Amphixystis siccata ( MEYRICK, 1910 )

Bippus, Maik, 2016, New or poorly known Microlepidoptera from the Mascarenes (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae, Bedellidae, Batrachedridae, Carposinidae, Epermeniidae, Gelechiidae, Tineidae, Tortricidae), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 66 (2), pp. 347-370 : 351

Amphixystis siccata ( MEYRICK, 1910)

Amphixystis reunionella GUILLERMET, 2011 , syn. nov.

Description (plate 7: figs 26–27; 30): This species has a wingspan of approx. 8.0–8.5 mm. Forewings are whitish-grey with blackish markings that show to be a little variable. In many specimens also the left and the right wing are marked differently (see figs 26; 30). Particularly the blackish strikes on costa show some variations in position and length.

This species, described from Mauritius was illustrated by ROBINSON & TUCK (1997). Thanks to Dr. David Lees of the BMNH I could study its lectotype (NHMUK010304529, labeled: Oinophila siccata 2/2 Meyr., E. Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll.; Meyrick Coll. 1938–290; Mauritius NM.08; Lectotype) and it shows to be identical to specimens that I collected in Réunion from where this species was recently redescribed as Amphixystis reunionella GUILLERMET, 2011 . Type and female genitalia of A. reunionella were illustrated in its original publication.

These illustrations and the female genitalia from the specimens from La Réunion (figs 28–29) shows the fully identity, this is why Amphixystis reunionella GUILLERMET, 2011 is a synonym of Amphixystis siccata ( MEYRICK, 1910) .

Material examined: 19 specimens collected and examined: 07-xii-2014 (female, slide RE-1411), 15-iv-2015, 16-iv-2014, 21-iv-2014, 13-v-2015, 18-v-2015, 15-vi-2015 (male, slide RE-1881), 02-ix-2015, 10-ix-2015, 13-xi-2015, 24-xii-2015, 15-ii-2016 (2 specimen), 20-ii-2016, 22-ii-2016, 03-iii-2016, 05-iii-2016, 06-iii- 2016, 17-iii- 2016 (all specimens in La Réunion, La Possession, 400 m) .

Seven specimens (two dissected) were given to the collections of the BMNH in July 2016 .

Distribution: Mauritius and Réunion.