Stenoptilodes brevipennis

Stenoptilodes brevipennis (Zeller, 1874)

Fig. 5, 28a, b, 40

Diagnosis. Forewing mottled with light drab and fuscous scales, with white line across distal third of each lobe similar to Stenoptilodes taprobanes, Postplatyptilia flinti, and Lantanophaga pusillidactylus. The latter two species as previously differentiated above, S. brevipennis reliably distinguishable from S. taprobanes only by genitalia. Females of S. brevipennis differing from S. taprobanes by having minute sclerotized tabs laterad on ostium; antrum not differentiated from sclerotized part of ductus bursae, and sternite VII with rounded lateral lobes bearing distinctive fuscous scale tufts which flank ostium (Fig. 40). Male genitalia with cucullus apex sharply pointed; uncus and phallus slender and proportionally more elongate than in S. taprobanes; uncus length distinctly exceeding that of anellus arms (Fig. 28a, b).

Pinned material examined. BAHAMAS: Abaco: South Abaco, Gilpin Point, S of Crossing Rocks, 1.5 mi. SE of Great Abaco Hwy., 26.105899°, −77.18550°, 3.vi.2016, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG, pinelands (1 ♂, slide DM 2101); Grand Bahama Island: vic. Barbary Beach, 26.558526°, −78.536983°, 26.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♀); North Andros Island: 1 mi. E of Andros Town Int. Airport nr. AUTEC Naval Base (Area 51), 20m, 24.696535°, −77.772421°, 14.vi.2012, at light, tropical mesic forest, MJS, GJG, RMR, Michael Simon (1 ♀); Captain Bill’s Blue Hole, 24.742046°, −77.862031°, 29.x.2011, DLM, JYM, MJS, GJG (1 ♀, slide DM 2156); South Andros Island: SW of Drigg’s Hill Settlement, 24.204092°, −77.599468°, 26.x.2014, DLM, JYM, MJS, RMR (1 ♂, slide DM 2102); San Salvador Island: Gerace Research Centre, vic. Water Tanks, 24.117589°, −74.465207°, 14.vi.2018, DLM, JYM (1 ♀).

Life history. Larvae from Florida are known to feed on various genera of Plantaginaceae including Bacopa Aubl., Mecardonia Ruiz and Pav., Scoparia L., and Russelia Jacq. (Matthews and Lott 2005). These genera also occur in The Bahamas (Correll and Correll 1982).

Distribution. This species is pantropical and also extends into the southern temperate regions of the Nearctic Region. In the West Indies, it is known from Cuba, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad (Bigot and Etienne 2009, Gielis 2006). In The Bahamas it was collected on Abaco, Grand Bahama, North and South Andros, and San Salvador Islands. It was previously reported only on North Andros (Matthews et al. 2012).