A morphological review of the Calyptra minuticornis (Guenée) subspecies complex (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Calpinae)

The genus Calyptra Ochsenheimer, commonly known as vampire moths, comprises an enigmatic lineage with species that use their piercing proboscis to feed on both plant and animal hosts during the adult stage. Differential feeding behaviors, including fruit piercing and blood feeding, may be linked with geographic location in some species. Calyptra minuticornis (Guenée) is a vampire moth species distributed throughout the Indomalayan and Australasian ecozones.  Previous researchers divided C. minuticornis into two subspecies: C. minuticornis novaepommeraniae (Strand) and C. minuticornis minuticornis (Guenée) based on subtle external characters, geographic distribution, and differential feeding behaviors in the adults. The complete distribution of this lineage, however, remains undocumented and a detailed examination of specimens from across the species’ full range has never been undertaken. Within this study 433 museum specimens were georeferenced to create a complete distribution map of Calyptra minuticornis using Q-GIS. Male and female genitalia dissections of over 50 specimens spanning the entire geographic range were examined for morphological variation. Even with a relatively small sample size, significant variation among populations was observed. This, in addition to historical disagreement regarding the status of the subspecies, lends support for a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the complex.