Stenoptilia juniper Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin

Kovtunovich, V., Ustjuzhanin, P. & Murphy, R., 2014, Plume moths of Malawi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Zootaxa 3847 (4), pp. 451-494 : 464-465

Stenoptilia juniper Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. ( Figs. 15–18 )

Type material: Holotype, male, ( BMNH 22942), N. Malawi, Rumphi District, 100 km N Mzuzu, Uzumara Mt., 10°52'S 34°07'E, h 1931 m, 21– 22.12.2010, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P. Paratypes, 6 ♂ N. Malawi, Rumphi District, Nyika National Park, Juniper Forest, S 10º45' E 33º54', 2215 m, 11– 14.08.2009,(slide 22936 BMNH); 2 ♂ 19– 21.12.2011, R. Murphy .

External characters. Frons covered by tightly appressed brownish-grey scales, forming small labial palpus 2–2,5 times smaller than eye diameter. Palpi brown laterally, grey dorsally, small, equal or somewhat longer than eye diameter. Antennae slender, brown. Thorax and tegulae brownish-grey. Wingspan 20 mm in the holotype and 19–22 mm in paratypes. Forewing brownish-grey near bifurcation, with very weak dark spots situated in middle part of wing. Fringe greyish-brown inside cleft. Second lobe on external edge of fringe near apex and ventrally with two dark-brown spots. Hindwings uniform brownish-grey. Fringe of all three lobes concolorous with wing ground color. Legs light-brown.

Male genitalia. Valvae with slightly concave costal edge. Cucullus arcuated at right angle and with sharp terminus. Uncus narrow, short, its top slightly reaches posterior margin of tegumen. Lobes of tegumen welldeveloped and triangular. Branches of anellus short, slightly arcuated. Saccus has shape of bluntly rounded triangle. Uncus narrow, slightly broadened near apex, pointed and recurved at apex. Aedeagus long, arcuated. Cornutus situated in distal part of aedeagus. Basal process of aedeagus perpendicular to coecum.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. Shapes of tegumen and uncus in the male genitalia of the new species are similar to those of Stenoptilia zophodactyla (Duponchel, 1840) , the new species it is differentiated by the shape and length of the aedeagus and the acute apex of the cucullus. The new species also differs by external characters of the imago.

Distribution: Malawi.

Flight period: August and December.

Etymology. The species is named after collection locality, a protected stand of Juniper Forest ( Juniperus procera ) within the National Park.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 18. Stenoptilia juniper Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. 15. Adult, holotype; 16. Adult, paratype; 17. Male genitalia, holotype (slide 22942 BMNH); 18. Male genitalia, paratype (slide 22936 BMNH).