New taxa of southern African Sesiini (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)
Author
Bartsch, Daniel
text
Zootaxa
2015
3956
3
428
436
journal article
41202
10.11646/zootaxa.3956.3.7
ce1a1dc7-ce43-4935-8711-501e5ba88f2a
1175-5326
244759
E6C08685-5729-492D-B729-FFD1043E63DD
Microsesia nana
new sp.
Figs. 1–7
,
15
Specimens examined.
Holotype
.
♂ (
Figs. 1–2
)
South Africa
, East London, Beacon Bay,
10 Nov 1980
, N.J. Duke leg. (gen-prep Bartsch 2014-02,
Fig. 5
) (TMPS).
Paratypes
(5).
1 ♀ (
Figs 3–4
) in copula with
holotype
(gen-prep Bartsch 2014-01,
Fig 7
);
1 ♂
,
Swaziland
, Mbabane, Miden Falls,
19 Nov 1991
, N.J. Duke leg. (gen-prep Bartsch 2012-02,
Fig. 6
);
1 ♂
,
South Africa
, Zoutpansberg, Tshakoma,
Nov 1931
, G. van Son leg.; 1 ♀, Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Reserve,
7 Oct 1931
, H.K. Munroe (TMPS);
1 ♂
, Capetown, Kirstenbosch,
13 Oct–7 Nov 1958
, Lindner leg. (SMNS).
Description.
(
Figs. 1–4
). Head: Almost completely brownish grey with strong silvery gloss; labial palpus white, terminal palpomere ventrally and laterally brownish grey; lower part of frons at adjacent to the eyes and lateral part of pericephalic scales white; antenna
3.5 mm
; Thorax: Wingspan
11 mm
, forewing length
5.5 mm
; brownish grey with silvery gloss; hindtibia and tarsus internally and hindtibia, except for brownish grey distal part, externally white; forewing opaque, brownish grey, subdistally with some whitish scales; hindwing hyaline with broad grey semitransparent margins; fringes grey, white at hindwing dorsum. Abdomen: Brownish grey with silvery gloss. Genitalia as described for genus.
FIGURES 1–7.
Specimens and genitalia structures of
Microsesia nana
new sp.
1–2. Adult male holotype. 3–4. Adult female paratype, South Africa, East London, Beacon Bay, captured in copula with holotype. 5. Genitalia of male holotype. 6. Genitalia of male paratype, Swaziland, Mbabane, Miden Falls. 7. Genitalia of female paratype, South Africa, East London, Beacon Bay. Scale bars 10 mm.
Variation.
The whitish scales of the forewings are lost in older specimens. The genitalia of the two dissected specimens exhibit some variation in the shape of the valva, with the
paratype
showing a less concave dorsal margin and longer dorso-distal protrusion, denser, but less extensive field of setae of the valva as well as a larger number of distal teeth of the phallus than the
holotype
. However, these specimens are considered conspecific as no further differences were found.
Diagnosis.
Microsesia nana
is a very small, unmistakable species without distinct sexual dimorphism. It is superficially somewhat similar to some members of
Tinthiini
and
Paraglosseciini (Tinthiinae)
. However, the
Tinthiini
of Africa south of the Sahara (reviewed by
Kallies, 2000
) have a very different appearance, and the tribe
Paraglosseciini
is not represented in Africa. Importantly, all
Tinthiinae
species can be easily distinguished by the lack of an apical tuft of setae on the antenna, which is an autapomorphy of the
Sesiinae
, and by the distinctly different wing venation and genitalia.
Etymology.
Ancient Greek nannos (= dwarf).