Acalyptris barbudo Stonis & Remeikis, 2020

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Vargas, Sergio A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2020, Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas, Zootaxa 4748 (2), pp. 201-247 : 210

4. Acalyptris barbudo Stonis & Remeikis , sp. nov. ( Figs 30–37 )

Diagnosis. Externally, the new species is distinguishable from all other Acalyptris by the large grey-brown basal spot of the forewing ( Fig. 31 ) and tufts of rising, piliform androconia (see Fig. 32 ) of the abdomen. In the male genitalia, the combination of short lateral lobes of vinculum, rounded pseuduncus, and phallus with unique carinae and lateral spines ( Figs 36, 37 ) distinguishes A. barbudo from all known Acalyptris species.

Description. Male ( Figs 30–34 ). Forewing length 2.2 mm; wingspan 5.1 mm (n = 1).

Head. Labial palpus cream; scape cream; frontal tuft white; collar comprised of white piliform scales; antenna longer than one-half length of forewing; flagellum glossy, ochre cream or grey (depending on angle of view), with about 34 segments.

Thorax. Tegula cream to whitish cream; thorax whitish cream only proximally, anteriorly grey-brown, colorous with basal spot of forewing; Forewing whitish cream with silvery gloss, sparsely speckled with grey-brown scales and with a large grey-brown spot basally ( Fig. 30 ); fringe cream, without fringe line; forewing underside dark brown, except small, cream spot basally; no androconia. Hindwing and fringe white or grey (depending on angle of view), on underside, cream. Legs glossy, golden cream, with some black-brown scales on upper side.

Abdomen. With six tufts of cream, piliform androconia on upper side; scaling black-brown on upper side, distally grey cream, brownish cream on underside. Genitalia ( Figs 35–37 ) with capsule about 325 µm long, 205 µm wide. Phallus about 255 µm long, with unique ventral carinae and spines laterally ( Fig. 37 ).

Female. Unknown.

Bionomics. Host plant is unknown. Adults fly in May (one specimen was attracted to light). Otherwise, biology is unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 ). Currently known from a single locality in Peru, Departamento de Junín: Selva Central, Satipo, at altitude about 750 m ( Figs 2–5 ).

Etymology. The species name derived from the Spanish barbudo (bearded), in reference to the unique, rising androconia of the abdomen.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, PERÚ, Junín Region, Satipo , 11°15ꞌ30ꞌꞌS, 74°37ꞌ56ꞌꞌW, 750 m, at light, 13– 15.v.2018, leg. J. R. Stonis & S. R. Hill, genitalia slide RA1005 ( ZMUC).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Acalyptris species currently known in the Americas.

FIGURES 30–37. Acalyptris barbudo Stonis & Remeikis, sp. nov., holotype (ZMUC). 30, 31, male adult; 32, same, abdomen; 33, 34, dorsal fragment of macerated abdomen, slide no. RA1005; 35, male genitalia, slide no. RA1005, capsule; 36, 37, same, phallus.

FIGURES 2–11. Habitats of Acalyptris species. 2–5, habitat of A. marmor sp. nov., A. barbudo sp. nov., and A. hilli sp. nov., selva central (“selva alta”), Satipo, Peru, 750 m; 6–9, habitat of A. mortalis sp. nov., A. extremus sp. nov., and A. murex Diškus & Stonis, Yungas, Coroico, Bolivia, ca. 1300 m; 10, 11, habitat of A. hyacinthum sp. nov., A. bifidus Puplesis & Robinson, and A. yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, tropical montane forest at the edge with the Choco biogeographical province, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, 550 m.