Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Gerulaitis, Virginijus & Karsholt, Ole, 2016, Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna, Zootaxa 4181 (1), pp. 1-94 : 69-75

Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 20 , 27 , 204–212 )

Type material. Holotype: Ƌ, PERU, Dept. Puno, 10 km N Lampa, Quabrada Metara , 15°17'44"S, 70°12'21"W, elevation ca. 3900 m, 31.iii.–3.iv.1987, O. Karsholt, genitalia slide no. RA553Ƌ ( ZMUC) . Paratype: 1 Ƌ, PERU, Dept. Puno, 15 km E Ayaviri, Laguna Asnacocha , 14°49'44"S, 70°22'34"W, elevation ca. 3940 m, 26–27.iii.1987, O. Karsholt, genitalia slide no. RA559Ƌ ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. The combination of a shiny, coppery golden forewing without fascia, large, apically angular inner lobe of valva, and specific set of four or three large spine-like cornuti in phallus distinguishes S. lobata sp. nov. from all other Stigmella species possessing single caudal process of gnathos in the male genitalia.

Male ( Figs 204, 205 ). Forewing length: 3.3–3.5 mm; wingspan: 7.1–7.6 mm. Head: palpi grey; frontal tuft pale beige; collar coppery glossy, comprised of lamellar scales; scape relatively small, grey to almost white; antenna distinctly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 35–36 segments, grey to dark grey, glossy.

Thorax, tegula and forewing shining, uniformly dark copery golden, with purple iridescence on tegula and forewing base; fringe pale grey to grey; underside of forewing grey-brown, without spots. Hindwing and its cilia pale grey to grey, with little golden gloss; no spots or androconia. Legs grey, glossy. Abdomen fuscous on upper side, dark grey to grey-brown on underside; tufts short, pale brown; genital segments pale brown.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 206–212 ). Capsule longer (270–285 µm) than wide (185–195 µm). Uncus long, with two wide, rounded lobes. Gnathos with one caudal processes and relatively large lateral arms (without central plate). Valva 200–210 µm long, 80 µm wide, with very large, apically angular inner lobe and very large apical process; transtilla without sublateral processes. Juxta absent or membranous, indistinctive. Vinculum with very short triangular or rounded lateral lobes; ventral plate small, with shallow anterior emargination. Phallus ( Figs 208 , 212 ) 205–215 µm long, 45–70 µm wide; vesica with four or three large cornuti.

Bionomics. Adults fly in late March—early April. Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution ( Figs 20 , 27 ). This species occurs in the high Peruvian Andes ( Peru: Puno Departamento) at altitudes about 3900–3940 m.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin lobatus (lobed) in reference to the large inner lobe of valva and bilobed uncus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution map of the high-Andean Nepticulidae with height records.

FIGURES 20 – 21. Distribution of high altitude Stigmella in the Altiplano (Peru and Bolivia). 20, distribution map; 21, the Altiplano in Bolivia (by A. Diškus).

FIGURES 204 – 208. Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 204, holotype, male adult; 205, same, forewing and hindwing; 206, holotype, male genitalia, slide no. RA 553, capsule with phallus removed; 207, same, focused from ventral to more dorsal view; 208, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 209 – 212. Male genitalia of Stigmella lobata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 209, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 553, capsule with phallus removed; 210, same, uncus and gnathos; 211, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 559, capsule with phallus removed; 212, same, phallus (ZMUC).