The Skipper Butterflies (Hesperiidae) of Trinidad Part 18, Hesperiinae, Moncini: Eight Genera of Relatively Distinctive Species: Callimormus, Eutocus, Artines, Flaccilla, Phanes, Monca, Vehilius and Parphorus

Abstract

Trinidad and Tobago skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) of the tribe Moncini (genera Callimormus, Eutocus, Artines, Flaccilla, Phanes, Monca, Vehilius and Parphorus) are treated and the adults illustrated. Details are given of the taxonomy, history, identification and biology of the 19 Trinidad species in these genera. Of these, three species occur in Tobago, and C. juventus Scudder is reported from Tobago but not Trinidad. Vehilius celeus celeus (Mabille) is a new record for Trinidad. The single record of P. decora (Herrich-Schäffer) from Tobago is shown to be based on a misidentified specimen of C. juventus. Partial life histories of F. aecas (Stoll), V. s. stictomenes (Butler), P. s. storax (Mabille) and P. decora are described and illustrated for F. aecas and P. storax. Monca crispinus (Plötz) stat. rev. is recognised as a valid species, not a subspecies of M. telata (Herrich-Schäffer).