, area SE of Britannia Blvd. & Sunset Hwy. , 26.513233°, −78.679429°, 25.x.2014, DLM, JYM, on leaves of Rhynchosia minima (3 L) ; New Providence Island: W Bay St. & Indigo Dr., Orange Hill Inn, 25.065479°, −77.457172°, 8–9.iv.2014, DLM, JYM, on leaves of R. minima (1 L, 2 PC) .

Life history. Larvae feed on the leaves and shoots of Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. This vine trails along the ground and climbs fences and other vegetation.

Distribution. Ecuador: Galapagos Islands; West Indies: Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Grenada, Haiti, Virgin Islands; United States: Gulf Coastal plain from Florida to Texas. In The Bahamas the species has been collected on Cat, Grand Bahama, and New Providence islands.

Figures

Figures 10–17. Bahamas Pterophoridae pinned adults. 10) Dejongia californicus ♀, San Salvador Island, 26.vii.2015. 11) Exelastis pumilio ♂, Abaco, 2.xi.2014. 12) Exelastis montischristi ♀, Cat Island, 25.vi.2014. 13) Exelastis dowi ♂, Abaco, 30.x.2014. 14) Emmelina buscki ♀, Grand Bahama Island, 27.x.2014. 15) Oidaematophorus androsensis Matthews, new species, ♀, holotype, North Andros Island, 11.vi.2012. 16) Hellinsia paleaceus ♂, Abaco, 6.vi.2016. 17) Hellinsia chlorias ♂, Crooked Island, 20.ix.1988. Scale line below each name equals 1 mm.

Figure 43–48. Bahamas Pterophoridae female genitalia. 43) Exelastis dowi, slide DM 2114. 44) Dejongia californicus, slide DM 2151. 45) Sphenarches anisodactylus, slide DM 2158. 46) Exelastis pumilio, slide DM 2149. 47) Exelastis montischristi, slide DM 2113. 48) Michaelophorus salensis Matthews, new species, paratype, slide DM 2117.