Acalyptris marmor Stonis & Diškus, 2020

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Vargas, Sergio A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2020, Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas, Zootaxa 4748 (2), pp. 201-247 : 207-210

3. Acalyptris marmor Stonis & Diškus , sp. nov. ( Figs 24–29 )

Diagnosis. External characters of A. marmor are not always sufficient for species identification, however, the new species differs from most Neotropical Acalyptris by the densely speckled, grey-brown forewing ( Figs 24, 25 ). In the male genitalia, the uniquely-shaped carinae of the phallus easily distinguishes A. marmor from all known Acalyptris species.

Description. Male ( Figs 24, 25 ). Forewing length 2.5 mm; wingspan 5.5 mm (n = 1).

Head. Scape yellowish cream with some pale ochreous scales; frontal tuft pale orange; collar comprised of greyish orange piliform scales; antenna slightly shorter than one-half length of forewing; flagellum dark grey-brown on upper side, brownish cream on underside, with 34 segments.

Thorax. Tegula, thorax, and forewing densely speckled with dark grey-brown and black-brown scales with some blue and purple iridescence; fringe grey, without fringe line; forewing underside blackish brown, without spots or androconia. Hindwing and fringe grey to dark grey on upper side and underside, without androconia. Legs silvery glossy, ochre cream, with black-brown scales on upper side.

Abdomen. Blackish grey with some purple iridescence on upper side, glossy, metallic grey on underside; anal tufts short, dark grey; genital plates brownish cream. Genitalia ( Figs 26–29 ) with capsule about 330 µm long, 200 µm wide. Phallus about 215 µm long, with unique, wide ventral carinae ( Figs 28, 29 ).

Female. Unknown.

Bionomics. Host plant is unknown. Adults fly in May (one specimen was attracted to light). Otherwise, biology is unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 ). Currently known from a single locality in Peru, Departamento de Junín: Selva Central, Satipo, at an altitude about 750 m ( Figs 2–5 ).

Etymology. The species name derived from the Latin marmor (marble, stone), in reference to the dark greybrown speckled forewing of the new species.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, PERÚ, Junín Region, Satipo , 11°15ꞌ30ꞌꞌS, 74°37ꞌ56ꞌꞌW, 750 m, at light, 13– 15.v.2018, leg. J. R. Stonis & S. R. Hill, genitalia slide no. AD950 ( ZMUC).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Acalyptris species currently known in the Americas.

FIGURES 24–29. Acalyptris marmor Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov., holotype (ZMUC). 24, 25, male adult; 26, 27, male genitalia, slide no. AD950, capsule; 28, 29, same, phallus.

FIGURES 2–11. Habitats of Acalyptris species. 2–5, habitat of A. marmor sp. nov., A. barbudo sp. nov., and A. hilli sp. nov., selva central (“selva alta”), Satipo, Peru, 750 m; 6–9, habitat of A. mortalis sp. nov., A. extremus sp. nov., and A. murex Diškus & Stonis, Yungas, Coroico, Bolivia, ca. 1300 m; 10, 11, habitat of A. hyacinthum sp. nov., A. bifidus Puplesis & Robinson, and A. yucatani Remeikis & Stonis, tropical montane forest at the edge with the Choco biogeographical province, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, 550 m.