(Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Caribbean Region
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Automated Template A: Created by James Nail 2011 V2.02 Analysis of morphology and fauna of Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Caribbean region By David M. Plotkin A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State, Mississippi December 2013 Analysis of morphology and fauna of Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Caribbean region By David M. Plotkin Approved: ____________________________________ Richard L. Brown (Major Professor) ____________________________________ John E. Rawlins (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Gerald T. Baker (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Jerome Goddard (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Michael A. Caprio (Graduate Coordinator) ____________________________________ George M. Hopper Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Name: David M. Plotkin Date of Degree: December 14, 2013 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Agriculture and Life Sciences Major Professor: Dr. Richard L. Brown Title of Study: Analysis of morphology and fauna of Geometrinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Caribbean region Pages in Study: 168 Candidate for Degree of Master of Science The Geometrinae, commonly known as emerald moths, are a diverse group of Lepidoptera with over 450 Neotropical species. However, Caribbean Geometrinae have received relatively little attention compared to the Geometrinae of mainland Central and South America. Using the method of Lee and Brown (2006), whole body mounts of descaled specimens of both Caribbean and mainland Neotropical Geometrinae were prepared. Morphological variation of exo- and endoskeletal characters among species, genera, and tribes of Neotropical Geometrinae is described. A faunistic study of Caribbean Geometrinae was also conducted using material from museums and private collections. The study includes definitions of species of Caribbean Geometrinae, descriptions of new species, and illustrations of adult imagos, genitalia, and other external characters. A key to the species of Caribbean Geometrinae is also provided. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my Major Professor and advisor, Dr. Richard Brown, for his invaluable assistance during all stages of my research and for his mentorship during my time at Mississippi State University. I would also like to acknowledge the other members of my committee, Dr. Gerry Baker, Dr. Jerome Goddard, and Dr. John Rawlins, and thank them for their advice and support during the preparation of this thesis. I would like to thank all of the curators and collection managers that allowed me to borrow material for use in this study, especially the aforementioned Dr. John Rawlins of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, whose initial curiosity about Caribbean Geometrinae served as the impetus for this study. Finally, I would like to thank all of my coworkers at the Mississippi Entomological Museum and my fellow EPP students, who were always there to answer my questions (of which I had many) and never hesitated to lend me a hand when I needed help (which was often). I’m not speaking in vague terms of moral support (though that was certainly present), I’m referring to concrete assistance with obtaining materials and developing methods that directly influenced the outcome of this study. Thus, I literally could not have done it without you. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ ii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 Introduction ........................................................................................................1 References ..........................................................................................................5 II. ANALYSIS OF EXO- AND ENDOSKELETAL MORPHOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL GEOMETRINAE ......................................................7 Introduction ........................................................................................................7 Diagnostic characters of Geometrinae .........................................................7 Objectives ....................................................................................................8 Material and Methods ........................................................................................9 Material Examined .......................................................................................9 Preparations of Whole Body Mounts ...........................................................9 Preparation of Specimens for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) .............................................................................................11 Examination and Measurements of Specimens .........................................12 Terminology ...............................................................................................13 Results ..............................................................................................................13 Head ...........................................................................................................13 Prothorax ....................................................................................................22 Mesothorax ................................................................................................26 Metathorax .................................................................................................28 Legs ............................................................................................................29 Wings .........................................................................................................35 Abdomen ....................................................................................................37 Genitalia .....................................................................................................39 References ........................................................................................................52 III. FAUNISTIC STUDY OF THE GEOMETRINAE OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION ......................................................................54 iii Introduction ......................................................................................................54 Geography of the Caribbean ......................................................................54 Objectives ..................................................................................................56 Material and Methods ......................................................................................56 Material Examined .....................................................................................56 Genitalia Preparations ................................................................................57 Examination of Characters .........................................................................58 Terminology ...............................................................................................58 Results ..............................................................................................................59 A Key to the Species and Subspecies of the Caribbean Geometrinae Using Morphological Characters of Adults .............59 Species of Caribbean Geometrinae ............................................................63 Nemoriini .............................................................................................63 Dichorda rhodocephala Prout .......................................................63 Adult ........................................................................................63 Lissochlora n.sp. ............................................................................65 Adult ........................................................................................65 Nemoria n.sp.1 ...............................................................................67 Adult ........................................................................................67 Nemoria n.sp. 2 ..............................................................................70 Adult ........................................................................................70 Nemoria n.sp. 3 ..............................................................................73 Adult ........................................................................................73 Nemoria punctilinea (Dognin) .......................................................77 Adult ........................................................................................77 Nemoria rectilinea (Warren)..........................................................79 Adult ........................................................................................79 Nemoria toxeres (Prout) .................................................................81 Adult ........................................................................................81