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
сhewa
sp.nov. Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. (
Figs. 49–51
)
Type
material:
Holotype
, male, (
BMNH
22691) N.
Malawi
, Rumphi District,
100 km
N Mzuzu, Uzumara Mt.,
10°52'S
34°07'E
,
1931 m
, 21–
22.12.2010
, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.
Paratypes
,
2 ♂
same data as
holotype
; 1 ♀ (
BMNH
22692);
28 ♂
,12 ♀ Nyika N.P., 5–
9.12.2009
, R.
Murphy
;
1 ♂
20 km
N Thazima Gate,
07.01.2009
; 3 ♀
Mugesse
Forest, 28–
29.12.2010
Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.
External characters.
Head brown. Thorax and tegulae light-yellow. Palpi brown, slender and short, slightly shorter than eye diameter. Antennae yellowish-brown. Wingspan
13-17 mm
,
15 mm
in the
holotype
. Forewings light-yellow, with brown oblong spot in base of bifurcation and small oblong spot in middle of wing. Small but clear brown horizontal dash situated near apex of first lobe inside bifurcation. Fringes brown with inclusion of more light filiform scales. Hindwings and fringes uniform brown.
Male
genitalia.
Valvae asymmetrical. Harpe of left valva stout in base, ring-shaped, extended as a straight apically pointed process. Right valva with broad oblong sclerotized plate in middle part. Branches of anellus fused, pointed at apex. Uncus broadened in middle part, pointed at apex. Aedeagus straight, short, nearly two times shorter than length of valva. Cornuti small, spur-like, placed in apical part of aedeagus.
Female genitalia.
Papilla analis short and broad, narrowed to distal part. Posterior apophyses short, slightly broadened on top and declinate. Anterior apophyses short, triangular. Sternite VIII with ring-like sclerotized lump. Antrum broad, tube-like, placed on right side. Ductus membranous, smoothly grading into narrow bursa copulatrix.
Diagnosis.
The shape of the harps and uncus in the male genitalia of the new species are similar to
Hellinsia sphenites
(Meyryck, 1913)
, but differ from it by the structures of the right valva, anellus and aedeagus. The shape of the papilla analis and short anterior apophyses in the female genitalia are similar to
Crassuncus pacifica
(Meyrick, 1911)
, but differ in the location of the antrum, presence of a ring-like sclerotized formation, and by external characters of imago.
Etymology.
Chewa—nationality which inhabits
Malawi
.