Castnia (Aciloa) palatinus (Cramer)
palatinus pallida Lathy 1922
Castnia palatinus pallidus (Lathy)
Castnia palatinus pallida ( Lathy)
A. palatinus
A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad and Tobago
González, Jorge M.
Cock, Matthew J. W.
Zootaxa
2004
762
1
19
5W8VB
Cramer 1777
Cramer
1777
[264,759,1548,1574]
Insecta
Castniidae
Athis
Animalia
Lepidoptera
3
4
Arthropoda
subSpecies
palatinus
palatinus
Castnia (Aciloa) palatinus(Cramer): Rothschild (1919). Aciloa palatinus pallida Lathy 1922, syn. nov.: Lathy (1923). Castnia palatinus pallidus(Lathy): Kaye & Lamont (1927). Castnia palatinus pallida( Lathy): Lathy (1925). This species is distributed from Mexicosouth to Perúand Brazil( González 2004). Several specimens are known from Trinidad( González & Salazar 2003). Lathy (1922)described the subspecies pallidafrom Trinidadbased entirely on the whiter median band of the hindwing, and subsequently reconfirmed this assessment after examining 14 malesand two females ( Lathy 1923, 1925). JMG compared specimens from various South American localities with Trinidadspecimens and found that the “whitish” area varies between specimens and tends to be larger in males ( González 2004). We do not see any justification for recognizing the Trinidadpopulation of A. palatinusas a different subspecies based on a color form that can be found outside the island.
Rothschild (1919)listed a female from Trinidadwith no specific locality. The species has been reported as not uncommon in the Northern Range of Trinidadin June and July based on the collecting of R. Dick ( Kaye & Lamont 1927). In fact, all of R. Dick’s material in the BMNH is from St. Ann’s, and includes the two males comprising the typeseries of pallidaLathy, as well as seven other males and two females. In view of MJWC’s observations below, the actual locality is likely to be St. Ann’s Peak ( 609 m) – a well known butterfly collecting locality above St. Ann’s Valley, close to Port of Spain, or St. Ann’s Ridge, the ridge running west from St. Ann’s Peak ( Barcant 1970). “St. Ann’s” is the correct spelling for this locality, although “St. Anne’s” is frequently seen on specimen labels and in published literature. MJWC has observed this species on the ridges of the Northern Range, but it is not common. Adults have been observed feeding at flowers of chaconia ( Warscewiczia coccinea; Rubiaceae) on Lalaja Ridge. This small tree grows to 4–6 mand occurs mostly at lower elevations on the island ( Williams & Cheesman 1928). Its small flowers are in spikes of more than one meter and conspicuous due to scarlet enlarged sepals on some flowers ( Freeman & Williams 1928). Material examined: ST. GEORGE: 1ɗ, Hololo, JunAug 1922, R. Dick (AME); 1ɗ, Hololo, 1000 m, R. Dick (AME); 1Ψ, Maracas Bay, Dead plants by road side, 5 Sep 1975, E. Fuller (AME); 1ɗ, 1Ψ, Morne Bleu – Morne Brule Ridge, ¼ mile S of Lalaja South Road, Apr 1979, M.J.W. Cock (ɗ BMNH, Ψ MJWC); 2ɗɗ ( typeseries of pallida), 7ɗɗ, 2ΨΨ, St. Anne’s, R. Dick, (BMNH); 1ɗ, St. Anne, Port of Spain, 5 Sep 1958, M. Nieves(CUIC); 1?, St. Augustine, 11 Aug 1972, D.J. Stradling (UWI); TRINIDAD: 1Ψ, A.S. Pinkus (CUIC); 1Ψ, Lowsley (BMNH).