Adaina perplexus (Grossbeck, 1917)

Fig. 21, 55

Diagnosis. Distinguished from Adaina ambrosiae by the light buff as opposed to mottled fuscous and white ground color on the wing base; discal spot and cleft spot small and well defined as opposed to dif- fusing into ground color; occipital fringe ochraceous-tawny as opposed to drab; dorsum of thorax with scales solid cartridge or light buff as opposed to light buff with drab tips; abdomen without fuscous lateral patches on segments A4 and A5. Male genitalia (figured by Matthews et al. 2012) are characterized by a distinct saccular process with a flattened blade-like base and narrow curved distal portion as opposed to a more lobed process in A. ambrosiae. The female genitalia (Fig. 55) are distinct from A. ambrosiae in having a pair of elongate signa.

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: Central Abaco, vic. Wilson City, 26.372500°, −77.010667°, 1.xi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, ex. larva on leaves of Melanthera (1 ♂); Cat Island: vic. Ocean Dream Resort, E of Smith Town, 24.232273°, −75.454536°, 23.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG (1 ♀); Long Island: Stella Maris, 1 mi. SE of airport, 23.575317°, −75.247100°, 31.v–1.vi.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, ex. Melanthera sp. (12 ♂, 8 ♀); same data except 31.v.2014, resting on Melanthera sp. (1 ♀); same data except, 1.vi.2014, resting on Melanthera sp. (2 ♀); South Andros Island: W of the Bluff Settlement, 24.106939°, −77.557659°, 29.iii.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, ex. larva on Melanthera (23 ♂, 12 ♀, slide DM 2152): San Salvador Island: Gerace Research Centre, vic. Water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 14.vi.2018, DLM, JYM (1 ♂).

Preserved material examined. BAHAMAS: Long Island: Stella Maris, 1 mi. SE of airport, 23.575317°, −75.247100°, 31.v.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, feeding on leaves of Melanthera (20 L, 1 LS, 2 P, 1 PC); same data except 31.v–1.vi. 2014 (17 L, 4 LS); South Andros Island: W of the Bluff Settlement 24.106939°, −77.557659°, 29.iii.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR, feeding on leaves of Melanthera (14 L, 6 LS, 3 P) (27 L, 5 LS, 5 P) {2 vials}.

Life history. Larvae feed externally on the leaves of Melanthera aspera (Jacq.) Small [Asteraceae]. Unlike A. ambrosiae, which also feeds on Melanthera Rohr, larvae loosely fold or draw together leaves with silk. The larva and pupa were illustrated by Matthews et al. (2012).

Distribution. Bahamas: Abaco, Cat, Long, San Salvador and North and South Andros Islands; Cuba: Varadero (Gielis 2011); Trinidad; United States: Florida, Monroe and Sarasota counties.

Comments. Previously reported from North Andros Island (Matthews et al. 2012).