Phyllonorycter obandai, Prins, Jurate De & Mozūraitis, Raimondas, 2006

Prins, Jurate De & Mozūraitis, Raimondas, 2006, A new species of Phyllonorycter (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from Kenya discovered by using the sex attractant Z 8 ­ tetradecen­ 1 ­ yl acetate, Zootaxa 1124, pp. 55-68 : 58-60

Phyllonorycter obandai , new species

Figs. 4 , 8, 9

Diagnosis. This new species is clearly distinguishable by its wing pattern and male genitalia from P. loxozona ( Meyrick, 1936) , described from Uganda, but which could occur in Kenya also. Its wing pattern is comparable to that of P. rhynchosiae ( Vári, 1961) and its male genitalia to those of P. brachylaenae ( Vári, 1961) . The last two species are known from South Africa. P. obandai is easily distinguishable from P. loxozona ( Fig. 1 ) by the following differences in wing pattern:

The forewing of P. obandai has a long basal streak reaching 7 ¼ of wing; in P. loxozona the streak is short and oblique.

The forewing of P. loxozona has two very clearly defined white fascia; in P. obandai only strigulae are present.

The forewing of P. l o x o z o n a possesses two opposite triangular spots at 3/4 finely edged with blackish interiorly; in P. obandai the 3rd costal is situated just before the apex and not edged.

This species is distinguishable from P. brachylaenae ( Fig. 2 ) by the longer basal streak and the absence of two transverse fasciae, which are clearly defined in the forewing of P. brachylaenae . The new species is distinguished from the superficially similar P. rhynchosiae ( Fig. 3 ) by its smaller size, the brighter golden ground coloration of the forewing, the longer basal white streak reaching to 1/4 of the forewing, the second dorsal strigula that reaches only the middle of the wing, and the absence of an ochreous­fuscous patch on the outer side of the tibia.

In this group it is advisable to examine the genitalia for a correct identification of the species. P. obandai (Fig. 8, 9) is distinguishable from P. loxozona (Fig. 5) by clear differences in the form of the valva, the saccus length, and the form of the 8th sternite.

The valva of P. loxozona is long, slender and curved; in P. obandai it is enlarged in the apical third and rounded.

The saccus of P. l o x o z o n a is short, pointed; in P. obandai it is almost twice as long as valva, slender bearing a small apical process.

The 8th sternite of P. loxozona is triangular and bifurcated at its apex; in P. obandai it is semicircular.

The following are differences between the male genitalia of P. obandai (Fig. 8, 9) and P. brachylaenae (Fig. 6):

The costal and dorsal sides of the valva of P. brachylaenae are more or less parallel throughout; the valva of P. obandai is enlarged in the apical third and much more rounded.

The valva of P. brachylaenae has a conspicuous ridge from the centre of the costa towards the centre of the outer margin; this ridge is missing or only very weekly indicated in P. obandai .

The width/length of the valva in P. brachylaenae = 0.225; P. obandai = 0.294. The valval length/aedeagus length in P. brachylaenae = 0.8; in P. obandai = 0.47 (the aedoeagus in P. obandai is much longer in comparison to the valval length). The new species is distinguishable from P. r h y n c h o s i a e (Fig. 7) by the characteristic rounded caudal margin of the valvae lacking any defined projection.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Adults of Phyllonorycter species. 1. Phyllonorycter loxozona (Meyrick, 1936); female holotype, Uganda, Busunju, 02. x. 1935, leg. H. O. Taylor, coll. BMNH, Imp. Inst. Ent. B. M. 1936 ­ 552; 2. Phyllonorycter brachylaenae (Vári, 1961); male holotype No. 6414, South Africa, Gauteng, Pretoria, 20. x. 1949, leg. L. Vári, coll. TMSA, Ac. No. 184; 3. Phyllonorycter rhynchosiae (Vári, 1961); male holotype No. 6379, South Africa, Gauteng, Pretoria, 14. iii. 1949, leg. L. Vári, coll. TMSA, Ac. No. 130; 4. Phyllonorycter obandai sp. n.; male paratype, Kenya, Rift Valley, Turi, 8000 ft, 27. ii. 2000, leg. D. J. L. Agassiz, coll. BMNH. Scale bar = 1 mm.