Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club

First Records of Four Species of Tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Chacachacare, Trinidad & Tobago

Saifudeen M. Muhammad — 2024-04-21

This note reports on four species of tarantula not previously reported from the island of Chacachacare, observed during February, July and November 2023.

Partial life history of Lophocampa walkeri (Rothschild, 1910) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) in Trinidad, West Indies

Rashid K. Ali — 2024-04-21

Here we document the colourful and regularly photographed caterpillar of Lophocampa walkeri from Trinidad. Lophocampa walkeri is a common and widespread moth in Trinidad, particularly in suburban and disturbed areas

First record of an albino Lowland Paca Cuniculus paca in Trinidad, West Indies

Shaquille Everod George — 2024-04-21

During a five-month biodiversity survey from 9 April to 12 August 2023, on a property near Mount Harris located in the Sangre Grande district of Trinidad, an albino paca Cuniculus paca was recorded.

Tuft moths (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) of Trinidad & Tobago

Matthew J.W. Cock — 2024-04-21

Information and illustrations are provided regarding the 37 species of Nolidae moths now known from Trinidad, and eight known from Tobago (22% of Trinidad total). Eleven genera and five subfamilies are known from Trinidad & Tobago: Afridinae (1 species), Diphtherinae (2 species), Collomeninae (12 species), Eligminae (7 species), Nolinae (15 species). Before 2017, only five species of Nolidae had been recorded from Trinidad & Tobago, seven have been recorded since then, and 25 species are here recorded from the country for the first time

The fate of primary-dispersed Mauritia flexuosa L.f. fruit in different microhabitats in the Aripo Savanna Environmentally Sensitive Area, Trinidad, West Indies

Linton L. Arneaud — 2024-04-21

The fate of 1,500 Mauritia flexuosa L.f. fruit was observed between three distinct microhabitats of the Aripo Savanna Environmentally Sensitive Area, in Trinidad, by situating fruit stations and monitoring fruit fortnightly. Most fruit were used as a food source, with the most common fruit fate in all microhabitats being seeds remaining with the mesocarp partially or totally removed. Seed dispersal mainly occurred in the closed canopy of eastern forest margins and was negligible in island microhabitats (where stands of trees are surrounded by savanna). A lack of seed dispersers does not seem to be an immediate concern; however, ecological managers should closely monitor dispersers and their scatter-hoarding activities.