Asymphorodes valligera Meyrick 1929

Asymphorodes valligera Meyrick

Asymphorodes valligera Meyrick, 1929a:498.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]:322.

Asymphorodes ingravescens Meyrick, 1934c:350.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]:171. [New synonym.]

Male genitalia USNM 24653, 24656, 24657. Harpe constricted at neck then slightly broadened, then constricted again before expanded cucullus. Brachia longer than tegumen; right brachium broader than left and somewhat flattened. Tegumen shorter than broad. Aedeagus slender, slightly curved, with small hook dorsally at apex; manica with broad conspicuous hook dorsally.

Female genitalia USNM 24654, 24655. Ostium short, cylindrical, protruding, set in a deep excavation of 7th segment; lamella postvaginalis granular. Inception of ductus seminalis from posterior end of bursa copulatrix. Ductus bursae slender, short, less than half the length of bursa copulatrix. Bursa copulatrix membranous, finely granular.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL.—” 12–14 mm…Marquesas, Hiva Oa, 3000–3500 feet, December, January, amongst herbage and at light; 15 ex.”

LECTOTYPE.—Male, 11 mm, “Hiva Oa, Marquesas. Beaten from herbage 3000–3500 ft., 27.1.1925. St. George Expedn. C.L. Collenette.” Slide JFGC 11992. Lectotype hereby designated.

Lectotype is in the British Museum (Natural History) (valligera); type is in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (ingravescens).

TYPE-LOCALITIES.—Hiva Oa, 3000–3500 ft (914–1067 m) (valligera); Hiva Oa, Mt. Temetiu, altitude 3860 feet (1176 m) (ingravescens).

DISTRIBUTION.—Hiva Oa.

In the USNM collection there are before me the following specimens. Hiva Oa: Mt. Feani, 3400 ft (1036 m) 1 Mar 1968, 36, 106; same locality, 3800 ft (1158 m), 20 Feb 1968, 31, 15; Tahauku, 27 Feb 1968, 1. Ootua, 800 m, 27–30 Jul 1977, 1 (Montgomery).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Obviously, Meyrick had a mixed series as is evident from the specimens in the British Museum.

The specimen I have selected as the lectotype, certainly one of the original series, is slightly smaller than the dimensions given by Meyrick. I have a female, an exact match for the lectotype in color and pattern, measuring 12 mm.

As can be seen from illustrations, the species is extremely variable with sharply defined markings (Figure 296h), or suffused markings (Figures 296g, 297b,c). Obviously this variability in pattern led Meyrick to describe valligera and ingravescens as separate species. All forms occur together.

Asymphorodes valligera is a moth of the family Agonoxenidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It is found on the Marquesas Archipelago.