Sphenarches mulanje Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin

Kovtunovich, V., Ustjuzhanin, P. & Murphy, R., 2014, Plume moths of Malawi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Zootaxa 3847 (4), pp. 451-494 : 467-468

Sphenarches mulanje Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. ( Figs. 20–22 )

Type material: Holotype, male, ( BMNH 22944) S. Malawi, Mt. Mulanje , 90 km E Blantyre, Ruo Valley Forest, Ruo River, S 15º58' E 35º39', 916 m, 27– 29.12.2008, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P. Paratype, 1 ♀, ( BMNH 22945) same data as holotype, 21.02.2009, R. Murphy .

External characters. Wingspan of the holotype and the paratype— 14 mm. Head and thorax light-brown. Palpi slender, straight, 1,5 times longer than eye diameter. Forewing light-brown. Base of wings with сlear darkbrown spot, dark-brown dash situated in front of bifurcation. Costal edge of first lobe surrounded by discrete darkbrown dashes on outside. First lobe has traces of yellowish bands. Fringe light-yellow with dark-brown scales inside cleft. Apex of second lobe with oval aperture on outside. Hindwings also light-brown. Apex of third lobe with fascicles of dark-brown scales. Legs yellow, dark-brown at base of spurs.

Male genitalia. Valvae symmetrical, narrow, apically exanded into broad cordate lobes. Tegumen triangular, pointed at apex. Uncus short, triangular, located at the distal part of tegumen. Aedeagus thick and long, wavy arcuated distally. Sternum VII broad, orthogonal, with rounded processes near base.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis narrow. Posterior apophyses slender, long. Lamina vaginalis with broad bluntly-triangular process. Antrum tube-like, gradually grading into long narrow ductus. Bursa copulatrix large, oval, inception of ductus seminalis at base of corpus bursae.

Diagnosis. Wing colouration the new species is similar to Sphenarches caffer (Zeller, 1852) and Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864) . The shape of the valvae of the male genitalia suggests a close relationship to Sphenarches caffer but differs in the abrupt broadening at the apex of the valva in contrast to Sphenarches caffer with gradually extended valvae. Also, the new species differs in the acute tegumen and broad orthogonal shape of sternum VIII with processes near the base. Sphenarches caffer has an apically forked tegumen and rounded sternum VIII without processes.

Etymology. Toponymic name. Mulanje—mountainous massif in south Malawi.

Distribution: S. Malawi.

Flight period: December, February.

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 22. Sphenarches mulanje Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. 20. Adult, holotype; 21. Male genitalia, holotype (slide 22944 BMNH); 22. Female genitalia, paratype (slide 22945 BMNH).