Xanthyda beebei ( Fleming, 1957 ) Cock & Laguerre, 2022

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Laguerre, Michel, 2022, Taxonomic changes in the Neotropical wasp moths, Euchromiina and Ctenuchina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) relating to the fauna of Trinidad & Tobago, with descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 5222 (2), pp. 101-132 : 121

Xanthyda beebei ( Fleming, 1957) new combination

Figs. 30–31 .

Fleming (1957) described and illustrated Pheia beebei based on three males from Simla. Trinidad specimens were identified by comparison with Fleming (1957) and subsequently by comparison with an image of the holotype ( AMNH 2022b). The female shown here ( Fig. 31 ) has not previously been documented for P. beebei . As Fleming (1957) states, this species is close to P. gaudens Walker, 1856 (♁ type in OUMHN, Brazil, Para), but ‘differs in its smaller size and narrower apical black patch on the forewings’. Having examined the holotype ( OUMNH 2022) and Cerda’s (2008) treatment, they are certainly very close and look as though they could be conspecific. However, there are differences between the genitalia illustrated by Fleming (1957) for beebei and Cerda (2008) for gaudens —notably the shape of the basal half of the clasper, and the orientation of the dorsal projections. Cerda (2008) transferred P. gaudens to the combination Xanthyda gaudens , based on the similar male genitalia. Even if the two species are not conspecific, they certainly appear congeneric, and so P. beebei is also transferred to the new combination Xanthyda beebei ( Fleming 1957) .

Figures

FIGURE 30. Male Xanthyda beebei, Parrylands Oilfield, to Heliotropium, 25.vii.1981 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]

FIGURE 31. Female Xanthyda beebei, Lalaja South Road, Eupatorium flowers: 25.ix.1982 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC]