Multiquaestia agassizi Aarvik & Karisch

Aarvik, Leif & Karisch, Timm, 2009, Revision of Multiquaestia Karisch (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Grapholitini), Zootaxa 2026, pp. 18-32 : 23

Multiquaestia agassizi Aarvik & Karisch , new species

( Figs. 8 , 21, 22 )

Type material. Holotype, 3, KENYA, Western [Province], Kericho, 7000 ft., 24.v.2000, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, genitalia slide 1981 T. Karisch ( BMNH).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 8 ). Wingspan 13.0 mm. Head: White, posteriorly and laterally greyish brown. Antenna light brown, scape white. Labial palpus 2 times diameter of eye, externally dark grey, internally and on dorsal edge white; due to scaling of second segment, broadly triangular in lateral view. Thorax: White; tegulae brownish ochreous. Legs brownish grey, tarsi with paler rings. Forewing upperside with basal 2/3 blackish brown; terminal 1/3 ochreous; on dorsum two white marks; the inner mark reaching to about 2/5 from dorsum, the distal one triangular, pointing towards apex, reaching to nearly middle of wing; a white dot present just beyond tip of distal white mark; a few dark scales present in terminal area. Hind wing upperside grey; pale ochreous hair-pencil going from base of hind margin to scale cover on dorsum of abdomen. Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 21 ) with tegumen subtriangular, uncus present in form of a distally rounded process, weakly sclerotised, socii atrophied; lower edge of sacculus gently curved, neck of valva broad, cucullus subovate, ventral point with short thorn-like process; aedeagus ( Fig. 22 ) with broad, subtriangular base, constricted and angled 2/5 from base, widening distally; with 9 cornuti of which only two large spindleshaped ones had not been shed in the holotype; no carinae.

Diagnosis. M. agassizi differs from other Multiquaestia species except M. dallastai n. sp. by having the entire thorax, except for the tegulae, white. M. dallastai differs from M. agassizi by its larger size. In the male genitalia, M. agassizi is distinct by the broad neck of the valva and the ventrodistal thorn on the cucullus.

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The species is named after the collector of the holotype, David Agassiz.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 14. Adults of Multiquaestia. 7. M. skulei n. sp. Holotype. 8. M. agassizi n. sp. Holotype. 9. M. dallastai n. sp. Holotype. 10. M. kingstoni n. sp. Holotype. 11. M. purana n. sp. 12. M. iringana n. sp. 13. M. albimaculana Karisch. Holotype. 14. M. andersi n. sp. Holotype. Scale 10 mm.

FIGURES 18 – 22. Male genitalia of Multiquaestia. 18. M. skulei n. sp. 19. M. skulei n. sp. uncus. 20. M. skulei n. sp. aedeagus. 21. M. agassizi n. sp. 22. M. agassizi n. sp. aedeagus.