Valvaminor endoleuca Druce, 1905 new combination

Figs. 21–24.

Druce (1905) described this species in the genus Mesothen from Caura Valley, Venezuela, based on an unspecified number of males and females. Hampson (1914) specified that the NHMUK held one male and one female, and illustrated the male (Hampson 1915), which is curated as the ‘type’. Fleming (1957) recorded six males and five females from Simla, Trinidad, which should now be in AMNH. We identified additional Trinidad material (Figs 21, 22) by comparison with the type.

The type material has not been dissected, but we dissected a Trinidad male (Fig. 24). The genitalia are clearly of the type found in Valvaminor rather than Mesothen (Cerda 2008, 2020a), showing a downturned bifurcate uncus, pointed asymmetrical dorsolateral projections, and short deeply divided valves placed ventro-laterally. We therefore place Mesothen endoleuca in the new combination Valvaminor endoleuca (Druce, 1905) .

Material examined: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Trinidad. 1♁ Curepe, MVL, 11–20.ii.1982 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC; dissection 1118]. 1 ♁, 2♀ Parrylands Oilfield, to Heliotropium, 25.vii.1981 (M.J.W. Cock) [MJWC] . 1♀ St. Ann’s (labelled M. desperata) [NHMUK] . VENEZUELA. 1♁, 1♀ Caura Valley (type series) [NMHUK]