Aphanostola maxima Bidzilya & Mey, 2016

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Agassiz, David, 2016, Review of the genus Aphanostola Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Anomologinae) with description of 19 new species from the Afrotropical Region, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 45-74 : 59

Aphanostola maxima Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 34 , 35 , 62

Type material.

Holotype ♂, [Ethiopia], Äthiopien, 11.-16.i.1996, Tana-See, Bahir-Dar, 1600 m (Mey & Ebert) (gen. slide 427/07, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratypes: 3 ♂, same data as holotype (all MfN).

Diagnosis.

Aphanostola maxima sp. n. is the largest species of the genus. Besides the big size it is recognizable by comparatively narrow, light brown, uniformly coloured forewing with distinct brown dots in the cell. The male genitalia can be distinguished by broad trapezoidal tegumen, sub-rectangular sacculus, and elongated vinculum.

Description.

Adult (Figs 34 , 35 ). Wingspan 9.5-10.5 mm. Head, cream-white, labial palpus up-curved, brown with diffuse grey belts, scape brown, other antennal segments brown with whitish basal rings, moderately thick; thorax and tegulae light brown; forewing light brown, mottled with brown in sub-apical area, diffuse brown spot at base near costal margin, three brown dots in cell, cilia light brown; hindwing grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 62 ). Uncus heart-shaped, twice as broad as long, posterior margin slightly emarginated medially; gnathos large, curved at right angle in the middle, distal portion straight, apex pointed; tegumen broad, trapezoid, anterior margin twice as long as posterior margin, anteromedial emargination deep, rounded; basal half of valva straight inner margin with distinct thorn just near the sacculus, distal half constricted at base, weakly inflated, densely haired, apex rounded; sacculus sub-rectangular, about as wide as distal part of valva; vinculum long, medial projections absent, medial incision deep and narrow; saccus moderately broad, apex rounded, exceeding beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus parallel-sided, apex tapered, lamina very long, basal projection absent.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

Derived from “maximus” (Latin), the largest, referring to the large size of the species.

Distribution.

Ethiopia.

Biology.

The type series was collected in mid-January at 1600 m elevation.

Figures

Figures 22 - 39. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 22. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge; 23. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (209 / 12); 24. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., HT, Namibia, Brandberg; 25. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Auas Mts.; 26. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 74 / 05); 27. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 28. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Mt. Etjo (gen. slide 597 / 14); 29. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, E. Etosha (gen. slide 151 / 15); 30. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Kenya, Baringo; 31. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi; 32. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 143 / 15); 33. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., HT, Kenya, L. Bogoria; 34. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., Ethiopia, Tana-See; 35. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See; 36. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 577 / 14); 37. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest (gen. slide 590 / 14); 38. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest; 39. Aphanostola atripalpis, PT, India, Pusa (gen. slide 411 / 14).

Figures 59 - 64. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 59. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi (gen. slide 48 / 15); 60. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slode 1549); 61. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Namibia, Sandveld (gen. slide 457 / 07); 62. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See (gen. slide 427 / 07); 63. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Namibia, Etosha (gen. slide 503 / 14); 64. Aphanostola atripalpis, India, Pusa, PT (gen. slide 411 / 14).