Thyrocopa albonubila Walsingham

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 10-11

3. Thyrocopa albonubila Walsingham

( Figs. 8 , 66 )

Thyrocopa albonubila Walsingham, 1907b: 495 , plate 14, fig. 11.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4049 BMNH), Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman 1978: figs. 653, 671 (as “ holotype ”).

Paralectotypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 1 3, 2 Ƥ, Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH); Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 2 3 (one mounted on a slide), May–Jun 1894, Perkins (BPBM). Thyrocopa albonubila Walsingham ; Zimmerman, 1978: 937, figs. 653, 671, plate 5, fig. 3.

Diagnosis: T. albonubila is the only Kauai Thyrocopa that has a white forewing with conspicuous black spots.

Description: Head: Scales generally light brown to light whitish-grey. Antenna ca. 0.6–0.7x forewing length; very dense, very short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere on both 3 and Ƥ, broad silvery scales on dorsal side of proximal segments of flagellomere. Labial palpus mostly white on second segment, mostly brown on third; third segment ~0.8x length of second. Thorax: Very light brown to whitish-grey. Forewing length 10–13 mm; forewing ground color mottled brown to very light whitish-grey; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots; curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hindwing light brownish-grey, except anal margin sometimes darker brown; fringe white. Abdomen: Light whitish-grey. Male genitalia ( Fig. 66 ) with uncus scarcely cleft apically; sacculus short and blunt-ended. Female genitalia typical of genus; signum long.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: Year-round.

Distribution: Kauai.

Remarks: According to Zimmerman (1978: 937), “The Swezey references to this species (1910e:138; 1931b:502) belong to argentea ”. T. albonubila is one of the more common Thyrocopa at Kokee State Park.

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Kaholuamano: 1 Ƥ, Apr 1920, J.A. Kusche ( BPBM); Kokee: 1 3, 20 Aug 1959, J.W. Beardsley ( BPBM), 1 3 (slide MJM34), 22 Jul 1968, D.M. Tsuda (?) ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park: 6 3, 8 Ƥ (slide MJM33), 18 Jul 1980 – 22 Aug 1987, J.C.E. Riotte ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, 1060 m: 2 3, 4 Ƥ (slide MJM30; one missing abdomen), 19 Jun–11 Jul 1979, J.C.E. Riotte & R. & E. Rice ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, 1140 m: 2 Ƥ, 1 Jun 1973, F.G. Howarth ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Halemanu, 3400’ [1036 m]: 1 Ƥ, 23 Aug 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Kokee St. Park, Honopu Tr., 4000’ [1219 m]: 4 Ƥ (slide 21911 BMNH), 22–28 Aug 1973, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 1 3 (slide 07A73), 25 May 2007, 1 3 (slide 07B58), 9 Dec 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kauila Cabin: 1 3 (slide 07A85), 26 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaunuohua Ridge (Milolii Ridge Rd.), 3600’ [1097 m]: 2 Ƥ, 1 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Kokee St. Park, Kumuwela Ridge, Waininiua Tr., 3800’ [1158 m]: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, 24 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler ( BMNH); Kokee St. Park, Makaha Rd.: 1 3 (slide 06A04), 17 Jun 2005, P.T. Oboyski; Kokee St. Park, Nu’alolo Tr.: 2 3, 7–8 Dec 2007, M.J. Medeiros ( BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Rice Residence: 1 3, 11 Jun 1978, E. Perry ( BPBM).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 15. Adults of Thyrocopa. 1. T. abusa (holotype of T. immutata), Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 2. T. abusa, Oahu, forewing = 11 mm; 3. T. abusa, Oahu, forewing = 9 mm; 4. T. abusa, Maui, forewing = 13 mm; 5. T. abusa, Maui, forewing = 12 mm; 6. T. abusa, Maui, forewing = 13 mm; 7. T. acetosa (holotype), Kauai, forewing = 10 mm; 8. T. albonubila, Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 9. T. alterna, Maui, forewing = 11 mm; 10. T. alterna (holotype of T. adumbrata), Hawaii Island, forewing = 11 mm; 11. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, forewing = 15 mm; 12. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, forewing = 13 mm; 13. T. apatela (macropterous morph), Maui, forewing = 9 mm; 14. T. apatela (brachypterous morph), Maui, forewing = 8 mm; 15. T. apikia (holotype), Molokai, forewing = 14 mm.

FIGURES 60 – 74. Antenna and male genitalia of Thyrocopa; lower left box with detail of uncus, lower right box with detail of sacculus. 60. T. decipiens, Molokai, male, antenna; 61. T. vagans, Kauai, male, antenna; 62. T. kea, Kauai, male, abdomen showing transverse bands of spines (slide LA 59 UHIM); 63. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing very shallowly cleft uncus (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 64. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing sacculus with scooped-out appearance (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 65. T. abusa, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 31580 BMNH); 66. T. albonubila, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 85 BPBM); 67. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, male genitalia (slide Jon # 2 BPBM); 68. T. apatela (intermediate winged specimen), Maui, male genitalia (slide 05 A 97 HALE); 69. T. apatela (brachypterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 19860 BMNH); 70. T. apatela (macropterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 21906 BMNH); 71. T. apikia, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 26 UHIM); 72. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 05 A 75 BPBM); 73. T. cinerella, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 08 A 24 BPBM); 74. T. decipiens, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 25 UHIM).