Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club

One hundred new records of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Tobago, W.I.

Matthew J.W. Cock — 2025-08-20

Details of one new butterfly and 99 new moth records from Tobago are presented, including species of Alucitidae (1), Crambidae (26), Dalceridae (1), Erebidae (29), Euteliidae (1), Geometridae (12), Limacodidae (2), Lycaenidae (1), Mimallonidae (1), Noctuidae (7), Notodontidae (5), Oecophoridae (3), Pyralidae (7), Tineidae (3), Uraniidae (1). One previous record of Notodontidae is deleted. The total number of Lepidoptera species known from Tobago is now 751 moths and 170 butterflies. Most newly reported species are also known from Trinidad (although some had not been previously published from Trinidad), but six are records of species not known from Trinidad. Species known to be associated with economic crops include Diaphania nitidalis (Cramer), Omiodes indicata (Fabricius), (Crambidae), Euclea cippus (Cramer) (Limacodidae), Feltia subterranea (Fabricius) (Noctuidae), Stenoma impressella (Busck) (Oecophoridae) and Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) (Pyralidae).

Editorial

Amy E. Deacon — 2025-12-31

The 2025 LW is an issue which focuses almost entirely on documenting our biodiversity. It includes one Research Article, seven Nature Notes, the annual report from the TTBSDC and a Book Review.

Book Review - Coral Reefs of Trinidad and Tobago by Anjani Ganase, 2024

La Daana Kada Kanhai — 2025-08-20

Ganase (2024) is the most comprehensive book that our country has on coral reef ecosystems. I believe that it is an excellent resource for biology students, specifically those with an interest in coral reefs. Beyond that, I believe that the book will capture the attention of a wide range of users of the marine environment (e.g. recreational divers, tour boat operators, tourists, environmentalists). Overall, this book can contribute to building ocean literacy among nationals of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean Region.

First record of a Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta rubria (Fruhstorfer) in Trinidad, West Indies

John Morrall — 2025-08-20

Midafternoon on 13 September 2024, A. Hosein photographed a butterfly on the ground on the Biche Otoire Road, Biche in Eastern Trinidad and submitted it to iNaturalist the following day (Hosein 2024). Here, its identification was confirmed by John Morrall, among others, as the Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta. As far as the authors can establish, this represents the first known record of this species for Trinidad.

The female of Clito trinidadensis Cock (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Pyrginaei) identified in Trinidad, W. I.

John Morrall — 2025-12-31

Notes on the hesperiid Clito trinidadensis and the first female of the species to be found in Trinidad.

A note on Gamelia bennetti Cock & Rougerie (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and its caterpillar in Tobago, West Indies

Cavan Mejias — 2025-12-31

The note reports on recent observations of the moth species Gamelia bennetti on the island of Tobago. Researchers successfully identified the Rangoon Creeper as a natural food source for the insect, marking the first time a host plant has been recorded for this specific group. The text provides a detailed physical description of the mature caterpillar, noting its green spiny body and its transition to a yellow hue before pupation. Additionally, the authors analyzed several adult male specimens, concluding that the species exhibits a wider range of color variations than previously understood.

Identification of Carr’s Slender Opossum Marmosops carri (Didelphimorphia) from Photographs of Live Specimens in Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Shaquille Everod George — 2025-08-20

Note on the easily overlooked Carr’s Slender Opossum, Marmosops carri. This note can be used to improve the identification of live and in-situ individuals of M. carri, given their sympatry with the more commonly observed M. robinsoni in Trinidad and with both M. robinsoni and M. murina, in Tobago

Natural history notes on the endangered Golden Tree Frog Phytotriades auratus from Trinidad

Renoir Auguste — 2025-12-31

This report details findings regarding the Golden Tree Frog, an endangered species found on the mountain peaks of Trinidad and Venezuela. Historically, these frogs were thought to reside only in specific bromeliads, but researchers recently discovered them using alternative vegetation like palms and pepper plants. The study provides the first visual confirmation of the adult diet, documenting the opportunistic consumption of beetles. Furthermore, the authors identified a potential abscess on an individual, suggesting the species may face health threats beyond the previously known chytrid fungus.

Caterpillars and a food plant of Hemiceras pallidula Guenée (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) in Tobago, West Indies

Cavan Mejias — 2025-12-31

The authors provide the first formal description of the insect's caterpillar stages, including its distinct colorful markings and gregarious feeding habits and identifies the Hairy Pois Doux (Inga oerstediana) as the primary larval food plant, correcting previous botanical misidentifications in the region. The note also clarifies the moth's distribution, noting its confirmed presence in Tobago while highlighting its unexpected absence from Trinidad.

Return of a ghost: Rediscovery of the Trinidad Mahogany Tarantula Tapinauchenius latipes in Trinidad, W.I.

Saifudeen Muhammad — 2025-12-31

The authors report on the September 2025 rediscovery of the Trinidad Mahogany Tarantula, a species that had not been reported for over forty years. Researchers located juvenile and subadult specimens in a virgin montane rainforest during a biodiversity survey, confirming the spider still exists despite fears of its local extinction. The spider’s long absence from its historical range in the Arima Valley suggests significant population declines or habitat contraction.

Report of the Trinidad and Tobago Birds Status and Distribution Committee, Records Submitted during 2024

Martyn Kenefick — 2025-12-31

The Trinidad and Tobago Birds Status and Distribution Committee has assessed all records submitted during 2024. In all 104 records were assessed, representing 55 species. Two species were found in the country for the first time, which brings the current total of species on the National Official List to 498.