Athrypsiastis halmaherella ( Lvovsky, 2014 ), 2025

Sterling, Mark J., Price, Ben W. & Lees, David C., 2025, A revision of the hitherto neglected genus Topiris Walker, 1863 (Lepidoptera, Xyloryctidae) with taxonomic notes on the genus Athrypsiastis Meyrick, 1910, ZooKeys 1229, pp. 297-368 : 297-368

Athrypsiastis halmaherella ( Lvovsky, 2014) comb. nov.

Figs 26 , 54

Metathrinca halmaherella Lvovsky, 2014: 196.

DNA barcode.

N / A.

Type material.

Indonesia: Holotype • ♂, specimen no. RMNH.INS.1283483 , slide no. Gen Prep. No. 62, A. Lvovsky det., Halmahera Island, Goa-Plains , 50–100 m, 9–12.ix.1951. The type is held at NBC .

Diagnosis.

The saccular process of this species is scythe-shaped, strongly curving towards the saccular margin. The saccular process of A. phaeoleuca is slightly similar in shape but is broader. Also, the uncus of A. phaeoleuca is elongate and apically spatulate whereas in this species the lateral edges of the uncus taper towards the posterior apex.

Material examined.

We have examined a digitised image of the holotype. The genitalia preparation of the type has not been located but we have examined the original drawing by Alexandr Lvovsky.

Remarks.

The data available from the material examined, though somewhat limited, shows that this species does not form a clade with Metathrinca . In this species, R 3 is present in the forewing, R 3, R 4, and R 5 have a common stalk and M 3 and CuA 1 are stalked. In the male genitalia, the lateral arms of the gnathos are broad and the medial plate of the gnathos appears to be strongly sclerotised and strongly scobinate and it strongly projects posteriorly. The saccular process is strongly curved both towards the saccular margin and distally. This species has the characters of the other species placed in Athrypsiastis . We therefore transfer this species to Athrypsiastis .

Figures

Figures 22–31. Dorsal images of Topiris, Athrypsiastis and Paralecta spp. 22 Topiris RMNH. INS. 20000 23 Athrypsiastis phaeoleuca Meyrick, 1910, holotype ♂ 24 A. cheesmanae sp. nov., paratype ♂ 25 A. edelweissella sp. nov., holotype ♂ 26 A. halmaherella (Lvovsky, 2014), comb. nov., holotype ♂ 27 A. penumbrella sp. nov., holotype ♂ 28 A. symmetra Meyrick, 1915, ♂ 29 Paralecta rosiflora (Meyrick, 1930), comb. nov., holotype 30 Topiris salva (Meyrick, 1932) ♀ 31 T. salva ♀. Scale bars: 10 mm (22–29).

Figures 48–56. Male genitalia of Topiris and Athrypsiastis spp. 48 T. sampitella (Lvovsky, 2014), holotype, Gen. prep. No 63 49 A, B Athrypsiastis phaeoleuca Meyrick, 1910, holotype, slide no. NHMUK 010316398 50 A, B A. cheesmanae sp. nov., holotype, slide no. NHMUK 010316428 51 A, B A. edelweissella sp. nov., holotype, slide no. NHMUK 010316429 52 A. penumbrella sp. nov. A holotype, slide no. NHMUK 010316430 B paratype, slide no. NHMUK 010316843 53 A, B A. symmetra Meyrick, slide no. NHMUK 010316443 54 A. halmaherella (Lvovsky), holotype, Gen. prep. No 62 55 A. chionodes Diakonoff, 1954, holotype 56 A. delicata Diakonoff, 1954, holotype. Scale bar: 1 mm (49–53 B).