Ypsolopha moltenii, Vargas, Hector A., 2018

Vargas, Hector A., 2018, A new species of Ypsolopha Latreille (Lepidoptera, Ypsolophidae) from the Andes of northern Chile, Nota Lepidopterologica 41 (2), pp. 199-205 : 199-201

Ypsolopha moltenii sp. n. Figs 5-9

Type material.

Holotype, ♂, CHILE: Socoroma, Parinacota, Chile, May 2018, H.A. Vargas coll., ex-larva on Adesmia verrucosa , April 2018 (MNNC).

Paratypes, CHILE: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype (MNNC); two ♂♂, same data as holotype (IDEA); 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀,, Socoroma, Parinacota, Chile, June 2017, H.A. Vargas coll., ex-larva on Adesmia verrucosa , May 2017 (IDEA).

Diagnosis.

The male genitalia of Y. moltenii are remarkably similar to those of Y. hydraea (Meyrick, 1919), described from Oroya, Junin Department, on the western slopes of the Andes of central Peru; however, the knob on the costal margin of the valva of Y. moltenii enables its separation from H. hydraea . The male genitalia of the only other Chilean Ypsolopha , Y. telluris , also resemble Y. moltenii ; however, the saccus of Y. telluris is about a half the length of a socius, whereas, these structures are about the same length in Y. moltenii ; in addition, the aedeagus is strongly curved along the distal half and the vesica has three similar sized cornuti in Y. telluris , whereas the aedeagus is slightly curved at middle and the vesica has a single narrow cornutus in Y. moltenii . As the female genitalia of Y. hydraea and Y. telluris remain unknown, it is not possible to provide comparisons of these with Y. moltenii .

Male

(Figs 5-8). Forewing length 9-10.1 mm.

Head. Frons with smooth dark gray scales; vertex mostly with whitish gray elongated narrow scales, a few dark gray scales scattered. Maxillary palpus creamy white. Labial palpus mostly dark gray; second segment mostly creamy white on inner face, dark gray scales of second segment projected beyond half of third segment. Antenna dark gray with a few lighter scales scattered. Circular ocellus postero-lateral to the scape base, close to compound eye margin.

Thorax. Dark gray dorsally, whitish gray laterally. Foreleg mostly dark gray with whitish gray scales intermixed, tibial epiphysis dark gray. Midleg with dark and whitish gray scales intermixed, tibial spurs dark gray. Hindleg mostly with whitish gray scales with a few dark gray scales scattered, tibial spurs whitish gray. Forewing mostly dark gray with a few light brown, creamy white and light gray scales scattered. Hindwing uniformly whitish gray, fringe in two parts, a stripe of short whitish gray scales and a stripe of longer (about 3 times the length of the shorter ones) creamy white scales.

Abdomen. Mostly dark gray with whitish gray scales intermixed. Segment VIII (Fig. 8): tergum triangular, with a pair of sclerotized posterior projections encircling the base of pleural lobes; sternum mostly membranous, with a pair of coremata, each arising from a circular area.

Male genitalia (Fig. 6). Tegumen with anterior margin deeply excavated at middle. Socius digitate, pointed apex, hair-like scales on the medial third. Gnathos Y-shaped; ventral arm widened, coarse, round apex, length about half the dorsal arms. Saccus narrow, similar length to socius. Anellus in two narrow triangular sclerotized plates separated by a membranous area. Valva ovate, medial third widened, distal margin round, a small knob on the apex of the costal margin, external and inner faces with hair-like scales, basal part of inner face with a short cylindrical projection with 3-5 apical hair-shaped scales close to costal margin and a saw-shaped projection (3-5 teeth) close to ventral margin. Aedeagus (Fig. 7) cylindrical, slightly ventrally curved at middle, dorsal surface slightly waved along distal third; vesica with a single arrow-shaped cornutus.

Female.

Similar to male in maculation and size. Eighth segment of the abdomen not modified as in male.

Female genitalia (Fig. 9). Papillae analis narrow, elongated, slightly sclerotized, with hair-like setae. Posterior apophysis spine-shaped, about three times the length of papillae analis. Anterior apophysis spine-shaped, about 2/3 the length of posterior apophysis, base bifurcated, dorsal arm continuous with tergum VIII, ventral arm continuous with sternum VIII. Sternum VIII trapezoid with lateral margins widely excavated close to the anterior margin, elongated hair-like setae on posterior vertices. Antrum membranous, cone-shaped, with a narrow sclerotized ring distally. Ductus bursae membranous, coiled, a narrow sclerotized patch on distal two thirds. Corpus bursae membranous, pear-shaped, slightly longer than ductus bursae, an elongated signum on the basal half of the right side, slightly widened on tips. Ductus seminalis at base of ductus bursae.

Geographic distribution.

Ypsolopha moltenii is currently known only from the type locality: Socoroma, Parinacota Province of northern Chile.

Host plant

(Figs 1-4). The only host plant currently known for Y. moltenii is the native shrub A. verrucosa , upon which the larvae were found in silk webs on inflorescences feeding on buds, flowers and unripe fruits.

Etymology.

The name of the species is dedicated to my Italian friend Agostino Molteni, for his admiration of the mountain landscapes of the Chilean Andes.