Thyrocopa gigas Butler

13. Thyrocopa gigas (Butler)

(Figs. 25, 78, 102)

Depressaria gigas Butler, 1881: 397. Meyrick, 1883a: 32.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Maui: Haleakala, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4048 BMNH), 1881, Blackburn(?) (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978: figs. 658, 674 (as “ holotype ”).

Thyrocopa gigas (Butler); Walsingham, 1907b: 493, plate 14, fig. 7.

Thyrocopa gigas (Butler); Zimmerman, 1978: 987, figs. 658, 674, 686.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa gigas is among the largest species in the genus. It is rivaled in size only by T. cinerella, T. decipiens, T. kea, and T. megas. Thyrocopa gigas is almost always larger than any of these species except for T. decipiens, but unlike T. decipiens, the male antennae of T. gigas are filiform. Thyrocopa gigas is much darker in color than any of the above species except for T. decipiens.

Description: Head: Dark brown to brown. Antenna ca. 0.7x forewing length; very dense, extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of male flagellomere; female with 2 slightly longer, piliform cilia on the ventral side of each segment of the flagellomere. Labial palpus with third segment dark brown; second segment mottled very light whitish-brown and dark brown to brown; third segment ca. 0.8x length of second. Thorax: Dark brown to brown, with apex of scales often lighter. Forewing 17–23 mm; forewing ground color mottled blackish-brown or dark brown and light brown; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; curving poorly defined whitish band through terminal area; usually with evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hindwing light brown, spots at vein endings along termen sometimes visible; fringe minimal. Abdomen: Light brown to dark brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 78) with uncus moderately to shallowly cleft apically; sacculus somewhat scooped-out and typically cleft apically, though sometimes barely so. Female genitalia (Fig. 102) typical for genus; signum short.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: At least April–September.

Distribution: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui. However, T. gigas is possibly extinct on Oahu, where two females were collected by Perkins in 1892 but no further specimens have been collected since then.

Remarks: Blackburn reported taking one specimen “at sugar” on Maui (Zimmerman 1978:987).

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: 3500–4500’ [1069–1372 m]: 21 3 (slides 86554, & 86557), 2 Ƥ (slides 86552 & 86556), Apr 1919 -–1920, B.P. Clark (USNM); Alakai Swamp: 1 3, 24 Jul 1968, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Haupu Mt.: 1 3, 14 Feb 1974, collector unknown (BPBM); Alakai Swamp, Kelekua Hut, 4520’ [1378 m]: 5 3, 5–7 Jul 1982, K. & E. Sattler; Kaholuamano: 5 3, Mar–April 1920, J.A. Kusche (BPBM); Kaholuamano, 4000’ [1219 m]: 8 3 (slide #1), Apr 1895, Perkins (BPBM); Kaholuamanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 8 3 (slide 2035 BMNH), Apr 1895, Perkins (BMNH); Kaholuamanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 2 3, Apr 1895, Perkins (USNM); Kokee: 3 3, 1 –2 Jun 1978, J.C.E. Riotte & E. Perry (BPBM); Kokee: 3 3, 1 Ƥ, 19–24 Jun 1981, J.C.E. Riotte (BPBM); Kokee: 5 3, 26 Jun 1981– 25 Jun 1982, JCE Riotte (BPBM); Kokee: 1 3, 13 Jun 1982, J.C.E. Riotte (BPBM); Kokee, 1060 m: 7 3, 1 Ƥ, 17 Jun–8 Jul 1979, J.C.E. Riotte (BPBM); Kokee, 1060 m, 1 3, 10 Jul 1980, J.C.E. Riotte (BPBM); Kokee, 1140 m: 2 3, 3 Jun 1973, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Kokee, Air Nat Guard Station: 1 3, 28 May 1079, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Kokee, Rice Residence: 1 3, 11 Jun 1978, E. Perry (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Awaawapuhi Tr.: 1 3 (slide 06A05), 20 Jun 2005, P.T. Oboyski; Kokee St. Park, Awaawapuhi Tr., 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3, 17 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler; Kokee St. Park, Halemanu Tr.: 1 3, 26 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 1 3, 25 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Mt. Kahili: 1 3, 15 Mar 1974, F.G. Howarth & S.L. Montgomery (BPBM); Mts. 3000–4000’ [914–1219 m]: 4 3, Jun 1894, Perkins (BMNH; one at BPBM); N. Alakai Swamp: 1 3, 24 Jul 1968, DM Tsuda (BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Jnct.: 2 3, 24 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros & D.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Swamp Tr., 3800’ [1158 m]: 1 3, 29 Sep 1973, K. & E. Sattler; Na Pali-Kona FR, Pihea Trail, 4200’ [1280 m]: 4 3, 10 –20 Jun 1982, K. & E. Sattler (BMNH); Olokele Canyon: 2 3 (slide #201), 2 Feb 1919, JA Kusche (BPBM); Puu Ka Pele: 1 Ƥ (slide #202), 22 Feb 1919, JA Kusche (BPBM); Waimea Canyon St. Park, Puu Hinahina area, 3400’ [1036 m]: 4 3, 5–19 Jun, K. & E. Sattler (BMNH). Oahu: 1800’ [549 m], Mokuleia: 1 3, 1 Jan 1974, collector unknown (BPBM); Honolulu: 1 Ƥ, 1920, EH Bryan Jr. (BPBM); Mt Kaala, 700 m: 2 3, 5 May 1975, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Mt. Kaala, 3600’ [1097 m]: 1 3, 28 Aug 1984, W.D. Perreira (BPBM); Palikea Trail, 840–930 m: 1 3, 12 Nov 1975, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Waianae Mts. 2,500–3000’ [914 m]: 2 Ƥ (slide 2036 BMNH), 1892, Perkins (BMNH); Waianae Mtns, Kamaileunu Ridge, N Puu Kawiwi, 760 m: 1 Ƥ, 19 Oct 1975 (BPBM); Waianae Mtns, Ohikilolo Ridge: 1 3, 21 May 1976, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Molokai: Kamakou Pres., Kawela Gulch: 1 3 (slide LA33), 20 May 2004, no collector listed (UHIM); Kamakou, Pu’u Kolekole: 1 Ƥ (slide 07A36), 21 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Nearly 5000’ [1524 m]: 1 3, 22 Sep 1893, Perkins (BMNH); 1 mi [1.6 km] N of Puu Kolekole: 1 3, 26 Jul 1979, S.L. Montgomery (BPBM). Maui: Haleakala, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3, Blackburn [no date] (BMNH); Haleakala, 5000’ [1524 m]: 3 3, May 1896, Perkins (BMNH, except one at BPBM); Haleakala National Park, Upper Kipahulu Valley, Charlie Camp, 1450 m: 7 3, 6 Jul 1983, WC & BH Gagne (BPBM); Kipahulu Valley, Palikea, 680 m: 1 Ƥ, [no date], S.L. Montgomery (BPBM); Makawao FR: 3 3 (slide 04A16), 18 Jun 2004, W. Haines; Makawao FR, 4200’ [1280 m]: 1 3, 3 Jun 2006, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM).