Thyrocopa neckerensis, Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 31

22. Thyrocopa neckerensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 40 , 86 )

Holotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Necker Island: Annexation Hill, 60 m: 1 3 (slide LA10), ex Sesbania litter, 4 Sep 2004, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM).

Paratypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Necker Island: Annexation Hill, 60 m: 1 Ƥ (slides LA08 & LA09), ex Sesbania litter, 4 Sep 2004, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); Flagpole Hill, 46 m: 1 Ƥ, ex litter, 4 Sep 2004, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM).

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa neckerensis is the only Thyrocopa that occurs on Necker Island; it can be distinguished morphologically by the cilia surrounding the flagellomere.

Description: Head: Mottled light brown to dark brown. Antenna ca. 0.7–0.8x forewing length; dense, short, piliform cilia surrounding male flagellomere, cilia extremely short dorsally; female with short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere. Labial palpus mottled white to brown to dark blackish-brown; third segment ca. 1.2x length of second. Thorax: Mottled light brown to dark brown. Forewing length 7–8 mm; ground color mottled very light whitish-brown, brown, and dark brown, or brown and dark brown; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings, though sometimes quite faint. Abdomen: Light brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 86 ) with uncus barely cleft apically; sacculus short and tapering to sharp apex. Female genitalia typical for genus; signum long.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: Specimens have been collected in September.

Distribution: Necker Island.

Etymology: The name “ neckerensis ” refers to Necker Island, the only locality where this moth occurs.

Remarks: The three specimens are not spread; hence, the thorax, hindwings, and abdomen are not easily examined. Owing to the scarcity and small size of the specimens, I did not relax and spread them, risking damage.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 45. Adults of Thyrocopa. 31. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, forewing = 12 mm; 32. T. kanaloa (holotype), Kahoolawe, forewing = 7 mm; 33. T. kea, Kauai, forewing = 15 mm; 34. T. kea, Kauai, forewing = 20 mm; 35. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, forewing = 10 mm; 36. T. kokeensis (holotype), Kauai, forewing = 8 mm; 37. T. leonina (holotype), Lanai, forewing = 9 mm; 38. T. megas, Maui, forewing = 18 mm; 39. T. minor, Molokai, forewing = 9 mm; 40. T. neckerensis (holotype), Necker, forewing = 7 mm; 41. T. nihoa, Nihoa, forewing = 7 mm; 42. T. peleana (holotype), Oahu, forewing = 18 mm; 43. T. sapindiella (holotype), Oahu, forewing = 10 mm; 44. T. seminatella, Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 45. T. spilobathra, Oahu, forewing = 8 mm.

FIGURES 75 – 89. Male genitalia of Thyrocopa; for all figures, lower left box shows detail of uncus, lower right box shows detail of sacculus. 75. T. elikapekae, Kauai, male genitalia (slide LA 60 UHIM); 76. T. epicapna, Maui, male genitalia (slide LA 81 BPBM); 77. T. geminipuncta, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 44 BPBM); 78. T. gigas, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 33 UHIM); 79. T. indecora, Maui, male genitalia (slide 06 B 14 BPBM); 80. T. indecora, Oahu, male genitalia (slide LA 18 BPBM); 81. T. kanaloa, Kahoolawe, male genitalia (08 A 54 BPBM); 82. T. kea, Kauai, male genitalia (slide LA 59 UHIM); 83. T. kikaelekea, Hawaii Island, male genitalia (slide 05 A 45 BPBM); 84. T. kokeensis, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 21909 BMNH); 85. T. megas, Maui, male genitalia (slide LA 73 UHIM); 86. T. neckerensis, Necker, male genitalia (slide LA 10 BPBM); 87. T. nihoa, Nihoa, male genitalia (slide LA 13 BPBM); 88. T. peleana, Oahu, male genitalia (slide # 151 BPBM); 89. T. seminatella, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 90 BPBM).