Ghost-moths of Trinidad and Tobago with description of a new genus and a new species (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) Author Mielke, Carlos G. C. Author Grehan, John R. Author Cock, Matthew J. W. text Zootaxa 2020 2020-03-27 4758 1 181 190 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4758.1.9 ef209b80-8915-4fe9-a46b-c0ef681bdba0 1175-5326 3730773 A25C4257-7242-45F2-AE27-3CAB1436AB3A Wallacella guianensis ( Schaus, 1940 ) , comb. nov. ( Figs 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 , 10, 11, 12, 13a, 13b, 13c, 14, 15 ) Diagnosis . The single known species may be recognized using diagnostic attributes of the genus. However, it is also easily recognized by the distinctive posterior abdomen and male genitalia: i) tergal lobe spatulate on the left and digitiform on the right; ii) ventral projection of the saccus pocket-like with posterior edge serrate; iii) number of antenomeres in the male ~67. These characters are unique among all known Neotropical species. Redescription . Male ( Figs 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 6 , 10, 11, 12, 14 ). Head . Frons dark orangish-brown to brown. Antenna with ~67 antenomeres. Thorax . Coloured as the head. Legs ( Fig. 10 ). Epiphysis and arolium absent. Forewing length : 22–31 mm ; wingspan: 44–60 mm . Forewing dorsally . Elongated, tornus not distinguished; costal margin straight, apex angle sub-obtuse [almost right angled], outer and inner margins convex. Ground colour orangish-brown to brown with four light gray transverse lines ( Fig. 3 ): i) proximal antemedial line almost straight; ii) distal antemedial line oblique (the most oblique one); iii) proximal postmedial line almost in parallel to the proximal antemedial line, and; iv) premarginal line straight or concave which angles outward from M 2 to costal margin; lighter areas present proximally to all the lines. Stigma concolourus with lines, but not always present. Hindwing dorsally . Orangish-brown to brown, generally lighter than forewing. Forewing and hindwing ventrally . Uniformly coloured, light orangish-brown to brown, but paler and without markings. Abdomen ( Figs 11, 12, 14 ). Dorsally as the thorax, ventrally lighter. Tergum VIII with left lobe pronounced and tapered; sternum VIII lunulate and deeply concave anteriorly, with an irregular sclerotized plate of each side posteriorly. Male genitalia ( Figs 13a, 13b, 13c, 15 ). Tegumen (= intermediate plate) rectangular and slightly curved inward, fused to pseudotegumen. Saccus U–shaped with robust lateral arms and with a conspicuous pocket-like posterior projection; posterior edge of the pocket V-shaped, strongly sclerotized with serrate borders. Left tergal lobe spatulate, right lobe digitiform. Pseudotegumen laterally rectangular, but forming a ring around the phallocrypt that is unfused dorso-posteriorly and strongly fused antero-ventrally, producing a tapered and projected backwards process, serrated antero-ventrally. Fultura inferior (= juxta) subrectangular, enlarged at its base. Fultura superior (= trulleum) subsquare. Valva L-shaped, digitiform, but enlarged at base; tip, base and anterior margin setose. Phallus membranous, as long the height of the genitalia when everted, with several spine-like cornuti. Female ( Fig. 4 ). Same pattern as the male, but with paler and longer forewing. Forewing length : 49 mm ; wingspan: 101 mm . Geographical distribution . Wallacella guianensis is known from Trinidad , southern Venezuela , Guyana , and French Guiana ( Fig. 20 ). FIGURES 7−9 . Gymelloxes juliusboosi sp . nov . 7, Male holotype (enlarged 2x): 7a, dorsal view; 7b, ventral view (NHMUK). 8, Male paratype (CGCM 35.247; enlarged 2x): 8a, dorsal view; 8b, ventral view (NHMUK). 9, Female paratype: 9a, dorsal view; 9b, ventral view (UWIZM). Scale bar = 1 cm. Ethology . Specimens were attracted to light at dusk. Host plant . Unknown. Etymology . It is likely that Schaus (1940) proposed the specific name after the locality of the holotype specimen, Guyana . Examined material ( 19 males , 1 female ). Trinidad and Tobago . 3 males , Trinidad , Off Saunders Rd , Inniss Field , 50m , MV light: 17.V.1999 , M. J. W. Cock leg . ( CGCM 35.217 , 35.356 ( MJWC )) ; 1 male , Trinidad , F. Birch leg . ( NHMUK ) . Venezuela : 1 male , Amazonas , Rio Mavaca Cp. 65°06’ W , 2°2’ N , 150 m , 16.–27.III.1989 , D. Grimaldi leg ., Exp. Phipps-Fudeci ( AMNH ) . Guyana . 1 male ( Fig. 4 ; holotype ), Bartica , Kartabo , 22.IX.1922 ( USNM ) . French Guiana . 1 male , Rd. Paul Insard , 94 m , 5°17’02’’ N , 53°58’00’’ W : 6.X.2015 , D. Herbin leg . (CGCM 33.107; CGCM); 5 males , Rd. de la Montagne de Fer , 106 m 5°18’51’’ N , 53°32’00’’ W : 3.X.2015 , D. Herbin , M. Laguerre & Felis leg . ( CGCM 32.951 , 32.997 , 33.340 , 33.398 , 33.526 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Saül , Crique Limonade , 210 m , 4°32’42’’ N , 52°09’10’’ W : 19.X.2013 ( CGCM 32.943 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Plateau des Mines , 5°20’42’’ N , 54°4’31’’ W : 4.X.2015 , D. Herbin , M. Laguerre & Felis leg . ( CGCM 33.159 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Rd. Belizon Km. 7, 67 m, 4°19’28’’ N , 52°20’7’’ W : 10.X.2015 , D. Herbin & M. Laguerre leg . ( CGCM 33.392 ) ; 1 male , Rd. Apatou-Layons Km. 26, 99 m, 5°14’46’’ N , 54°11’52’’ W : 2.X.2013 , D. Herbin , M. Laguerre & Felis leg . ( CGCM 29.958 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Rd. Coralie , 46 m , 4°29’41’’ N , 52°23’41’’ W : 13.X.2013 , D. Herbin leg . ( CGCM 30.042 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Cariocou , 4°51’30’’ N , 52°17’ W : 4.X.1996 , B. Hermier leg . ( CGCM 30.672 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Grand-Santi , 100 m , 4°17’05’’ N , 54°21’06’’ W : 14–18.X.2017 , Vincent , Lévêque & Barbut leg . ( CGCM 35.366 ; CGCM ) ; 1 male , Rd. Kaw , 286 m , 4°32’57’’ N , 52°08’52’’ W : 27.X.2013 , D. Herbin leg . ( CGCM 30.158 ; CGCM ) ; 1 female ( MNHN ) . Remarks . In Trinidad and Tobago , this species has been recorded only in Trinidad . Inniss Field is a low altitude area of disturbed forest with scattered oil wells in the South of Trinidad .