Plume moths of Malawi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)
Author
Kovtunovich, V.
Author
Ustjuzhanin, P.
Author
Murphy, R.
text
Zootaxa
2014
3847
4
451
494
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3847.4.1
f18438f9-7043-45af-b603-3a12ee96e884
1175-5326
250050
C1F94BC0-BE4B-42A9-9FE0-1F700D384B48
Hellinsia namizimu
Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin
sp. nov.
(
Figs. 45–48
)
Type
material:
Holotype
, male, (
BMNH
22689) Northern
Zambia
, Mutinondo, S
12º23' E
31º19',
1390 m
,
13.10.2009
, J. Lenz.;
Paratypes
,
1 ♀, (
BMNH
22690) N.
Malawi
, Rumphi District, Nyika Nat.Park,
23 km
N Thazima Gate, grassland, S
10º42' E
33º39', h
1840 m
, 23–
24.12.2010
, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.;
1 ♂
(CUK), N.
Malawi
, Mzimba Distr., Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve. S
11º09' E
33º35', h–1150,
15.08.2009
, R.
Murphy
;
1 ♂
(CUK), S.
Malawi
, Mangochi District,
25 km
E Mangochi,
Namizimu
Forest Reserve, Uzuzu Hill, S
14º24' E
35º22',
1040 m
, 17–
18.04.2011
, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.;
3 ♂
, 1 ♀ Northern
Zambia
, Mutinondo, S
12º23' E
31º19', h
1390 m
,
13.10.2009
, J. Lenz.
External characters.
Head covered by yellow appressed scales, collar brighter, yellowish-brown. Thorax and tegulae light-yellow. Palpi brownish-yellow, slender and short, two times shorter than eye diameter. Antennae yellow with inclusion of brown scales. Wingspan
13-15 mm
,
15 mm
in the
holotype
. Forewings light-yellow, with brown spot in base of bifurcation and dash-like spot in middle of wing. Apex of middle lobe on costal edge and on inside with small oblong spots of scales. Similar small brown dashes situated on second lobe on outside, near apex. Hindwings uniform, yellowish-brown.
Valvae asymmetrical. Harpe of left valva bifurcte, ventral process arcuated and directed toward apex of valva, longer than dorsal process. Dorsal process slender, straight, nearly two times shorter than outer. Right valva with long harpe, nearly reaches top of valva, with narrow spur on top. Branches of anellus slender, short, right branch longer than left. Uncus slender, narrow. Aedeagus slightly arcuated, nearly two times shorter than length of valva, with narrow spur-like cornutus in distal third.
Female genitalia.
Papilla analis broad, trianglular. Posterior apophyses long, evenly narrow. Sternite VIII in shape of broad triangle with wavy margin. Antrum short, tube-like, placed in left distal part of VIII sternum. Ductus narrow. Bursa copulatrix without signa.
Diagnosis.
The male genitalia the new species are similar to
Hellinsia adumbratus
Meyrick
but have a different shape of the harps, a more narrow uncus, and short aedeagus. The location of the ostium and shape of the antrum in the female genitalia are similar to
Hellinsia invidiosus
Meyrick
, but differ in the shape of sternum VIII and the shape of the papilla analis.
Etymology.
The new species is named after the locality of the
type
series. Namizimu—forest mountain massif, its name translated as “place of spirits” from the local dialect.