Thyrocopa seminatella Walsingham

26. Thyrocopa seminatella Walsingham

(Figs. 44, 89, 104)

Thyrocopa seminatella Walsingham, 1907b: 499, plate 14, fig. 19.

Lectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Halemanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 Ƥ (slide 31585 BMNH), May 1895, Perkins (BMNH), designated by Zimmerman, 1978:figs. 664 & 679 (as “ holotype ”). Paralectotype: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Halemanu, 4000’ [1219 m]: 1 3 (slide 4156 BMNH), May 1895, Perkins (BMNH).

Thyrocopa seminatella Walsingham; Zimmerman, 1978: 990, figs. 664, 679.

Diagnosis: Thyrocopa seminatella has male genitalia similar to two species which it is sympatric: T. cinerella and T. kea. Thyrocopa seminatella can be distinguished by its smaller size and much more distinct spots at the ends of the wing veins. Unlike T. cinerella and T. kea, the signum of T. seminatella is short.

Description: Head: Scales brown to light brown. Antenna ca. 0.6–0.7x forewing length; very dense, extremely short, piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere in male, female with slightly longer and less dense piliform cilia on ventral side of flagellomere. Labial palpus mottled light brown and blackish-brown; third segment ca. 0.8–0.9x length of second. Thorax: Light brown. Forewing length 10–14 mm; ground color mottled light brown to brown and blackish-brown; discal area clouded with poorly defined blackish spots in cell; curving poorly defined whitish band through the terminal area; evenly spaced spots on distal half of costa and along termen at vein endings. Hindwing light brown, with spots on termen and anal margin at vein endings, fringe minimal. Abdomen: light brown. Male genitalia (Fig. 89) with apex of uncus deeply cleft; sacculus very long, tapering to sharp tip and curving toward gnathos, somewhat scooped-out in appearance near apex. Female genitalia (Fig. 104) typical for genus; signum short.

Food plants: Unknown.

Flight period: Year-round.

Distribution: Kauai.

Additional material examined: UNITED STATES: HAWAII: Kauai: Kokee: 1 3 (slide MJM12), 10–20 Aug 1959, J.W. Beardsley (BPBM); Kokee, Air Nat. Guard Station: 1 3 (slide MJM29), 28 May 1979, F.G. Howarth (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Canyon Tr. head, koa forest, 1008 m: 1 3 (slide 05A08), 28 Feb 2005, P.T. Oboyski (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Kaluapuhi Tr.: 1 Ƥ, 27 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Nu’alolo Tr.: 5 3 (slides 07B36, 07B60), 7–10 Oct 2007, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Kokee St. Park, Pihea Tr.: 1 3 (slide 07A90), 27 May 2007, M.J. Medeiros (BPBM); Mana Pt, PMRF STP 9’: 1 3, 6 Dec 1999, S.L. Montgomery (BPBM); Na Pali-Kona FR, Alakai Jnct.: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, 24 Jul 2008, M.J. Medeiros & D.J. Medeiros (BPBM).