Aphanostola centripunctella Bidzilya & Mey, 2016

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 : 54

Aphanostola centripunctella Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 19-21 , 52 , 74 , 74a

Aphanostola centripunctella Genus 1, sp. 2. - Bidzilya 2007: 94, figs 3, 6; pl. 5, fig. 4.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, NAMIBIA -Exp., ZMB 1992, E. Caprivi, Katima Mulilo, 17 29 S / 24 17 E, lux, 3.-8.iii.[19]92 (Mey) (gen. slide 542/14, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratypes: 6 ♂, 3 ♀, same data as holotype (gen. slide 508/14♀, 509/14♂; 155/15♂, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♀, Namibia, Brandberg, Tsisab, 1.iii.2002 (Turm) (gen. slide 76/05, O. Bidzilya); 2 ♀, Namibia, nr Uis, Ugab Campsite, 2.iii.2002, 160 W (gen. slide 106/05, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN); 1 ♀, [South Africa], Mpumalanga, Lower Sabi, 26.iii.1962 (Janse & Vári)) (gen. slide 49/15, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, Botswana, Maun c. 20 km W, [c. 19 59'S, 23 13'E]. 19.i.1978 (Scoble) (all TMSA).

Diagnosis.

The new species is well recognizable externally by the comparatively large size and the forewing with a large brown spot in the middle. The external differences to Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n. are explained under that species. The male genitalia are characterized by the sacculus merged with the medial teeth on the inner margin of the valva in combination with the narrow saccus. The female genitalia differ from other Aphanostola species by the shape of the sub-ostial sclerite, the large globular corpus bursae and the brush-formed signum.

Description.

Adult (Figs 19-21 ). Wingspan 7.8-9.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae covered with white black-tipped scales, labial palpus up-curved, black, evenly mottled with white scales on inner surface particularly, segment two with narrow white apical ring, antenna in male thick, finely ciliated, antenna in female thin, scape black, other antennal segments black with white basal rings, comparatively thick; forewing white, densely suffused with brown along margins and on apex, large brown, transversally elongated spot in the middle, an indistinct brown dash in fold, a small brown spot in the corner of cell, cilia white, black-tipped; hindwing grey.

Variation. Ground colour of head, thorax and forewing varies from white to light grey, paired black spot on ¾ of dorsal margin expressed in some specimens, medially prolonged spot sometimes divided into two smaller dots. Hindwings in male with light brown scales along margins, particularly on base near dorsal margin.

Male genitalia (Fig. 52 ). Uncus twice as broad as long, weakly broadened apically, posterior margin nearly straight; gnathos curved abruptly before middle, distal portion slightly widened, tip pointed; tegumen sub-rectangular, length exceeds width two times, anteromedial incision broad, moderately shallow; basal portion of valva moderately wide, distal 2/3 narrow, gradually broadened towards rounded apex; sacculus 1.5 times longer than broad, merged at base with medial thorn on inner margin of valva; vinculum moderately broad, posterior margin with short, triangular, medial projections, medial incision narrow; saccus narrow, apex rounded, clearly exceeding beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus prolonged, apex tapered, basal projection straight, narrow extending nearly to apex of phallus.

Female genitalia (Figs 74 , 74a ). Segment VIII nearly as long as broad, evenly sclerotized, except for sclerotized patches from the base of apophyses anteriores extending posteriorely to half length of segment VIII; antrum short, funnel-shaped; sub-ostial sclerite big, of irregular shape; apophyses anteriores about three times longer than segment VIII; ductus bursae long, slender papillated in proximal half, with abrupt transition to large, globular corpus bursae; signum prolonged, brush-like.

Etymology.

Named after the brown spot in the middle of the forewing.

Distribution.

Namibia, Botswana, South Africa.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The adults were collected in January and March.

Figures

Figures 1 - 21. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 1. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 73 / 05); 2. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Mirabib (gen. slide 548 / 14); 3. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Kenya, Logumgum (gen. slide 1362); 4. Aphanostola pentastigma, HT, RSA, Pretoria; 5. Aphanostola pentastigma, Kenya, L. Naivasha; 6. Aphanostola morogorensis sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 7. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., RSA, Asante-Sana; 8. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., HT, RSA, Asante-Sana; 9. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 10. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., HT, Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu; 11. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 8 / 15); 12. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi; 13. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., HT, Namibia, Popa Falls; 14. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., RSA, Nwanedzi (gen. slide 36 / 15); 15. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Kavango; 16. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Rooiklip Farm; 17. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Grootfontein; 18. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., Kenya, Nakuru NP (gen. slide 596 / 14); 19. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 76 / 05); 20. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi; 21. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 155 / 15).

Figures 47 - 52. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 47. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 48. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 4 / 15); 49. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi (gen. slide 307 / 14); 50. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Popa Falls (gen. slide 54 / 08); 51. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., Namibia, Omatako (gen. slide 213 / 12); 52. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 106 / 05).

Figures 74 - 76. Female genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 74. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, Katima Mulilo (gen. slide 508 / 14); 74 a. Signum (gen. slide 76 / 05); 75. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (gen. slide 81 / 12); 75 a. Subostial sclerite (gen. slide 209 / 12); 76. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Etosha (gen. slide 534 / 14).