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Condica punctifera (Walker) [1857]
Diagnosis: Condica punctifera is an Antillean species that occurs northward into southern Florida. This is a small brown species with a large reniform spot which is often, but not always, accented with gray-white in its lower half. There is a black basal dash. The antemedial line is double with the outer line usually more distinct than the inner. The postmedial line is also double with the inner line accented with black, particularly near the crossing points of the veins. The orbicular spot is a small circle and is mucher smaller and less apparent than the reniform spot. The claviform spot is absent, or at most represented by a thin black line. The hindwing is suffused with black-brown, although there may be a slightly lighter base in males. The thorax is brown, but the outer margins of the tegulae are accented with black. Distribution: This species occurs in southern Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The species is, so far, unknown from the Lesser Antilles. In North America it occurs in southern Florida and is so far known only from the southern Everglades in the general vicinity of Homestead in Dade County. There does not appear to be much variability in this species based on the relatively small number of specimens currently available. Females are slightly larger and darker than males, but not remarkably so. The distinctiveness of the white marking in the reniform spot of the forewing is variable and is absent in about one-half of the specimens I have seen. Adults have been collected in January, March, May, and November. Identification Quality: Excellent Larva: Unknown Foodplants: Unknown |
Condica punctifera
Within the North American range of this species in Florida, punctifera
may be confused with two other species of Condica, vecors
and new species 1. None of the distinctive features of the male and
female genitalia found in vecors occur in punctifera
and the differences can be immediately seen by comparing the relevant
photographs. Superficially punctifera is consistently smaller
than vecors. The color of punctifera is brown or dark
red-brown and is never brown-black as is usually the case in vecors.
The claviform spot is absent or a most represented by a vague black
oval in punctifera, but is never prominent and black as in
vecors. There is never a distinctive black basal dash in vecors.
In the male the distinctive cream-colored ring around the abdomen of
vecors is absent in punctifera. |
Similar Species
Condica vecors
Condica new species 1 |