Mimallo amilia ( Cramer, 1780 )

St Laurent, Ryan A. & Cock, Matthew J. W., 2017, Annotated list of Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea) from Trinidad and Tobago, with the description of a new species of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852 and taxonomic notes, Zootaxa 4268 (1), pp. 53-70 : 66

Mimallo amilia ( Cramer, 1780)

( Figs. 27, 28 )

Type locality. Surinam [NHMUK syntype, examined] Lacosoma amilia (Cramer) : Kaye & Lamont (1927)

Mimallo amilia is one of the most broadly distributed mimallonids, found from Mexico to Southeast Brazil and Paraguay ( Schaus 1928; St Laurent unpublished). This species was previously reported from Trinidad as Lacosoma amilia by Kaye & Lamont (1927) based on a specimen taken by F.W. Jackson in 1922, which we assume is the male with matching data that we list below in NHMUK. We here include additional new records from Trinidad, as well as the first report of this species from Tobago making this one of two mimallonid species reported from the island, together with the here undetermined Cicinnus species listed above.

This species is reported to feed on various Myrtaceae and is a minor pest of guava ( Psidium guajava ) in Brazil ( Costa Lima 1950; Zanuncio et al. 2005), so it is not surprising that it is widespread in disturbed areas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Material examined. (23 ♂, 2 ♀ total) TRINIDAD : 1 ♀, Arima Valley: I.1980, K. Preston-Mafham [leg.] ( MJWC) . 8 ♂, Caparo : XII.1905 (4 ♂), S.M. Klages [leg.], Rothschild Bequest, B.M. 1939–1 ; XI.1905 (2 ♂), S.M. Klages, Rothschild Bequest, B.M. 1939–1; no date (2 ♂), S.M. Klages [leg.], Joicey Coll., Brit. Mus. 1925–157 (NHMUK). 5 ♂, Curepe : 197?, F.D. Bennett [leg.], light trap (3 ♂, UWIZM CABI.2459, CABI.2460 CABI.2461) ; 8.I.1980, 29.I.1980, M.J.W. Cock [leg.] (NHMUK, MJWC). 3 ♂, Palmiste : 27.XII.1946, 30.XII.1946, 31.XII.1946, N. Lamont [leg.] ( UWIZM) . 1 ♂, Palmiste : 31.XII.1931, N. Lamont [leg.] ; 1 ♀, Palmiste : 30.I.1938, N. Lamont [leg.] ( NMSE) . 2 ♂, St. Augustine : 14.II.1956, M. Bigger [leg.], ‘ex. Guava’ ( UWIZM.2014.9.755) ; II.1977, [D.J. S[tradling]] (name obscured by grease but no doubt as to provenance), at light (NMSE). 2 ♂, No specific location: (UWIZM CABI.2456); F.W. Jackson [leg.], Brit. Mus. 1922–285 (NHMUK). TOBAGO: 1 ♂, Englishman’s Bay : VI–XII.2009, J. Ingraham [leg.], at light ( UWIZM.2015.15.140) . 1 ♂, Speyside : 14–17.V.1982, M.J.W. Cock [leg.], MV light ( MJWC) .

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 29. Mimallonidae of Trinidad. 17. Druentica coralie male, Trinidad, Arima Valley, 800 – 1200 ft (AMNH). 18. D. coralie female, Trinidad, ex. Clidemia hirta, photo courtesy of M. Ramadan (HDOA). 19. D. patawa male, Trinidad, Hollis Reservoir (MJWC). 20. D. patawa female paratype, French Guiana, Kaw Rd., 286 m (CDH). 21. Lacosoma ostrinum male, Trinidad, Off Saunders Road, Inniss Field, 50 m (MJWC). 22. L. ostrinum female, Trinidad, 2.5 mi SE of Valencia, Valencia Forest (MJWC). 23. Trogoptera guianaca male, Trinidad, Morne Bleu, Textel Installation (MJWC). 24. T. belilia female, Trinidad, Off Saunders Road, Inniss Field, 50 m (MJWC). 25. L. valva male, French Guiana, Réserve des Nouragues, Inselberg DZ, photo courtesy of P. Collet (CPC). 26. L. valva female, Trinidad, 2.5 mi SE of Valencia, Valencia Forest (MJWC). 27. Mimallo amilia male, Trinidad, Curepe (MJWC). 28. M. amilia female, Trinidad, Arima Valley (MJWC). 29. Zaphanta infantilis male, Trinidad, 2.5 mi SE of Valencia, Valencia Forest (MJWC). Scale bar = 1 cm.