Oxycanus flavoplumosus Beaver & Moore, 2020

Beaver, Ethan P., Moore, Michael D., Velasco-Castrillón, Alejandro & Stevens, Mark I., 2020, Three new ghost moths of the genus Oxycanus Walker, 1856 from Australia (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 4732 (3), pp. 351-374 : 356-358

Oxycanus flavoplumosus Beaver & Moore , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 C–E; 3C–D; 5A–C; 7D; 8E; 10B)

Type specimens: Holotype male, SAMA . Paratypes: 80 males, SAMA, TMAG, ANIC, QM, UQIC, AM .

Type locality: Ebor, New England Tableland, New South Wales, Australia.

Etymology. The name flavoplumosus (Latin, flavo = yellow, plumosus = feathery or downy) refers to the dense yellow vestiture present in most specimens on the abdomen, thorax and hindwings.

Type material. HOLOTYPE, male. ( SAMA) ♂, Ebor, NSW, 27 March 1941 / SAMA Database No. 31- 018764.

PARATYPES: 80 ♂ in total. 8 ♂ ( SAMA): All with the label data ‘ Ebor, NSW’ and differ only by way of col- lection dates : 2 ♂ 27 Mar 1941 / SAMA no. 31-018763, 31-018765. 1 ♂ 28 Mar 1941 / SAMA no. 31-018762 / Dissection ID 31-018762-EPB. 2 ♂ 20 April 1941 / SAMA no. 31-018766, 31-018767. 1 ♂ April 1949, / SAMA no. 31-018768. 1 ♂ 15 March 1940 / SAMA no. 31-018769. 3 ♂ 14 March 1940 / SAMA no. 31-018770, 31-018850, 31-018845. 3 ♂ ( TMAG): Ebor , NSW, 18 March 1943 , database numbers F2224 to F2226. 37 ♂ ( ANIC) : 2 ♂: Bar- rington Tops , NSW, 31.55S 151.31E, 1370m, 23 March 2009 , G. Cocking / ANIC no. 31-036845 and 31-036846. A further 2 ♂ same data except 25 March 2009 , ANIC no. 31-036847 and 31-036848; Dissection ID EPB-ANIC- 16. 1 ♂ Junction Pools , Barrington Tops, NSW, 32.02S 151.27E, 1420m, 24 March 2009 , G. Cocking / ANIC no. 31-036851. 2 ♂, Gloucester Tops Road , NSW, 32.04S 151.36E, 1200m, 16 May 2007 , G. Cocking / ANIC no. 31- 036849 and 31-036850. 1 ♂ Dilgry River camping area, Barrington Tops 1180m elevation, 19 March 1993 / ANIC no. 31-036843. A further ♂ same data except 08 March 1991 , ANIC no. 31-036844. Following 28 ♂ all with ‘ Ebor , NSW, B.L. Middleton’, and differ only by way of collection date : 1 ♂ 22 May 1939 / ANIC no. 31-036783. 2 ♂ 15 March 1940 / ANIC no. 31-036797 and 31-036799. 2 ♂ 20 March 1941 / ANIC no. 31-036789 and 31-036769. 2 ♂ 25 March 1941 / ANIC no. 31-036786 and 31-036807. 1 ♂ 27 March 1941 / ANIC no. 31-036800. 4 ♂ 28 March 1941 / ANIC no. 31-036782, 31-036787, 31-036802, 31-036808. 1 ♂ 23 March 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036801. 2 ♂ 20 March 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036781, 31-036785. 1 ♂ 22 March 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036804. 8 ♂ 24 March 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036784, 31-036788, and 31-036790 to 31-036795. 1 ♂ 25 March 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036798. 1 ♂ 1 April 1943 / ANIC no. 31-036805. 1 ♂ 4 April 1943 / 31-036806. 1 ♂ 19 April 1949 / 31-036803. 1 ♂ ( QM): Ebor , NSW, 15 March 1940 . 2 ♂ ( UQIC) : 1 ♂ Dorrigo , NSW, 11 April 1968 , H. Burton. 1 ♂ Ebor , NSW, 28 March 1943 . 20 ♂ ( AM): All are from Ebor, NSW, and differ only by way of collection date : 1 ♂ 16 March 1940 / K.570188. 1 ♂ 18 March 1941 / K.570194. 1 ♂ 18 March 1943 / K.570195. 1 ♂ 20 March 1941 / K.570193. 4 ♂ 27 March 1941 / K.570178; K.570179; K.570186; K.570191. 2 ♂ 28 March 1941 / K.570192; K.570185. 1 ♂ 20 March 1943 / K.570177. 3 ♂ 23 March 1943 / K.570187; K.570181; K.570182. 2 ♂ 30 March 1943 / K.570184; K.570183. 1 ♂ 17 April 1949 / K.570189. 1 ♂ 18 April 1949 / K.570180. 2 ♂ April 1949 / K.570190; K.570176.

Distribution. All specimens are from Ebor and Dorrigo on the New England Tableland, and the Barrington Tops area, of the Hunter Region, New South Wales, Australia ( Figs 11 , 13 ).

Diagnosis. This species has a similar pseudotegumen shape to that of the sympatric and rarely collected Oxycanus byrsa ( Figs 1F , 3 A–B, 5A–C, 7E, 8B) however O. byrsa has the posterior margin of the pseudotegumen scalloped rather than smooth as it is in O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. The dorso-posterior margin is membranous in the new species (sclerotized in O. byrsa ), the para-anal sclerite is recurved (blunt in O. byrsa ) and the apodemal vinculum is broad and rounded compared with O. byrsa where the anterior margin ends in a narrow point. Wing patterns are also much less complex in O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. compared with O. byrsa ( Fig. 1F ), and this species is smaller (FW: 34–41 mm) than O. byrsa which has a FW length of 50–75mm. Additionally, the antennal structure is distinct ( Figs 3 C–D), with the proximal bar shorter in O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. compared with that in O. byrsa . The species can superficially resemble O. spadix Tindale, 1935 or other species which show a great degree of variation in wing pattern such as O. sirpus Tindale, 1935 or the allopatric O. promiscuus Tindale, 1935 from Western Australia. However, O. spadix is generally smaller at less than 34 mm FW length. As figured by Tindale (1935) the pseudotegumen in all other species have prominent enlarged spines or processes, in contrast to the smooth, low pseudotegumen of O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. Antennae are also different with rami relatively much longer in O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. and greatly reduced in those other species previously mentioned, and from O. herdus Tindale, 1935 and O. silvanus Tindale, 1935 where the very long rami are several times longer than the width of the flagellomere ( Tindale 1935; Kallies et al. 2015) compared with O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. which has distinctly shorter rami, however the barrami are more pronounced in O. flavoplumosus sp. nov., with longer cillae.

Description. Male ( Figs 1 C–E) Head: Antennae ( Figs 3 C–D), 14 mm, 45 flagellomeres, to basal area of costa, yellow, quadripectinate with proximal bar and ridge present, primary rami short, less than width of flagellomere, densely ciliated at distal ends of ventral surface, ridge low, proximal bar short, rounded, only marginally wider than flagellomere width. Scape cylindrical, pedicel ovoid, flattened. Eyes large in relation to head capsule, over half of total head width, scales on frons and vertex dense and light brown to greyish-brown. Palps short, less than half length of head, three segmented, directed forwards, second palpomere longer than first, third shortest, globular.

Thorax: pro- and mesothorax covered in light brown to greyish brown, and occasionally yellow, densely layered scales, darker on ventral surface. Legs pale brown dorsally, yellow ventrally, densely scaled, epiphysis short, triangular. Wings: wingspan 86–90 mm, FW: 34–41 mm, narrow, triangular. Costa mostly straight, convex towards apex. Apex weakly pointed. Wing venation oxycanine ( Fig. 10B ), vein 2A small, near margin and base of jugum. HW: 32–35mm, elongate, similar shape to forewing but rounder tornus. Dorsal FW ground colour variable, yellowish brown or brownish-grey, browner towards termen with more ochreous scales towards basal area and intermediate shades between. Small, cream trapezoid spot in proximal cell edged with dark brown, wider proximally, occasionally a smaller spot present between M 1 and M 2 or Rs4 and M 1. Variable darker brown suffusion especially in medial and submarginal areas, appearing sometimes as small freckles, in other specimens as broad blotches, more noticeable on paler or yellow specimens, spots in variable barred rows. Costa brown, darker proximally and fading into wing ground colour distally. Outer margin with small dark brown spots between each wing vein in all specimens, particularly between Rs1 and M 3. Ventral surface uniformly ochreous-yellow or light brown with yellow piliform scales on basal and costal areas. HW dorsal surface without markings, mustard-yellow or rarely light brown. Basal area covered with long, dense piliform scales of same ground colour. Ventral surface as dorsal, with greater extent of piliform scales.

Abdomen: Narrow, tapering, all tergites covered with mustard-yellow scales on all surfaces, giving most specimens a broad or ‘fluffy’ appearance. S8 broad and subsquare, wider than long, corners at anterior end rounded, not fused with saccus.

Genitalia ( Figs 5 A–C, 7D, dis. no. 31-018762). Pseudotegumen: basal rim broad and rounded, distal end acuminate, dorso and disto-posterior margins narrow in postero-ventral view, highly sclerotized; dorso-distal twin processes large, broad and with rounded apex; deep longitudinal groove visible in lateral view, ventral ridge forming a scythe/question mark shape; dorso-posterior margin becoming membranous towards para-anal sclerite. Ventro- and disto-posterior margins are highly sclerotized in lateral view, ventrally flattened and smooth with a steeply curving concavity present just before ventral pseudoteguminal arms, which are moderately long, free and pointed. Valva: short, without ridges, lobate, parallel sided, apically rounded, flattened laterally and with short, squared sacculus, covered with numerous long curved setae; distal end shorter than disto-posterior margin of pseudotegumen when in closed position. Apodemal vinculum narrow and short, sub-triangular, narrow anterior margin. Saccus broad and triangular, disto-posterior arm broad and concave, almost at right angles to sternite 8. Juxta square, concave. Trulleum triangular, sclerotized. Intermediate plate narrow, sub-rectangular, free. Para-anal sclerite large, elongate, strongly falcate, apex recurved distally, positioned between disto-posterior margin and dorso-distal twin processes, arising proximally between each pseudotegumen.

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Some male specimens with the pseudotegumen with small raised bumps in middle, para-anal sclerites less strongly sclerotized.

Remarks. Similarities in genitalia and antennae as outlined in the diagnosis lead to the conclusion that O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. and O. byrsa are closely related. The male genitalia do not appear to vary greatly within members of either species. Nothing is known of their larval biology. Oxycanus flavoplumosus sp. nov. has been taken between the 8 th of March and 22 nd of May, which is typical for most Oxycanus species that fly during autumn rainfall on mild nights. The species has not been collected in recent years from Ebor, and a concerted effort should be made to confirm the presence of extant populations on the New England Tableland, and assess potential conservation obligations. More recent specimens are known from Barrington Tops NP, where the species is likely still present.

Figures

FIGURE 1 (A–F). Adult male Oxycanus species: A, Oxycanus ephemerous sp. nov. holotype, ©SAMA; B, Oxycanus subvaria lectotype; C, Oxycanus flavoplumosus sp. nov. holotype, photo by T. Simonsen, ©Trustees of the NHM; D, E, O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. paratypes, ©SAMA; F, O. byrsa, courtesy of J. Schubert. Scales 10 mm.

FIGURE 3 (A–L) Antennae of male Oxycanus spp. A, B, O. byrsa; C, D, O. flavoplumosus sp. nov; E, F, O. determinata; G, H, O. petalous sp. nov.; I, J, O. subvaria; K, L, O. ephemerous sp. nov. Abbreviations: br—bar. ra—primary rami. ri—ridge. Scale bar in A–C is 500 µm; D is 200 µm; E, F is 500µm; G is 150µm H, I is 250 µm; J is 250 µm; K is 500 µm; L is 250 µm.

FIGURE 5 (A–F) Oxycanus spp. male genitalia. A–C O. flavoplumosus sp. nov. dissection ID 31-018762-EPB; D–F O. byrsa dissection ID 31-018407-EPB. Abbreviations not already used: pas—para-anal sclerite, ©SAMA.

FIGURE 10 (A–C) Oxycanus spp. male wing venation, forewing and hindwing. A, Oxycanus ephemerous sp. nov.; B, Oxycanus flavoplumosus sp. nov.; C, Oxycanus petalous sp. nov.

FIGURE 11. Distribution records of three new Oxycanus species: grey circle—Oxycanus petalous sp. nov.; filled circle—Oxycanus ephemerous sp. nov.; empty circle—Oxycanus flavoplumosus sp. nov.

FIGURE 13. Barrington Tops NP, New South Wales. Montane rainforest and wet Eucalyptus forest habitat of Oxycanus flavoplumosus sp. n. and Oxycanus subvaria, ©Ethan P. Beaver.