27. Thyrocopa spilobathra Meyrick
(Fig. 45)
Thyrocopa spilobathra Meyrick, 1915a: 372 .
Meyrick’s “ types ”: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: NW Koolau Range: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, Jul 1901, Perkins (BMNH). Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Honolulu: 1 3 (slide 9547 Clarke, BMNH), 1908, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 664, 686.
Paralectotypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Honolulu: 6 3 (one abdomen missing), 1908, Perkins (BMNH). Thyrocopa spilobathra Meyrick; Zimmerman, 1978: 990, figs. 664, 686.
Diagnosis: T. spilobathra can be separated from similar species as follows: T. abusa has a median dorsal ridge on the uncus lacking in T. spilobathra; T. indecora has a more shallowly apically cleft uncus than T. spilobathra; T. peleana has a more deeply apically cleft uncus and less distinctive black spots on the wings than T. spilobathra; and T. usitata has cilia surrounding the male flagellomere.
Description: Head: Mottled brown and light brown. Antenna ca. 0.8x forewing length; very dense, extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere on male, female with slightly longer and less dense piliform cilia. Labial palpus mottled very light brown to brown; third segment ca. 0.9–1.0x length of second. Thorax: Brown. Forewing length 8–9 mm; ground color light brown with a few brown scales scattered throughout; discal area clouded with poorly defined brownish spots in cell; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at the vein endings, sometimes faint. Hindwing light brown except for anal margin, which is sometimes darker brown; fringe light brown. Abdomen: Very light brown. Male genitalia with uncus moderately cleft apically; sacculus tapering to sharp point at apex. Female genitalia typical for genus; signum long.
Food plants: Unknown.
Flight period: Specimens collected in July.
Distribution: Oahu. Possibly extinct.
Remarks: This species was last collected by Perkins in 1908. The series in the BMNH is remarkably homogeneous, with very a uniform wing pattern and forewing length.
Additional material examined: HAWAII: Oahu: NW Koolau Range: 27 3, 1 Ƥ (slide 31582 BMNH), Jul 1901, Perkins (BMNH).