Cryptobotys zoilusalis (Walker, 1859)

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 : 321-323

Cryptobotys zoilusalis (Walker, 1859)

Figs 10, 11 , 97 , 143

Botys zoilusalis Walker, 1859: 603 .

Material examined:

Holotype: ♀ from Honduras, without abdomen ( BMNH). Other specimens: 1 ♂ from the Galápagos Islands: - San Cristóbal: 1 ♂, antiguo botadero, ca. 4 km SE P[uer]to Baquerizo, 169 m elev[ation]., S 00° 54.800’, W 89° 34.574’. Deposited in MHNG.

Diagnosis: In the Galápagos this 20 mm wingspan species is most similar to Pilocrocis ramentalis Lederer ( Figs 46, 47 ) in wing colour and markings, but P. ramentalis is slightly larger (21-29 mm) and its forewing postmedian line usually doesn’t reach the costa and is straight or slightly concave in the radial sector; its discal spot, a small dash or lunule, is bordered with black anteriorly whereas the discal spot of C. zoilusalis is bigger, rounded, and with black dashes on both sides but more conspicuously so posteriorly ( Figs 10, 11 ). It resembles also Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Guenée) ( Figs 20, 21 ) and Rhectocraspeda periusalis (Walker) ( Figs 49, 50 ) in size and wing background colour, but the markings of these species are darker when apparent, whereas those of C. zoilusalis are white to cream. It is also similar to the most poorly marked specimens of Hymenia perspectalis (Hübner, 1796) ( Figs 22, 23 ), but in the latter there is a distinctive white band in the hindwing with a short bilobed projection medially. Microthyris anormalis (Guenée) ( Fig. 36 ) is also similar, but this species is larger and its forewing is apically pointed and with five or six white spots along the submedian (one spot on posterior side medially) and postmedian (4-5 spots on anterior side in radial and median sectors) dark lines.

Biology: Known hosts are Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc. and Xanthium strumarium L. ( Asteraceae ) ( Heppner, 2003). Neither of these plant species (or genera) are known from the Galápagos (Jaramillo Díaz & Guézou, 2015). The species is not recorded in Robinson et al. (2014). I collected the single available specimen from the Galápagos on 22 February 2005 at a site where garbage was dumped in the past.

Distribution: Described from Honduras, this species is widely distributed in the West Indies as well as Central and South America (BMNH and MHNG specimens). Heppner (2003) records it from Florida and Texas ( USA) as well as Mexico.

Remarks: The only known Galápagos specimen was determined by Alma Solis based on a photograph sent to her. It is not illustrated here because of its poor condition. The male genitalia illustrated here ( Fig. 97 ) are those of the Galápagos specimen, but Figs 10, 11 , and 143 are specimens collected in Brazil, Bahía, Camacan, Reserva Serra Bonita. The species is recorded here from the Galápagos for the first time.

Figures

Figs 9 - 16. Specimens of Spilomelinae, size not to scale. (9) Cheverella galapagensis ♀, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Los Gemelos, 27. v. 1992, MHNG. (10, 11) Cryptobotys zoilusalis. (10) ♀, Brazil, Bahía, Camacan, Res. Serra Bonita, 800 m, 8. iv. 2011, MHNG. (11) ♂, same locality, 27. iii. 2011, MHNG. (12, 13) Desmia mordor. (12) ♂ paratype, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Los Gemelos, 4. v. 2002, MHNG. (13) ♀ holotype, CNC. (14) Diaphania galapagensis ♂ paratype, Galápagos, Isabela, NE slope Alcedo, near pega-pega camp, 483 m, 31. iii. 2004, MHNG. (15) Diaphania hyalinata ♂, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Los Gemelos, 4. v. 2002, MHNG. (16) Diaphania indica ♂, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haut Katanga, Tshinkolobwe, 12. iii. 1931, MHNG.

Figs 95 - 97. Male genitalia of Galápagos Spilomelinae, a and b from same slides, but not to scale, (a) showing the genitalia without phallus and (b), the phallus. (95) Beebea guglielmi: slide BMNH Pyr 21172, Santa Cruz, BMNH ©, the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London. (96) Cheverella galapagensis paratype: slide MHNG-ENTO- 6070. (97) Cryptobotys zoilusalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8957, San Cristóbal.

Figs 143 - 147. Female genitalia of Neotropical Spilomelinae, not to scale. (143) Cryptobotys zoilusalis: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8958, Brazil. (144) Desmia mordor paratype: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8978. (145) Diaphania galapagensis paratype: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8676. (146) D. hyalinata: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8674, Galápagos, Santa Cruz. (147) D. indica: slide MHNG-ENTO- 8672, Galápagos, San Cristóbal.

Figs 41 - 48. Neotropical specimens of Spilomelinae, size not to scale. (41, 42) Omiodes indicata. (41) ♂, Galápagos, Tagus Cove, emerged ex pupa on Desmodium glabrum, 20 - 25. v. 1992, MHNG. (42) ♀, Galápagos, Pinta, ± 50 m, 20. iii. 1992, MHNG. (43) Patania silicalis ♀, Galápagos, Alcedo, NE slope, 292 m, 30. iii. 2004, MHNG. (44, 45) Penestola bufalis. (44) ♂, Galápagos, Santiago, Cerro Inn, 28. iii. 1992, MHNG. (45) ♀, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, CDRS, wall of Inverts. lab., 11 m, 6. iv. 2004, MHNG. (46, 47) Pilocrocis ramentalis. (46) ♂, Venezuela, Aragua, PN H. - Pittier, Estacion Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 15. vii. 2009, MHNG. (47) ♀, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, E. C. C. D., 6. iii. 1992, MHNG. (48) Psara chathamalis ♀, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Bahía Conway, 14. iv. 1992, MHNG.

Figs 17 - 24. Neotropical specimens of Spilomelinae, size not to scale. (17) Diaphania nitidalis ♀, Brazil, Bahía, Camacan, Res. Serra Bonita, 800 m, 8. iv. 2011, MHNG. (18) Ercta vittata ♂, Galápagos, Marchena, 12. iii. 1992, MHNG. (19) Herpetogramma bipunctalis ♂, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, CDRS, Barranco, 20 m, 30. iv. 2002, MHNG. (20, 21) Herpetogramma phaeopteralis. (20) ♂, Galápagos, Isabela, NE slope Alcedo, Los Guayabillos camp, 869 m, 2. iv. 2004, MHNG. (21) ♀, Galápagos, San Cristóbal, near La Loberia, sea level, 24. ii. 2005, MHNG. (22, 23) Hymenia perspectalis. (22) ♀, Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Los Gemelos, 4. v. 2002, MHNG. (23) ♀, same locality, 27. v. 1992, MHNG. (24) Lineodes integra ♂, Pinta, Cabo Ibbetson, 8 m, MHNG.

Figs 49 - 56. Neotropical specimens of Spilomelinae, size not to scale. (49, 50) Rhectocraspeda periusalis. (49) ♂, Galápagos, Santiago, Central, 700 m, 9. iv. 1992, MHNG. (50) ♀, Galápagos, Isabela, ± 15 km N Pto Villamil, 25. v. 1992, MHNG. (51, 52) Salbia haemorrhoidalis. (51) ♂, Galápagos, San Cristóbal, antiguo botadero, ca. 4 km SE Pto Baquerizo, 169 m, 22. ii. 2005, MHNG. (52) ♂, Ecuador, Pichincha, Septimo Paraiso Reserve, ± 1300 m, 8. v. 2002, MHNG. (53, 54) Samea castellalis. (53) ♀, Galápagos, Santiago, close to Caseta, 686 m, 6. iii. 2005, MHNG. (54) ♂, Galápagos, San Cristóbal, pampa zone, 15. ii. 1989, CNC. (55, 56) Samea coffea. (55) ♀ holotype, CNC. (56) ♂ paratype, Galápagos, San Cristóbal, 4 km SE Pto Baquerizo, 12. ii. 1989, CNC.

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.