Three new species of Elachista Treitschke (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) from Nepal
Author
Sruoga, Virginijus
text
Zootaxa
2008
1821
59
66
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.183020
a2886e2b-949e-4136-84a7-5aa1def3f43e
1175-5326
183020
Elachista ievae
sp. nov.
Figs. 1
,
4–6
Type
material.
Holotype
: ɗ,
Nepal
: 5600’ [~
1700 m
], Kathmandu Dist., Godawari,
24.v.–6.vi.1983
; mixed primary forest; Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, Brit. Mus. 1983–222; genitalia slide no. 29589 (
BMNH
).
Condition of the
type
material.
The single specimen is in fair condition, the wings are partly spread. The head (mostly frons) and terminal fringe scales of forewing are slightly abraded.
Diagnosis.
In male genitalia the new species is comparable to
E. lambeseella
Nielsen & Traugott-Olsen
, known from
Algeria
(
Nielsen & Traugott-Olsen 1987
) and
Tunisia
(
Traugott-Olsen 1995
). It is distinguishable by the following differences:
(1) the uncus lobes in
E. ievae
is shorth; in
E. lambeseella
they are longer and more slender;
(2) the cucullus in
E. ievae
is large and rounded; in
E. lambeseella
it more elongate;
(3) the phallus in
E. ievae
is without carina; in
E. lambeseella
it is with elongate, dentate carina.
FIGURES 1–3.
Wings of
Elachista
species. 1,
E. ievae
; 2,
E. tuberella
; 3,
E. obtusella
. Scale bar 1 mm.
Description. Male
(
Fig. 1
). Forewing length
4 mm
, wingspan 8.7 mm. Head: Frons light yellowish brown, upper scales in
holotype
rubbed but lowermost scales with some metallic sheen; neck tuft yellowish brown, scales nearest to thorax blackish brown; labial palpi slightly longer than width of head, yellow-white, with weak metallic sheen both from upper and under sides; antennal scape blackish brown but underside yellow-white; pecten yellow-white, flagellum clearly ringed by blackish brown and greyish white scales, tip whitish. Thorax: Tegulae and forewing blackish brown; forewing markings white, with weak lustre and some yellowish tint, consisting of a slightly outwardly oblique fascia at about 1/3, small triangular costal spot at about 2/3 and similar one but smaller on dorsum just before it. Additionally a small elongated spot consisting of raised black-brown scales is just beyond fascia, slightly below from fold and a few same scales just before the fascia. Fringe scales dark brown, line on fringe scales not distinct in
holotype
. Hindwing dark brown, its fringe scales similar. Abdomen blackish brown above, whitish with weak yellowish tint below, apical tuft paler than upperside of abdomen.
FIGURES 4–6.
Elachista ievae
,
male genitalia, holotype. 4, general view (phallus removed); 5, phallus; 6, juxta lobes in lateral view. Genitalia slide No. 29589 (BMNH). Scale bar 0.1 mm.
Male genitalia
(
Figs. 4–6
). Uncus lobes short, rounded apically, with long and thick setae along lateral margins. Anterior margin of tegumen deeply incised and reinforced, with very strong spiniform sclerotization in centre of incision. Gnathos large, elongate, but in genitalia slide appearing rounded due to apical part strongly turned dorsad. Vinculum with strongly sclerotized central ridge, without saccus. Valva with broadened, rounded cucullus, costa slightly convex. Juxta lobe wide, strongly produced laterally. Digitate process short and wide, distally setose. Phallus gradually tapering, strongly bent somewhat beyond middle; coecum well developed, medially with two rounded, strongly sclerotized lobes; no cornuti.
Female.
Unknown.
Biology.
The single known specimen was collected in a mixed primary forest. Larval biology is unknown.
Distribution.
Nepal
, Kathmandu District.
Remarks.
Based on male genital characters, the new species is affiliated with the
E. gleichenella
species group. The phallus of
E. ievae
is without carina but other traits of male genitalia agree well with the concept of the
E. gleichenella
species group.
E. ievae
is the only species of this group recorded from
Nepal
.
Etymology.
This species is named after my daughter, Ieva.