Megalota deceptana 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 : 26-27

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5315460
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFD9-FF85-FDB1-E55AFC01FEE1
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota deceptana Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

17. Megalota deceptana Brown , new species Figs. 17 View FIGURES 13–24 , 41 View FIGURES 40–42 , 61 View FIGURES 60–63

Diagnosis. In facies and genitalia, M. deceptana is most similar to M. longisetana , M. ricana , and M. bicolorana . The male genitalia are distinguished by the relative positions of the setae on the valva, with the cluster of spiniform setae from the venter of the valva ca. 0.6 the distance from the base to the apex and a second patch of finer hairlike setae, 0.5 the length of the spiniform setae, located just basad and slightly dorsad. Also, the basal process of the valva is conspicuously spined throughout its length. The phallus has a single slender cornutus as in M. ricana . In the female genitalia the band-shaped sterigma is more broadened mesally to the point of attachment with the ostium than in other species.

Description. Head: Vertex red brown, frons creamy white; labial palpus creamy white in basal 0.5, red brown in distal 0.5. Thorax: Dorsum mixed orange and brown, metascutum with darker 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, basal ca. 0.5 pale red brown, distal 0.5 dark brown and red brown, median fascia dark brown at costa, fading to red-brown at dorsum; dark brown triangular dash from dorsum ca. 0.15 distance from base to tornus, extending to median fascia as a narrow, ill-defined blotch; subterminal area pale brown, somewhat variegated with pinkish brown and brown; oblong blotch from mid-termen ill-defined, arched near distal end of discal cell, intersecting median fascia near middle of wing. Fringe brown, paler at tornus. Hindwing uniformly brown, anal margin in male with well-developed roll of white sex scales. Fringe pale brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 40–42 ; 5 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular, narrow, with slight indentation just before junction with uncus; uncus broad with deep notch dorsally, each lobe somewhat egg-shaped, densely spined; socius present as small, membranous semicircular lobe; valva straight as in bicolorana , cluster of spiniform setae from venter ca. 0.6 distance from base to apex, second cluster of much shorter, hairlike setae slightly basad and dorsad of first; basal process of valva 5–6 times as long as wide, elbowed at ca. 0.4 length, with conspicuous long spines along entire length. Phallus short, broad, weakly curved; vesica with a single slender cornutus from a small, asymmetrical, platelike base. Female genitalia ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 60–63 ; 5 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with papillae anales simple, unmodified; sterigma a moderately sclerotized band interrupted mesally, except for slender posterior edge, by ovoid ostium with narrowly sclerotized rim; colliculum occupying slightly less than posterior 0.5 of ductus bursae, with irregularly sclerotized internal edges, remainder of ductus bursae membranous; corpus bursae oblong-ovoid, signum a curved, fin-shaped sclerite from weakly sclerotized base.

Holotype. Male, Costa Rica, Alajuela, Sector San Ramon , 13–28 Mar 1994, K. Taylor ( INBio), USNM slide 85,867.

Paratypes (8♂, 6♀). COSTA RICA: Alajuela: N slope Volcan de Rincon , 2 km W Dos Rios, 22 May 1985 (4♂, 3♀), J. Powell & P. Opler ( EME) . Finca San Gabriel , 2 km SW Dos Rios, 600 m, May 1989 (1♀), GNP Biodiv. Survey ( INBio) . Finca San Gabriel , 16 km E Quebrada Grande, 630 m, 8 Feb 1983 (1♂), D. Janzen & W. Hallwachs ( INBio) . Sector San Ramon , 620 m, 13–28 Mar 1994 (1♂), D. Garcia ( INBio) . Rio Sarapiqui , 2 km SE Cariblanco, 700 m, 28 Mar 1992 (1♂), McCarty & Powell ( EME) . Cartago: Turrialba , 1–6 Mar 1965 (1♂), S.S. & W. D. Duckworth ( USNM) . Guanacaste: Zona Protection Tenorio, Sector Alto dos Masís, 1100 m, 10–14 Jun 2002 (2♀), E. Phillips & J. Jiménez ( INBio) .

Distribution and Biology. This species has been recorded from the Costa Rican provinces of Alajuela, Cartago, and Guanacaste, on the western slope of the central cordillera, between about 600 and 1200 m elevation. Adults have been collected from February through June. Nothing is known of the early stages.

Etymology. The specific epithet, deceptana , is from the Latin decipio or deceptus, and refers to the fact that I initially confused this species with two superficially similar species.