A synopsis of the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) of Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Current knowledge of the Castniidae of Trinidad and Tobago is summarized based on literature, museum specimens, and personal observations. Two new synonyms are proposed: Aciloa palatinus pallida Lathy = Athis palatinus palatinus (Cramer), and Haemonides cronis urichi Lathy = Haemonides cronis cronis (Cramer). One new combination is proposed: Telchin syphax syphax (Fabricius). Erythrocastnia Houlbert is a new subjective synonym of Telchin H bner. Eleven species are now recorded from Trinidad, six of which are remarkably uncommon in collections: Synpalamides phalaris (Fabricius), Eupalamides cyparissias cyparissias (Fabricius), Athis fuscorubra (Houlbert), Feschaeria amycus amycus (Cramer), Castnia invaria trinitatis Lathy, Castniomera atymnius (Dalman) and Telchin syphax syphax. Athis palatinus occurs occasionally on the ridges of the Northern Range. Haemonides cronis is found occasionally on the ridge tops and hill tops of the Northern Range and the Central Range. Telchin licus is the most common and widespread castniid in Trinidad. It is a pest of sugar cane, and we critically review the literature on its other host plants. Xanthocastnia evalthe evalthe (Fabricius) is a forest-dwelling species of the Northern Range. Feschaeria amycus amycus is the only species known from Tobago, based on a single specimen.Se resume el conocimiento sobre los Castniidae de Trinidad y Tobago basados en informaci n en la literatura, ejemplares de museo y observaciones personales. Se proponen dos nuevos sin nimos: Aciloa palatinus pallida Lathy = Athis palatinus palatinus (Cramer) y Haemonides cronis urichi Lathy = Haemonides cronis cronis (Cramer); as como una nueva combinaci n: Telchin syphax syphax (Fabricius). Erythrocastnia Houlbert se presenta como nuevo sin nimo subjetivo de Telchin H bner. Once especies se reportan para Trinidad, seis de las cuales son notablemente escasas en colecciones: Synpalamides phalaris (Fabricius), Eupalamides cyparissias cyparissias (Fabricius), Athis fuscorubra (Houlbert), Feschaeria amycus amycus (Cramer), Castnia invaria trinitatis Lathy, Castniomera atymnius (Dalman) y Telchin syphax syphax. Athis palatinus est presente ocasionalmente en las filas del Rango Norte. Haemonides cronis se encuentra ocasionalmente en las cimas de filas y colinas de los rangos Norte y Central. Telchin licus es el castniido m s com n y esparcido en