Ethmia hermannstaudei, Mey, 2023

Mey, Wolfram, 2023, New data and species of Ethmiidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) from the Afrotropical Region, Metamorphosis 34 (1), pp. 117-124 : 122

Ethmia hermannstaudei sp. nov. ( Figs 17–18 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:29A41C99-B0E8-4DE0-A13C-4CA100384EB4

Holotype: ♀, Namibia, Erongo, Great Spitzkoppe , 21°48.715′S; 15°10.404′E. 09.x.2007, leg. W. Mey (MfN) Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype ; 1 ♀, RSA, Numees , Richtersveld National Park , Hellskloof Gate, BIOTA Observatory Numees, 09–12.x.2007, leg. W. Mey (MfN); short apophyses, sterigma without distinct lamellae. Ostium bursae membranous, antrum weakly sclerotised. Ductus bursae long, coiled. Bursa copulatrix elongate, appendix bursae absent. Signum large, with large and small teeth on inner side .

Remarks: In external appearance and size the new species is similar to E. ditreta Meyrick, 1920 . The main differences are the arrangement and number of black spots on the forewings with five in E. hermannstaudei sp. nov. and only two in E. ditreta . The male is still undescribed. Judging from the two known localities, the new species seems to be an endemic of the Western Escarpment in Namibia.

Etymology: The new species is named in honour of Hermann Staude (Magaliesburg) in recognition of his tremendous efforts in the study and research on African Lepidoptera .

Description. Adult female ( Fig. 17 ): Length of forewing 8– 8.5 mm, wingspan 15–16 mm. Head pale yellow-grey, labial palpi ascending, uniformly yellow-grey, basal segment with long scales on ventral side, terminal segment acute; antenna dark brown, sparsely scaled dorsally. Proboscis long and broad, basally scaled. Thorax grey, tegulae with a black spot basally; patagia and mesonotum without spots. Legs grey. Forewings grey, with characteristic position of black spots, one at base of A1, two in fold, two at end of cell ( Fig. 17 ); base of costa black, wing margin without spots; hindwings pale grey, underside of wings uniformly pale brown, three brown frenular bristles. Abdomen light brown, without spots, tuft of scales on segment VIII yellow-grey.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 18 ): Papillae anales broad, nearly triangular in lateral view, not fused basally, apophyses posteriors as long as papillae anales. Segment VIII with rhomboidella- species group

This group is here established to accommodate the new species E. kibalensis sp. nov. The architecture of the male genitalia differs clearly from those of the Palearctic species of all groups. Especially the reduced uncus, the undivided gnathos and the form of the valva are diagnostic for this species group, which doesn`t seem to be a genuine African group of the genus. There is at least one Asian species, E.octanoma Meyrick, 1914 , described from Taiwan, that belongs to the E. rhomboidella group too (Kun & Szabóku 2000).

Figures

Figure 17 – E. hermannstaudei female paratype, Namibia, Great Spitzkoppe.

Figure 18 – E. hermannstaudei sp. nov., female genitalia, a: lateral, b: ventral aspect, c: signum, profile, d: signum, dorsal (scale: 0.35 mm)