Hypercompe trinitatis (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) and its Caterpillar in Trinidad, W.I.

Authors

  • Matthew J.W. Cock CABI, Bakeham Lane, Egham TW20 9TY, United Kingdom
  • Perry Polar University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Mike G. Rutherford 26 George Street, Innerleithen, EH44 6LH, United Kingdom

Keywords:

Arctiini, chilli pepper, pak choi, cocoa, Hypercompe cunigunda, DNA barcode, BOLD:AAA1342

Abstract

We document the polyphagous minor pest caterpillar of Hypercompe trinitatis (Rothschild) from Trinidad. This is presented in the context of an analysis of the literature and museum specimens to document the history, taxonomy, variability and distribution of this species in Trinidad and Tobago. Notes on identification are provided in comparison with H. cunigunda (Stoll), the only other species of the genus known from Trinidad, here newly recorded for the island; images of pinned adults are provided for both. CO1 DNA barcodes were obtained for two Trinidad specimens of H. trinitatis. Comparison with sequences in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) shows that H. trinitatis forms part of a species complex (or perhaps a complex species) which can be referred to as BIN (Barcode Identification Number) BOLD:AAA1342.

Published

2019-12-31

Issue

Section

Research Papers