Erechthias zebrina ( Butler, 1881 )

Erechthias zebrina ( Butler, 1881) View in CoL

Figs 3 View Figures 1–8 , 28 View Figures 27–30 , 36 View Figures 35–38 , 45 View Figures 43–50 , 51 View Figure 51 , 52 Japanese name: Shima-chibi-tsumaorega View Figure 52

Argyresthia zebrina Butler, 1881: 403. Type locality: Hawaii (Honolulu).

Ereunetis zebrina : Walsingham 1907: 715, pl. 25, fig. 16.

Erechthias zebrina View in CoL : Meyrick 1915 b: 253; Fletcher 1921: 178; Meyrick 1928: 505; Meyrick 1930: 322; Viette 1949: 316; Clarke 1971: 196, figs 152, 153 a-c, pl. 27, fig. h; Zimmerman 1978: figs 192, 194, 195; Robinson 1983: 307; Clarke 1986: 370, figs 258 a-c, 316 h; Robinson and Nielsen 1993: 310, fig. 650; Sakai 2013: 130, fig. 3-12 - 18; Shimizu 2020: 101, fig. 1; Nasu and Tamura 2020: 531, figs 1–8; Hirowatari and Yagi 2023: 24.

Ereunetis lanceolata Walsingham, 1897: 158. Type locality: Danish West Indies (St. Thomas). Synonymized by Meyrick 1915 b: 253. View in CoL

Ereunetis xenica Meyrick, 1911: 301. Type locality: Seychelles. Synonymized by Meyrick 1915 b: 253. View in CoL

Erechthias caustophara Turner, 1923: 186. Type locality: Australia. Synonymized by Robinson and Nielsen 1993: 310. View in CoL

Tinexotaxa travestita Gozmany, 1968: 306, figs 8–11. Type locality: Siella Leon. Synonymized by Robinson 1983: 307; Hodges et al. 1983: 5. View in CoL

Material examined.

Japan: [ Tokyo, Ogasawara Isls.]: [ Chichijima Is.]: 1 ♂, Higashimachi , alt. 6 m, 20.VI.2022, SW, S. Yagi leg., genitalia slide no. JP-308, DNA sample JHP-270, museum ID ELKU -I-L-Bonin 000082 , ELKU • 1 ♂, same locality, 12–14.III.2023, T. Hirowatari & S. Yagi & M. Kimura & Y. Matsui & J. - H. Park leg., ELKU • 1 ♂, same locality, 11–12.VI.2023, J. - H. Park leg., ELKU • 1 ♂, same locality, 13–14.VII.2024, J. - H. Park leg., ELKU • 1 ♀, same locality, 17.VII.2024, Y. Kawai leg., ELKU • 2 ♂, Ohgiura-Komagari , 18–31.VII.2023, N. Tsuji leg., JP-328, ELKU • 1 ♂, Okumura , 2023.IX.25, N. Tsuji leg., ELKU • [ Hahajima Is.]: 1 ♀, Hahajima primary school , 20.IV.1999, S. Omura leg., JP-304, ELKU • 1 ♂, Ruins of searchlight base , alt. 131 m, 16.III.2023, LT, T. Hirowatari &. S. Yagi & M. Kimura & S. Tomura & Y. Matsui & J. - H. Park leg., ELKU .

Diagnosis.

This species is externally similar to E. polionota Turner, 1923 and E. phileris (Meyrick, 1893) , but it can be distinguished by its forewing pattern, the costal margin has five cream lines at basal 1 / 8, 1 / 3, 2 / 3, subapical area, and apex in E. zebrina (the costal margin has four white to cream lines in E. polionota and E. phileris ). The male genitalia of E. zebrina are also similar to those of E. cyanosticta ( Lower, 1916) but can be distinguished by the slender uncus and elongated saccus (the uncus is broader, and the saccus is short and tongue-shaped in E. cyanosticta ). The female genitalia are also similar to those of E. darwini Robinson, 1983 and E. minuscula but can be distinguished by a relatively large and broad signum (large but not curved in E. darwini , clearly small in E. minuscula ).

Additional description.

Measurements. Forewing length 3.5–4.1 mm ( n = 6) in males, 3.9 mm ( n = 1) in female. Antenna length 2.9–3.6 mm ( n = 3) in male. For more morphological information, see Clarke (1971) and Zimmerman (1978).

Distribution.

Japan (Honshu, Yakushima Is., Amamiohshima Is., Ishigakijima Is., Chichijima Is., Hahajima Is.); Pantropical: China, Ceylon ( Sri Lanka), India, Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, Bali, Borneo, Hawaii, Rapa, Fiji, Society islands, Marquesas Islands, Caroline Islands, Australia, Mexico, Saint Thomas, Puerto Rico, Panama Canal Zone, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Congo, Cameroun, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius ( Zimmerman 1978; Clarke 1986; Robinson and Nielsen 1993; Robinson et al. 1994; Sakai 2013; Shimizu 2020).

Biology.

Larvae feed on large amounts of detritus, fruits of Cola acuminata (P. Beauv.) Schott & Endl. ( Malvaceae ), false cotton, galls of Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn ( Ochnaceae ), and dry or decaying vegetable matter ( Clarke 1986). Larvae of this species also feed on bat guano in Okinawa ( Nasu and Tamura 2020). Adults were collected from Ogasawara Islands in March, April, June, and July.

DNA analyses.

The DNA barcode of a single specimen of E. zebrina was matched to E. zebrina ( Butler, 1881) from Costa Rica (Sequence ID: LTOLB 433-09), based on the identification engine of BOLD Systems, and the similarity between them was 100 %.

Remarks.

This species is common on the streets of residential areas on Chichijima Island.