Cedestis nathani, Agassiz, 2019

Agassiz, David J. L., 2019, The Yponomeutidae of the Afrotropical region (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea), Zootaxa 4600 (1), pp. 1-69 : 36

44. Cedestis nathani sp. nov.

Description of adult ( Plate 6 ). Wingspan 12–14 mm. Head tufted, whitish, labial palpus slender, drooping, segment 3 slightly longer than segment 2, brownish white; scape brown, flagellum annulate dark brown and whitish, ¾ length of wing. Thorax and tegula mixed fuscous and whitish. Forewing ground colour whitish suffused pale brown, an irregular scattering of dark brown and black spots, a narrow interrupted oblique fascia meeting costa at ½, a conspicuous blackish spot above tornus, termen with a narrow black line preceded by a small white spot on costa, terminal fringe concolorous with adjacent wing. Hindwing pale grey, thinly scaled above vein Cu 1b basally, fringe as wing. Abdomen and legs brownish white.

Male genitalia ( Plate 16 ). Uncus almost square, socius long and curved, valva widest at ⅓, narrowest at ¾, a spinose patch near base, saccus simple about ¼ length of valva. Aedeagus long, gently curved with two long cornuti.

Female genitalia ( Plate 27 ). Lamella postvaginalis large, separated by a wide valley, ostium small, bursae very narrow and membranous.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by its white tufted head, and the whitish pre-apical spot on the costa, in the male genitalia by the distinctive shape of the valva with its large basal process, in the female by the absence of a signum in the bursa and the widely separated lamella postvaginalis lobes.

Biology. The species has been reared from Mystroxylon aethiopicum , adults recorded in January–May, October and November.

Derivation of the name. Named after my grandson Nathan.

Distribution. Kenya, mostly around 2000 m.

Type material. Holotype ♂ KENYA: Eastern , Lewa 2050 m 0°8’24.5’’N 37°27’23.8’’E 1.xi.2013 Agas- siz, Beavan, Heckford & Larsen. 17 paratypes: 1 ♂ 2 ♀ same locality as holotype 30–31.x.2013 including slide DJLA1461 ; 1 ♂ 2 ♀ same locality as holotype 28–29.xi.2008; 1 ♀ Rift Valley : Rumuruti 1800 m 0°20’N 36°15’E 19.iv.2003 D.J.L. Agassiz; 1 ♀ Central, Naro Moru 1900 m 0°09’05’’S 37°00’42’’E 29.xi.2011 D.J.L. Agassiz; 1 ♀ same locality 3.xi.2013 Agassiz, Beavan, Heckford, Larsen & Ngugi; 1 ♂ same data except 4.xi.2013; 1 ♀ same locality 3–4.iii.2017 Agassiz & Ngugi; 1 ♂ Rift Valley, Turi 8000 ft 18.iii.1999; 1 ♂ same locality 1.x.1999; 1 ♀ 7.i.2000; 1 ♀ 4.ii.2000; 1 ♀ 25.v.2000; 1 ♀ 27.v.2000 ( DJLA); 1 ♀ Burgaret Forest, 0°06.63’S 37°02.39’E 1974 m 15.viii.2002.

Other material examined: A&M coll ♯2158 R.S. Copeland ICIPE/USAID r.f. Mystroxylon aethiopicum USNM ENT 00194546 ( USNM).

Figures

PLATE 6. The codes X1 to X6 refer to presently undescribed species, and are used to identify the specimens, and are also used in the museums where they are deposited.

PLATE 16.

PLATE 27.