Asymphorodes nephocirca Meyrick 1929

Asymphorodes nephocirca Meyrick

Asymphorodes nephocirca Meyrick, 1929a:500.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]:215.

Male genitalia slides USNM 24741, 24837, 25134. Harpe very long in proportion to combined tegumen and brachia; broad basally, neck short and moderately thick, remainder of harpe curved, cucullus expanded. Brachia very short, broad basally, flattened, sharply pointed. Tegumen very short. Aedeagus slender, curved; manica with no appreciable modification dorsodistally.

Female genitalia slides USNM 24742, 24744, 24838. Ostium very small, round, situated at the base of a shallow cleft in the posterior edge of the 7th sternum. Inception of ductus seminalis from near posterior end of bursa copulatrix. Ductus bursae long, slender, membranous, from posterior end of bursa copulatrix. Bursa copulatrix membranous; granular in anterior half.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL.—”.9–10 mm. Marquesas, Tahuata, Hiva Oa, up to 800 feet, December, January, at light and beaten from herbage; 6 ex.”

LECTOTYPE.—Female, 10 mm. “Tahuata, Marquesas. Beaten from herbage. 10.1.25. St. George Expedn. C.L. Collenette.” A small white label reads “Brits. Mus, 1925–488,” and a smaller one “P595.” A large, black-bordered label bears the inscription “Asymphorodes nephocirca Meyr. Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond. 76. p. 500 (1929)” and the word “TYPE”. Slide JFGC No. 12001. Lectotype hereby designated.

Lectotype is in the British Museum (Natural History).

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Tahuata.

DISTRIBUTION.—Marquesas Islands.

Our series of this species consists of 164 specimens as follows. Nuku Hiva: Pakiu Valley 1800 ft (548 m), 19 Jan 1968, 2, 5; Tapuaooa, 2500 ft (762 m), 30 Jan 1968, 1; Tunoa Ridge, 2900 ft (884 m), 23 Jan 1968, 2; Taiohae, 15 Jan 1968, 1. Hiva Oa: Atuona, 12 Feb to 8 Mar 1968, 17, 106; Tahauku, 26 Feb 1968, 1, 1. Fatu Hiva: Omoa, 11 Mar to 8 Apr 1968, 3, 22; Mt. Upe, 2025 ft (617 m), 3 Apr 1968, ; Tahuna, 2000 ft (610 m), 27 Mar 1968, 1; Hanavave, 12 Apr 1968, 1. Tahuata: As indicated under “Lectotype.”

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Striking features of this species are the disproportionate sizes of the harpe, and the brachia and tegumen complex. Also the eighth sternum of the male consists of very large, simple lateral “flaps.” In the female the ostium is small, weak, and inconspicuous.

Although the food plant is unknown, specimens were beaten from Eugenia uniflora L. on which the species may feed, exhibiting habits similar to those of other species of this genus.

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