Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi Metz, 2020

Metz, Mark A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2020, Four new gelechioid species to honor Costa Rica's conservation of wild biodiversity (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 4810 (1), pp. 45-64 : 52-57

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4810.1.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F0EB422C-1363-4F22-9D1A-B0073BED0247

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7EC6A404-AF1C-4792-A13E-67955774DA57

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:7EC6A404-AF1C-4792-A13E-67955774DA57

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi Metz
status

sp. nov.

Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi Metz , new species

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7EC6A404-AF1C-4792-A13E-67955774DA57

( Figs. 8–13 View FIGURES 8–13 )

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, who is philosophically and practically dedicated to facilitating Costa Rica’s continued growth into being the most green tropical country of all. He encourages Costa Rican bioliteracy for conservation of its wild biodiversity, which is relevant to the forests in which his patronym moth lives.

Diagnosis. Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi can be recognized by having the basal half or more of the forewing, and only the extreme base of the abdomen, covered with orange scales; apical half of hindwing covered with black scales, only basal hind part of the hindwing bare of scales. Triangular, anterior emargination in dorsum of tegumen as wide or wider than tegumen halves creating broad space with broadly rounded apex; uncus half straight from base with little or no narrowing or undulation, tip capitate, spoon-shaped with only a slight lateral extension or lip; spiny gnathos pad ovate nearly as broad as long; valves smoothly tapered from base out to narrow, but broadly rounded apex with no ventral expansion; phallus cylindrical (i.e., dorsum is sclerotized) for almost the posterior half and praephallus lacks any sclerotized lateral strip, tip blunt. Posterior pad of papilla analis narrow, width of capitate apex 1.7X width of narrowest part, apex acute and bluntly pointed, with three long straight setae on apical margin, remaining large setae sinuate; corpus bursae compound, length of neck before apical lobe 1/3 length of apical lobe, basal lobe with no visible darkened signum.

Description. Scales predominantly black and orange. Head scales dark gray to black except some scales on lower face orange and white; some scales in patch at upper margin of eye curving medially over head orange; scales originating from back of head longer, unidirectional, curving over top of head and to frons; scales of face and frons shorter, unidirectional directed ventrally; scales at posterior eye margin dark gray to black, orange to white ventrally; with a triangular glabrous spot on vertex dorsad dorsal eye margin and posterad antennal base. Ocellus absent. Compound eye height and length equal through the middle, but dorsal margin sinuate with an acute angle dorsally, an obtuse inward angle at the level of the antenna, and an obtuse outward angle below the antenna. Antenna scales entirely black except scape with orange to white scales ventrally and anteriorly and a patch of bright white scales dorsally at subapex; dorsal scales of flagellomeres up to white scale patch long and densely packed making the antenna appear thicker; extreme tip of antenna lacking scales; pecten absent; in ♂ flagellomeres with numerous long, appressed black setae at joints ventrally, distal flagellomeres with normal, short erect setae; in ♀ flagellomeres with normal, short erect setae ventrally. Labial palpus curved well above top of head, completely smooth-scaled; second and third segments gently curved; third segment 1.2X longer than second; scales of first segment white to orange; second segment scales white to orange at base and ventrally throught, scales black dorsally from subbase to apex; third segment scales dark gray to black except extreme tip with few white scales. Maxillary palpus scales orange to white. Pilifer scales orange to white with an apical brush of silver to gold setae. At least 0.75 haustellum with dense cover of orange to white scales basally and dark gray to black scales towards apex.

Thorax scales orange with a broad median, black strip on the dorsum through the mesoscutellum, a broad, black lateral strip through the middle of the pleura, and orange scales tending to white ventrally. Forecoxa scales orange anteriorly, orange to white posteriorly, except extreme base black; forefemur scales white at extreme base and orange on the rest of anterior face, posterior face with white scales on basal half and black scales on apical half; foretibia with black scales except with orange scales ventrally distad epiphysis; rest of foreleg with black scales except basitarsus with circular patch of orange scales on posterior face; midcoxa scales mostly white with orange and some dark gray scales apically on anterior surface; midfemur scales white basally with a circular patch of dark gray scales on anterior face, scales transitioning to orange through middle, only orange dorsally at apex, scales black on ventrally on apical half; midtibia scales black with orange annular band in middle, with two whorls of longer scales, one at apical margin of first black section and one at tibial apex; rest of midleg with black scales except middle of basitarsus with a orange annular band in middle; hindcoxa scales black except for circular patch of orange to white scales subapically on anterior face and some orange to white scales at extreme apex; hindfemur scales black ventrally, white dorsally except small white patch at extreme base ventrally; hindtibia scales black except semiannular patch in middle of orange to white scales, with two whorls of longer scales, one in the middle of the tibia with orange scales dorsally and one at tibial apex; rest of hindleg with black scales except extreme apices of tibial spurs white. Forewing length ♂ 5.4–6.4 mm, ♀ 5.6–7.1 mm ( Figs. 8–9 View FIGURES 8–13 ), narrow length 5X width at middle, apex rounded. Dorsal scales orange in slightly more than basal half except for small, narrow patch on hind margin at base, rest of wing with black scales. Ventral surface of forewing as dorsal except basal area with fewer orange scales, less densely colored with more black scales along M-Cu; scales of retinaculum orange, with a row of closely associated, posteriorly-directed scales on the base of Sc. Fringe circumventing forewing apex and around the posterior margin to about middle of forewing, scales black with compound apices of 3–5 tips. Hindwing ♂ 4.5–5.6 mm, ♀ 5.1–5.9 mm, length 3X width at middle, apex broadly acuminate; dorsal surface with orange scales at base out to less than half the length of the hindwing, basal 1/2 to 2/3 of costal cell with light, almost white scales, and black scales on the remaining dorsal surface except membrane bare of any scales in small circular patches in middle of cells M2 and CuA2, in cell CuP, and most of anal area. Fringe almost entirely black only a few basal scales orange, scales with compound apices of 5 or more tips. Ventral surface of hindwing as on dorsum, ♂ with a single compound frenular seta, ♀ with two separate frenular setae.

Abdomen with black scales except middle of disc and lateral margins of T II with orange scales, some specimens with base of lateral margin of T III with orange scales, and with a median longitudinal stripe of white scales on most sternites, most caudal sternite with more black scales; lacking any spines in discs or at posterior margins of tergites. Male genitalia ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 8–13 ). Segment VIII similar in shape to the preceding segments, undifferentiated. Tegumen rectangular in ventral view, length 2X width at middle, dorsal anterior margin deeply emarginate, emargination extending 0.6X length of tegumen, emargination in middle as wide or wider than tegumen halves creating broad space with broadly rounded apex. Uncus deeply bifurcate with symmetrical halves, each uncus half straight from base with little or no narrowing or undulation, tip capitate, spoon-shaped with only a slight lateral extension or lip; length 0.8X tegumen length. Gnathos bifurcate with symmetrical halves, each half produced as ovate pad of denticles in ventral view, nearly as broad as long; subequal in length to uncus. Anal tube completely membranous. Vinculum U-shaped, ventral part longer, lateral area narrowing to articulation with tegumen, saccus not produced. Juxta a horizontal strap of cuticle, middle with a shallow dip, lateral ends expanded, lateral arms extending posteriorly and sharply tapered, length equal to length of gnathos pad. Diaphragm otherwise unadorned. Valve simple, sacculus not extremely expanded or separate from cucullus, with no extensions or processes, valves smoothly tapered from base out to narrow, but broadly rounded apex with no ventral expansion, longer than vinculum, tegumen, and uncus lengths combined. Phallus cylindrical (i.e., dorsum is sclerotized) for almost the posterior half and praephallus lacks any sclerotized lateral strip, tip blunt; not fused to juxta, with membranous attachment to diaphragm; ductus ejaculatorius as long as phallus, exiting ventrally with a very short caecum. Female genitalia ( Fig. 11 View FIGURES 8–13 ). Segment VIII width 1.2X length at level of ostium; width 3.25X width of ostium at level of ostium; anterior margin terminate; lamellae antevaginalis with smooth edge; lamellae postvaginalis with pair of hemispherical lobes with microsculpturing; anterior apophysis base located posteriorly and dorsally at posterior margin of tergite VIII, short, thick, terminus slightly beyond level of ostium. Segment IX entirely membranous, length 0.5X length of segment VIII, width 0.75X posterior width of segment VIII. Papilla analis divided into larger anterior pad and smaller posterior pad; anterior pad lamella-shaped, thin and semicircular, inner and outer surfaces covered with filiform setae, outer surface with hook-shaped setae, basal hook-like setae with flattened apices; posterior pad thin and slightly capitate, length 4X widest width of capitate section, covered with short, filiform setae, ventral surface of capitate section with large, hook-shaped setae on apical half, with two larger, filiform setae on outer edge at apex and one on outer margin at subapex. Posterior apophysis base located posterodorsally at anterior margin of papilla analis at division between anterior and posterior pads, mostly straight, terminus just reaching ostium. Antrum funnel-shaped,

terminus reaching anterior margin of segment VIII. Colliculum not visible. Ductus bursae length equal to length of segment VIII, cylindrical, same width as anterior end of antrum, entire length partially textured with longitudinal ridges. Ductus seminalis emerging from dorsum of ductus bursae immediately anterad antrum, width 1/5th width of ductus bursae at base, with no visible texture, continuing past duct to bulla seminals. Bulla seminalis large and compound, formed from two large roughly hemispherical sacs larger than apical sac of corpus bursae, sacs separate and connected to each other by short duct, dislocated from ductus seminalis by duct almost as long as ductus bursae and twice as wide as ductus seminalis, basal sac attached to duct tangentially, apical sac with duct terminating in its concave center. Corpus bursae compound with an accessory sac anterad separated from main sac by narrow channel; main sac elongate, spindle-shaped, 4X longer than widest width, narrower posteriorly, membrane with longitudinal ridges; accessory sac spherical lengths and widths equal, membrane smoothly textured; signum not evident.

Immature stages not examined first hand. Pupa and cocoon as in images ( Figs. 12–13 View FIGURES 8–13 .)

DNA Barcode BOLD BIN. BOLD:AAA0208 (dx.doi.org/10.5883/BOLD:AAA0208)

Specimens examined. Holotype ♂ (USNMENT01370731, 14-SRNP-2654, USNM slide # 146543), Costa Rica, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste ( ACG), Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Puente Palma , 460m, 10.9163, -85.37869, 28 May 2014, leg. Gloria Sihezar. GoogleMaps Paratypes. (43 ♂♂, 48 ♀♀). 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328974, 11-SRNP-66055), Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Brasilia, 11.01825, -85.37199, 360m, 18 Oct 2011, leg. Duvalier Briceño GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328825, 11-SRNP-80887), 2 ♂♂ (USNMENT01328749, 11-SRNP- 80888; USNMENT01328947, 11-SRNP-80889) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Cafecito, 10.94404, -85.31738, 455m, 09 Jul 2011, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01369405, 11-SRNP-69982), 2 ♂♂ ( USN- MENT01369399 , 11 -SRNP-69984; USNMENT01369459, 11-SRNP-69983) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Flecha, 10.94741, -85.31501, 491m, 05 Apr 2011 GoogleMaps , Edwin Apu ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01369387, 11-SRNP- 80071) Alajuela , Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest, Flecha, 10.94741, -85.31501, 491m, 18 Apr 2011, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328949, 13-SRNP-69424) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Flecha, 10.94741, -85.31501, 491m, 13 Mar 2013, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01370848, 13-SRNP-80785) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Flecha, 10.94741, -85.31501, 491m, 05 Dec 2013, leg. Edwin Apu (deposited in NHMUK) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328746, 11-SRNP-81613) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 19 Oct 2011, leg. Duvalier Briceño GoogleMaps ; 3 ♀♀ (USNMENT01328762, 11-SRNP-81866; USNMENT01328890, 11-SRNP-81864 (deposited in NHMUK); USNMENT01328892 View Materials , 11 View Materials -SRNP-81867) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 18 Nov 2011, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ ( USN- MENT01328754,12 -SRNP-69380) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 20 Feb 2012, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328858, 12-SRNP-69892) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 15 May 2012, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328954, 13-SRNP-80065) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 15 Aug 2013, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 2 ♂♂ (USNMENT01328789, 13-SRNP-80617; USNMENT01328876, 13-SRNP-80616) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461m, 12 Nov 2013, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 3 ♂♂ (USNMENT01370890, 14-SRNP-80818; USNMENT01370893, 14-SRNP-80817 (deposited in NHMUK); USN- MENT01370961 , 14 -SRNP-80816) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Jacobo, 10.94076, -85.3177, 461, 08 Jul 2014, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01369467, 10-SRNP-43579) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Rio Francia Arriba, 10.89666, -85.29003, 400m, 01 Oct 2010, leg. Anabelle Cordoba GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ ( USN- MENT01328885 , 11 -SRNP-81690) , 1 ♂ (USNMENT01480141, 11-SRNP-81691) Alajuela Province, Sector Rincon Rain Forest , Selva, 10.92291, -85.31877, 410m, 31 Oct 2011, leg. Edwin Apu GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01370805, 14-SRNP-2655) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Puente Palma, 10.9163, -85.37869, 460m, 28 May 2014, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀♀ (USNMENT01370761, 14-SRNP-3962, USNM slide # 146542; USNMENT01370766, 14-SRNP-3960) , 1 ♂ (USNMENT01370749, 14-SRNP-3958) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Rio Blanco Abajo, 10.90037, -85.37254, 500m, 04 Sep 2014, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 4 ♀♀ (USNMENT01369365, 09-SRNP- 2025; USNMENT01369366, 09-SRNP-2023 (deposited in NHMUK); USNMENT01369397 View Materials , 09 View Materials -SRNP-2020) , 2 ♂♂ (USNMENT01369418, 09-SRNP-2027; USNMENT01369469, 09-SRNP-2017 (deposited in NHMUK)) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 16 May 2009, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328956, 11-SRNP-3986) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, - 85.37223, 527m, 11 Oct 2011, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328581, 11-SRNP-4310) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 04 Nov 2011, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀♀ ( USN- MENT01328836 , 12 -SRNP-86; USNMENT01328878, 12-SRNP-87) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sen- dero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 07 Jan 2012, leg. Carolina Cano GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀♀ (USNMENT01328793, 12-SRNP- 857; USNMENT01328918, 12-SRNP-859), 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328807, 12-SRNP-858) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 03Mar2012,leg. EldaAraya GoogleMaps ; 3♀♀ (USNMENT01328697, 12-SRNP-1300; USNMENT01328779, 12-SRNP-1311; USNMENT01328887, 12-SRNP-1304) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 01 Apr 2012, leg. Osvaldo Espinoza GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀♀ ( US- NMENT01328745 , 12 -SRNP-1358; USNMENT01328784, 12-SRNP-1354) , 3 ♂♂ (USNMENT01328873, 12- SRNP-1356; USNMENT01328937, 12-SRNP-1351; USNMENT01480140, 12-SRNP-1352) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 04 Apr 2012, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ ( USN- MENT01328851 , 12 -SRNP-1574) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 20 Apr 2012, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328809, 12-SRNP-1722) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 28 Apr 2012, leg. Osvaldo Espinoza (deposited in NHMUK) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328888, 12-SRNP-1852), Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, - 85.37223, 527m, 10 May 2012, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328827, 12-SRNP-2631), 2 ♂♂ ( USN- MENT01328593 , 12 -SRNP-2628; USNMENT01328907, 12-SRNP-2629) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 26 Jun 2012, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328853, 12- SRNP-2936), 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328776, 12-SRNP-2921) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huer- ta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 09 July 2012, leg. Carolina Cano GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328852, 13-SRNP-138) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 11 Jan 2013, leg. Osvaldo Espinoza GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328996, 13-SRNP-137) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 12 Jan 2013, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328903, 13-SRNP-644) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 07 Feb 2013, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328769, 13-SRNP-3014) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, - 85.37223, 527m, 13 Jun 2013, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328992, 13-SRNP-3094), 1 ♂ ( USN- MENT01328965 , 13 -SRNP-3093) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 17 Jun 2013, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01370769, 14-SRNP-3090) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Sendero Huerta, 10.9305, -85.37223, 527m, 26 Jun 2014, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01480139, 10-SRNP-5577) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 26 Sep 2010, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01369342, 10-SRNP-6906), 1 ♂ (USNMENT01369377, 10-SRNP-6901) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 18 Nov 2010, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ ( US- NMENT01480138 , 10 -SRNP-3754) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 12 Jul 2011, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328995, 11-SRNP-3252) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 22 Aug 2011, leg. Gloria Sihezar GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328748, 11-SRNP-3849), 2 ♂♂ (USNMENT01328826, 11-SRNP-3851; USNMENT01328953, 11-SRNP-3846) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 26 Sep 2011, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 4 ♀♀ (USNMENT01328822, 11-SRNP-4934; USNMENT01328838, 11-SRNP-4932; USNMENT01328886, 11-SRNP- 4935; USNMENT01328894, 11-SRNP-4936) 1 ♂ (USNMENT01328812, 11-SRNP-4933) Alajuela Province, Sec- tor San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles , 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 12 Dec 2011, leg. Carolina Cano GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ ( USN- MENT01328908 , 12 -SRNP-151) , 2 ♂♂ (USNMENT01328868, 12-SRNP-150; USNMENT01328977, 12-SRNP-152) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Angeles, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 16 Oct 2012, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01328768, 12-SRNP-1338) Alajuela Province, Sector San Cristobal, Tajo Ange- les, 10.86472, -85.41531, 540m, 03 Apr 2012, leg. Elda Araya GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01455959, 11-SRNP-71665) Gua- nacaste Province , Sector Pitilla, Manguera, 10.9959, -85.39842, 470m, 02 Aug 2011, leg. Freddy Quesada GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01480160, 17-SRNP-72079), 2 ♀ (USNMENT01480157, 17-SRNP-72080; USNMENT01480159, 17-SRNP-72077) Guanacaste Province, Sector Pitilla , Manguera, 10.9959, -85.39842, 470m, 02 July 2017, leg. Dinia Martinez GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480158, 17-SRNP-72076) Guanacaste Province, Sector Pitilla , Manguera, 10.9959, -85.39842, 470m, 30 Jun 2017, leg. Dinia Martinez GoogleMaps ; 1 ♂ (USNMENT01370737, 14-SRNP-71285) Gua- nacaste Province , Sector Pitilla, Medrano, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 12 July 2014, leg. Dinia Martinez GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01370715, 14-SRNP-71622), 1 ♂ (USNMENT01370732, 14-SRNP-71623) Guanacaste Province, Sector Pitilla , Medrano, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 12 Jul 2014, leg. Ricardo Calero GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01370962, 14-SRNP-71635) Guanacaste Province, Sector Pitilla , Medrano, 11.01602, -85.38053, 380m, 05 Sep 2014, leg. Dinia Martinez. GoogleMaps

Distribution. Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi is known from specimens collected at just a few locations in Costa Rica, but likely occurs throughout the range of the only known food plant

Biology. The larva of Tinaegeria carlosalvaradoi feeds on the mature leaves of the ACG rain forest treelet, Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) . It lives between several leaves lightly silked together and spins a distinctive, ovoid, white, flat cocoon on the leaf surface.

Remarks. As described above as a generic trait, it has a sesiid-like shape and color that suggests that it is likely mimicking some other distasteful or painful insect to be avoided, such as lycid beetles, lampyrid beetles, or stinging wasps. It has been seen ostentatiously walking on the upper surface of leaves in full daylight, with the leisurely walking pace of a lycid beetle. While commonly reared, this moth species has not been encountered at an ACG light trap.

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Oecophoridae

Genus

Tinaegeria

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