Ethmia stephenrumseyi Phillips

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 20-21

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia stephenrumseyi Phillips sp. n. Figures 18, 63, 108, 156

Ethmia wellingi Powell 1973: 158 (in part).

Diagnosis.

Ethmia stephenrumseyi is most similar to Ethmia wellingi Powell, a species described from Mexico, and can be distinguished easily by the signum in the female genitalia, and by the bright red, rather than ochreous-reddish genital scaling in Ethmia wellingi .

Description.

Male: FW length 12.1-15.8 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus curved exceeding base of antenna, whitish with brownish markings on II and III segment. Antennal scape elongated, 1.2 × length of inter-antennal space; proboscis brownish at base, front and crown white. Thorax: White, collar and base of tegula black, two big dark spots adjoining collar extending into scutellum. FW ground color white, black markings well defined: At costal half, an elongated blotch from base to 0.75 × extending narrowly into posterior half, this large blotch interrupted by a white patch at 0.25 × from base; terminal area with a short oblique band before apex from costa to R2, and a broad oblique irregular band from middle of FW reaching posterior margin. HW ground color whitish becoming dark gray towards apex, a pinch fold between SC and R vein with grayish hair pencil. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling blackish, segments with posterior margin whitish; genital scaling reddish. Genitalia (Fig. 63) with uncus hoodlike, gnathos narrow elongate with apical lateral small spines; valva apex with an apical membranous lobe, a big sclerotized structure at apex; sacculus with a broad finger like projection on posterior margin at 0.7 × from base.

Female: FW length 13.4-16.3 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described by male except for unmodified HW. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 108) with sterigma wide, sclerotized; antrum sclerotized; signum a large fold, 0.4 × diameter of bursae at center, covered by small teeth and a row of long and conical teeth.

Holotype.

Male: 09-SRNP-106458, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Sector Cacao, Estación Cacao 1150 m, 21.vii.2009, R. Franco & S. Ríos. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Alajuela: Arenal, San Ramón Est. Biol. Villa Blanca 1115 m, 1F 23.v.2009. E. Rojas; Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Sector Rain Forest, Albergue Oscar 719 m, 1F 1.iii.2011, H. Cambronero & F. Quesada. Cartago: Cordillera Volcánica Central, M.N. Guayabo 1100 m, 1F 7.v.2007, M. Moraga. Guanacaste: Sector Cacao, Estación Cacao 1150 m, 1F 21.vii.2009, R. Franco & S. Ríos; Laboratorio 1150 m, 3F 7.viii.2010, H. Cambronero & S. Ríos, 1M 4F 8.viii.2010, H. Cambronero & R. Franco; Derrumbe 1310 m, 2F 7.x.2010, S. Ríos & H. Cambronero, 1F 7.xi.2010, R. Franco & F. Quesada; Cima 1450 m, 7F 7.xii.2010, F. Quesada & S. Ríos; Toma de Agua 1160 m, 5F 8.ix.2010, 2F 8.x.2010, S. Ríos & R. Franco; Sector Pitilla, Estación Pitilla 675 m, 1F 2.iv.2011, H. Cambronero & S. Ríos (BMNH, INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

In Costa Rica (Fig. 156) Ethmia stephenrumseyi has been collected throughout the country from 660 to 1250 m. It is found in ACG rain forest. The food plant and immatures are unknown.

Etymology.

Ethmia stephenrumseyi is named in honor of Stephen Rumsey of Permian Global for his global actions to use forest conservation and recuperation to reverse climate alteration by humans and simultaneously increase survival of wild biodiversity, and his generous support of ACG as a concept and example of conservation through biodiversity development.