Hellinsia basuto, Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2011

Kovtunovich, Vasily & Ustjuzhanin, Petr, 2011, On the fauna of the plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Lesotho, African Invertebrates 52 (1), pp. 167-167 : 172

Hellinsia basuto sp. n.

Figs 7–9

Etymology: The species is named after Basuto, occurring in the state of Lesotho.

Diagnosis: In male genitalia, the new species is close to Hellinsia pectodactyla (Staudinger, 1859) in the shape of sacculus on the right valva, but differs from the latter species by a different shape of harpa on the left valva and by the absence of harpa on the right valva. In female genitalia, the new species is similar to Hellinsia invidiosa (Meyrick, 1911) , from which it differs by a shorter ostium.

Description:

External characters. Forehead smooth, with tightly pressed light yellow scales. Labial palps light yellow, thin, short, 2× shorter than eye diameter.Antennae thin, light brown. Forewing length in holotype 7 mm. Wingspan 14–15 mm (holotype, 15 mm). Forewings yellowish green; barely visible dark dot at cleft base. Hindwings uniformly light grey.

Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetric. Left valva has well-developed harpa with apex, bent at right angle. Sacculus projection on right valva rounds valva apex. Anellus branches slightly bent, equal in length, with small hook at apex. Uncus arcuate, of even thickness, pointed towards apex. Aedeagus short, 2× shorter than valva length; smoothly bent in middle. Cornutus well-developed, located in distal part of aedeagus.

Female genitalia. Anal papillae narrow, prolonged. Rear apophysises long. Sternite 8 rectangular, with legibly tapered angles. Ostium located in left part of sternite 8. Bursa copulatrix oval, without signa.

Holotype: ♂ 45 km SW Mokhotlong, 2200 m, 18.i.2008, P. Ustjuzhanin & A. Sochivko ( BMNH, genit. prep. 22868).

Paratypes: 1♂ 2♀ same data as holotype (1♂ 1♀ CUK; 1♀ BMNH, genit. prep. 22869) .

Distribution: Lesotho.

Remarks: The species inhabits alpine and mountain forest habitats.

Figures

Figs 7–12. New plume moths from Lesotho: (7–9) Hellinsia basuto sp. n., habitus (7), female genitalia (8), male genitalia (9); (10–12) Merrifieldia innae sp. n., habitus, photo (10) and drawing (11), male genitalia (12).