Coleophora hirsutella Baldizzone

Baldizzone, Giorgio & Van Der Wolf, Hugo W., 2015, On the taxonomy of Afrotropical Coleophoridae (II) (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae), Zootaxa 4000 (3), pp. 335-362 : 352-353

Coleophora hirsutella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov.

( Fig. 8 )

Holotype ♀ (GP Bldz 13525) “ Namibia, Karios 8 Lodge , Swartkopp | 8–12.III.2003, LF [Lichtfang] | leg. W. Mey ”, coll. ZMHU.

Paratypes: 1 ♂ (GP Bldz 14977) “ Namibia, Kaokov. Joubertpass, 1360 m, 1.II.2009. W. Mey leg.”; 4 ♂♂ (GP Bldz 15068, 15072), 4 ♀♀ (GP Bldz 15069, 15071) “ Namibia Omatako, Taggegry, aut. Falle 14.1.2007, leg. Mey & Ebert”; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (GP Bldz 15074) “ Namibia, 50 km N Okahandja, 12.2.2007 LF [Lichtfang], leg. J. Deckert”; 1 ♀ (GP Bldz 13542) “ Namibia, Namutoni, Etosha Nat. Park, 14–16.XII.1993, leg. Mey & Ebert”. Paratypes in coll. ZMHU, Bldz & Wolf.

Diagnosis. A species with sandy colour. The species belongs to the 34th species-group of Toll’s system, which also contains C. ugabensis Baldizzone & van der Wolf, 2004 , which was until now the only Afrotropical representative of the group.

Description. Wingspan 11–12 mm. Head white with a shade of cream on the frons. Labial palp white: the second segment, about 1.5 times longer than the third, has a scale tuft at the apical base and is light brown on the apical part externally. Antenna: scape white externally and light ochreous internally with a long scale brush of the same colour; flagellum white, covered with a sleeve of scales which cover the scape and the first 3–4 flagellum segments. Thorax whitish grey, with indistinct creamy middle line. Forewing whitish grey, shaded faintly creamy and with some dispersed brown scales. Fringe light grey. Hindwing and fringe light grey. Abdomen whitish grey.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 61–63 ): Gnathos knob small, ovular. Tegumen very long, medially constricted. Pedunculus long, slender, medially widened. Transtilla slender, curved, medially connected. Valvula large, rounded. Cucullus large, ladle-shaped. Sacculus straight; ventral margin straight, sclerotized; ventro-caudal process rounded; dorso-caudal process a sharp spine. Phallotheca with two slightly curved rods, basally transparent, apically with strongly sclerotized bars, apically acute. Cornuti a very long curved line of numerous compressed spines.

Female genitalia ( Figs. 65–67 ): Papillae anales long, narrow. Apophysis posterioris twice longer than anterioris, very long; posterioris medially enveloped in a square tuba analis, covered with tiny spines. Sterigma subtrapezoid, weakly delineated; distal margin straight, medially narrowly excavated towards ostium bursae, with slender medial line. Ostium bursae V-shaped. Colliculum very long, transparent, shaped like a flute-glass. Ductus bursae: first segment with two sclerotized bands, enveloped in a sleeve 5.5 times longer than sterigma, covered with small conical spikes; second segment with medial line and several coils; third segment transparent, merging with a sack-like bursa, with a small leaf-like signum.

Abdominal apodemes ( Fig. 64 ): No posterior lateral struts. Transverse strut with slender, slightly convex, margin. Tergal disk twice wider than long, covered with about 75 tiny spines.

Bionomy. The foodplant and the early stages are not known.

Distribution. The species is known only from Namibia.

Etymology. Lat. hirsutus = hairy, shaggy. The name reflects the spines in the genitalia and on the abdominal terga.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 13. Adults of Coleophora spp. 8, C. hirsutella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov. — Holotype ♀. 9, C. niphocrossa Meyrick, ♂ (GP Bldz 14989) “ South Africa, Franschhoek, Theewaters Nat. R., 16. X. 2009 LF [Lichtfang], leg. W. Mey ”. 10, C. textoria Meyrick, ♂ (GP Bldz 15302) “ Botswana, Maun, 957 m, 1 - 2. XII. 2010, lux, leg. G. Bassi ”. 11, C. enchitis Meyrick, ♀ (GP Bldz 15036) “ Kenya, Mt. Kenya, Hadquarter camp, 10. I. 2004, 2442 m, leg. L. Kühne ”. 12 – 13, C. enchitis Meyrick, larval cases, “ Kenya, Rift Valley, Turi, 8000 ft., larva on Trifolium semipilosum, em. 31. X. 1999, D. J. L. Agassiz ”.

FIGURES 61 – 64. Male genitalia of C. hirsutella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov. 61, GP Bldz 14977. 62, Idem, enlarged detail of valva, sacculus and phallotheca. 63, enlarged detail of valva, sacculus and phallotheca, GP Bldz. 15068. 64, abdominal segments 1 – 5, GP 15072.

FIGURES 65 – 67. Female genitalia of C. hirsutella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov. 65, GP Bldz 13525, holotype. 66, Idem, detail of sterigma and colliculum. 67, detail of tuba analis, sterigma and colliculum, GP Bldz 15069.