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

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.

Fruit baits at night attract unusual erebid moths (Lepidoptera) in Trinidad, West Indies, with two taxonomic changes in Erebidae, Herminiinae

Rainer N. Deo — 2024-04-21

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. Rejectaria olivenca Goldstein has not previously been recorded for the island. Gigia stenogaster (R. Felder & Rogenhofer) and Hemeroblemma mexicana (Guenée) had previously been observed but their presence on Trinidad had not yet been reported in the literature. The first female specimens of Argania pilosa (Druce), Hemeroblemma dolon (Cramer) and Hemeroblemma helima (Stoll) are reported for Trinidad. The first male specimen of Gigia obliqua (Walker) is reported for Trinidad. Bleptina aeatusalis Walker, 1859 is transferred to the previously unpublished new combination Oidemastis aeatusalis (Walker), which is already in use on the internet. Sitophora totafusca Kaye, 1901 reinstated species is removed from the synonymy of S. vesiculalis Guenée, 1854.

More than 100 new records of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Tobago, West Indies, with a new synonym in Crambidae

Matthew J.W. Cock — 2024-05-18

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 Metria sp. nr. demera Schaus (Erebidae) is associated with the male, and Hemiceras egregia 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 Batrachedra nuciferae Hodges (Batrachedridae), Haritalodes pharaxalis (Druce), Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) and Palpita persimilis Munroe (Crambidae), Cerconota anonella (Sepp) (Oecophoridae), Rupela albina Becker & Solis (Pyralidae), and Eichlinia pulchripes (Walker) (Sesiidae), while Achroia grisella (Fabricius) (Crambidae) and Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Pyralidae) are pests of honeybee hives. Leucochroma analytica Dyar, 1914 is a new synonym of Leucochroma trinitensis Rothschild, 1912.

Aquatic invertebrates of epiphytic tank bromeliads on the island of Trinidad, W.I.: an illustrated checklist

Pierre Rogy — 2024-12-31

Tank bromeliads are common epiphytes throughout the Neotropics. Their leaf rosettes store rainwater and debris, creating detrital-based aquatic ecosystems with a rich fauna. In this paper, we provide the first illustrated checklist of the aquatic bromeliad invertebrates of Trinidad, based on a sample of ~150 plants from the Northern Range. Using a combination of morphological identification and DNA barcoding, we found 48 different invertebrates, distributed across 21 families from four classes, with many rare species. We also include the complete dataset associated with this species guide, in the hope of supporting future research aimed to resolve important biogeographical and ecological questions around this system.

Report of the Trinidad and Tobago Birds Status and Distribution Committee, Records Submitted during 2023

Martyn Kenefick — 2024-05-18

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.

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.

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

Plant selection by the leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a lowland forest of Trinidad, West Indies

Christopher K. Starr — 2024-05-18

In this study, we recorded which plants in a lowland tropical forest showed evidence of attention from leafcutter ants and which did not.

Notes on the Life History of Euclea cippus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera, Limacodidae) in Trinidad, West Indies

Alexander Sean Barkley — 2024-05-19

Nothing has previously been reported specifically from Trinidad regarding the early stages and food plants of Euclea cippus. 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.

First record of folivory in Artibeus planirostris trinitatis Andersen, 1906

Xabier Salgado-Irazabal — 2024-09-06

Observation of an Flat-faced Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus planirostris trinitatis Andersen, 1906 consuming a leaf of the Immortelle
tree, Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F.Cook.

Predation of a Greater Windward Skink Copeoglossum aurae by a Great Egret Ardea alba in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Rainer N. Deo — 2024-09-06

First record of a Great Egret predating on a Greater Windward Skink.

Theope spp. butterflies (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) mating at night

Rainer N. Deo — 2024-09-06

This note documents four observations from Trinidad and Tobago inolving Theope spp. (Riodinidae).

An inter-species mating of Melanis spp. (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae)

Mark Hulme — 2024-09-06

Observation of inter-species mating between the Orange-tipped Underleaf Melanis smithiae xarifa (Hewitson) (= Lymnas xarifa) and Underleaf M. electron electron (Fabricius) (= Lymnas iarbas).

The life history of Quadrus tetrastigma (Sepp) (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) in Trinidad, West Indies

Rashid K. Ali — 2024-09-06

Report on the the life history of Quadrus tetrastigma on Damburneya martinicensis

An Active Anti-Predator Strategy Observed in the Land Snail Plekocheilus glaber

Shaquille Everod George — 2024-12-31

This note provides information on the defensive behaviour of the land snail Plekocheilus glaber, as observed by the author.

Insomniacs: displays of nocturnal activity by three predominantly diurnal snake species in Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.

Rainer N. Deo — 2024-12-31

Notes on nocturnal activity in Erythrolamprus melanotus nesos, Erythrolamprus zweifeli and Phrynonax sexcarinatus.

Editorial

Amy E. Deacon — 2024-12-31

In addition to our guest Editorial, this year’s issue of the journal is brim full of new discoveries and natural history observations, including five Research Papers, twelve Nature Notes and our regular Report of the TTBSDC.

Guest Editorial - 2024 Mass Coral Bleaching: Tipping Point for Tobago's Reefs?

Anjani Ganase — 2024-12-31

We are in the midst of a coral crisis with Tobago reefs experiencing record levels of heat stress. I will recap how we got here, what it means for us, and highlight imperatives that may help curb the worst for our future.