73. Bactra verutana Zeller, 1875 (Fig. 32).

This widespread species, commonly referred to as the “javelin moth,” was described from Texas, U.S.A. It has been recorded throughout much North America (including the Caribbean), Central America, and South America (south to Chile) (Vargas & Vargas-Ortiz 2019). Extraordinarily, there are also records from Africa. Like other species of Bactra, the larval host is Cyperus species ( Cyperaceae).

Specimens examined: Honduras: Dept. Comayagua, Comayagua, 15 Apr 1979 (1♂), 6 May 1979 (1♂), 11 Jun 1979 (1♀), 2 Jul 1979 (no abdomen), 6 Aug 1979 (1♂), 20 May 1980 (1♂), S. Passoa (SCPC) .

Gilligan et al. (2008) characterized the genus Bactra in the midwestern United States. The valva in the male is divided into two round lobes and the female genitalia has a ringlike sclerotization on A8. Horak & Brown (1991) gave characters of the tribe.