30. Thyrocopa vagans (Walsingham)

(Figs. 48, 61, 92)

Ptychothrix vagans Walsingham, 1907b: 489, plate 14, fig. 3. Type species of Ptychothrix .

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Halemanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4176 BMNH, genitalia and wings), May 1895, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 646, 651, 681 (as “ holotype ”).

Thyrocopa vagans (Walsingham); Zimmerman, 1978: 991, figs. 646, 651, 681.

Diagnosis: The bipectinate male antennae of T. vagans is unique among Thyrocopa .

Description: Head: Scales brownish-grey, sometimes darker near apex. Antenna (Fig. 61) ca. 7–0.8x forewing length; male flagellomere bipectinate, the female is not known. Labial palpus brown on second segment, mottled very light brownish-grey and brown on third segment; third segment ca. 0.8x length of second. Thorax: Light brownish-grey to light brown to brown. Forewing length ca. 8 mm; ground color mostly very light grey, mottled with a few brown scales, darker near thorax and along costal margin. Hindwing light brown, fringe very light brown. Abdomen: Light brownish-grey. Male genitalia (Fig. 92) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus short, ending in a blunt tip. Female genitalia unknown.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: Specimens have been collected in May, August, and September.

Distribution: Kauai.

Remarks: This species has been collected only three times: once each in 1895, 1973, and 2006. This is another Thyrocopa species that is able to persist, presumably at low population densities, and could easily have been presumed extinct.

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp at Pihea Trail, 1200 m: 1 3 (slide LA51), 18 Aug 2006, D. Rubinoff & J. Eiben (UHIM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Pihea Trail, 4200’ [1280 m]: 1 3, 11 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler (BMNH).