Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna
Author
Stonis, Jonas R.
Author
Diškus, Arūnas
Author
Remeikis, Andrius
Author
Gerulaitis, Virginijus
Author
Karsholt, Ole
text
Zootaxa
2016
4181
1
1
94
journal article
37923
10.11646/zootaxa.4181.1.1
7f55813e-d9fb-47d1-ae70-4207ea726e64
1175-5326
164243
639B9F0E-4E0C-4859-9A32-093511BEEFB8
Stigmella robusta
Remeikis & Stonis
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs 18
,
27
,
103–107
)
Type
material.
Holotype
: Ƌ,
PERU
, Dept.
Ancash
,
35 km
SE Huaraz
,
Cerro Cahuish
,
Quabrada Pucavado
,
9°40'50"S
,
77°13'32"W
, elevation ca.
4100 m
,
15–18.ii.1987
,
O. Karsholt
, genitalia slide no. RA566Ƌ (
ZMUC
)
. Paratypes: 3 Ƌ, 3 ♀, same label data as holotype, genitalia slide nos RA575Ƌ, RA576Ƌ, RA580♀ (ZMUC).
Diagnosis.
The combination of a gnathos with closely juxtaposed processes, angular inner lobe of valva, large, distally four-lobed uncus, set of 2–3 large cornuti and cluster of small spine-like cornuti, and pale, speckled forewing distinguishes
S. robusta
sp. nov.
from all other
Stigmella
species.
Male
(
Fig. 103
). Forewing length
3.5–4.5 mm
; wingspan
7.6–9.6 mm
. Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft ochre cream; collar and scape yellowish cream; antenna as half the length of forewing; flagellum with 42 segments, yellowish grey to grey. Thorax and tegula yellowish cream (concolorous with collar and scape). Forewing glossy yellowish cream speckled with ochre-brown to dark ochre-brown scales (sometime with little purple iridescence); fascia absent; fringe grey cream to yellowish grey; underside of forewing ochre-brown to dark brown, with cream basal spots but no androconia. Hindwing pale grey to grey on upper side and underside, with no spots or androconia; its fringe yellowish grey. Legs yellowish cream, darkened with dark metalic grey on upper side. Abdomen fuscous grey on upper side, grey cream to pale brownish on underside; tufts short, pale grey to grey; genital segments cream to grey cream.
Female
. Similar to male.
Male genitalia
(
Figs 104–106
). Capsule longer (325 µm) than wide (175 µm). Vinculum with long triangular lateral lobes and very long ventral plate. Uncus wide, with four small lobes distally. Gnathos with two slender, closely juxtaposed caudal processes. Valva 175–180 µm long, 54–60 µm wide, with two distinctive apical processes and prominent (conspicuous) angular inner lobe; transtilla with triangular corners (instead sublateral processes). Juxta membranous, indistinctive. Phallus (
Fig. 104
) 280–285 µm long, 70 µm wide; vesica with two to three large cornuti and basal cluster of numerous small slender cornuti.
Female genitalia
(
Fig. 107
). Total length
1140–1155
µm. Anterior processes slender; posterior apophyses slightly longer, very slender. Vestibulum narrow, without sclerites. Corpus bursae with heavily folded distal part and round, 500–505 µm long, 500 µm wide basal part with comb-like pectinations; signa absent. Accessory sac wide but short; ductus spermathecae with 4.5 convolutions. Abdominal tip narrowed and rounded.
Bionomics.
Adults fly in February.
Distribution
(
Figs 18
,
27
). This species occurs high in the Peruvian Andes (
Peru
:
Ancash
Departamento) at altitudes about
4100 m
.
Etymology.
The species name is derived from Latin
robustus
(stout, strong) in reference to the heavily hardened (sclerotized) uncus, large angular inner lobe of valva and large, strongly sclerotized vinculum in the male genitalia.