Megalota synchysis 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 : 9-10

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6494800
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFC8-FF96-FDA4-E00FFD5AFC61
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota synchysis Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

2. Megalota synchysis Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 2 View FIGURES 1–12 , 26 View FIGURES 25–27 , 50 View FIGURES 49–51

Diagnosis. Megalota synchysis is similar to M. submicans both superficially and in features of the male and female genitalia. Both have a similar patch of elongate, distally curved setae from the subbasal region of the valva that is asymmetrical between the left and right valva; a similar large, incurved projection near midvalva; and an asymmetrical lobe in the middle of the lamella postvaginalis. In M. synchysis the phallus is slightly less curved and has a more lateral and subdistal thorn; the basal process of the valva is widened subbasally rather than subapically, and the mesal lobe of the sterigma is angled more to the right. Geographic and elevational separation of the two provides further evidence that they represents different species. In both species the forewing pattern is somewhat variable from two-toned (pale basal 0.5 and darker distal 0.5) to nearly uniformlyly darker and mottled.

Description. Head: Vertex mixed pale brown and creamy brown, frons mostly creamy white; labial palpus creamy white with patches of brown and red-brown scales near tip of segment II. Thorax: Dorsum pale gray brown and creamy white, metascutum with posterior crest dark copper-brown. Hind tibia with bushy tuft of white scales and hairpencil. Forewing length 6.4–6.8 mm (mean = 6.5); basal 0.4 a patchwork of pale brown, pinkish copper-brown, and creamy white; mesal portion of wing darker with small, dark red-brown, semicircular blotch from costa ca. 0.45–0.65 distance from base to apex with an additional comma-shaped marking in discal cell; a small, slender, oblong brown patch from near mid-termen terminating bluntly near end of discal cell; areas above and below patch pale pinkish creamy white. Hindwing dark brown, anal margin in male with fold weakly developed. Abdomen: Brown. Short, white tuft of scales from posterior edge of the sterigma in female, one at latero-anterior end of each papilla analis (lost in slide-mounted preparations). Male genitalia ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 25–27 ; 4 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular, slightly concave laterally, with lobelike expansion just below base of uncus; uncus broadly cordate with shallow mesal notch, densely spined; socius ill-defined, membranous, with few bristles; shape of valva slightly asymmetrical, left valva with dense patch of elongate setae in basal 0.33 with setae nearly as long as valva, right valva with sparse patch of much shorter setae; a broad, incurved projection from valva about 0.67 distance from base to apex, strongly sclerotized along one side with long, curved setae; dense patch of long, fine setae at base of projection; basal process of the valva somewhat narrowed in distal 0.25, with 3–4 large spines at blunt distal end. Phallus weakly curved with small, external, sublateral thorn near tip; vesica with two small, slender cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 50 View FIGURES 49–51 ; 3 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with papillae anales unmodified; sterigma a sclerotized band with rounded-triangular, lobelike process in middle posterad of ostium, attenuate distally, extending to right; posterior edge of segment 7 broadly sclerotized; colliculum occupying posterior 0.33 of ductus bursae, weakly curved anteriorly, with irregular C-shaped opening at junction with remainder of membranous anterior 0.67 of ductus bursae; corpus bursae rounded-oblong; signum a short, weakly curved band of 3–5 short blunt larger spines and numerous shorter spines.

Holotype. Male, Venezuela Aragua, Rancho Grande , 1100 m, 16–23 Oct 1966, S. S. & D. D. Duckworth ( USNM) [undissected].

Paratypes (6♂, 14♀). VENEZUELA: Aragua: Rancho Grande , 1100 m , 16–23 Oct 1966 (2♂, 9♀), 24– 31 Oct 1966 (2♂, 5♀), S. S. & D. D. Duckworth ( USNM) , 22–23 Jan 1978 (1♂), 30–31 Mar 1978 (1♂), cloud forest, blacklight, both J. B. Heppner ( USNM) .

Distribution and Biology. This species is known only from Rancho Grande, Venezuela. Adults have been collected in January, March, and October. Nothing is known of the early stages.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Greek “synchysis,” meaning confused or mixed, in reference to the similarity of this species with M. submicans .