Sigela minuta Troubridge, new species

(Fig. 19, 90, 118)

BIN: BOLD:ADC5571

Diagnosis. I know of no other North American species that remotely resembles Sigela minuta, it could be confused with a mustotimine crambid. Sigela minuta is characterized by scattered beige scales that loosely delineate the ordinary lines of the forewing and hindwing; forewing with slightly darker, solid beige submarginal patch extending from the tornus to vein M3, and a second patch on the lower quarter of the medial line. The reniform spot has a distinct black dot and a similar dot is present on the hindwing.

Description. Antennae filiform, ciliate; head, vertex, and thorax white; abdomen light beige. Dorsal forewing (both sexes). Forewing length 3.5–5.1 mm. Ground color white; basal, antemedial, medial, postmedial, and submarginal lines composed of a loose scattering of beige scales; lower quarter of medial line forms a more solid patch of beige scales; submarginal area between tornus and vein M3 with a solid patch of beige scales; reniform spot with a minute black dot; a marginal series of black dots present at tips of veins; fringe beige. Dorsal hindwing. Ground color white; basal, antemedial, medial, and submarginal lines composed of a loose scattering of beige scales; postmedial line with scattered black and beige scales; discal dot black; a marginal series of black dots present at tips of veins; fringe beige. Male genitalia (Fig. 90). Valves unarmed, narrow at base, becoming broad and paddle-like toward apex with broad apical indentation. Uncus long and narrow, arcs downward to pointed apex. Saccus with deep medial cleft. Juxta forms a narrow band between valves. Vesica with cornuti absent. Female genitalia (Fig. 118). Ovipositor lobes setose, flattened apically. Ductus bursae membranous, long, and very narrow. Corpus bursae pear-shaped, signa absent.

Type material. Holotype female: USA: Florida, Alachua Co., Paynes Prairie, Gainesville, 29.5263°N, 82.2957°W, 6.Apr.2015, BOLD sample ID: CNCLEP 00119846, Carle Belanger, the CNC . Paratypes: 1♂, 1♀: Miami- Dade Co.: Florida City, 25.396°N, 80.506° W, 8.Jan.2013, J. Vargo, 1♂ ; Okeechobee Co.: 27.583°N, 81.049° W, 15.Feb.2016, J. Vargo, 1♀ .

Etymology. From Latin, the word minuta meaning small, which refers to the small size of the moth.

Distribution. This species has been collected in peninsular Florida.