Astrotischeria onae Diškus & Stonis, 2018

Jonas R. Stonis, Arūnas Diškus, Fernando Carvalho Filho & Owen T. Lewis, 2018, American Asteraceae-feeding Astrotischeria species with a highly modified, three-lobed valva in the male genitalia (Lepidoptera, Tischeriidae), Zootaxa 4469 (1), pp. 1-69 : 43-49

Astrotischeria onae Diškus & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs. 18, 19 , 160–175 , 233 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, GUATEMALA : Antigua Guatemala, San Juan del Obispo , 14°31'07"N, 90°43'50"W, elevation 1680 m, 25.ii.2012, field card no. 5114, A. Diškus, genitalia slide no. AD 909♂ ( ZMUC) .

Diagnosis. The combination of a wide valva with unique-shaped dorsal lobes (see Figs. 18, 19 ), strongly developed anellus with lateral horn-like processes, long, bilobed uncus in the male genitalia, and a dark-speckled forewing distinguishes A.onae sp. nov. from all other Astrotischeria , including other members of the A. trilobata group.

Male ( Figs. 160–163 ). Forewing length about 3.7 mm; wingspan about 8.1 mm. Head: face greyish cream; palpi yellowish creame; frontal tuft comprised of yellowish-tipped, brownish grey lamellar scales; antenna with about 37 segments, distinctly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum grey on both upper and underside; sensillae long but rather indistinct. Thorax and tegula covered with brownish grey, predominantly cream-tipped scales. Forewing densely irrorated with brownish grey scales with some ochre gloss; in apical third, forewing also speckled with black scales; fringe pale brownish grey; fringe-line distinct, formed of black scales; forewing underside grey-brown, except small, irregular scaleless patch on the base, without androconia. Hindwing brownish grey on both upper and underside, without androconia; fringe brownish grey. Legs glossy, brownish cream, on upper side densely covered with blackish brown scales with little purple iridescence. Abdomen grey-brown to blackish grey on both upper and underside; anal tufts long, dark grey; genital segments cream.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 18, 19 , 164–175 ). Capsule about 590 µm long, 260 µm wide. Uncus ( Fig. 165 ) consisting of two long, slender lateral lobes. Valva divided ( Figs. 18, 19 , 169–175 ): ventral lobe ( Figs164 , 171 ) very wide, about 365 µm long (excluding basal process); dorsal lobes consisting of two elements: wide, distally curved lobe ( Figs. 18, 19 , 169, 173 ), and slender, horn-like process; transtilla absent; basal process of valva rather long, curved ( Figs. 165 , 170 ). Anellus strongly chitinized laterally, with a distinct spine-like process on each side ( Figs. 175 ), and a few setae ( Fig. 174 ). Phallus ( Figs. 166–168 ) about 400–405 µm long, distally widened and bifurcated, without spines ( Fig. 168 ).

Bionomics. Host plant unknown (unidentified). Mining larva recorded in February. Leaf-mine blotch-like.

Distribution ( Fig. 233 ). Known from a single locality in the highlands of Guatemala, at an elevation of about 1680 m.

Etymology. The species is named in memory of Ona Diškevičienė (1951–2017), late mother of the author (and devoted collector) Arūnas Diškus.

Figures

FIGURE 233. DISTRIbUTION MAP. CURRENTLy KNOWN SPECIES OF THE Astrotischeria trilobata GROUP. (MAP bASE—COURTESy OF TOM PATTERSON, THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN HARPERS FERRy, WEST VIRGINIA, USA). NOTE: ALSO SEE REMARKS IN THE TExT ON A. heliopsisella (CHAMbERS).

FIGURES 16–19. DORSAL LObES OF VALVA, LATERAL VIEW. 16, 17, Astrotischeria furcata STONIS & DIŠKUS, sp. nov.; 18, 19, A. onae DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov.

FIGURES 160–163. MALE ADULT OF Astrotischeria onae DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., HOLOTyPE, GUATEMALA (ZMUC). 160, GENERAL VIEW; 161, FRONTAL TUFT; 162, FACE; 163, LEFT WINGS.

FIGURES 164–168. MALE GENITALIA OF Astrotischeria onae DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., GENITALIA SLIDE NO. AD909, HOLOTyPE, GUATEMALA (ZMUC). 164, 165, CAPSULE WITH PHALLUS REMOVED; 166, PHALLUS; 167, SAME, DETAILS.

FIGURES 169–175. DETAILS OF MALE GENITALIA OF Astrotischeria onae DIŠKUS & STONIS, sp. nov., GENITALIA SLIDE NO. AD909, HOLOTyPE, GUATEMALA (ZMUC). 169–171, 173, LATERAL VIEW; 172, 174, VENTRAL VIEW, FOCUSED ON DORSAL LObES OF VALVAE; 175, ANELLUS.