Microschismus lenzi, Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2011

Ustjuzhanin, P. & Kovtunovich, V., 2011, A revision of the genus Microschismus Fletcher, 1909 (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae), African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 557-557 : 564-565

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5733/afin.052.0215
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7917487
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EE87B5-F022-FFDE-FE12-FE37B9F9FE4B
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Microschismus lenzi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Microschismus lenzi View in CoL sp. n.

Figs 27, 28 View Figs 27, 28

Etymology: The species is named in honour of Jurgen Lenz, a German lepidopterist who lives and works in Zimbabwe, and actively collecting Alucitidae and Pterophoridae .

Diagnosis: Externally, this new species is distinguished from all congeners by the dark (almost black) colour of the wings, and by the double pectinate antennae. In the male genitalia it is similar to M. antennatus in the shape of the saccus, gnathos and aedeagus, but can be easily distinguished by the shape of the anellus (its branches are widened towards the apex in the new species but are parallel-sided in M. antennatus ) and the valves (supplementary appendages are developed at the very base in the new species, whereas they are situated above the base in M. antennatus ).

Description:

Male.

External characteristics: Head, thorax and tegulae dark grey, almost black. Labial palpi also dark, very long, more than 5× as long as eye diameter.Antennae dark brown, double pectinate. Wingspan 12–17 mm (holotype, 17). Forewings dark brown, almost black. In distal part of wing all blades have a slanted, light grey, narrow band. Towards middle of wing, where splitting of blades ends, is a black contrasting band perpendicular to wing. Tops of all six blades of forewing terminated by distinct black spots. Hindwings plain, dark brown. Legs yellow.

Male genitalia: Uncus wide, slightly widened and rounded at apex. Gnathos narrow, long, pointed towards apex. Valves narrow. Appendage on valve short, located basally. Anellus branches straight, markedly expanded at top. Outer edge of saccus rounded. Aedeagus concave on outer edge in central part, apex slanted at an acute angle.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: ♂ ZIMBABWE: Manicaland: Bvumbe, Seldomseen Holliday cottages, 19°06'S: 32°45'E, 1580m, 12–14.iv.2011. V. Kovtunovich & P. Ustjuzhanin ( BMNH, 22929). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: ZIMBABWE: Manicaland: 12♂ same data as holotype ( CUK, BMNH, TMSA) GoogleMaps ; 1♂ Nyanga, Kwaraguza, 18°13'S: 32°50'E, 2170 m, 13.iv.2011, J. Lenz ( CUK) GoogleMaps .