Aphanostola emarginata 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 : 58

Aphanostola emarginata Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 31 , 59

Type material.

Holotype ♂, [South Africa] RSA, Natal, Mkuzi, [15'sq NW cnr, 27 30'S, 32 05'E], 23-26. Apr. 1982 (Scoble, Laurenson & Kroon) (gen. slide 48/15, O. Bidzilya) (TMSA).

Diagnosis.

As far as we can judge from the single male, the new species is most similar to Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n. in having brown forewings, but differs in exhibiting a poorly expressed irroration. The male genitalia are well defined by the very deep medial emargination of the posterior margin of the vinculum, a short hump-shaped sacculus and by the absence of the vincular projections.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 31 ). Wingspan 6.0 mm. Head light grey, labial palpus brown, segment two with white upper and inner side, segment three with white medial ring and white apex, antenna in male moderately thick, scape brown, other antennal segments brown, whitish-ringed; thorax and tegulae brown; forewing light brown with dark brown scales particularly along margins and in sub-apical area, cilia grey, brown tipped; hindwing grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 59 ). Uncus about as broad as long, weakly broadened apically, posterior margin slightly emarginated; gnathos narrow, weakly curved, tapered; tegumen sub-rectangular, anterior margin deeply emarginated; valva broad in basal half, weakly constricted in middle, distal portion outwardly curved and hairy, apex rounded; sacculus short, rounded, hump-shaped; vinculum broad, posterior margin without projections, divided by deep and narrow medial incision into strongly sclerotized rounded lobes, saccus triangular, broad on base, tapered; phallus long and narrow, weakly narrowed apically, without basal projection.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

Derived from “emarginatus” (Latin), excised, referring to the excised vinculum in the male genitalia.

Distribution.

South Africa.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The holotype was collected in late April.

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).