Ethmia exornata (Zeller)

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 14-15

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia exornata (Zeller) Figures 12, 57, 102, 153

Psecadia exornata Zeller, 1877: 238 [in part]

Ethmia exornata Walsingham, 1897: 90; Powell 1973: 144.

Diagnosis.

Ethmia exornata is distinguished from Ethmia dianemillerae , its most similar species, by the two different sized spots at the base of FW, with the basal spot always smaller. Ethmia exornata possesses a much shorter basal process in male genitalia than that of Ethmia dianemillerae .

Description.

Male: FW length 9.2-10.2 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus curved elongate exceeding base of antenna, smooth, white, base of second segment brownish, base of antenna white with dark spot; proboscis brownish, front and crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white with dark gray markings narrow in the base of collar broad on base of tegula and a large spot on scutellum sometimes split in two longitudinally by white; underside light brown, thorax and abdomen white laterally. FW ground color white, several dark spots in costal half, two dark spots at base of posterior half, the one near base smaller than the other; a light brown band from base to 0.75 × of FW, base of costa white, split by dark spot. A large reddish spot from gray band near costa to posterior, covering all area ante-medial to post-medial, a whitish zigzag line over it; termen reddish at apex, blending to golden above tornus; two dark spots in the white postmedium area beyond cell. HW costa area simple, ground color brownish with termen ochreous. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish, white lateral, genital scaling mainly ochreous laterally, paler dorsal and ventral. Genitalia (Fig. 57) with uncus bearing lateral arms basally; gnathos bifurcated and with fine spines interior and posteriorly, base of bifurcation concave posteriorly; basal processes 0.9 × length of uncus; valva apex pointed, notched at 0.6 × from base length; sacculus short 0.33 × length of valva.

Female: FW length 11-11.5 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 102) with sterigma bearing lateral rounded lobes; ductus bursae sclerotized and slightly enlarged basally; signum a narrow fold with short teeth.

Holotype.

Male: Perú, Chanchamajo [MNHU].

Distribution and biology.

According to Powell (1973) and keeping the Ethmia exornata assemblage under a single name, the distribution ranges from northwestern Mexico to Brazil. Additional studies on Ethmia exornata from Mexico and South America are needed to assess with certainty the distribution of the species. In Costa Rica (Fig. 153), Ethmia exornata occurs on both Caribbean and Pacific slopes up to 1150 m. It has been found in ACG rain forest. The food plant and immature stages are unknown.