Perittia tantilla, Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2009

Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2009, The Elachistinae (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) of Kenya with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 2172, pp. 1-31 : 21-22

Perittia tantilla , new species

( Figs. 4 , 15 , 36 , 50 , 51)

Type material. Holotype: 3, KENYA, Kakamega Forest, 1575 m, 00°20’N 034°52’E, 01.iv.2003, leg. J. & W. De Prins, specimen ID RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5148, gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 476 ( RMCA).

Diagnosis. In wing pattern, the species is similar to P. spatulata and P. gnoma . However, P. tantilla can be distinguished most easily by the short and narrow cucullus and well-developed, apically rounded juxta lobes.

Male ( Fig. 36 ). Forewing length 2.2 mm; wingspan 5.3 mm (n=1). Head: Vertex and neck tuft yellowish white, some scales with brownish tips; background layer of frons white with some metallic lustre intermixed with brown and brown-tipped scales; labial palpus very short, straight with sharp apex, directed lateroventrally, nearly invisible; scape slightly broader than flagellum, covered with dirty-white scales with brownish tips; flagellum rather broad, ochreous grey. Thorax and tegula brownish grey, slightly mottled due to darker tips of scales. Forewing greyish brown, weakly mottled by darker tips of scales, with two costal and two dorsal yellowish-white spots. Fringe brownish grey with irregularly scattered blackish brown-tipped scales. Hindwing including fringe beige grey.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 50, 51 ). Uncus short, posterior margin weakly sclerotized. Basal arms of gnathos fused; spinose knob of gnathos slightly wider than long, tapered towards apex. Valva short and broad; sacculus weakly concave, tapering into short and narrow cucullus, tip of cucullus with two or three short but stout setae; costa distally with small hump; transtilla strongly sclerotized. Ventral shield of juxta two times longer than broad; dorsal shield of juxta triangularly-shaped, strongly sclerotized; juxta lobes well developed, weakly sclerotized, apically rounded. Digitate processes not developed. Vinculum U-shaped, strongly sclerotized. Phallus short, about five times longer than broad, vesica with six large cornuti and numerous tiny, elongate spines slightly increasing in size distally.

Biology. Unknown.

Flight period. The only known specimen was captured in the beginning of April.

Distribution. So far this species is known only from Kakamega Forest in the Western Province of Kenya ( Figs. 4 , 15 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin tantillus (so small) in reference to the very small size of the moth.

Remarks. The holotype is in poor condition; the forewings are somewhat rubbed and therefore the description is approximate. This species, along with P. spatulata and P. gnoma , differs from all other known species of Elachistinae by the direction of the spines on the apical knob of the gnathos (see description of P. gnoma above). According to our observations the species P. falciferella and P. tantilla considerably differ in external morphology. Therefore, in this treatment, we present them as two distinct species. However, future molecular studies might more clearly reveal their relationship.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Collecting localities of Elachistinae species in Kenya: 1, Arabuko Sokoke Forest National Park; 2, Aberdares National Park; 3, Hell's Gate National Park; 4, Kakamega Forest National Reserve.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Collecting localities in Kenya. 1, Arabuko Sokoke Forest National Park; 2, Aberdares National Park; 3, Hell’s Gate National Park; 4, Kakamega Forest National Reserve.

FIGURES 32 – 36. Adults of Perittia species. 32, P. gnoma sp. n., male, holotype. Specimen ID: 000005176; 33, P. falciferella sp. n., female, paratype. Specimen ID: 000005180; 34, P. spatulata sp. n., male, holotype. Specimen ID: 000005159; 35, P. spatulata sp. n., female, paratype. Specimen ID: 000005172; 36, P. tantilla sp. n., male, holotype. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5148. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 50 – 51. Perittia tantilla sp. n., male genitalia, holotype. 50, general view; 51, uncus and gnathos in glycerol before permanent mounting in Euparal. Gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 476, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5148. Scale bar 0.1 mm.