Aphanostola atripalpis Meyrick, 1931

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Agassiz, David, 2016, Review of the genus Aphanostola Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Anomologinae) with description of 19 new species from the Afrotropical Region, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 45-74 : 60-61

Aphanostola atripalpis Meyrick, 1931 Figs 39 , 64

Aphanostola atripalpis Meyrick, 1931 - Exotic Microlepidoptera 4: 57.

Aphanostola atripalpis Clarke 1969: VI, pl. 134, figs 1-1c.

Material examined.

Lectotype: ♂, India, Pusa, Bihar. R. bred. .6.29, reared from Acacia catechu , Rungi (slide No. 8328) (BMNH).

1 ♂, 6.vi.1929, Pupa on leaves of Acacia cati[sic!]chu, Pusa, Rangi Coll., 5699, Cotype, Aphanostola atripalpis , M., Meyrick det. 1980, Presented by R.L.E. Ford, B.M. 1949-487 (gen. slide 411/14, O. Bidzilya) (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

As far as we can judge from rather limited material, Aphanostola atripalpis differs from the other species by the uniformly greyish-brown forewings and the whitish head. The male genitalia have a rounded uncus covered with very short setae.

Redescription.

Adult (Fig. 39 ). Wingspan 5.9-6.1 mm. Head whitish, labial palpus weakly up-curved, grey with broad medial ring, antenna thick in male, scape brown, other antennal segments light brown with dark basal rings; forewing, thorax and tegulae covered with grey, brown-tipped scales, forewing uniformly coloured but costal margin and sub-apical area slightly darker, cilia grey; forewing light grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 64 ). Uncus rounded, covered with short setae posteriorly; gnathos moderately long, thick, strongly curved at 1/4; tegumen broad, anterior emargination broad and shallow; valva gradually curved, basal portion distinctly edged; sacculus short, sub-rectangular, apex rounded; vinculum moderately broad with short sub-triangular projections on posterior margin, postero-medial incision moderately broad; saccus broad, weakly narrowed apically, apex rounded, extending to apex of pedunculus; phallus short, with triangular apex, basal projection absent, vesical with small cornuti.

Female. Not examined.

Distribution.

India.

Biology.

Larva feeds on Acacia [ Senegalia ?] catechu (L.f) P.J.H. Hurter & Mabb. ( Fabaceae). Adults emerged in June.

Notes.

Aphanostola atripalpis was described from two males collected in Bihar, Pusa (India). The adult moth and the venation, and the male genitalia in lateral position, were illustrated by Clarke (1969). We examined the second paratype and prepared the genitalia in unrolling position to compare them with other Aphanostola species.

Figures

Figures 22 - 39. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 22. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge; 23. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (209 / 12); 24. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., HT, Namibia, Brandberg; 25. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Auas Mts.; 26. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 74 / 05); 27. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 28. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Mt. Etjo (gen. slide 597 / 14); 29. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, E. Etosha (gen. slide 151 / 15); 30. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Kenya, Baringo; 31. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi; 32. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 143 / 15); 33. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., HT, Kenya, L. Bogoria; 34. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., Ethiopia, Tana-See; 35. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See; 36. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 577 / 14); 37. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest (gen. slide 590 / 14); 38. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest; 39. Aphanostola atripalpis, PT, India, Pusa (gen. slide 411 / 14).

Figures 59 - 64. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 59. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi (gen. slide 48 / 15); 60. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slode 1549); 61. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Namibia, Sandveld (gen. slide 457 / 07); 62. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See (gen. slide 427 / 07); 63. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Namibia, Etosha (gen. slide 503 / 14); 64. Aphanostola atripalpis, India, Pusa, PT (gen. slide 411 / 14).