Pseudoxyptilus secutor (Meyrick) Meyrick, 2010

Alipanah, Helen, Sari, Alireza, Sarafrazi, Alimorad, Gielis, Cees & Manzari, Shahab, 2010, Key to the genera of Oxyptilini (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae: Pterophorinae), with descriptions of two new genera, Zootaxa 2693, pp. 21-34 : 31

Pseudoxyptilus secutor (Meyrick) , comb nov.

Material examined. Holotype (male), Republic South Africa, Pretoria, 5.xii.1907, A.J.T Janse (gen. prep. 14976); 1 male, Republic South Africa, Natal, Spioenkop, NR 12.ii.1995, leg. H.W. V.D. Wolf (coll. CG 11042).

Diagnosis. Pseudoxyptilus is currently defined as monotypic, with the single species secutor . It is characterized by four diagnostic characters: flat valva with two distal angles; specialized eighth sternite that is slightly longer than tergite VIII; trapezoidal antrum plate that is sinuate posteriorly, and a pair of symmetrical sclerotized triangular structures at the posterior end of lamella antevaginalis.

Redescription. The following information is added to the original description. Head. Frons and vertex smooth scaled. Labial palpus twice length of vertical diameter of eye. Thorax. Smooth scaled. Tegula light brown with creamy-white scales caudo-dorsally. Wingspan 17–19 mm. Forewing ( Fig. 8 A) brownish white; each lobe of forewing on upperside with two complete white bands, a transverse preapical line and a wide line separate from apex; the bands in both lobes oriented in the same direction; base of first lobe near the cleft with a small nearly circular white patch followed distally by a small blackish spot; basal one-third with a distinct blackish spot. Fringe of forewing with three groups of dark scales at three-fourths distad of dorsum: the first one behind middle, the second in the middle, the third near apex of wing. Hindwing ( Fig. 8 A) light brown; subapical dark scale tooth of third hindwing lobe relatively wide (more than 10 scales); pronounced individual dark and white scales present on dorsum of third lobe. Abdomen. Light brown dorsally with whitish longitudinal lines. Length of specialized eighth sternite 1.2–1.4 times length of tergite VIII. Male genitalia ( Figs 8 C–G) as described for the genus. The flat valva with two latero-distal angles is an additional diagnostic character for this species. Female genitalia ( Figs 8 I, J) as described for the genus. Additional diagnostic characters for this species include the triangular shape of paired symmetrical sclerotized structures at posterior end of lamella antevaginalis, width of antrum which is nearly as wide as papillae anales, width of ductus bursae (0.1–0.2× width of ductus seminalis) which sometimes slightly decreasing towards corpus bursae, and occasional presence of a rather elongated sclerotized plate on one side of it.

Ecology. Unknown.

Distribution. Specimens have been collected in Transvaal (Louis Trichardt), Natal, and Pretoria in South Africa ( Meyrick 1911, 1920; Gielis 2003).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Pseudoxyptilus secutor (Meyrick) comb. nov. A, adult male. B, forewing venation. C, male genitalia (ventral view). D, phallus. E, male genitalia (lateral view). F, saccus. G, specialized eighth sternite (ventral view). H, eighth abdominal tergite of male. I, posterior margin of the lamella antevaginalis, including antrum and antrum plate. J, female genitalia.