Macaria kruegeri Vargas, Hausmann & Parra, 2020

Vargas, Héctor A., Hausmann, Axel & Parra, Luis E., 2020, A new species of Macaria Curtis (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae) from the Andes of northern Chile, Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20200016) 64 (2), pp. 1-6 : 2-4

Macaria kruegeri Vargas, Hausmann & Parra sp. nov.

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( Fig. 1 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male, CHILE: Zapahuira, Parinacota , Chile, emerged August 2018, H.A. Vargas coll, ex-larva Adesmia spinosissima, July 2018, genitalia slide HAV-1340 ( MNNC). BOLD specimen page BC ZSM Lep add 00229. Type locality: 18°21’26”S; 69°37’28”W.

Paratypes. One female, same data as holotype, genitalia slide HAV-1246 ( MNNC) . Two males, same data as holotype, genitalia slides HAV-1196, HAV-1245 ( IDEA) .

DNA

One sequence of DNA barcode of 658 bp was obtained from the holotype (BOLD specimen page BC ZSM Lep add 00229). Genetic divergence from M. alba (567/633 bp; BOLD specimen pages BC ZSM Lep 07756/105148) was found to be 4.9% K 2P.

Diagnosis

The wing pattern and male genitalia of M. kruegeri resemble those of M. alba, described from southern Chile. However, the two species can be accurately separated. The wings are mainly whitish grey in M. kruegeri ( Fig. 1 A-B), while the wings of M.alba are mainly yellowish white (see Macaria alba page at http://www.boldsystems.org/).The apex of the valvula reaches the ventral margin of the sacculus in M. kruegeri ( Fig. 1C ), while it does not reach the apex of the sacculus in M. alba.

Male ( Figs. 1 A-E)

Forewing length 14.5–16.1 mm (n = 3).

Head. Vertex dark brown; frons dark brown centrally with a few creamy white scales scattered, sides yellowish white. Antenna filiform; scape and pedicel mainly light brown with creamy white scales scattered; flagellum dorsally mainly yellowish white, distal half with scattered dark brown scales, ventrally ciliate. Labial palpus with light brown first and second segments and a few scattered yellowish white scales; third segment light brown ventrally, yellowish white dorsally.

Thorax. Whitish grey and greyish brown scales intermixed. Legs mainly concolorous with thorax; tarsus yellowish white; tibial spurs yellowish white.Forewing upperside whitish grey with a few scattered greyish brown scales mainly concentrated close to costal margin; a short greyish brown stripe arising from close to distal fourth of costa; coloration of underside similar but with more abundant greyish brown scales near apex. Hindwing upperside mainly whitish grey with a few scattered dark brown scales; basal two thirds of wing underside with whitish grey and greyish brown scales intermixed, a slightly differentiated whitish grey postmedial line, distal third mainly greyish brown with scattered whitish grey scales.

Abdomen. Whitish grey and greyish brown scales intermixed. Sternum A8 with deeply U-shaped cleft on posterior margin ( Fig. 1E ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 1C, 1D ). Tegumen with deep cleft on middle of anterior margin, a depressed posterior projection at centre. Uncus depressed, sub-triangular with fine setae, two weak horns dorsally near apex, apex slightly concave. Gnathos with conical posterior process at centre. Saccus narrow, U-shaped. Juxta somewhat ellipsoid, ventral margin excavated at centre, dorsal margin slightly expanded dorsad. Valva with costa about two times length and half width of sacculus, medial surface of the free part with fine setae, distal half of the free part slightly taller, apex rounded; sacculus somewhat ellipsoid; valvula as a narrow ridge along the dorsal and distal margins of sacculus, its round apex reaches the ventral margin of the sacculus. Aedeagus cylindrical, length similar to that of costa, a small lateral process near distal fourth.

Female

Forewing length 14.2 mm (n = 1).

Similar to male but antennae not ciliate ventrally and sternum A8 not modified like in male.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 1F ).

Papillae anales lobous, covered with long, fine setae. Apophyses posteriores rod-shaped, about 2.5 times length of papillae anales. Apophyses anteriores similar in shape to apophyses posteriores, length similar to that of papillae anales. Lamella antevaginalis developed as a transversal stripe posteriorly projecting at centre concealing the ostium bursae.Antrum cylindrical, postero-ventral margin posteriorly broadened. Corpus bursae slightly sclerotized, striated. Ductus seminalis arising on the right side of posterior end. Corpus bursae ovoid, membranous, without signa.

Geographic distribution

Macaria kruegeri is known only from the type locality ( Figure 2A ), in the surroundings of Zapahuira village , at about 3200 m elevation in the Andes of the Parinacota Province, northern Chile.

Host plant

Based on rearing observation and feeding records the larvae of M. kruegeri feed on leaves of the native shrub Adesmia spinosissima ( Fig.2B ).

Etymology

The name of the species is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Krüger (Pretoria, South Africa), founding member of the Forum Herbulot research initiative, as an acknowledgement to his outstanding contribution to the systematics of Lepidoptera , especially for his studies on Geometridae .

Figures

Figure 1. The adult stage of Macaria kruegeri sp. nov. A) Holotype male in dorsal view. B) Holotype male in ventral view. C) Male genitalia in ventral view, aedeagus removed. D) Aedeagus in lateral view. E) Sternum VIII in ventral view.F) Female genitalia in ventral view. Scale bars 2, 2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2 mm, respectively.

Figure 2. Habitat and host plant of Macaria kruegeri sp. nov. A) Habitat in the type locality at about 3200 m elevation near Zapahuira village, Parinacota Province, Chile. B) The host plant, Adesmia spinosissima Meyen (Fabaceae) in the type locality.