A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste
Author
Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie
Author
Powell, Jerry A.
Author
Hallwachs, Winnie
Author
Janzen, Daniel H.
text
ZooKeys
2014
461
1
86
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.461.8377
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.461.8377
1313-2970-461-1
350663FDE2024E61968548B2109EDFF8
Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae
Ethmia nigritaenia Powell
Figures 28, 73, 118, 161
Ethmia
nigritaenia
Powell, 1973: 172.
Diagnosis.
Ethmia nigritaenia
is characterized by a black stripe through the middle of the FW from base to apex and can be distinguished from
Ethmia laphamorum
, its most similar species, by its larger size and by the valva with a conspicuous apical plume and a large distal spine in male genitalia.
Description.
Male: FW length 12.8-14.5 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus curved, long, exceeding base of antenna, proboscis, front and crown white, occipital tufts dark brown at mid-dorsum. Thorax: Pronotum whitish with seven small black spots. FW whitish with indistinct light brown markings except by a median black streak from base to apex. HW whitish; broad costal fold reaching end of cell, enclosing a thick brush of elongate hair scales from base. Abdomen: Dark brown, genitalia scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia (Fig. 73) with uncus elongate, moderately sclerotized; valva apex with broad
"plume"
; sacculus with long wide projection just bellow apex.
Female: FW length 14.5-15.3 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male, except HW unmodified. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 118) with sterigma simple; base of ductus with long sclerotized sleeve; signum a large fold, emarginated at one side.
Holotype.
Male: Mexico, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Feb., 1956, E. C. Welling [EME, examined].
Distribution and biology.
Ethmia nigritaenia
distribution ranges from southern Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. In Costa Rica (Fig. 161) it has been collected on the Pacific side of Cordillera
Volcanica
de Guanacaste from 20 to 570 m in ACG dry forest.
Food plants records.
Ethmia nigritaenia
has been reared from larvae feeding on
Boraginaceae
:
Cordia gerascanthus
L.