Urodeta quadrifida Sruoga et De Prins

Prins, Jurate De & Sruoga, Virginijus, 2012, A review of the taxonomic history and biodiversity of the genus Urodeta (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae), with description of new species, Zootaxa 3488, pp. 41-62 : 48-51

Urodeta quadrifida Sruoga et De Prins , sp. nov.

( Figs 11–16 )

Type material. Holotype: Ƥ, SOUTH AFRICA, Gauteng, 1000 m, Tswaing Crater, 26°28’S 23°46’E, 16.ii.2002, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 6373, gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 626 ( RMCA).

Diagnosis. Urodeta quadrifida is a small, lightly-coloured species, with indistinct wing markings. The female genitalia are highly distinctive with four spined spots in ostium bursae region and developed lamella antevaginalis. As such, U. quadrifida cannot be confused with any other known species of Urodeta .

Female ( Figs 11, 12 ). Forewing length 3.0 mm; wingspan 6.8 mm (n=1). Head: Frons, vertex and neck tuft greyish white, mottled with dark brown tipped scales; labial palpus straight, very short, brown; antenna dark brown, basally annulated with darker rings, serrate distally. Thorax greyish brown, tegulae dark brown, posterior margin of thorax and tegulae greyish white. Forewing strongly mottled with scales basally greyish white and distally from pale brown to blackish brown. Fringe scales brownish grey with irregularly scattered brownish black tipped scales. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe paler.

Male. Unknown.

Female genitalia ( Figs 13–16 ). Papillae anales scerotized, longer than wide, sparsely covered with long setae.

Apophyses posteriores apically dilated, length about 0.5 of papillae anales. Tergum 8 very short, apophyses anteriores as long as apophyses posteriores, extending from central part of segment and spreading apart laterad. Caudal margin of sternum 7 mesially expanded and bent, forming triangularly-shaped and distally incised lamella antevaginalis behind which situated ostium bursae and four spinose spots. Antrum and colliculum not distinct. Ductus bursae weakly broadened cephalically. Corpus bursae oval, with very small internal spines; signum formed from two connected plates, each with one large spine and few smaller ones.

Biology. Unknown.

Flight period. Based upon the single specimen available, adults fly in February.

Distribution. So far this species is known only from the Tswaing Nature Reserve in the Gauteng Province of South Africa ( Figs 1–3 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin quadrifida (four-divided, split into four) in reference to the four spinose spots in female genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 16. Urodeta quadrifida, sp. nov., holotype female. Gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 00626; specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 6373. 11, adult female. Scale bar 1 mm; 12, head, latero-frontal view, female; 13, caudal part of female genitalia; Scale bar 0.2 mm; 14, ductus and corpus bursae. Scale bar 0.2 mm; 15, ostium region. Scale bar 0.1 mm; 16, signum. Scale bar 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 1 – 3. Locality of the new Urodeta species in South Africa. 1, map, circle—Tswaing Crater Reserve, cross—Pretoria city; 2, general view of Tswaing Crater, photographed by JDP on 15. ii. 2002; 3, the collecting site of Urodeta acinacella, sp. nov. and U. quadrifida, sp. nov., photographed by JDP on 16. ii. 2002.