Lineodes fontella Walsingham, 1913

Figs 28, 108, 154

Lineodes fontella Walsingham in Hampson, 1913: 314 -315. ‒

Roque-Albelo & Landry, 2015.

Material examined

Holotype: ♀ from Jamaica (BMNH).

Other specimens: 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 3 of undetermined sex from the Galápagos Islands: – Isabela: 11 km N P[uer] to Villamil; V[olcan]. Darwin, 300 m elev[ation]. – Santiago: James Bay, E side near lagoons, alt[itude]. ± 2 m. – Santa Cruz: [more precise locality unrecorded]; NNW Bella Vista, GPS: 225 m elev., S 00° 41.293’, W 90° 19.665’. Deposited in BMNH, CNC, MCZ, and MHNG.

Diagnosis: Among Lineodes species, L. fontella is easily recognized by its wing markings, especially the round-ended hook of the postmedian line of the forewing and the two small black dots postmedially on the hindwing (Fig. 28). See also Hayden et al. (2013). In Galápagos specimens the wingspan is between 15 and 17 mm.

Biology: The larva has been reared on the fruits of various species of Physalis (ground cherries, Solanaceae) (Hayden et al., 2013). In the Galápagos the four specimens available have been collected in February, March, and May from sea level up to 300 m in elevation, in anthropized as well as pristine habitats. Four species of Physalis occur in the Galápagos, including the endemic Physalis galapagoensis Waterf., which is found on the islands of Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Santiago (Jaramillo Díaz & Guézou, 2015).

Distribution: Based on museum specimens examined (BMNH), this species is known from Jamaica, the type locality, USA (Florida), British Guiana, Suriname, and Brazil. Hayden et al. (2013) mention it as widely distributed in the Neotropical region (Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama) and in the southern US. In the Galápagos this species has been collected on Isabela, Santiago, and Santa Cruz.

Remark: I have compared one of my Galápagos specimens with material in the BMNH, including the holotype female from Jamaica (slide BM 1289), for securing its identification.