Cryptothelea hoffmanni Köhler 1939

Cryptothelea hoffmanni (Koehler)

Platoeceticus hoffmanni Koehler, 1939:41.

“Platoeceticus” hoffmanni Koehler.—Davis, 1964:153.

This species was described from two larval cases and a single female pupal case collected in Havana, Cuba. No additional material has been collected subsequently. Because the larval cases are not diagnostic for this species (e.g., they could pertain to any one of several species of Cryptothelea), I have reexamined the fragmentary pupal remains in an attempt to discover any possible diagnostic feature for this insect. Koehler’s pupal description included only a few general remarks on the pygidial structure and completely ignored the much more important characteristics of the dorsal abdominal spines. A more complete description of the pupa follows.

FEMALE PUPA.—Length approximately 10 mm; uniformly light chestnut brown in color. Sheaths for antennae, eyes, maxillae, and legs vestigial, indistinct; wings absent. Anterior row of dorsal abdominal spines absent from all segments. A single posterior row of dorsal spines present only on abdominal segments V-VIII; spines very reduced and widely spaced on segment v. Tabulation of spines as summarized in Table 4.

Cremaster reduced, consisting of a small pair of widely separated stout spines; spines directed ventrad. Y-shaped anal groove prominent; entire ventral area of segment x relatively smooth except for a pair of low and widely separated tubercules on either side of anal groove and a smaller, more adjacent pair near anterior end of groove.