Guttulapsyche, Sobczyk, 2021

Sobczyk, Thomas, 2021, Guttulapsyche mayaensis, gen. et sp. nov., a Psychidae from Mexico with unusual larval ethology (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Typhoniinae), Zootaxa 5016 (3), pp. 419-429 : 420-421

Guttulapsyche , gen. nov.

Type species. Guttulapsyche mayaensis sp. nov., by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Both sexes with fully developed wings. Guttulapsyche gen. nov. is most similar to Antillonatus Núñez & Davis, 2016a ( Typhoniinae ) from Cuba. It differs by the presence of nine veins ( Fig. 3 ) from the discal cell, including four r-veins: r1, r2+r3, r4 and r5. In Antillonatus only eight veins present, including three r-veins, originally designated as Rs, Rs1+2 and Rs3+4. The mouthparts are reduced and consist exclusively of the three-segmented labial palpi, maxillary palpi are absent. In Antillonatus the haustellum is reduced, about half the length of second segment of labial palpi and the maxillary palpi bears two short segments. In addition, Guttulapsyche gen. nov. differs from the Arrhenophaninae genus Palaeophanes Davis, 2003 by the straight phallus (clearly curved in Palaeophanes , with “median keel”) and the absence of maxillary palpi. While the caterpillars of Guttulapsyche gen. nov. live on lichens, all known Antillonatus and Arrhenophaninae caterpillars are fungivores and many species feed in deep passages and tunnels into mushrooms.

Etymology. Guttula (Latin) : droplet, describes the conspicuously drop-shaped hanging larval cases of the new genus, and psyche (Greek): butterfly, spirit, life.

Description. Male. Head ( Fig. 1 ). Vestiture of frons semi-erect, moderately rough, scales relatively broad, apices bidentate, scales of vertex elongated, rough, occiput with a pair of erect tufts of slender scales with bidentate apices. Eye large, EI 1.0. Ocelli absent. Antenna 1.3–1.7 mm long, 0.3–0.4x length of forewing, scapus somewhat flattered and with some piliform scales. Flagellum thread-like, consisting of 32–38 flagellomeres, dorsally with broad scales, close-fitting and therefore narrow in side view. Ventrally a single reduced and spine-like setae and furthermore piliform, irregularly arranged, and curved setae ( Fig. 2 ). Labial palpi 0.3 mm, upwards bended, threesegmented, all segments of about same length. Two basal segments twice as long as their width.

Thorax. Dark brown closely scaled, but tegulae with scales protruding dorso-laterally. Forewing relatively broad, WI 2.0–2.1, apex evenly rounded. Nine veins from discal cell, accessory cell absent, base of M simple within discal cell. Hindwing shorter and slightly more slender than forewing, WI 2.0, base of M simple within discal cell, vein 1A+2A sinuated, frenulum as a single bristle ( Fig. 3 ). Fore- and hindwings densely covered with broad scales ( Fig. 4 ), outer margin with broad fringes ( Fig. 5 ). Foreleg tibia with a epiphysis medially, spinose on inner surface. First tarsal segment as long as tibia and as four distal segments. Midleg and hindleg tibias with one and two pairs of spurs of unequal length, respectively. Tibiae slightly widened distally and somewhat overlap first tarsal segment ( Fig. 6 ).

Abdomen. Densely scaled without noticeable stronger sclerotization and appendices on 8th segment.

Genitalia ( Figs 8–9 ) (GU 227-2020, Sobczyk). Length: 0.7 mm. Tegumen moderately slender and elongated, lightly sclerotized, caudal margin shortly bilobed. Vinculum u-shaped, distally with a v-shaped extension that ends in a short thorn. Anellus membranous, cylindrical, and firmly enclosing phallus. Valva moderately wide mesally, outer edges parallel, widening distally, arched apically, a distinct extension at base which ends in a thorn-shaped tip; distally with a field of long setae. Distal portion of sacculus lobe-shaped, inwardly curved, sparsely covered with short setae. Basal third of valva an almost right-angled elevation also covered at edge with short setae. Phallus 0.4 mm long, cylindrical, straight.

Female. Head and thorax: similar to male except antenna 0.25x length of forewing. Frenulum consisting in a cluster of five smaller bristles.

Abdomen. Telescopic ovipositor, with anal tuft made up of long piliform scales, probably emitting pheromones to attract males.

Genitalia ( Fig. 7 ) (126-2018, Sobczyk). Length: 4.1 mm. Ovipositor greatly extended and with three pairs of apophyses, posterior apophyses longest, 4.0 mm, anterior apophyses 1.85 mm, and accessory apophyses 2.3 mm. Caudal margin of lamella antevaginalis u-shaped mesally, ostium not extended, instead flush with eighth sternum. Bursa copulatrix not examined (lost in dissection).

Remark. Guttulapsyche gen. nov. is provisionally placed within Typhoniinae , see discussion.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Adult morphology of Guttulapsyche mayaensis gen. et sp. nov. 1. Anterior view of male head, scale bar 0.5 mm. 2. Male antennal segments 22–25, lateral view, scale bar 0.1 mm. 3. Wing venation, scale bar 2.0 mm. 4. Forewing scales, area between discal cell and apex. 5. Forewing scale, fringes. 6. Lateral view of pro-, mid-, and hindlegs (left to right), scale bar 1.0 mm. 7. Ventral view of female genitalia (126-2018, Sobczyk), scale bar 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 8–9. Adult morphology of Guttulapsyche mayaensis gen. et sp. nov. 8. Ventral view of male genitalia (GU 227- 2020, Sobczyk), scale bar 0.5 mm. 9. Lateral view of male genitalia, scale bar 0.5 mm.