Megalota bicolorana Brown, 2009

Brown, John W., 2009, The discovery of Megalota in the Neotropics, with a revision of the New World species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutini), Zootaxa 2279 (1), pp. 1-50 : 24-25

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5315448
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFD7-FF87-FDB5-E66FFAC6FDF1
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota bicolorana Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

15. Megalota bicolorana Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 15 View FIGURES 13–24 , 39 View FIGURES 37–39 , 59 View FIGURES 56–59

Diagnosis. Megalota bicolorana is among the larger species (forewing length 8.0–9.0 mm), with a forewing that has a pale basal half and a darker distal half similar to that of M. deceptana , M. ricana , and M. longisetana . The male genitalia of M. bicolorana ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 37–39 ) are most similar to those of M. ricana ( Fig. 37 View FIGURES 37–39 ) but lack the subbasal patch of slender setae, instead having sparse, short, fine setae throughout the area between the cluster of spiniform setae at mid-valva and the ventral edge of the basal excavation of the valva. Also, the phallus of M. bicolorana usually has 3–4 small cornuti in contrast to the single larger cornutus of M. ricana . The female genitalia of M. bicolorana ( Fig. 59 View FIGURES 56–59 ) are most similar to those of M. longisetana ( Fig. 60 View FIGURES 60–63 ) but can be distinguished by the longer colliculum which is curved to the right anteriorly, and the more pronounced mesal process of the sterigma.

Description. Head: Vertex red brown, frons creamy white; labial palpus creamy white in basal 0.5, red brown in distal 0.5. Thorax: Dorsum pale orange, metascutum with red brown tuft. Hind tibia in male with well-developed, bushy, silky white sex scales concealing white hairpencil. Forewing length 8.0–9.0 mm (mean = 8.5); two-toned, with basal ca. 0.5 pale orange brown and distal ca. 0.5 dark brown and red brown; median fascia dark brown, usually uninterrupted between costa and dorsum, well defined along basal edge, irregular and less defined along distal edge, region from distal end of discal cell to forewing apex irregularly variegated with pinkish brown, orange, and brown, with a narrow, grayish iridescent line subapically; oblong blotch from mid-termen ill-defined; pale brown, triangular dash from dorsum ca. 0.15 distance from base to tornus. Fringe brown, paler at tornus. Hindwing uniformly brown, anal margin in male with well-developed roll of white sex scales. Fringe pale brown. Abdomen: Red brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 37–39 ; 2 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular with rounded-triangular expansion just before junction with uncus; uncus broad, with deep, narrowly V-shaped notch at mid-dorsum, each lobe bean-shaped, densely spined, their longitudinal axes forming obtuse angle; socius tiny, digitate, pendant; valva mostly parallel-sided, conspicuously narrower in distal 0.4, dense cluster of spiniform setae from venter ca. 0.6 distance from base, patch of elongate setae ill-defined, represented by area of sparse short fine setae; basal process of valva ca. 5 times as long as wide, elbowed at ca. 0.33 distance from base to tip, with short spines in distal 0.25 and longer, finer setae in mesal portion. Phallus curved near middle with a large dorsal thorn ca. 0.75 distance from base to apex, and a tiny thorn subapically; vesica with 3–4 small, slender cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 59 View FIGURES 56–59 ; 2 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with papillae anales simple, slipper-shaped; sterigma a moderately sclerotized band with shallow-lobed, mesal, subtriangular process attached to narrow sclerotized rim of ostium; colliculum occupying posterior 0.5 of ductus bursae, strongly sclerotized in its posterior 0.33, less sclerotized in anterior 0.67, curved to right anteriorly; anterior 0.5 of ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae oblong-ovoid; signum a curved, tongue-shaped sclerite from ill-defined base.

Holotype. Male , Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Est. Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m, Mar 1994, P. Rios ( INBio), USNM slide 84,863.

Paratypes (3♂, 1♀). COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Finca Campana , 5 km NW Dos Rios, 750 m, 21 Mar 1985 (1♂), D. Janzen & W. Hallwachs ( INBio) . Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Perdido , 620 m, 05-SRNP-4878, 19 Aug 2005, em: 3 Sep 2005 (1♂), r.f. Croton schiedeanus, G. Sihezar (USNM) . Guanacaste: Est. Pitilla , 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m, Mar 1991 (1♂), 11–30 Jan 1993 (1♀), P. Rios ( INBio) .

Distribution and Biology. This species appears to be confined to Costa Rica; it has been recorded from Alajuela and Guanacaste provinces, between 620 and 750 m elevation. It has been reared once from Croton schiedeanus Schltdl. (Euphorbiaceae) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the somewhat two-toned aspect of the forewing pattern.