https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/issue/feed Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club 2024-09-06T21:19:19-04:00 Graham White g.whitett@gmail.com Open Journal Systems <p>The Trinidad Field Naturalists' Club was started in July, 1891 and by February, 1892 was publishing a bi-monthly journal. The Journal consisted of a variety of papers which included reports of meetings and field trips, elementary information on a variety of subjects as well as scientific papers which included descriptions of new species. The journal ceased publication in 1896 but was restarted in 1956. From 1956 to 2000 it was published generally on a biennial basis, but from 2001 it became an annual journal.</p> <p><img src="https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/public/site/images/livingworld/lwcovercomposite1-cf68c1e1dbc9fabe21d6c5ac56c46836.png" alt="" width="844" height="300" /></p> <p>The journal is a semi-technical, peer reviewed publication which is produced annually by the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club. It publishes articles on studies and observations on natural history carried out in Trinidad and Tobago, and in countries in the Caribbean Basin. Contributors are not limited to members of the Club.</p> <p>Information on current and past issues is available on this site, including instructions for authors interested in having their work published in the Journal.</p> <p>Editorial work on the Journal is performed on a volunteer basis by members of the Club.</p> https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/deo_et_al_2024 Predation of a Greater Windward Skink Copeoglossum aurae by a Great Egret Ardea alba in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. 2024-09-06T20:16:12-04:00 Rainer N. Deo bardian120@gmail.com Sabira Ali wildliferehabber2@gmail.com <p>First record of a Great Egret predating on a Greater Windward Skink.</p> 2024-09-06T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/ali_et_al_2024 Partial life history of Lophocampa walkeri (Rothschild, 1910) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) in Trinidad, West Indies 2024-04-21T15:10:12-04:00 Rashid K. Ali rashid.k.ali@gmail.com Tarran P. Maharaj tmaharaj2010@gmail.com Linton L. Arneaud lintonarneaud1@gmail.com Yasmin S. Baksh-Comeau ysbaksh.comeau@gmail.com Yuen Ting Yeap y.yeap@cabi.org Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>Here we document the colourful and regularly photographed caterpillar of <em>Lophocampa walkeri</em> from Trinidad. <em>Lophocampa walkeri</em> is a common and widespread moth in Trinidad, particularly in suburban and disturbed areas</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/starr_et_al_2024a Plant selection by the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a lowland forest of Trinidad, West Indies 2024-05-18T19:34:32-04:00 Christopher K. Starr ckstarr@gmail.com Shane T. Ballah admin@ttfnc.org Rakesh S. Bhukal admin@ttfnc.org Natalie Boodram admin@ttfnc.org Lester Doodnath admin@ttfnc.org Dan Jaggernauth admin@ttfnc.org Navita Moonan admin@ttfnc.org Stephen Smith admin@ttfnc.org <p>In this study, we recorded which plants in a lowland tropical forest showed evidence of attention from leafcutter ants and which did not.</p> 2024-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/salgado-irazabal First record of folivory in Artibeus planirostris trinitatis Andersen, 1906 2024-09-06T21:19:19-04:00 Xabier Salgado-Irazabal xsalgadobio@gmail.com <p>Observation of an Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat, <em>Artibeus planirostris trinitatis</em> Andersen, 1906 consuming a leaf of the Immortelle <br>tree, <em>Erythrina poeppigiana</em> (Walp.) O.F.Cook.</p> 2024-09-06T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/deo_et_al_2024b Theope spp. butterflies (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) mating at night 2024-09-06T20:22:33-04:00 Rainer N. Deo bardian120@gmail.com Tarran P. Maharaj tmaharaj2010@gmail.com Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>This note documents four observations from Trinidad and Tobago inolving <em>Theope</em> spp. (Riodinidae).</p> 2024-09-06T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/george_ali_2024 First record of an albino Lowland Paca Cuniculus paca in Trinidad, West Indies 2024-04-21T15:42:41-04:00 Shaquille Everod George georgewildlife@outlook.com Zakariyya Ali zakwildlifephoto@gmail.com <p>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.</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/ali_et_al_2024b The life history of Quadrus tetrastigma (Sepp) (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) in Trinidad, West Indies 2024-09-06T20:07:08-04:00 Rashid K. Ali rashid.k.ali@gmail.com Linton L. Arneaud lintonarneaud1@gmail.com Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>Report on the the life history of <em>Quadrus tetrastigma</em> on <em>Damburneya&nbsp;martinicensis</em></p> 2024-09-06T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/barkley_et_al Notes on the Life History of Euclea cippus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae) in Trinidad, West Indies 2024-05-19T18:39:00-04:00 Alexander Sean Barkley abarkley2503@gmail.com Rainer N. Deo bardian120@gmail.com <p>Nothing has previously been reported specifically from Trinidad regarding the early stages and food plants of <em>Euclea cippus</em>. Here we report on caterpillars reared on mango (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) by Alexander Sean Barkley and balisier (Heliconia bihai (L.) L., Heliconiaceae) by Rainer Nrshima Deo.</p> 2024-05-19T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/hulme_et_al An inter-species mating of Melanis spp. (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) 2024-09-06T21:13:09-04:00 Mark Hulme mark.hulme@sta.uwi.edu Yuen Ting Yeap y.yeap@cabi.org John Morrall ridware@outlook.com Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>Observation of inter-species mating between the Orange-tipped Underleaf <em>Melanis smithiae xarifa </em>(Hewitson) (= <em>Lymnas xarifa</em>) and Underleaf <em>M. electron electron</em> (Fabricius) (= <em>Lymnas iarbas</em>).</p> 2024-09-06T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/muhammad2024 First Records of Four Species of Tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Chacachacare, Trinidad & Tobago 2024-04-21T15:46:42-04:00 Saifudeen M. Muhammad Saifudeenherpresearch@gmail.com <p>This note reports on four species of tarantula not previously reported from the island of Chacachacare, observed during February, July and November 2023.</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/cock2024a Tuft moths (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) of Trinidad & Tobago 2024-04-21T15:36:23-04:00 Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>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 &amp; 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 &amp; Tobago, seven have been recorded since then, and 25 species are here recorded from the country for the first time</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/deo_cock_2024 Fruit baits at night attract unusual erebid moths (Lepidoptera) in Trinidad, West Indies, with two taxonomic changes in Erebidae, Herminiinae 2024-04-21T15:53:25-04:00 Rainer N. Deo bardian120@gmail.com Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org <p>Several different fruit baits that were ripened, rotting or fermenting were used to attract moth species belonging to the family Erebidae. Several of these species are considered rare or had not been previously reported for Trinidad. <em>Rejectaria olivenca</em> Goldstein has not previously been recorded for the island. <em>Gigia stenogaster</em> (R. Felder &amp; Rogenhofer) and <em>Hemeroblemma mexicana</em> (Guenée) had previously been observed but their presence on Trinidad had not yet been reported in the literature. The first female specimens of <em>Argania pilosa</em> (Druce), <em>Hemeroblemma dolon</em> (Cramer) and <em>Hemeroblemma helima</em> (Stoll) are reported for Trinidad. The first male specimen of <em>Gigia obliqua</em> (Walker) is reported for Trinidad. <em>Bleptina aeatusalis</em> Walker, 1859 is transferred to the previously unpublished new combination <em>Oidemastis aeatusalis</em> (Walker), which is already in use on the internet. <em>Sitophora totafusca</em> Kaye, 1901 reinstated species is removed from the synonymy of <em>S. vesiculalis</em> Guenée, 1854.</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/arneaud2024 The fate of primary-dispersed Mauritia flexuosa L.f. fruit in different microhabitats in the Aripo Savanna Environmentally Sensitive Area, Trinidad, West Indies 2024-04-21T15:30:44-04:00 Linton L. Arneaud lintonarneaud1@gmail.com Aidan D. Farrell admin@ttfnc.org Michael P. Oatham admin@ttfnc.org <p>The fate of 1,500 <em>Mauritia flexuosa</em> 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.</p> 2024-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/cock_et_al_2024a More than 100 new records of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Tobago, West Indies, with a new synonym in Crambidae 2024-05-18T19:19:07-04:00 Matthew J.W. Cock m.cock@cabi.org Cavan Mejias congea54@gmail.com Amy E. Deacon amy.deacon@sta.uwi.edu Rainer N. Deo bardian120@gmail.com Matt Kelly veganpeace@earthlink.net D.R.W. Pandey darshy.pandey@gmail.com <p>Details of six new butterfly and 128 new moth records from Tobago are presented, including species of Batrachedridae (1), Castniidae (1), Crambidae (20), Erebidae (49), Euteliidae (1), Geometridae (15), Hesperiidae (2), Immidae (2), Lasiocampidae (1), Lycaenidae (2), Noctuidae (12), Notodontidae (11), Nymphalidae (1), Oecophoridae (3), Pyralidae (7), Riodinidae (1), Sesiidae (2), Sphingidae (1), Tineidae (1) and Uraniidae (1). Three of the new butterfly records are based on voucher specimens, but the other three and all the moths are based solely on photographs from life, and representative images are included as vouchers. A duplicate record of Hedylidae is pointed out, previously overlooked records of Gelechiidae and Saturniidae are added, the previously unrecognized female of <em>Metria</em> sp. nr. <em>demera</em> Schaus (Erebidae) is associated with the male, and <em>Hemiceras egregia</em> Dognin (Notodontidae) is newly identified. The total number of Lepidoptera species known from Tobago is now 653 moths and 165 butterflies. All newly reported species except four are also known from Trinidad (although some have not been previously published as from Trinidad). Species associated with economic crops include <em>Batrachedra nuciferae</em> Hodges (Batrachedridae), <em>Haritalodes pharaxalis</em> (Druce), <em>Maruca vitrata</em> (Fabricius) and <em>Palpita persimilis</em> Munroe (Crambidae), <em>Cerconota anonella</em> (Sepp) (Oecophoridae), <em>Rupela albina</em> Becker &amp; Solis (Pyralidae), and <em>Eichlinia pulchripes</em> (Walker) (Sesiidae), while <em>Achroia grisella</em> (Fabricius) (Crambidae) and <em>Galleria mellonella</em> (Linnaeus) (Pyralidae) are pests of honeybee hives. <em>Leucochroma analytica</em> Dyar, 1914 is a new synonym of <em>Leucochroma trinitensis</em> Rothschild, 1912.</p> 2024-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club https://ttfnc.org/livingworld/index.php/lwj/article/view/kenefick2024 Report of the Trinidad and Tobago Birds Status and Distribution Committee, Records Submitted during 2023 2024-05-18T19:38:44-04:00 Martyn Kenefick martynkenefick@hotmail.com <p>The committee has assessed all records submitted during 2023. In all, 109 records were adjudged, representing 61 species. One species was recorded in the country for the first time.</p> 2024-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club