Guadeloupe, Saint-Claude, La Citerne, 1155m, 23-VII-1984

Pseudamastus alsa (Druce, 1890)

ssp. alsa: Guadeloupe

Arctiidae Arctiinae

ssp. lalannei Toulgoët: Martinique

Systematics

The Genus Amastus Walker comprises species living at high altitudes in the Andes, except for A. alsa Druce, which is known from the Lesser Antilles only. After a close examination of this species, H. de Tougoët created the Genus Pseudamastus, whose characteristics are intermediate between those of Amastus and Halysidota (H. de Toulgoët, 1985, Nouv. Rev. Entomol. (N.S.), 2: 5-9).

The known subspecies differ considerably in size and colour, but their genitalia are identical.

Biology and distribution

Guadeloupe: (P. a. alsa) very rare, in upper hygrophilic zone only.
Martinique: (P. a. lalannei) very rare, Morne Rouge, Fonds St-Denis.

Dominica: Type specimen of P. a. alsa.

Legend

Similar species

Halysidota leda enricoi (Martinique)
Halysidota leda leda (Guadeloupe)
Opharus bimaculata
Pachydota albiceps

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