Anthrax insulanus Marston 1970

Anthrax insulanus

Spongostylum sp., nr. pluto.—Wolcott, 1951, p. 450 [Spogostylum]

MALE.—Scales on head black, white, and yellow. Basal antennal segments black, second segment saucer shaped, apical margin produced as sharp flange.

Scales on mesonotum mostly black; some white scales present, dense along lateral margins. Scutellum with black and white scales; pile on mesopleuron dense, snowy white; bristles on pleura black and gold. Prosternum, propleuron, and anterior margin of mesonotum with mixed black and white pile, black predominating on prosternum; postalar tuft of pile mixed black and white. Scales on coxae mixed black and white.

Cells C and Sc of wing (Plate 2i) evenly infuscated with brown except for large hyaline spot after and small one before humeral crossvein in cell C and hyaline spot after humeral crossvein in cell Sc. Remainder of wing with brown, largely coalesced spots. Cell 1M with small hyaline spot apically; cells R and 2M with hyaline spots medially; submedial spot on vein 2A connected with basal infuscation in cell 1A, discrete in cell 2A; spot at base of cell Cu1 broadly connected with spots at bases of cells R1, R2+3, and R5; large elongate spot extending from before apex of vein Sc in cell R1 to vein M1+2, narrowly connected with spot at base of cell R4; spots at base of cell M1, apex of vein Cu1 and apical angle of m crossvein narrowly connected; independent spots present apically on veins R2+3 R4, M2, and Cu1, at base of cell 2M2, at medial angle of vein R4, below tip of vein R1 in cell R1, and on vein R2+3 above base of cell R4.

Scales on femora mostly black; few white scales anteriorly on fore and middle femora.

Sides of first abdominal tergum with dense, snow-white pile; posterior margin with white scales laterally and black scales medially. Sides of terga two through five with dense black pile, linear scales and setae, few white scales posteriorly on third; terga six and seven with white scales, some black pile and scales anteriorly on sixth. Discs of terga two through seven with black scales, posterior margins with white scales submedially and sublaterally on two, sublaterally on three, submedially on four and five, and laterally on six and seven; few white scales submedially on three, and sublaterally on four and five. Scales on venter black except for few threadlike white scales on first sternum and sides of second sternum.

FEMALE.—Similar to male. Wing (Plate 2j) with spots somewhat larger and more coalesced; independent spots only at apices of veins R2+3, R4, Cu1, at medial angle of vein R4, and in cell R1 below tip of vein R1.

VARIATION.—There is little variation in the specimens examined from the Bahama Islands. The second antennal segment may be black or red and the tibiae vary from reddish yellow to dark red. The size and degree of coalescence of the spots on the wings are variable but are encompassed approximately by the limits of the holotype and allotype.

A series of nine specimens from Haiti exhibit some consistent variations from the typical species. The white pile in front of the base of the wing is more sparse and has black setae intermixed; the scales on the lower part of the thoracic pleura are gold radier than black, and some scales are usually white. The posterior margins of the femora have predominantly gold scales. The infuscation of the wing is similar, but the area distad to the humeral crossvein in cell C is sometimes subhyaline and poorly defined from the infuscated portion. Two specimens from Puerto Rico are intermediate between those from the Bahamas and those from Haiti.

MALE GENITALIA (Figure 33).—Similar to pluto pluto. Distal segment of gonostylus shorter, exterior side concave at base.

FEMALE GENITALIA (Figure 44).—Similar to pluto pluto. Tenth tergum with eight spines on each side. Sclerite on each side of spermathecal ducts shorter and thicker above; lateral arm not clavate, broadened basally; dorsal process broad, acuminate, and laterally curved. Spermathecal ducts with two convolutions before widening into bulbs.

BODY LENGTHS.—9.6 to 11.8 mm.

WING LENGTH.—8.0 to 10.1 mm.

DISTRIBUTION.—Anthrax insulanus probably occurs throughout the West Indies, although specimens have been seen only from Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Bahama Islands (Map 7).

MAP 7.—Distribution of Anthrax insulanus, new species.

HOLOTYPE.—, South Bimini Island, Bahamas, British West Indies, VI–1951 (M. Cazier, C. and P. Vaurie).

ALLOTYPE.—, South Bimini Island, Bahamas, British West Indies. VII–1951 (C. and P. Vaurie).

PARATYPES.—British West Indies: Bahamas, 2, East Bimini Island, VI–1951 (P. and C. Vaurie); 4, Eleuthera Island, New Portsmouth (Rock Sound), III–28–1953 (E. B. Hayden and L. Giovannoli); , New Providence Island, 4 mi. SW Nassau, IV–8–1953 (E. B. Hayden and L. Giovannoli); 3, South Bimini Island, VI–1951 (M. Cazier, C. and P. Vaurie); 2: South Bimini Island, VII–1951 (C. and P. Vaurie): , South Bimini Island, VIII–10/20–1951 (C. and P Vaurie).

Puerto Rico: , Ensenada, VII–14/19–1915.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED.—British West Indies: Bahamas, , , Cat Island, Arthur′s Town, VII–VIII–1935 (W. J. Clench); , New Providence Island, 4 mi SW Nassau, III–8–1953 (E. B. Hayden and L. Giovannoli); , South Bimini Island, VI–1951 (Mont Cazier, C. and P. Vaurie); , South Bimini Island, VIII–10/20–1951 (C. and P. Vaurie).

Haiti: , 4, Bois Caradeux, VIII–10/11–1934 (E. M. Ducasse); , Port-au-Prince (“Student Collection”); , Port-au-Prince, I–15/23–1922; , Port-au-Prince, III–3–1923 (R. C. Smith); , St. Marc, III–30/IV–2–1922 (C. H. Curran).

Puerto Rico, , Ensenada, VI–14/19–1915 (C. H. Curran); , Mamayes, III–31–1925; , “Monals,” VIII–1939 (L. F. Martorell).

TYPES.—The holotype and allotype are in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History. Paratypes may be found in the collections of the author, R. H. Painter, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Florida State Plant Board.