Dichelopa peropaca Meyrick 1929

Dichelopa peropaca Meyrick

Dichelopa peropaca Meyrick, 1929a:493.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]: 242; 1958 [1955–1970]: 104, pl. 52: figs. 1–1b.

Male genitalia slides USNM 24379, 25257, 25258, 25259, 25260. Harpe very slightly sclerotized except for sacculus; basal half very broad with costa highly arched; cucullus broadly digitate. Gnathos very long, nearly reaching transtilla, curved, pointed distally. Uncus claviform, profusely clothed with setae anteriorly. Transtilla well developed, armed with long, strong spines posteriorly. Vinculum a narrow band. Tegumen broad basally, narrow posteriorly. Anellus a reniform plate. Aedeagus rather slender, slightly curved, slightly hooked distally; vescia unarmed in the four specimens examined.

Female genitalia unknown.

TYPE.—In the British Museum (Natural History).

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Fatu Hiva, 2000 ft (610 m).

DISTRIBUTION.—Fatu Hiva.

Our series is from several localities. Fatu Hiva: Mt. Upe, 2025 ft (617 m), 3 Apr 1968, 12; Mt. Teoaiua, 2000 ft (610 m), 22 Mar 1968, 30; Omoa, 20 ft (6 m), 11 Mar 1968, 1; Tahuna, 2000 ft (610 m), 27 Mar 1968, 20. Teavapuhiau, Ouia, 750 m, 1–3 Aug 1977 (Montgomery).

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

This is essentially a high altitude species, although we collected one male at Omoa, which had apparently been blown down from the mountains.

Meyrick described the species from a single specimen, but it is a common species. As will be seen from the illustrations peropaca is extremely variable. The type shows only a single conspicuous costal light spot, but the majority of specimens exhibit well-developed yellowish or silvery transverse fasciae and a pale pretornal spot. The ground color of of the forewing varies from a light brown to fuscous.

Dichelopa peropaca is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found on the Marquesas Archipelago in French Polynesia.