Agrionympha fuscoapicella Gibbs

Gibbs, George W. & Kristensen, Niels P., 2011, Agrionympha, the long-known South African jaw moths: a revision with descriptions of new species (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae), Zootaxa 2764, pp. 1-21 : 10

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.203553
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6189655
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3E6D87FC-FFD2-FFC5-FF69-A3E6A9E3F993
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Agrionympha fuscoapicella Gibbs
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Agrionympha fuscoapicella Gibbs sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 C, 2D, 8A–D, 11)

Material examined. Holotype 3, South Africa, Eastern Cape, Hogsback, Madonna & Child Falls, 32º36´S 26º58´E, 1050 m, 12 Feb 1986, G.W. Gibbs ( TMP). Male genital prep. NPK1035 ( ZMUC). Paratypes 13 11Ƥ, South Africa (EC), Hogsback: 2Ƥ, Madonna & Child Falls, 1050 m, 12 Feb 1986, G.W. Gibbs ( ZMUC); 13 7Ƥ, Auckland Reserve track, 900–1000 m, 7 Feb 2004, G.W. Gibbs ( TMP, ZMUC, BMNH); 2Ƥ, Hogsback Pass road, 940–1040 m, 11–13 Feb 1986, G.W. Gibbs. Female genital prep. G1016 ( TMP). Other material: South Africa, Eastern Cape. Specimens cited above plus alcohol preserved material from Hogsback: Auckland Reserve (ca 1000 m) and Kettlespout track (1200 m), 7 Feb 2004, G.W. Gibbs. Male genital prep. G1017, wing slide G1027 ( TMP).

Description. Head: Antennae black throughout; 43 flagellomeres in male with basal 3 scale-covered, 32–33 in female with basal 10 scaled. Piliform scales on scape and pedicel black. Head piliform scales ochreous with darker tips.

Thorax: Tegulae black-scaled, also ventrally on all coxae; mesonotum black with gold iridescence. Hindfemora greyish; fore and midtibiae black on dorsal surface, white beneath with a white band at 0.5; all tarsi black with whitish bands at proximal ends of tarsomeres 1, 2 and 3; except that tarsomere 1 is entirely black on hindleg. FW length 3.0 mm in male, 3.5 mm in female (3.4–3.5). FW maculation ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D) with a slightly bent claval mark, angled towards dorsum; an almost straight, uninterrupted median band and a small triangular remnant of the postmedian band from the costa to about half; subapical band absent.

Male postabdomen ( Fig.8 View FIGURE 8 A–D): Sternum VIII remnants large, trapezoidal, lying closely adjacent to anterolateral edge of vinculum, bearing about 16 small setae. Anteroventral margin of IX sclerotisation broadly rounded and thickened. Median plate narrow, tapered at anterior end with a distinct ventral keel, strongly darkened anteriorly. Valvae of moderate length, with their curvature markedly angled (ratio length:width 4.0). Tegumen lobes with an irregular un-sclerotised patch anteriorly along the mid-dorsal line. A cluster of about 40 hair-sensilla on the membraneous dorsum of IX. Phallus elongate, ratio length:height 5.6; aedeagus with a constricted ‘neck’ region in dorsal view; gonopore heart-shaped, small, less than half width of aedeagus; ventral bulb moderate

(male genital preps. NPK 1035, G1023).

Female postabdomen: Segment V gland 0.4 mm diam., with about 12 long fluted scales. Segment X equidimensional, the sclerites rounded, often emarginated along the anterior edge. Papilla goblet-shaped with its thick walls strongly reflexed around the anterior margin; thick-walled proximal section of spermatheca with its bulbous end about half the diameter of ductus length, thin-walled mid section of utriculus about the same length as ductus, anterior sac of utriculus 0.08 mm diameter (female genital preps. G1015, G1016).

Diagnosis. Immediately distinctive by absence of forewing subapical band.

Etymology. From fuscus (dark) and apex (tip), referring to the blackish-brown wing apex which lacks a subapical band.

Bionomics. Occurs in tall dense rainforest, under the canopy but in light wells and margins where forest floor is damp and periphyton present. Sweep-netted by day from low soft annuals and ferns. Females predominate in collections (90%, n=30).

Distribution. South Africa, known only from Hogsback, Eastern Cape.