Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees, 2024

Sterling, Mark J., Cadet, Daisy T., Beasley, Jordan & Lees, David C., 2024, A success for community science: Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae, Synanthedonini), a clearwing moth from Guyana discovered with its hostplant indoors in Wales (United Kingdom), Nota Lepidopterologica 47, pp. 201-218 : 201-218

Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees sp. nov.

Type material.

Holotype • ♀, wingspan 18 mm, fwl 8 mm, Central Guyana, ex seedpod fragment Mora excelsa (det. DNA barcode), accidentally collected ca. 12. x. 2023 (leg. Ashleigh Cadet) and transported to United Kingdom, adult found live indoors, Wales, Neath, Port Talbot, 04. ii. 2024, leg. Daisy T. Cadet, specimen number NHMUK 013700462 , accession number BMNH (E) 2024-18 . Paratype • ♀ same collection data as holotype except found dead in house, specimen number NHMUK 013700463 , slide number NHMUK 014332461 . The types have been deposited at the NHMUK (see also Associated material not individually linked to each type) .

Barcode index number.

BOLD: AGA 4441.

Diagnosis.

Hindwing with branch of M 3 and CuA 1 very short (1 / 10 th of distance between edge of discal cell and termen), forewing with discal spot narrow and tapering below M 3 towards dorsum, exterior transparent area elongate, with moderately convex outer margin, apical area predominantly black, reaching close to branch of R 4 and R 5, entire area between stalks of R 4 and R 5 scaled black (Figs 11–13 ). Similar to C. whitelyi (See Similar species) but differs in length of branch of M 3 and CuA 1 in hindwing and in shape of discal spot and exterior transparent area (Figs 13 , 14 ). Female genitalia with sclerotised section of ductus bursae long and thin, ductus seminalis arising at juncture of sclerotised and membranous section of ductus bursae (Fig. 15 ).

Description.

Female (Figs 11–13 ). Wingspan 18–19 mm. Head. Frons dark yellow medially, laterally white, vertex metallic blue-black, patagium sulphur yellow; labial palps with all segments sulphur yellow, third segment tipped black; pilifers small, bristled; haustellum fully developed; antenna clavate, scape yellow, flagellum black with yellow reflections, apical scale tuft present. Thorax. Black with two longitudinal yellow stripes laterally and small medial yellow patch, tegulae black; foreleg with femur sulphur yellow, tibia blackish ventrally, sulphur yellow dorsally, tarsus sulphur yellow speckled with black; mid leg with femur and tibia black anteriorly, sulphur yellow posteriorly, tarsus sulphur yellow speckled blackish; hind leg with femur sulphur yellow, tibia black anteriorly, sulphur yellow posteriorly, tarsus sulphur yellow with black patch medially, posteriorly speckled black dorsally. Wings. Dorsally: Forewing with posterior transparent area tinged pale yellow, terminating under discal spot, line of sulphur yellow scales on dorsum from base to discal spot, discal spot narrow, straight, tapering below M 3 towards dorsum, exterior transparent area elongate, outer margin moderately convex, apical area almost extending to base of stalk of R 4 and R 5, black flecked with yellow scales, remaining area between apical area and base of stalk of R 4 and R 5 black, yellow scaling at base of M 1 and M 2, costa black with yellow reflections in some lights; hindwing with line of sulphur yellow scales on costa from base to beyond ¾, discal cross vein pale, branch of M 3 and CuA 1 very short (1 / 10 th of distance between edge of discal cell and termen). Ventrally: Forewing as dorsal surface except costa yellow towards base and with substantial yellow scaling to discal spot, yellow scaling medially on outer margin of discal spot and extending some distance along M 1 and M 2, apical area with more yellow scaling than on dorsal surface. Abdomen. Dorsally black-blue with a narrow sulphur yellow ring posteriorly on each segment, anal tuft blue-black, edged yellow; ventrally sulphur yellow throughout, anal tuft darker yellow (Figs 1 , 11 , 12 ); pre-genital abdomen with apodemes scythe shaped, venulae short, broad, S 8 with a pair of lateral crescent-shaped sclerites (Fig. 16 ).

Male. Unknown.

Female genitalia (Fig. 15 ). Papillae anales narrow, somewhat elongate; apophyses posteriores approximately the same length as apophyses anteriores; ostium narrow, slightly concave; sclerotised section of ductus bursae substantially longer than membranous section, constricted posteriorly, otherwise long, narrow, of even width throughout; ductus seminalis arising at juncture of sclerotised and membranous sections of ductus bursae; corpus bursae small and membranous, without signum.

Early stages.

Two larval tunnels filled with a mixture of frass and silk were found between the two lignified surfaces of a fragment of seed pod of the leguminous tree Mora excelsa Benth. The pupal exuviae of one of the specimens is illustrated at Figs 2 , 3 . The larval workings and exit holes are illustrated at Figs 5 , 6 .

Distribution.

Central Guyana. Accidentally transported to UK without release in the wild.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from brachys (gr.) short; klados (gr.) a branch. The species is named after the characteristic short branch of M 3 and CuA 1 in the hindwing.

Associated material.

Hostplant voucher ( Mora excelsa pod fragments): NHMUK 013700486. Pupal exuviae of Carmenta brachyclados females: NHMUK 013700484, NHMUK 013700485 (these were not readily matchable to specific types and so have separate object numbers).

Figures

Figures 11–16. Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov.; 11. Holotype ♀ dorsal; 12. Holotype ♀ ventral; 13. External diagnostic characters of C. brachyclados; 14. External diagnostic characters of C. whitelyi; 15. Paratype of C. brachyclados ♀ genitalia slide number NHMUK 014332461; 16. Paratype of C. brachyclados pre-genital abdomen. Scale bars: 10 mm (11, 12, 16); 1 mm (15).

Figures 1–6. Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov. 1. Holotype ♀ habitus; 2. Pupal exuvium dorsal, NHMUK 013700485; 3. Pupal exuvium latero-ventral, NHMUK 013700485; 4. Fragment of seedpod of Mora excelsa, NHMUK 013700486; 5, 6. Parts of fragment of seedpod showing exit holes and larval workings.