18. Manitischeria namibiensis Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CBC74DE2-9B57-4328-A5A6-F44A682EAD20

(Figs. 109, 110)

Tischeria species 6547, in Puplesis & Diškus 2003: 270; in Puplesis et al. 2004: 43.

Type material. Holotype: ♀, NAMIBIA: Abachaus, xii.1946, Hobohm, genitalia slide no. 6547 (TMSA).

Diagnosis. Externally, M. namibiensis sp. nov. can be confused with other sparsely speckled Tischeriidae species. In the female genitalia, the unique, H-shaped antrum with very short posterior processes (Fig. 110) distinguishes the new species from all known congeneric species, including M. zimbabwienis sp. nov. It is expected that M. namibienis may be related to M. selindica because they are the only African species with a H-shaped antrum. However, the antrum of M. namibensis has very short posterior processes, and adult scaling is not dark (dark brown in M. selindica).

Male. Unknown.

Female (Fig. 109). Forewing length: 2.7 mm; wingspan 6.1 mm (n = 1). Head: palpi and frons cream; frontal tuft and collar golden cream; antenna cream, indistinctly annulated with pale brown scales in basal part. Thorax and tegula golden cream. Forewing whitish cream sparsely speckled with some dark brown scales and with some irregular yellowish shading; forewing underside ochre-brown; fringe cream. Hindwing cream; fringe golden cream. Legs brownish cream.

Female genitalia (Fig. 110). Ovipositor lobes medium small, with peg-like setae; second pair of ovipositor lobes two to three times smaller. Anterior apophyses slightly shorter than posterior apophyses. Antrum H-shaped, strongly thickened, with very short posterior processes. Corpus bursae unknown (lost, slide no. 6547).

(Note: M. ptarmica is the smallest known Tischeriidae worldwide with recorded minimal wingspan in specimens from Laos: 4.35 mm in males, 4.06 in females)

Bionomics. Host plant is unknown. Adults occur in December.

Distribution. This species is known from the single locality of Abachaus, Namibia.

Etymology. This species is named after Namibia, the only country where it is known to occur.

Remarks. The species was left unnamed, but documented, in Puplesis & Diškus (2003). We name it now that its generic position is known.