20. Thyrocopa megas Walsingham

(Figs. 38, 85, 103)

Thyrocopa megas Walsingham, 1907b: 495, plate 14, fig. 10.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Maui: Haleakala, 5000’ [1524 m]: 1 3 (slide 4047 BMNH), May 1896, Perkins (BMNH), here designated (Zimmerman considered both the lectotype and paralectotype to be “ holotypes ”: 1978: figs. 661, 677).

Paralectotypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Maui: Haleakala, 5000’ [1524 m]: 1 Ƥ (fig. 38), May 1896, Perkins (BMNH); Haleakala, 5000’ [1524 m]: 1 3 (slide #4), May 1896, Perkins (BPBM). Thyrocopa megas Walsingham; Zimmerman, 1978: 988, figs. 661, 677.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa megas is very similar to T. cinerella, except it has less defined and smaller spots on the wings. It also differs from T. cinerella in the shorter signum of the female genitalia.

Description: Head: Mottled brown and very light whitish-brown. Antenna ca. 0.6–0.7x forewing length; very dense, extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of male flagellomere; female with two extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of each flagellomere; very light whitish-brown scales on proximal flagellomeres in both sexes. Labial palpus mottled very light whitish-brown and brown; third segment ca. 0.8x length of second. Thorax: Mottled very light whitish-brown and brown, apices with lighter brown scales. Forewing length 13–18 mm; ground color very light whitish brown with some brown scales; discal area with several poorly defined, brownish spots in cell. Hindwing very light whitish-brown; fringe almost white. Abdomen: Very light whitish-brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 85) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus very long, tapering to sharp tip and curving toward gnathos, somewhat scooped-out in appearance near apex. Female genitalia (Fig. 103) typical for genus; signum moderately long.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: At least March–October.

Distribution: Oahu, Maui.

Additional material examined: Oahu: Puu Kanehoa: 2 3, Jun 1960, E.J. Ford Jr. (USNM); Waianae Mts., Kamaileunu Ridge, N of Puu Kawiwi, 760 m: 4 3, 31 May 1975, F.G. Howarth & S. L. Montgomery (BPBM); Waianae Mts., Kamaileunu Ridge, N of Puu Kawiwi, 760 m, E side ridge top: 1 3 (slide MJM1), 19 Oct 1975, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Waianae Mts., Palikea Gulch nr. Puupane, 2070’ [631 m]: 5 3 (slides MJM2 & MJM6, one missing abdomen), 23 Jun 1977, F.G. Howarth & J. Obata (BPBM). Maui: Makawao FR: 2 3 (slide 04A20), 18 Jun 2004, W.P. Haines; Makawao FR, 3000’ [914 m]: 1 3 (slide LA73), 27 Jun 2003, D. Rubinoff (UHIM); Makawao FR, 4200’ [1280 m]: 1 Ƥ (slide 06B25), 3 Jun 2006, J.J. Anderson & M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Makawao FR, 945 m: 1 3 (slide LA34), 23–24 Mar 2005, W. Haines (UHIM).