Ethmia dianemillerae Phillips

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 15-16

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia dianemillerae Phillips sp. n. Figures 13, 58, 103, 139, 154

Diagnosis.

Ethmia dianemillerae is most similar to Ethmia exornata and can be distinguished externally by FW with two basal spots, which are similar in size, in contrast with Ethmia exornata where the internal dorsal spot is always smaller than the external. In the male genitalia in Ethmia dianemillerae the basal process is 1.3 the size of the uncus while in Ethmia exornata the basal process is 0.9 length of the uncus. In the females the base of the ductus bursae in Ethmia exornata is sclerotized and slightly augmented while in Ethmia dianemillerae it is simple.

Description.

Male: FW length: 10.3 mm (n = 1). Head: labial palpus curved elongate exceeding base of antenna, smooth scale white, base of second segment brownish. Base of antenna dark with white spot; proboscis brownish, front and crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white with dark gray markings narrow in the base of collar, broad on base of tegula and a large spot on scutellum sometimes split in two longitudinally by white; underside light brown, thorax and abdomen white laterally. FW ground color white, several dark spots in costal half, two dark spots of similar size in base of posterior half, light brown band from base of costa to 0.75 × of FW, base of costa dark split by white spot. A large reddish spot surrounded by brown from gray costal band to posterior margin, covering all area antemedial to postmedial, this blotch with zigzag whitish line over it; termen reddish, golden apically to above termen, two large spots in white subterminal area. HW ground color brownish with termen ochreus; costal area simple. Abdomen: Brownish, white lateral, genital scaling ochreous laterally, paler dorsal and ventral. Genitalia (Fig. 58) with uncus with lateral arms, gnathos bifurcated with stout spines and middle of bifurcation flat. Basal process 1.3 × length of uncus; valva apex pointed, notched at 0.6 × of valva length; sacculus short representing 0.45 × of valva length.

Female: FW length 11.5-12.5 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 103) with sterigma with lateral lobes triangular; ductus bursae slightly sclerotized basally, signum a narrow crease with short teeth. VIII segment with sclerotized rounded patches at dorsum.

Holotype.

Male: 06-SRNP-108063, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Guanacaste: ACG: Sector del Oro, Lote Serrano, 585 m, 22.x.2006, H. Cambronero & R. Franco. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Alajuela: ACG, Sector Rincón Rainforest, Estación Caribe, 391 m, 1F 13.vii.2007, S. Ríos & H. Cambronero; Sector San Cristóbal, Camino Brasilia, 500 m, 1F 3.ix.2008, Carolina Cano. Guanacaste: ACG, Sector del Oro, Lote Serrano, 585 m, 1F 22.x.2006, H. Cambronero & R. R.Franco. Limón: Pococí, Finca Bosque lluvioso 300 m, 1M 26.ix.2000, G. Rodríguez (INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia dianemillerae has been collected in Costa Rica (Fig. 154) at middle elevations on the Caribbean slope of Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste, Cordillera Volcánica Central, and in the lowlands of Northern Caribbean. It has been found in ACG rain forest.

Food plant records.

Ethmia dianemillerae has been reared from larvae feeding on Boraginaceae : Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken.

Immature stages

(Fig. 139). Dorsum: Head capsule black with whitish band; prothoracic shield yellow with medium and small black dots. T2 white anteriorly with large black dots, yellow posteriorly; three evenly spaced dark spots from T3 to A3; A6, A7 and A9 white with two broad black bands. A1-A2, A4-A5 mostly yellow with white and black bands. Lateral: blackish with irregular yellow and white marks.

Etymology.

Ethmia dianemillerae is named in honor of Diane Miller of Charlottesville, Virginia, for her steering of the Blue Moon Fund in the footsteps of the W. Alton Jones Foundation, both of which allowed ACG and the Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund to acquire major blocks of Costa Rican rain forest for permanent conservation.