Coleophora intorta Baldizzone & van der Wolf, 2020

Baldizzone, Giorgio & Van Der Wolf, Hugo W., 2020, On the taxonomy of Afrotropical Coleophoridae (IV). New or little known species from South Africa (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae), Zootaxa 4816 (2), pp. 151-170 : 166-168

Coleophora intorta Baldizzone & van der Wolf , sp. n.

( Fig. 9 )

Holotype ♂ ( GP Wf 10657) “P. K. le ROUX DAM | Van der Kloof, C. P. | 8-12.IV.1970 | Vári & Snyman”, coll. TMSA.

Diagnosis. Small-sized species with a grey-brown appearance. The male genitalia are very characteristic from the large, oval transtilla, the sacculus with the robust horn-shaped expansion in the dorsal angle, and the shape of the phallotheca. The only Afrotropical species that resembles Coleophora intorta sp. nov. is C. namella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, 2004 , known only from Namibia, dirty white in appearance, with brown scales scattered on the forewing. In the latter species the transtilla is smaller, the lateral edge of the sacculus is narrower, with a narrower protuberance in the dorsal angle, and the phallotheca is completely different.

Description. Wingspan 8 mm. Head brown, dirty white above the eye, frons white. Antenna ringed with brown and dirty white; scape brown without erect scales. Labial palpus brown, darker on outer side; second article about twice the length of third. Haustellum well developed. Thorax brown. Tegula brown, darker on outer side. Forewing light brown, with a few scattered dark brown scales, particularly on cell and along anal fold; cilia light ochreous. Hindwing light brown; cilia light ochreous. Abdomen light brown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 45–47 ): Gnathos knob small, globular. Tegumen medially constricted, pedunculus long. Transtilla large, oval. Valvula trapezoidal. Cucullus oval and slender. Sacculus large with small triangular protuberance on ventral angle and robust, long protuberance on dorsal angle. Phallotheca with two asymmetrical juxta rods, shorter rod with two triangular spines of different lengths near apex, longer rod with dorsal crest in distal half and triangular apical tooth. Cornuti numerous, needle-shaped, of different lengths, gathered in long curved cluster about half the length of vesica.

Female genitalia: Unknown.

Abdominal structures ( Fig. 48 ): No posterior lateral struts. Transverse strut curved, more sclerotized on proximal edge. Tergal disk (3 rd tergite) about four times their width, covered by about 25 conical spines.

Bionomy. The early stages and the foodplant are unknown.

Distribution. South Africa, Northern Cape Province, Vanderkloof Dam (originally the P. K. Le Roux Dam).

Etymology. The species name is from Latin intortus = “intricate”, and refers to features of the phallotheca.

Figures

FIGURES 7–10. Adults of Coleophora spp. 7, C. hirtella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov., holotype ♂. 8, C. deinosella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov., holotype ♂. 9, C. intorta Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov., holotype ♂. 10, C. leptella Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov., holotype ♂.

FIGURES 45–48. Male genitalia of C. intorta Baldizzone & van der Wolf, sp. nov. 45, GP Wf 10657, holotype. 46, enlarged detail of cornuti. 47, enlarged detail of valva and phallotheca. 48, abdominal segments 1–4.