Cicinnus magnapuncta Kaye 1901
Creators: name: St Laurent, Ryan A.
name: Cock, Matthew J. W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Mimallonidae
Cicinnus
Cicinnus magnapuncta

description: Cicinnus magnapuncta (Kaye, 1901)
(Figs. 6, 9, 10, 31)
Type locality. Trinidad, Tabaquite [NHMUK, syntype examined, designated here as lectotype] Perophora magnapuncta Kaye, 1901: Kaye (1901); Kaye & Lamont (1927).
Cicinnus magnapuncta was described and illustrated implicitly from one (but possibly more) specimens collected at Tabaquite, central Trinidad, in June 1898 by W.J. Kaye (Kaye 1901, Kaye & Lamont 1927). Kaye (1901) does not indicate the sex of the type material but his illustration and the single specimen recognized as a type in the NHMUK is female (Fig. 31). The syntype in the NHMUK lacks a collecting data label, though it does bear a label reading “Trinidad, Kaye” and the accession number 1901-72. On the reverse of the accession label, Perophora magnapuncta Kaye is handwritten, in a style similar to that seen for other Kaye types from 1901 in NHMUK, although different from Kaye’s characteristic writing on later types. A red edged type label is also present on the specimen, along with a genitalia preparation label (the genitalia are apparently missing because the slide only contains the terminal two abdominal segments). We therefore believe that this specimen is a syntype, and here designate it as the lectotype with the following labels: C, magnapuncta Keyes [recte Kaye] Type genit.pr. No 6 Mimallonidae / BMNH(E) #805414/ NHMUK010588329/ Type [red edged circular label]/ Trinidad Kaye 1901 -72 [number after 1901 unclear, 72 or 92, written on upper surface of label]; Perophora magnapuncta Kaye [written on lower surface of label]/ LECTOTYPE ♀ Perophora magnapuncta Kaye designated by St Laurent and Cock, 2017 [red handwritten label].
Cicinnus magnapuncta was the only mimallonid species described from Trinidad until C. trini described above. Although C. magnapuncta seemed to be endemic to the island, a single male specimen from French Guiana in the MNHN (Fig. 9) may be this species considering the similarities in external appearance to the females and the close affinity of Trinidad Mimallonidae with those of French Guiana. However, due to the lack of males from Trinidad, it is not possible to definitively state at this time that the two populations are conspecific. Interestingly, so far only females of C. magnapuncta have been collected or photographed in Trinidad, thus males seem to either not be strongly attracted to light or are potentially diurnal or crepuscular whereas the females arrive late (23.51 h and 0 0.44 h) at light (K. Sookdeo pers. comm.).
Several similar Cicinnus species are known from mainland South America, namely: C. bactriana (Butler, 1878), C. callipius Schaus, 1928, C. candacus Schaus, 1928, C. gaujoni (Dognin, 1922), and C. marona Schaus, 1905. Primary types of all species have been examined by the first author. Cicinnus magnapuncta is unique in having weak maculation, particularly submarginally, such that there is a complete absence of dark petiolate scales. The relatively faint postmedial lines and discal spots, as well as light brown to fawn ground coloration, also can be used to distinguish C. magnapuncta from other species listed previously, which are darker brown or nearly orange in the case of C. marona, and nearly always have stronger maculation.
Prior to this work, C. magnapuncta was only known from a single location in Trinidad, therefore we report several new locations for this species, and figure actual specimens (not a painted illustration) for the first time. This species is restricted to forested areas of Trinidad, though the previously mentioned specimen from French Guiana may be this species. In addition to the lectotype collected from Tabaquite in the Central Range, C. magnapuncta has been found on the slopes of the Northern Range.
Material examined. (1 ♂ *, 6 ♀ total) TRINIDAD: 2 ♀, Brasso Seco: 14.III.2015 (K. Sookdeo photograph, not collected). 1 ♀, Cumaca Road 0.5 mi: 27.X.1980, M.J.W. Cock [leg.], at MV Light (UWIZM CABI.2457). 3 ♀, Cumaca Road, 4.6 mi: 21.X.1982, M.J.W. Cock [leg.], at MV light (2 ♀ MWJC, 1 ♀ to be deposited USNM). 1 ♀, [Tabaquite]: [VI.1898], Kaye 1901, [lecto] type, BMNH (E)# 805414, NHMUK 010588329 (NHMUK). FRENCH GUIANA: 1 ♂, St. Jean du Maroni: 2.I.1978, T. Porion leg. [*provisionally identified as this species] (MNHN).
description: Published as part of St Laurent, Ryan A. & Cock, Matthew J. W., 2017, Annotated list of Mimallonidae (Lepidoptera, Mimallonoidea) from Trinidad and Tobago, with the description of a new species of Cicinnus Blanchard, 1852 and taxonomic notes, pp. 53-70 in Zootaxa 4268 (1) on pages 60-62, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4268.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/579898