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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 39(1), 1985, 48-50
CYMAENES FINCA, SP. N. (HESPERIIDAE) FROM TRINIDAD, W.I.
M. J. W. Cock
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Imperial College, Silwood Park, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire, U.K.
ABSTRACT. Cymaenes finca, sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is described as new from the island of Trinidad, West Indies. The male genitalia and forewing venation and markings are illustrated. It is compared with C. tripunctus theogenis Capronnier, and the male genitalia of that species are also illustrated.
Cymaenes finca, sp. n., described below, was taken by the author on the island of Trinidad, but not included in the recent list of the Hesperiidae of Trinidad and Tobago (Cock, 1982). It is compared with C. tripunctus H.-S. and C. lepta Hayward. The abbreviations and terminology used follow Evans (1955).
Cymaenes finca, new species
Fig. 1 (6 FW); 2-5 (6 genitalia)
Description. 6 F 15-17 mm. Upf brown; white spot in space 2 below origin of vein 4; another in space 3, and sometimes a very small one in 6; pale brown spot in space IB faintly apparent and not always present; cilia concolorous (Fig. 1). Uph unmarked, brown; darker in space 7 and along termen, cilia concolorous. Unf brown, black on disc; spots as for upf; broad pale area in space IB. Unh pale brown; faint white spots in spaces 2 and 3; inconspicuous pale streak in space 1C and along vein 2. Antennae dark above; barred along front margin of shaft; yellow below base of club; orange-brown below apiculus. Palpi paler basally, cheeks pale brown. Thorax and abdomen color match wings, except abdomen paler below. Mid tibiae five spines. Genitalia (Figs. 2-5); end of cuiller broadened, excavate and doubly spined at tip only. Uncus and gnathos deeply and broadly divided viewed dorsally, and deeply divided viewed from side.
2 F 15 mm. In poor condition. Upf with white spots IB (faint), 2, 3, 6-8; unf pale area in IB inconspicuous; unh pale spots 2-6; otherwise as 6.
Type material. Holotype male: Trinidad, W.I., Las Lomas, Spanish Farm, 17.XII. 1980, MJW Cock; allotype female: same locality and collector, 2.VIII. 1981; paratype males: same locality and collector, 1 6 7.III.1980; 2 66 at dusk, 23.111.1980; 1 6 at dusk, 4.XI.1980; 1 6 17.XII.1980; 2 66 2.VIII.1981.
Deposition of type material. I retain two paratypes, one will be sent to the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, and the remaining paratypes, the allotype and the holotype will be deposited at the British Museum (Natural History).
Discussion. The double spined cuiller tip of the male valve puts this species in the same group as C. tripunctus and C. lepta. C. finca, however, is only doubly spined at the tip of the cuiller. Compared with C. tripunctus theogenis Capronnier (Figs. 6-8), C. finca is larger, the wings are more produced, and the uncus and gnathos are more strongly divided. C. lepta is much more extensively spotted (Evans, 1955), having a "broad continuous row of pale spots from space 1C to 7, broadly dark-edged on both sides and a spot before end cell" on unh and
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Fig. 1. FW venation and UPS markings of 6 Cymaenes finca, sp. n.
"generally conspicuous white spots in spaces IB, 2, 3 and 6-8 and may be cell dot" on upf.
The type locality, Spanish Farm, is a small patch of lowland forest on a ridgetop, just north of the road from Las Lomas to San Rafael.
FiGS. 2-5. Male genitalia Cymaenes finca, sp. n. 2, dorsal view uncus and gnathos. 3, lateral view without claspers. 4, left clasper internal view. 5, left clasper ventral view.
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Figs. 6-8. Male genitalia Cymaenes tripunctus theogenis Capronnier from Trinidad. 6, dorsal view uncus and gnathos. 7, lateral view without claspers. 8, left clasper ventral view.
As Barcant (1970) has pointed out, it harbors a rich butterfly fauna. C. finca is the second species to be described from this locality in recent years. The riodinid Pachythone barcanti Tite (not Barcant) was also described from here, although it is also known from other areas of Trinidad, e.g., Sans Souci Estate, Sangre Grande (F. C. Urich, pers. comm.). This and the wide variety of interesting and rare species to be found there justify efforts to preserve what remains of this small wood.
Literature Cited
Barcant, M. 1970. Butterflies of Trinidad and Tobago. Collins, London. 314 pp.
COCK, M. J. W. 1982. The skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) of Trinidad. Part II Systematic list of the Trinidad and Tobago species. Occas. Papers Dept. Zool., Univ. West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, No. 5. 49 pp.
Evans, W. H. 1955. A catalogue of the American Hesperiidae in the British Museum (Natural History). Part IV. Hesperiinae and Megathyminae. British Museum (Natural History) Publication.