Additions to the plume moth fauna of The Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) with description of four new species
Matthews, Deborah L.
Miller, Jacqueline Y.
Simon, Mark J.
Goss, Gary J.
Insecta Mundi
2019
2019-06-07
708
708
1
35
9WXL
(Murtfeldt, 1880)
Murtfeldt
1880
[192,681,1084,1108]
Insecta
Pterophoridae
Adaina
Animalia
Lepidoptera
20
19
Arthropoda
species
ambrosiae
Fig. 24, 36a, b, 58, 67–71
Diagnosis.Distinguished from A. perplexusby the usually darker, mottled fuscous and white ground color and fuscous lateral patches on abdominal segments A4 and A5. Male genitalia with a small circular sclerotized disc protruding from the ventral margin of the right valve near the apex which can often be seen without dissecting specimens ( Fig. 36a). Female genitalia with a short stout ductus bursae and broad irregularly shaped corpus bursae without signa ( Fig. 58).
Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: Central Abaco, vic. Wilson City, 26.372500°, −77.010667°, 3.vi.2016, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, ex. leaves of Neurolaena lobata( 2 ♂, 1 ♀); South Abaco, Schooner BayInstitute, 26.161333°, −77.187667°, 31.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♂); Schooner Bay, coppice trail, 26.167000°, −77.181167°, 6.vi.2016, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, ex. Melantheraleaves ( 1 ♂); vic. ferry landing SE of Lobster Rd., 25.995000°, −77.398500°, 1.xi.2014, ex. Melanthera, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♀); Eleuthera Island: 4.3 mi.S of Palmetto Pt., 25.109584°, −76.151370°, 29.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata( 9 ♂, 10 ♀); Grand Bahama Island: Lucayan National Park, S of Grand Bahama Hwy., 26.602538°, −78.400230°, 25.x.2014, ex. Melantherasp., DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 1 ♂); S of Owl’s Hole, 26.583820°, −78.467092°, 28.x.2014, ex. leaves of N. lobata, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR ( 3 ♂, 3 ♀); Long Island: Deadman’s Cay, vic. airport, 23.175500°, −75.096333°, 29.v.2014, ex. Melantherasp., DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG ( 1 ♂, 1 ♀); San Salvador Island: 0.25 mi.W of Gerace Research Centre, 24.119145°, −74.469955°, 12.vi.2018, JYM, DLM ( 1 ♂); Brandy Hill Road, SE of lighthouse, 24.090794°, −74.440046°, 13.vi.2018, DLM, JYM ( 1 ♂, 2 ♀, slide DM 2153); Gerace Research Centre, Alfred Pike Trail, 24.117166°, −74.463864°, 10.vi.2018, DLM, JYM, ex. leaves of Wedalia bahamensis( 1 ♂); Gerace Research Centre, vic. Water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 22.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, R.W. Portell( 1 ♂, slide DM 2162, 1 ♀); same location, 11.vi.2018, JYM, DLM ( 1 ♀). Preserved material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: Central Abaco, Public Beach access of Treasure Cay Road, 26.696815°, −77.303424°, 7.vi.2016DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of Neurolaena lobata(3 L); vic. Wilson City, 26.372500°, −77.010667°, 3.vi.2016, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata(4 L); South Abaco, Schooner Bay Institute, 26.161333°, −77.187667°, 30.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, on leaves of N. lobata(15 L); same location, 1.vi.2016, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata(1 L); same data except 4.vi.2016(1 L); vic. ferry landing SE of Lobster Rd., 25.995000°, −77.398500°, 4.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, on leaves of N. lobata(1 L); same data except on leaves of Melanthera(1 L); Eleuthera Island: 4.3 mi.S of Palmetto Point, 25.109584°, −76.151370°, 29.vi.2014, JYM, MJS, GJG, DLM, larvae feeding on leaves of N. lobata(10 L); Grand Bahama Island:S of Owl’s Hole, 26.583820°, −78.467092°, 28.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, on leaves of N. lobata(3 L, 1 LS); San Salvador Island:Brandy Hill Road, SE of lighthouse, 24.090794°, −74.440046°, 13.vi.2018, DLM, JYM, on leaves of Wedalia bahamensis(5 L, 1 LS, 1 PC); Gerace Research Centre, Alfred Pike Trail, 24.117166°, −74.463864°, 10.vi.2018, DLM, JYM, on leaves of N. lobata(1 L); same data except on leaves of W. bahamensis(2 L); Gerace Research Centre, Lucayan Trail, 24.114762°, −74.465374°, 14.vi.2018, DLM, on leaves of W. bahamensis(1 L); Gerace Research Centre, vic. water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207, 22–26.vii.2015, DLM, TAL, on leaves of W. bahamensis(11 L); same data except, on leaves of N. lobata(6 L).
Life history.In the USA, larvae feed on the leaves of several genera of composites including AmbrosiaL., BorrichiaAdans., HelianthusL., MelantheraRohr, PlucheaCass., RudbeckiaL., and XanthiumL. ( Matthews and Lott 2005). In The Bahamas, larvae were found feeding on the upper surface of leaves of Melanthera aspera(Jacq.) Small, Wedalia bahamensis(Britt.) O.E. Schulz, and Neurolaena lobata(L.) R.Br. ex Cass. Larvae have the peculiar habit of chewing out a resting groove, usually along a leaf midvein, from which the larva stretches out to feed on surrounding leaf tissue or makes forays to other parts of the leaf, then returns when not feeding ( Fig. 67, 68). These grooves are visible on leaves many weeks after larvae have matured and moved to another leaf to pupate. Larvae were most commonly found on N. lobata( Fig. 66). Usually only one larva is found on a leaf. In rare cases, several larvae may be found on the same leaf, also favoring the midvein ( Fig. 67). Pupation occurs on the hostplants with the larval skin usually adhering to silk near the tip of the abdomen ( Fig. 70, 71). Adults come to light and may also be found perching in the vicinity of the hosts ( Fig. 69).
Distribution.This species is known from Bermuda, the DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA, and the Virgin Islands. It was not previously recorded in The Bahamas, and has now been collected on Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Long, and San Salvador Islands.
2565952629
2016-06-03
Bahamas
Wilson City
20
19
3
1
2
South Abaco
2565952531
2014-10-31
Bahamas
Schooner Bay
20
19
1
1
South Abaco
2565952527
2016-06-06
Bahamas
Schooner Bay
20
19
1
1
South Abaco
2565952542
2014-11-01
Bahamas
Lobster Rd.
20
19
1
1
South Abaco
2565952532
2014-06-29
Bahamas
Island
20
19
19
10
9
South Eleuthera
2565952533
2014-10-25
Bahamas
Island
Hwy.
Lucayan National Park
20
19
1
1
West Grand Bahama
2565952598
2014-10-28
Bahamas
Owl's Hole
20
19
6
3
3
West Grand Bahama
2565952571
2014-05-29
Bahamas
Deadman's Cay
20
19
2
1
1
Long Island
2565952535
2018-06-12
Bahamas
0.25 mi. W of Gerace Research Centre
20
19
1
1
San Salvador Island
2565952550
2018-06-13
Bahamas
Brandy Hill Road
20
19
3
2
1
San Salvador Island
2565952569
2018-06-10
Bahamas
Alfred Pike Trail
Gerace Research Centre
20
19
1
1
San Salvador Island
2565952552
2015-07-22
R. W. Portell
Bahamas
Water Tanks
Gerace Research Centre
20
19
2
1
1
San Salvador Island
2565952590
[605,1133,1824,1848]
2018-06-11
R. W. Portell
Bahamas
Water Tanks
Gerace Research Centre
20
19
1
1
San Salvador Island
2565952529
21
20
20
19
2565952547
21
20
2565952575
21
20
2565952544
21
20
2565952530
21
20
2565952539
[845,1440,351,376]
21
20
2565952543
21
20
2565952536
21
20
2565952528
21
20
2565952537
21
20
2565952541
21
20
2565952538
21
20
2565952534
21
20