Stigmella patagonica Remeikis & Stonis

Stonis, Jonas R., Remeikis, Andrius, Diškus, Arūnas & Gerulaitis, Virginijus, 2016, The Ando-Patagonian Stigmella magnispinella group (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae) with description of new species from Ecuador, Peru and Argentina, Zootaxa 4200 (4), pp. 561-579 : 574

Stigmella patagonica Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 , 4 , 5 , 25–28 , 41 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ARGENTINA, Neuquen, San Martin de los Andes , 40°09'36"S, 71°21'44"W, elevation about 640 m, caught on Discaria serratifolia (Vent.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Mast. ( Rhamnaceae ), 28.ix.1981, Nielsen & Karsholt, genitalia slide no. RA 348♂ ( ZMUC) . Paratypes: 2 ♂, same label data as holotype, genitalia slide nos RA419♂, RA420♂ (ZMUC); 1 ♂, same locality, 7–15.xi.1981, Nielsen & Karsholt, genitalia slide no. RA 592♂ ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. The combination of a deeply divided uncus with tapered lateral lobes, angular (with no processes) transtilla, long lateral lobes of vinculum, and a specific set of cornuti distinguishes S. patagonica sp. nov. from all other Stigmella including the species of the S. magnispiella group (also see the pictorial key to the S. magnispinella group provided in figs 4, 5).

Male ( Fig. 41 ). Forewing length 2.2–2.5 mm; wingspan 5.2–5.6 mm. Head: palpi whitish cream to pale grey; frontal tuft dark grey-brown to beige or pale brown; collar white cream or grey cream to dark grey (concolorous with forewing); scape whitish cream to whitish grey, glossy; antenna distinctly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 36–37 segments, grey with light golden gloss. Thorax, tegula and forewing concolorous, grey to dark grey with strong golden gloss; apex of forewing with some whitish grey scales with silvery gloss forming ill-defined or incomplete subapical fascia; some scales between fascia and fringe often darker (dark brown, with golden gloss and light purple iridescence); fringe grey to brown-grey; underside of forewing greybrown, without spots or androconia. Hindwing pale grey to brownish grey on upper side and underside, without androconia or spots; fringe pale grey to ochreous grey. Legs glossy, pale brown to golden grey; forelegs dark brown. Abdomen dark grey on upper side and underside; anal tufts short, grey or brown to cream; genital plates pale cream to brown or grey.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 25–28 ). Capsule longer (290–310 µm) than wide (190–200µ m). Uncus with two distally tapered lateral lobes ( Fig. 27 ). Gnathos with two stout caudal processes. Valva ( Figs 25, 27 ) 175–190 µm long, with bulged inner lobe and two large apical processes; transtilla without sublateral processes ( Fig. 27 ). Juxta membranous, except rod-like thickenings ( Fig. 25 ). Ventral plate of vinculum with very large lateral lobes. Phallus ( Fig. 28 ) 300–310 µm long, 85–115 µm wide; vesica with a specific set of cornuti comprised of numerous small and two large spine-like cornuti, and one very large horn-like cornutus ( Figs 26, 28 ).

Bionomics. Adults fly in late September–November. Discaria serratifolia (Vent.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Mast. ( Rhamnaceae ) is expected to be a host-plant of S. patagonica sp. nov. (most of the available specimens were collected on Discaria serratifolia ). Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution. Known from single locality in the southern Andes ( Argentina: Neuquén Province) at elevation about 640 m ( Fig. 2 ).

Etymology. The species is named after the region (Patagonia or the Ando-Patagonian biogeographical region) in reference to the species distribution.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Currently known distribution of the species of the Stigmella magnispinella group.

FIGURE 4. Diagnostics of the species of the Stigmella magnispinella group (male genitalia: phallus).

FIGURE 5. Diagnostics of species of the Stigmella magnispinella group (male genitalia: capsule).

FIGURES 25 – 28. Male genitalia of Stigmella patagonica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 25, holotype, capsule with phallus removed, genitalia slide no. RA 348; 26, paratype, phallus, genitalia slide no. RA 592; 27, holotype, capsule, genitalia slide no. RA 348; 28, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 36 – 41. Male adults of the species of the Stigmella magnispinella group. 36, S. olekarsholti Remeikis, Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype; 37, S. varispinella Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype; 38, 39, S. magnispinella Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype; 40, S. dolia Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype; 41, S. patagonica Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., paratype (ZMUC).