Philonome wielgusi Sohn & Davis

Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Davis, Donald R. & Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos, 2015, Revision of the genus Philonome Chambers and its proposed reassignment to the family Tineidae (Lepidoptera, Tineoidea), ZooKeys 494, pp. 69-106 : 74-75

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Lyonetiidae

Philonome wielgusi Sohn & Davis sp. n. Figs 3, 26-30

Diagnosis.

This species is similar to Philonome clemensella in external appearance but can be distinguished from the latter in having shorter longitudinal fascia and straight costal fascia on the forewing. In the male genitalia, the lateral processes on the uncus are larger in Philonome wielgusi than in Philonome clemensella and the valvae are not divided at all in Philonome wielgusi .

Adult

(Fig. 3). Head: Vertex yellowish brown, paler to frons; frons lustrous, pale yellowish gray. Antenna 2/3 as long as forewing; scape dark brown dorsally, with broad, lustrous, pale yellowish gray patch ventrally; first six flagellomeres dark brown dorsally, narrowly white ventrally; the remaining flagellomeres entirely dark brown. Labial palus straight, very small, 3/5 as long as antennal scape, pale orange, apex obtuse. Maxillary palpus 2 × longer than labial palpus, yellowish gray; each segment tinged with pale orange apically.

Thorax: Patagium yellowish brown. Tegula dark yellowish brown on basal 1/4, pale grayish brown on distal 3/4, paler distad. Mesonotum lustrous white on anterior 1/3, dark grayish brown on posterior 2/3. Foreleg with coxa dark grayish brown laterally, silvery gray mesally; femur and tibia dark grayish brown, paler ventrad; tarsomere I to II pale orange, with narrow dark brownish gray patch dorsally, the remaining tarsomeres entirely dark grayish brown. Midleg with coxa and tibia dark grayish brown laterally, lustrous pale orange mesally; tibia dark brownish gray dorsally, lustrous pale orange ventrally; tarsi dark brownish gray. Hindleg with coxa and femur lustrous, pale orange; tibia lustrous, yellowish gray, sparsely hairy dorsally, with dense spiniform setae ventrally; tarsi dark brownish gray. Forewing length 2.3-3.0 mm (n = 8), brown, dorsum dark brownish gray basally; longitudinal fascia, white, extending from base to basal 1/3 of forewing, costal fascia white, at distal 2/5 of costa, oblique, adjacent to a slender dark brown line on anterior side; subapical and apical spots white; tornal patch white, triangular; dorsal bar white, oblique; fringe dark orange, each scale with dark brown tip. Hindwing and fringe gray.

Abdomen: Terga lustrous, gray; sterna lustrous, pale orange. Tergum VIII of male rectangular; sternum VIII subrectangular, broadly emarginated posteriorly, with oblique furrow laterally and short, stiff coremata posterolaterally.

Male genitalia (Figs 26-30): Tegumen subtrapezoidal, with semi-elliptical protrusion apically and falcate processes (uncus) laterally; apical protrusion with round opening dorsoposteriorly, connected with U-shaped groove basally; teguminal process 1/2 as long as valve. Valva elongate, broadened to base; apex obtuse, sparsely setose; sacculus broadened at basal 1/3, narrowed distally, nearly as long as valva. Anellus extending to basal 3/5 of phallus; juxta forming a ridge connected to anellus. Vinculum broad, smoothly angulate laterally, broadly triangular anteriorly, with setose bulge near base of valva; saccus short, subtriangular. Phallus narrowed to apex, slightly curved at middle.

Female unknown.

Types.

Holotype: male, "ARIZONA: Cochise Co.: Sierra Vista 5131 Bannock 2 IX 1988", "Attracted to (E, Z) - 3 13 ODDOH @ 1615-1730 hrs.", "R. S. Wielgus Collector", USNM. Paratypes (78♂): USA: Arizona: Cochise Co.: Chiricahua Mountains., Sunny Flat Campground: 1♂, 28 July 1989, B & JF Landry, CNC. Sierra Vista: 5131 Bannock, 10♂, 31 August 1988 (RS Wielgus), on pheromone trap; 18♂, 1 September 1988, [GSN] USNM 31056; 12♂, 2 September 1988, [GSN] USNM 29950; 2♂, 5 September 1988; 1♂, 6 September 1988; 7♂, 9 September 1988; 1♂, 10 September 1988; 1♂, 14 September 1988; 3♂, 15 September 1988; 8♂, 16 September 1988; 4♂, 17 September 1988; 7♂, 18 September 1988, USNM. Graham Co.: Pinaleno Mountains: Wet Canyon: 3♂, 22 July 1989, B & JF Landry, CNC.

Distribution.

Southwestern United States (Arizona).

Etymology.

The species name is a patronym in honor of Mr. Ronald S. Wielgus, who collected nearly the entire type series.

Remarks.

As reported by the collector, Ronald Wielgus, and indicated on specimen labels, nearly all moths were collected in the late afternoon, between 16:15 and 17:30 hours. All 157 adults collected thus far are males.