Ptychocroca nigropenicillia Brown and Razowski, new species

Figs. 2, 17, 29

Diagnosis. Males of P. nigropenicillia can be distinguished from their congeners by the gray­black patch of sex scales on each side of hindwing vein CuP. The male genitalia are similar to those of P. apenicillia, with a somewhat undulate ventral edge of the valva, but the apex of the valva is less attenuate.

Description. Male forewing (Fig. 29) without patch of upraised scales near base of costa. Male hindwing with hairpencil concealed in fold of vein CuP, with patch of grayblack scales on each side of vein adjacent to haripencil. Male genitalia (Fig. 2) with uncus, socii, and gnathos as described for the genus. Transtilla with large median lobe. Valva widest near middle, immediately beyond rounded excavation of venter, broadly triangular in distal 0.33; venter variably undulate; disc with weak trace of comb; large area of plication basally; angulation of sacculus weak. Aedeagus as described for genus; vesica with proximal group of cornuti not differentiated. Female genitalia (Fig. 17) with sterigma bearing slightly elongate lamella antevaginalis; anterior portion with a pair of triangular, membranous lobes; internal ventral sclerites in colliculum situated medially.

Holotype, ɗ, Chile, Santiago Province, El Portezuelo, 7 km N Santiago, 22–25 Oct 1981, D. and M. Davis (USNM).

Paratypes. Chile: Santiago Province: Same data as holotype (2ɗ, 7Ψ), D. and M. Davis (USNM). El Alfalfal, 29 Feb 1968 (1ɗ, 1Ψ), O. Flint and L. Peña (USNM).

Distribution and biology. Ptychocroca nigropenicillia is known from two localities in Chile: El Portezuela and El Alfalfal. Specimens have been collected in late October and late February. Nothing is known of the early stages.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the black scaling surrounding the hindwing hairpencil.