Thyrocopa decipiens (Walsingham)

Medeiros, Matthew J., 2009, A revision of the endemic Hawaiian genus Thyrocopa (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae: Xyloryctinae), Zootaxa 2202, pp. 1-47 : 18-19

9. Thyrocopa decipiens (Walsingham)

( Figs. 21 , 60, 74 )

Catamempsis decipiens Walsingham, 1907b: 491 , plate 14, fig. 6. Type species of Catamempsis.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Hawaii Island: Olaa, 2000’ [610 m]: 1 3 (slide 4389 BMNH, wings), Nov 1896, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 648, 656 (as “ holotype ”).

Paralectotypes: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Oahu: Near head of Kawailoa Gulch: 1 Ƥ (slide 2044 BMNH), Apr 1893, Perkins. Hawaii Island: Olaa: 1 Ƥ (slide 3944 BMNH), Sep 1896, Perkins (BMNH).

Thyrocopa decipiens (Walsingham) ; Zimmerman, 1978: 986, figs. 648, 656, 682, 685.

Diagnosis: The male antennae in Thyrocopa decipiens are conspicuously serrate.

Description: Head: Scales dark brown to brown. Antenna ( Fig. 60 ) ca. 0.6–0.7x forewing length; male flagellomere serrate; female with dense, short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere, cilia less dense on dorsal side. Labial palpus mottled brown and light brown; third segment ca. 0.5x length of second. Thorax: Light brown to dark brown. Forewing length 16–23 mm; forewing ground color light brown mottled with a small amount of darker brown but area near costal margin of wing with streak of brown, usually large and distinctive, sometimes weak; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings sometimes present. Hindwing light brown to very light brown, fringe very light brown. Abdomen: Brown to very light brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 74 ) with uncus deeply apically cleft; sacculus short, tapering to sharp apex. Female genitalia unknown.

Food plants: Freycinetia arborea (Hawaiian = ieie) ( Swezey 1936a).

Flight period: Year-round.

Distribution: Oahu (possibly extinct), Molokai, Maui, Hawaii Island.

Remarks: Swezey (1936a: 191) wrote, “The caterpillars of this gelechiid moth feed in the tips of branches, eating the leaves of the unexpanded spindle. There may be a dozen or more feeding somewhat gregariously...”

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: 1 Ƥ, 1910, P. ( BMNH); Oahu: Pacific Heights: 1 3 (slide 56), 11 Nov 1918, O.H. Swezey ( BPBM). Molokai: Pepepae Bog Trail, “Kamakou 4:” 1 3 (slide LA25), 6 Jul 2005, D. Rubinoff ( UHIM). Maui: Kipahulu Valley (E. Maui), below Palikea: 1 3, 4–6 Jul 1980, S.L. Montgomery ( BPBM); W. Maui, Honakohau, 900 m: 6 3, 19 Mar 1972, J.L. Gressitt ( BPBM); W. Maui, Puu Kukui, 850 m: 2 3, 30 Mar 1972, J.L. Gressitt ( BPBM).

Hawaii Island: 1300’ [396 m], S. Hilo District, Upper Waiakea FR, Stainback Highway: 1 3, 1 Aug 1976, K. & E. Sattler; 3000’ [914 m], S. Hilo District, Upper Waiakea FR, Stainback Highway: 1 3, 9 Jul 1976, K. & E. Sattler; Stainback Hwy ca. 2600’ [792 m] (on dead leaf of Pritchardia beccariana ): 1 3, Mar 1999, collector unknown ( BPBM).

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 30. Adults of Thyrocopa. 16. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 13 mm; 17. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 11 mm; 18. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 13 mm; 19. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 20. T. cinerella, Kauai, forewing = 19 mm; 21. T. decipiens, Hawaii Island, forewing = 18 mm; 22. T. elikapekae, Kauai, forewing = 12 mm; 23. T. epicapna, Hawaii Island, forewing = 10 mm; 24. T. geminipuncta, Maui, forewing = 9 mm; 25. T. gigas, Kauai, forewing = 23 mm; 26. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 12 mm; 27. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, forewing = 9 mm; 28. T. indecora, Oahu Island, forewing = 11 mm; 29. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 14 mm; 30. T. indecora, Maui, forewing = 12 mm.

FIGURES 60 – 74. Antenna and male genitalia of Thyrocopa; lower left box with detail of uncus, lower right box with detail of sacculus. 60. T. decipiens, Molokai, male, antenna; 61. T. vagans, Kauai, male, antenna; 62. T. kea, Kauai, male, abdomen showing transverse bands of spines (slide LA 59 UHIM); 63. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing very shallowly cleft uncus (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 64. T. indecora, Hawaii Island, male, detail showing sacculus with scooped-out appearance (slide 07 B 25 BPBM); 65. T. abusa, Molokai, male genitalia (slide 31580 BMNH); 66. T. albonubila, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 07 A 85 BPBM); 67. T. alterna, Hawaii Island, male genitalia (slide Jon # 2 BPBM); 68. T. apatela (intermediate winged specimen), Maui, male genitalia (slide 05 A 97 HALE); 69. T. apatela (brachypterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 19860 BMNH); 70. T. apatela (macropterous morph), Maui, male genitalia (slide 21906 BMNH); 71. T. apikia, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 26 UHIM); 72. T. brevipalpis, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 05 A 75 BPBM); 73. T. cinerella, Kauai, male genitalia (slide 08 A 24 BPBM); 74. T. decipiens, Molokai, male genitalia (slide LA 25 UHIM).