Schaus, 1923 : 46
Parkin et al. , 1972 : 105
Linsley & Usinger, 1966 : 162
Linsley, 1977 : 37
Vries, 2003 : 145
Taxonomic revision of the Spilomelinae (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae s. l.) of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Bernard Landry
Revue suisse de Zoologie
2016
123
2
315
399
Schaus, 1923
Schaus
1923
[962,1305,942,965]
Insecta
Pyralidae
Beebea
Animalia
Lepidoptera
5
320
Arthropoda
species
guglielmi
Spilomelinae
Figs 7, 8, 95, 141
Beebea guglielmi Schaus, 1923: 46. ‒ Parkin et al., 1972: 105. ‒ Linsley & Usinger, 1966: 162. ‒ Linsley, 1977: 37. ‒ Perry & de Vries, 2003: 145, 146. ‒ Roque-Albelo & Landry, 2015.
Material examined Holotype: ♂( USNM). Other specimens: 7 ♀, 4 of undetermined sex from the Galápagos Islands: – Isabela: Albermarle, Cawley [sic] M[oun]t[ain] [= Alcedo volcano]. – Pinta: Abingdon [no precise locality]. – Santa Cruz: Academy Bay; Indefatigable, Charles Darwin Research Station; no precise locality. – Santa Fé: no precise locality. Deposited in AMNH, BMNH, CAS, CDRS, and MHNG.
Diagnosis:Unlike any other Spilomelinae species, either from the Galápagosor the rest of the World, by virtue of the large size [ 58 mmwingspan for the holotype, 72 mmfor the ‘largest female specimen’ ( Williams, 1930)], brown wings with darker brown waved transverse lines, labial palpi projecting forward beyond head as much as length of head, and strongly bipectinate male antennae ( Figs 7, 8).
Biology: Williams (1930)reports that larvae feed on Opuntia, a genus with 14 species in the Galápagos(Jaramillo Díaz & Guézou, 2015). Williams (1930)also offers a brief description of the solitary and boring mature larva and states that when it is done feeding it spins a cocoon some 33-35 mmlong along one side of the cactus plant, covering it with available material such as cactus spines and lichens for camouflage purposes. Perry & de Vries (2003)report that larvae found feeding on Opuntia insularisStewartin the crater of Darwin volcano on Isabela Islandwere referable to this species. Moths have been collected in January, February, April, June, and September to December ( Williams, 1930; Perry & de Vries, 2003; museum specimens).
Distribution:Endemic to the Galápagos, it was described from Chatham (= San Cristóbal), and apart from the holotypeI have examined specimens collected on the islands of Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Santa Fe(see also Perry & de Vries, 2003). Williams (1930)reports it as well from Abingdon, Bindloe, Daphne Islet, Duncan, James, and South Seymour islands, now respectively called Pinta, Marchena, Daphne Minor(probably), Pinzón, Santiago, and Baltra.
Remarks:I have not been able to collect this species despite several months of work on the islands on which it has been recorded in the past, although it comes to light and that was my favoured method of collecting. Hence, I suspect that it may have suffered a population decline. The specimen examined from Albermarle (= Isabela), Cawley [sic] Mountain, was collected by F.X. Williams during the CaliforniaAcademy of Sciences Expedition to the Galapagos Islandsin 1905-06. Williams (1930)refers to Cowley Mountain, on Isabela, which is an older name for Alcedo volcano (see for example http://www.galapagos.to/TEXTS/SLEVIN. HTM). I suspect that the food plant of the larvae reported by Williams (1930)as Opuntia, may also refer to other Cactaceae, a family represented by 18 genera in the Galápagos(Jaramillo Díaz & Guézou, 2015). The male ( Fig. 95) and female ( Fig. 141) genitalia are shown here for the first time.