Agdistis nyasa Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin

Kovtunovich, V., Ustjuzhanin, P. & Murphy, R., 2014, Plume moths of Malawi (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae), Zootaxa 3847 (4), pp. 451-494 : 456

Agdistis nyasa Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. ( Figs. 4–6 )

Type material: Holotype, male, ( BMNH 22711), N. Malawi, 12 km N Mzuzu, Nkhorongo, 11º22'S, 33º58'E, 1370 m, 22– 31.05.2009, R. Murphy . Paratype, 1 ♀, (CUK 024), S. Malawi, Neno District, 60 km W Blantyre, Mpatamanga Forest, S 15º42' E 34º43', 255 m, 26.12.2008, Kovtunovich V. & Ustjuzhanin P.

External characters. Wingspan of the holotype 19.5 mm. Forewings grey with four dark dots, two of them situated in discal part of wing and on costal edge, two other dots on medial part and at base of wing. Hindwing uniformly grey.

Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetrical. Left valva with detached cucullus, middle part of valva with oval aperture on inner side. Upper process of valva reaches middle of its length, strongly broadened on the distal part. Right valva with basal projection on inner side and oval aperture in medial part. Distal part of valva substantially narrowed. Upper process of valva doesn’t reach middle part, broadened on top but slightly less than on left valva. Uncus weakly bifurcate at apex. Lobes of VII sternum elongated, left lobe broader than right. Aedeagus angular, arcuate.

Female genitalia. Papilla analis oval. Posterior apophysis twice as long as papillae anales. Anterior apophysis twice as short as papillae anales. Antrum funnel-shaped, with angular ostium. Ductus broad, grading into bursa copulatrix, ductus seminalis long, broad, oval.

Diagnosis. Agdistis nyasa sp. nov. is an intermediate species between A. facetus Bigot and A. rumurutia Gielis.Such traits in the male genitalia as the weakly bifurcate uncus and apically broadened valvae align this new species with A. facetus Bigot. The shape of the right valva and aedeagus indicates a potential close relationship to A. rumurutia Gielis. This species differs from A. malitiosa by the elongated lobes of sternum VII, the shape of the right valva and the arcuated aedeagus. It differs from A. rumurutia by the slightly bifurcate uncus, the apically broadened upper processes of valva and the different structure of the left valva.

Distribution: Malawi.

Flight period: May–December.

Etymology. The specific epithet nyasa is derived from the former name of Lake Malawi.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. Agdistis nyasa Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. 4. Adult, holotype; 5. Male genitalia, holotype (slide 22711 BMNH); 6. Female genitalia (slide 0 24 CUK).