Cryptothelea surinamensis Möschler 1878

Cryptothelea surinamensis (Moeschler)

Psyche surinamensis Moeschler, 1878:669.

Cryptothelea surinamensis (Moeschler).—Davis, 1964:51.

Although originally described from Surinam and previously collected in Guyana and Venezuela, as well as a few other Latin American countries, Cryptothelea surinamensis had never been reported from Trinidad. As suspected, the species is rather common on the island and has been collected and reared by Miss Cruttwell. The larvae reportedly (Cruttwell, in press) restrict their feeding habits to lichens when young (until they are about 12 mm long) and then commence to feed on a wide variety of broadleaved plants listed below.

The adult female, larvae, and pupae were previously unknown and are described here for the first time. The thoracic legs of the adult female are greatly reduced, as they are in all higher Psychidae, but are interesting in being more developed than in any of the species with vermiform females I have examined to date. Occasionally a minute, budlike second segment is detectable. The female genitalia are rather similar to those of three species of Cryptothela described previously (Davis, 1964) but possess a slightly more lengthened ductus seminalis. The larval cases agree with those previously known for this species but represent larger individuals that measure up to 34 mm in length. The larvae may be recognized by the very dark, almost black color of the abdominal integument and by the mostly undarkened adfrontal sclerite. The male pupa is perhaps best characterized by the slender, spinelike cremaster, which is directed sharply forward. The absence of the anterior row of dorsal spines on all abdominal segments except the sixth and seventh should identify the female pupa.

FEMALE.—Length 11–14 mm. Vermiform, without antennae, mouthparts, or wings; thoracic legs reduced but with one usually well-defined, ovoid segment, and sometimes a minute trace of a second; tarsal claws absent. Dorsum of thorax and head lightly sclerotized, brownish, sparsely setose; remainder of body whitish, membranous, and largely naked except for dense tuft of dark brown hairs encircling seventh abdominal segment.

Genitalia (Figure 86): Ovipositor reduced, both anterior and posterior apophyses relatively well developed and distinct; posterior apophyses rodlike and mostly free; anterior apophyses more broad with only anterior one-third of shaft free from integumental membrane. Bursa copulatrix relatively large, its volume more than twice that of spermatheca. Ductus seminalis short, approximately equalling the spermatheca in length.

LARVA (Figures 133, 169–175)—Length of largest larva 14 mm.

Head: Light tan, heavily marked with dark fuscous; a large, often three branched, serrated band of fuscous extending laterally posterior to fifth ocellus; a broad subventral band extending longitudinally posterior to O3; dorsal end of adfrontal sclerite only slightly darkened around AF2; ventral end slightly darkened along lateral margin of adfrontal sclerite; lower margin of frontal sclerite with a deeply excavated fuscous band. Six ocelli present, five arranged in a curved line and the sixth situated more distant ventrally. O2 located midway between fifth and sixth ocelli; O3 posterior to sixth ocellus. P2 absent. AFa approximate to AF2. Mandibles with four to five acute teeth; fourth tooth blunt.

Thorax: Pronotum light tan to whitish, heavily marked with numerous, irregular, fuscous spots; no distinct banding evident. Meso- and metonota less heavily spotted but with a definite dorsal band distinct and extending from SD1 and SD2. L2 on a separate but closely approximate pinnaculum to L1 and L3.

Abdomen; Integument darkly pigmented, nearly black, with pale brownish pinnacula distinctly outlined. Dl and 2 on separate pinnacula except on segment VIII where they are situated together on a large dorsal plate, which also bears corresponding setae on other side. Ninth segment with D2 and SD1 on same pinnacula. SD2 minute, sometimes situated at lower margin of pinnacula bearing SD1 and usually dorso-anterior to spiracle. Segment IX with L1, L2, and L3 all separate. SV2 absent from both segments I and II. Segments III-VI with subventral series all borne on same pinnacula as crochets and separate from VI. Abdominal prolegs with 16–17 crochets in a lateral penellipse; anal pair with 19–20 crochets in a nearly closed circle. Cephalic margin of anal shield very irregular but not deeply emarginate.

MALE PUPA (Figures 97, 101, 102, 108, 117).— Dark chestnut brown in color; length 10.511.5 mm. Frontal ridge reduced, with a single, well-defined tooth. Antennal sheaths extending almost to or surpassing caudal end of mesothoracic legs. Wing sheaths extending to middle of third abdominal segment. Abdominal segments I-IV without anterior transverse rows of dorsal spines, though sometimes with 1–3 rudimentary spines on IV; segments V-VIII always with anterior row of stout spines directed caudad; posterior row of slender dorsal spines absent on segments I, II, and VI-VIII, but present on III-V. Tabulation of spines as in Table 3.

Cremaster of segment x consisting of a pair of relatively slender spines sharply directed cephalad.

FEMALE PUPA (Figure 125).—Dark chestnut to dark reddish brown in color; intersegmental membranes of segments II-VI black; length 12–15 mm. Sheaths for antennae, maxillae, eyes, and legs vestigial; wings absent. Anterior row of stout, caudally oriented, dorsal spines present only on abdominal segments VI-VIII; posterior row of slender, dorsal spines present only on segments II-V. Tabulation of spines shown in Table 4.

Cremaster of tenth segment reduced, consisting of a pair of small, widely spaced spines. Anal groove very distinct, Y-shaped.

HOSTS.—“Lichens; Anacardiaceae; Mangifera indica L.; Fabaceae: Cassia sp.; Lauraceae: Persea gratissima Guertn.; Malvaceae: Hibiscus sp.; Rosaceae: Rosa sp.; Rubiaceae: Ixora sp.; Rutaceae: Citrus sp.; Sterculiaceae: Theobroma cacao L.” (Cruttwell, in press); “?cordinia” (Davis, 1964).

WEST INDIAN DISTRIBUTION.—Trinidad: Curepe: , Jan.; 1 , 2 , reared Feb.; 2 . Apr. (at light), 1, reared June; 2 , reared July; 1 , reared Aug.; 1 , reared Oct.; 2 , Oct. (at light); 4 , 3 , reared Dec.; 3 . Dec. (at light) (USNM).