Megalota longisetana Brown, 2009

Brown, John W., 2009, The discovery of Megalota in the Neotropics, with a revision of the New World species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutini), Zootaxa 2279 (1), pp. 1-50 : 25-26

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5315454
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFD8-FF86-FDB8-E6B7FEBFFE99
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota longisetana Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

16. Megalota longisetana Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 16 View FIGURES 13–24 , 40 View FIGURES 40–42 , 60 View FIGURES 60–63

Diagnosis. In facies and genitalia, M. longisetana is most similar to three Costa Rican congeners: M. deceptana , M. ricana , and M. bicolorana . The male genitalia are distinguished by the configuration of the patch of elongate setae of the valva immediately basad of the cluster of spiniform setae ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 40–42 ), in which the setae are conspicuously longer than those of M. deceptana , M. ricana , and M. bicolorana , and the absence of cornuti in the vesica. The female genitalia of M. longisetana are most similar to those of M. bicolorana but can be distinguished by the slightly shorter colliculum, the smaller mesal process of the sterigma, and the shorter signum that is broader basally than that of M. bicolorana .

Description. Head: Vertex red brown, frons creamy white; labial palpus creamy white in basal 0.5, red brown in distal 0.5. Thorax: Dorsum pale orange, metascutum with red brown tuft. Hind tibia in male with well-developed, bushy, silky white sex scales concealing white hairpencil. Forewing length 8.0–9.0 mm (mean = 8.5); vaguely two-toned, with basal 0.5 pale orange brown, distal 0.5 dark brown and red brown, median fascia dark brown, uninterrupted from costa to dorsum, moderately well defined along basal edge, irregularly sinuate along distal edge; tornal region much lighter; brown oblong blotch from mid-termen extending to distal end of discal cell. Fringe brown, paler at tornus. Hindwing uniformly brown, anal margin in male with well-developed anal roll of white sex scales. Fringe pale brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 40–42 ; 2 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular, slightly undulate laterally, with rounded-triangular expansion just before junction with uncus; uncus broad, with broadly V-shaped notch at mid-dorsum; socius inconspicuous; valva mostly parallel-sided, narrower in distal 0.4, dense cluster of spiniform setae from venter ca. 0.6 distance from base, patch of elongate setae well defined from venter ca. 0.40–0.45 distance from base to apex, with setae about 0.25 as long as valva; basal process of valva 5–6 times as long as wide, elbowed just before middle, with short spines in distal 0.2. Phallus somewhat curved-undulate dorsally, with an erect dorsal thorn ca. 0.75 distance from base to apex, and a tiny thorn subapically, slightly dorso-laterad; vesica lacking cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 60 View FIGURES 60–63 ; 1 View FIGURES 1–12 preparation examined) with papillae anales simple, slender; sterigma a moderately sclerotized band interrupted with lobelike posterior expansion of ostium mesally; colliculum occupying posterior 0.5 of ductus bursae, strongly sclerotized along edges, less sclerotized in middle, remainder of ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae oblong-ovoid; signum a curved, fin-shaped sclerite from wide illdefined base.

Holotype. Male, Costa Rica, Cartago, Turrialba , 13–17 Mar 1965, S. S. & W. D. Duckworth ( USNM), USNM slide 84,894.

Paratypes (1♂, 1♀). COSTA RICA: Cartago: Moravia de Chirripo , 1000 m, 10 May 1983 (1♂), D. Janzen & W. Hallwachs ( INBio) . Puntarenas: Finca Cafrosa , Est. Las Mellizas, P.N. Amistad, 1300 m, Oct 1989 (1♀), M. Ramirez & G. Mora ( INBio) .

Distribution and Biology. The few specimens available suggest that this is a species of the middle elevations (1000-1300 m) of Costa Rica. Nothing is known of the life history.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the patch of elongate setae from the venter of the valva in the male genitalia.