Falcipenna argenteomaculata, Bidzilya & Aarvik, 2023

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Aarvik, Leif, 2023, A new genus and two new species of the tribe Pexicopiini (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5297 (3), pp. 417-426 : 421-422

Falcipenna argenteomaculata sp. nov.

Figs 8–13 , 19, 20 , 22, 23

Type material. Holotype ♁, Kenya, Coast , Rukinga Reserve, 520 m, 3°35’15.7”S 38°44’29.6”E, 23.xi.2010 (Agassiz & Ngugi) (gen. slide 9/23♁, O. Bidzilya) ( DA) . Paratypes: 1 ♁, same data as for holotype (gen. slide 5/23♁, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, Kenya, Coast, Rukinga Reserve , 520 m, 3°35’15.7”S 38°44’29.6”E, 21.xi.2010 (Agassiz & Ngugi) (gen. slide 6/ 23♀, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, Kenya, Coast, Watamuu , s.l. 3°20’S 40°01’E, 27.xi.2004 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 10/23, O. Bidzilya) (all DA) . 1 ♁, Tanzania, Morogoro, Morogoro Town , 20.v.1992 (Aarvik) (gen. slide 2373, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, same data but 30.viii.1992 (gen. slide 2374, O. Bidzilya) ; 1 ♀, same data but 3.iv.1993 (all NHMO) . 1 ♁, RSA, Transvaal, Pullen-Farm , 30 km SE Nelspruit, 24-26.xi.2004 (Mey) (gen. slide 506/07, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN) .

Diagnosis. Distinctly falcate forewing with prominent tufts of raised scales and silvery markings are characteristic. F. irinae sp. nov. is larger, wingspan (14.0–15.0 mm), darker, more contrasty, with less distinct silvery markings and less falcate forewing. For the differences in the genitalia from F. irinae sp. nov. see above under that species.

Description. Head ( Fig. 13 ) white, weakly shiny, vertex mixed with light brown, palpomere 2 white mixed with light brown on outer surface, palpomere 3 white with diffuse black basal and subapical rings, acute; scape white mottled with light brown, flagellomeres white ringed with light brown, pecten of antenna white; thorax and tegulae concolorous with vertex; wingspan 10.0–13.0 mm, forewing ( Figs 8–12 ) with distinctly falcate apex, ground colour light brown, black scales tipped with silver forming streaks, points and spots along costa, black irregular spots mixed with silver at base and at 1/ 3 in middle, at 1/2 and 3/4 below costa, at 1/6, 1/3 and 1/2 and 2/3 of dorsum, diffuse black streak in fold, tufts of raised white, silver or black-tipped scales on 1/4 and 1/2 under costa and at 1/3 and 2/3 near dorsum, termen mottled with black and silver, apex with black point, fringe cilia light brown with dark terminal line; hindwing grey with light grey fringe cilia.

Variation. Ground colour of the forewing varies from light brown to brown, the number of silvery and black scales and their position vary between individuals, the tufts of raised scales vary in size.

Male genitalia ( Figs 19, 20 ). Uncus 2.5 times as long as broad, about half length of tegumen, basally constricted, then gradually narrowed towards straight posterior margin, densely covered with long hairs; gnathos strongly curved, sickle-shaped, longer than uncus; tegumen parallel-sided, 2.5 times longer than broad, anteromedial emargination narrow, rounded, extending to 1/4 length of tegumen; cucullus elongated, extending to top of uncus, gradually widening apically, densely covered with long setae in distal half on ventral margin, ventral margin with short process at 2/3 bearing pencil of short setae, apex rounded; sacculus reduced; valvella digitate, 1/4 length of cucullus, covered with hairs; saccus short, subrectangular, gradually constricted in middle; phallic tube moderately broad, apex weakly widened, pointed, with irregular sclerotization, caecum rounded, weakly inflated about 1/3 length of phallic tube, bulbus ejaculatorius 2.5 times as long as phallus.

Female genitalia ( Figs 22, 23 ). Papillae anales subtriangular, covered with long setae at base and short hair-like setae apically; sternum VIII with broad triangular posteromedial emargination, antrum funnel-shaped, posterior portion broad, densely covered with microspines, anterior portion with twisted band of microspines, almost 1/2 length of ductus bursae; ductus bursae slender, inflated at entrance of corpus bursae; corpus bursae rounded, as long as ductus bursae; two signa trapezoid, the third signum an elongate serrate plate.

Biology. Adults have been observed in April–May, August, and November in Kenya and Tanzania, and in November in South Africa.

Distribution. Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa.

Etymology. The specific name derives from Latin “ macula ”—point, spot, speckle and Latin “ argentum ”— silver, and refers to the silvery markings in the forewing, which are characteristic for the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 8–13. Falcipenna argenteomaculata sp. nov., adults. 8. Holotype, male, Kenya (gen. slide 9/23, O. Bidzilya). 9. Paratype, female, Kenya (gen. slide 10/23, O. Bidzilya). 10. Paratype, female, Tanzania (gen. slide NHMO 2374, O. Bidzilya). 11. Paratype, male, South Africa (gen. slide 506/07, O. Bidzilya). 12, 13. Paratype, female, Kenya. 12. Head and right forewing, frontal view. 13. Head, fronto-lateral view.

FIGURES 18–20. Falcipenna spp., male genitalia. 18. F. irinae sp. nov., holotype (gen. slide 15/23, O. Bidzilya). 19, 20. F. argenteomaculata sp. nov. 19. Paratype, Kenya (gen. slide 5/23, O. Bidzilya). 20. Holotype (gen. slide 9/23, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 21–23. Falcipenna spp., female genitalia. 21. F. irinae sp. nov., paratype (gen. slide 16/23, O. Bidzilya). 22, 23. F. argenteomaculata sp. nov., paratypes, Kenya. 22. Gen. slide 6/23, O. Bidzilya. 23. Gen. slide 10/23, O. Bidzilya.