Neoleucinodes elegantalis ( Guenée, 1854 ), Guenee, 1854

Bernard Landry, 2016, Taxonomic revision of the Spilomelinae (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae s. l.) of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (2), pp. 315-399 : 357

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.155309
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5823204
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EA87B1-FF96-8205-7FB5-FBA3FB72FC1D
treatment provided by	Plazi (2016-10-23 15:50:42, last updated 2024-11-29 09:59:04)
scientific name	Neoleucinodes elegantalis ( Guenée, 1854 )
status

Treatment

Neoleucinodes elegantalis ( Guenée, 1854)

Figs 37 View Figs 33 - 40 , 115 View Figs 113 - 115 , 161 View Figs 158 - 162

Leucinodes elegantalis Guenée, 1854: 222 .

Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) : Causton et al., 2006: 141.

‒ Roque-Albelo & Landry, 2015.

Material examined: 1 ♀ from the Galápagos Islands: – Santa Cruz: Academy Bay. Deposited in BMNH.

Diagnosis: The mostly hyaline white wings with dark brown patches terminally toward apex and basally, in addition to a mostly rust brown patch medially on dorsum ( Fig. 37 View Figs 33 - 40 ) will easily separate this species from the other Galápagos Spilomelinae. The forewing length of the single, unspread Galápagos specimen known is 12.5 mm (wingspan about 26 mm), but the species varies in this respect between 8 and 13 mm (see Hayden et al., 2013).

Biology: Known as the Tomato fruit borer, the larva of this species has been recorded to feed on a number of Solanaceae species, but especially in the genus Solanum ( Hayden et al., 2013) . Eggs are preferentially laid on young fruits, 1-3 cm in diameter. Newly hatched larvae immediately start boring into the fruit. Larvae consume seeds and fruit flesh and after five moults exit the fruit to pupate in a rolled leaf edge or among plant debris on the ground ( Hayden et al., 2013). The only specimen recorded from the Galápagos was collected in the littoral or arid zone in August 1969.

Distribution: Based on BMNH specimens (perhaps not all correctly identified), this native Western Hemisphere denizen of the tropical and subtropical regions is found in Trinidad, Mexico, Guatemala, British Guiana, Surinam, Colombia, and Brazil. Hayden et al. (2013) report a wide distribution from Mexico through the Antilles, Central and South America to Peru and Argentina. It is reported from Florida, USA according to Heppner (2003), but it is not present in North America according to Hayden et al. (2013). Only one specimen, collected on Santa Cruz, is known so far from the Galápagos. Academy Bay is where Puerto Ayora is located. This is the touristic hub and most populated area of the archipelago. Neoleucinodes elegantalis likely still occurs there in gardens.

Remarks: The single known Galápagos specimen was determined with Capps (1948) and Hayden et al. (2013). The female holotype from Brazil was not examined. There are other, similar species of this genus on continental South and Central America.

References

Capps H. W. 1948. Status of the pyraustid moths of the genus Leucinodes in the New World, with descriptions of new genera and species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, Washington 98 (3223): 69 - 83.

Causton C. E., Peck S. B., Sinclair B. J., Roque-Albelo L., Hodgson C. J., Landry B. 2006. Alien Insects: Threats and implications for conservation of Galapagos Islands. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99: 121 - 143.

Guenee M. A. 1854. Deltoides et Pyralites. Pp. 1 - 448. In: Boisduval J. B. A. D. de & Guenee M. A., Histoire naturelle des insectes. Species General des Lepidopteres 8 8. Roret, Paris.

Hayden J. E., Lee S., Passoa S. C., Young J., Landry J. - F., Nazari V., Mally R., Somma L. A., Ahlmark K. M. 2013. Digital Identification of Microlepidoptera on Solanaceae. USDA- APHIS-PPQ Identification Technology Program (ITP). Fort Collins, CO. [Last accessed on 15.10.2014] <http: // idtools. org / id / leps / micro /> - See more at: http: // idtools. org / id / leps / micro / about _ citation. php # sthash. C 287 LgOL. dpuf

Heppner J. B. 2003. Lepidoptera of Florida. Part 1. Introduction and catalog. Arthropods of Florida and neighbouring land areas 17: 670 pp.

Roque-Albelo L., Landry B. 2015. Lepidoptera. In: Bungartz F., Herrera H., Jaramillo P., Tirado N., Jimenez-Uzcategui G., Ruiz D., Guezou A., Ziemmeck F. (eds.). Charles Darwin Foundation Galapagos Species Checklist - Lista de Especies de Galapagos de la Fundacion Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin Foundation / Fundacion Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: http: // www. darwinfoundation. org / datazone / checklists / terrestrial-invertebrates / Last updated 30 November 2015.

Figures

Figs 33 - 40. Neotropical specimens of Spilomelinae, size not to scale. (33, 34) Marasmia trapezalis. (33) ♂, Galápagos, Isabela, Sierra Negra, 11 km N Puerto Villamil, 9. iv. 2004, MHNG. (34) ♀, Galápagos, Santiago, Central, 700 m, 9. iv. 1992, MHNG. (35) Maruca vitrata ♀, Ecuador, Pichincha, Septimo Paraiso Reserve, ± 1300 m, 10. v. 2002, MHNG. (36) Microthyris anormalis ♀, Galápagos, Isabela, V. Darwin, 300 m, 15. v. 1992, MHNG. (37) Neoleucinodes elegantalis ♂, Guyane française, Rte de Kaw @ pk 37, 271 m, 6. iv. 2008, MHNG. (38, 39) Neoleucinodes galapagensis. (38) ♂ holotype, MHNG. (39) ♀ paratype, Isabela, NE slope Alcedo, ca. 400 m up Los Guayabillos camp, 892 m, 1. iv. 2004, MHNG. (40) Palpita flegia ♂, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, ix-xi. 1970, BMNH ©, the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London.

Figs 113 - 115. Male genitalia of Neotropical Spilomelinae, a and b from same slides, but not to scale, (a) showing the genitalia without phallus and (b), the phallus. (113) Maruca vitrata: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8995, French Guiana. (114) Microthyris anormalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 9006, Galápagos, Isabela. (115) Neoleucinodes elegantalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8693, French Guiana.

Figs 158 - 162. Female genitalia of Neotropical Spilomelinae, not to scale. (158) Marasmia trapezalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 9026, Galápagos, Santa Cruz (MHNG). (159) Maruca vitrata: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8996, French Guiana. (160) Microthyris anormalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 9027, Galápagos, Isabela (MHNG). (161) Neoleucinodes elegantalis: slide MHNG- ENTO- 8694, Venezuela. (162) N. galapagensis paratype: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8692.