Asymphorodes circopis Meyrick 1929

Asymphorodes circopis Meyrick

Asymphorodes circopis Meyrick, 1929a:499; 1934c:349.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]:90.

Male genitalia slides USNM 24647, 24649, 24652, 24558,24659. Harpe broad basally, neck very short and slender; cucullus slightly expanded. Brachia sharply bent before middle; right brachium much longer than left and arising from a very broad base. Tegumen about as long as wide. Aedeagus S-shaped, slender; manica with a large triangular keel dorsodistally.

Female genitalia slides USNM 24648, 24650, 24660, 24661. Ostium small, round, emerging from an inverted sclerotized cone, the whole situated in a cuplike structure. Lamella postvaginalis granular. Seventh sternum deeply, but narrowly, incised posteriorly. Inception of ductus seminalis from posterior edge of bursa copulatrix. Ductus bursae slender, sclerotized in posterior half. Bursa copulatrix membranous; very finely spiculate in anterior half.

ORIGINAL MATERIAL.—”. 11–12 mm…Marquesas, Nuku Hiva, 1500 feet, January, beaten from tree and at light; 3 ex.”

LECTOTYPE.—“Lectotype” is marked “Type H.T.,” but it is a “1500 feet Jan. 25, St. George Expedn…C.L. Collenette. Brit. Mus. 1925.” “Asymphorodes circopis Meyr. Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond. 76, p. 499.” Lectotype hereby designated.

Lectotype is in the British Museum (Natural History).

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Nuku Hiva, 1500 ft (457 m).

DISTRIBUTION.—Marquesas Islands.

Nuku Hiva: Taiohae, 20 Jan to 26 Feb 1968, 17, 22, Hiva Oa: Atuona, 10 Feb to 8 Mar 1968, 8, 31.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

This and the following species, A. acritopterus, new species, are indistinguishable superficially. Even the genitalia of the males are similar, but the female genitalia are distinct and the posterior abdominal segments of the males present excellent characters for separation. (Figures 185, 186).

Asymphorodes circopis is a moth of the family Agonoxenidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1929. It is found on the Marquesas Archipelago.