Cybocephalus geoffreysmithi T. R. Smith in T. R. Smith & Cave 2007

Cybocephalus geoffreysmithi T. R. Smith

(Fig. 71–80)

Cybocephalus geoffreysmithi T. R. Smith in Smith and Cave 2007a: 168–169.

Cybocephalus caribaeus T. R. Smith in Smith and Cave 2007a: 167–168; new synonymy.

Distribution. West Indies (Curaçao, Jamaica), Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama), South America (Colombia, Trinidad, Venezuela).

Hosts. Dactylopiidae: Dactylopius sp.; Diaspididae: Diaspis boisduvalii Signoret.

Remarks. In the West Indies and Trinidad, specimens were collected in urban and natural areas, often associated with Stachytarpheta sp. (Verbenaceae). In Central and South America, specimens were collected on cultivated fruit crops such as papaya (Carica papaya L.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and banana (Musa sp.), undoubtedly feeding on the associated scale insects. Interestingly, this species has been collected in various traps, including flight intercept yellow pan traps in coastal desert scrub habitats of Cura çao, black light/mercury vapor traps in Guatemala and castor oil traps in Venezuela. A series of over 50 specimens were collected in Honduras feeding on Dactylopius sp. (Datcylopiidae), infesting Opuntia sp. (Cactaceae).

Taxonomy. Cybocephalus caribaeus T. R. Smith is treated herein as a synonym of C. geoffreysmithi. A large series of this species from Honduras was found after the original descriptions of both species were published (Smith and Cave 2007a). Additional specimens from Guatemala and Panama were also examined and compared to the holotypes of both species. After a detailed examination of all material, it is clear that these two species are, in fact, one. There is some natural variation in the male genitalia that led to the original separation of the two species; however, the basic structure of the male genitalia is identical, and no differences can be found in the shape of the legs and antennae. The most distinctive characteristic of this species is the notched lateral margins of the median lobe (Fig. 75, 76). This characteristic is not found in any other species of Cybocephalus in the Western Hemisphere. The apical margin of the basal plate (originally used to separate the two species) varies from rounded, slightly flattened, or slightly emarginate. However, considering that all other morphological aspects of the two are identical, this is regarded as intraspecific variation. Based on these characters, C. caribaeus should be treated as a synonym of C. geoffreysmithi.