Megalota chamelana 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 : 29-30

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6485158
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFDC-FF82-FDBB-E027FB1BFDD9
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota chamelana Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

20. Megalota chamelana Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 20 View FIGURES 13–24 , 44 View FIGURES 43–45

Diagnosis. The forewing ground color of M. chamelana is gray brown, considerably paler than that of most species in the genus; it also is smaller than most species in the delphinosema group. The male genitalia ( Fig. 44 View FIGURES 43–45 ) are easily distinguished by the dense cluster of large, flattened, spiniform setae from the meso-ventral portion of the valva, somewhat reminiscent of the setae of the Nearctic genus Proteoteras Riley (Eucosmini) , and the associated wartlike projection near the middle of the valva, both of which are interpreted as autapomorphies.

Description. Head: Vertex pale copper and tawny brown, frons whitish gray; labial palpus mixed pale gray and tawny brown. Thorax: Dorsum mixed brown, tawny brown, and pale gray, metascutum with dark red-brown tuft. Hind tibia in male with large, expanded tuft of pale gray scales, becoming white distally, with a dense fascicle of elongate cream-colored scales (hairpencil) in middle. Forewing length 5.5–7.0 mm (mean = 6.3); basal 0.5 mostly uniformly pale tawny brown, variegated with darker scales, a few tiny patches of dark brown in basal 0.25; oblique, brown median fascia from costa about 0.45–0.55 distance from base to apex, usually ending or becoming less defined just below lower edge of discal cell, with distinct short dash toward termen; oblong, oblique, brown patch from ca. mid-termen intersecting dash from median fascia. Fringe brown. Hindwing nearly uniformly brown, slightly paler in basal region, anal margin in male with well-developed fold of long white to cream-colored scales. Abdomen: Brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 View FIGURES 43–45 ; 4 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular, rounded dorsally before attachment with uncus, with distinct rounded lateral indentation between tegumen and uncus; uncus lobes semicircular, separated by broad, shallow, v-shaped notch; socius inconspicuous; valva nearly parallel-sided with setose wart-shaped expansion near middle; dense cluster of large, flattened, spiniform setae from meso-ventral portion of valva below wartshaped expansion; small patch of short setae immediately basad of wart-shaped expansion; basal process of valva about 4 times as long as wide, slightly elbowed near middle on outer edge, with dense patch of short spines in distal 0.2. Phallus slightly curved, with a single external dorsal thorn near middle; vesica with a single slender cornutus. Female genitalia unknown (single female with abdomen missing).

Holotype. Male , Mexico, San Luis Potosí, 2 mi N Tamazunchale, 400' [125 m], 2 Aug 1963, D. Duckworth & D. Davis ( USNM), USNM slide 124,512.

Paratypes (7♂, 2♀). MEXICO: Colima: 13 mi N Manzanillo, microondas Turo , 24–26 Dec 1988 (3♂, 1♀), N. Bloomfield ( SDNHM) . Jalisco: Est. Biologica Chamela , 16–19 Oct 1987 (2♂), 21–22 Oct 1987 (1♂), J. Chemsak & J. Powell ( EME) . San Luis Potosí: 2 mi N Tamazunchale , 400’, 2 Aug 1963 (1♂), D. Duckworth & D. Davis ( USNM) . Tamaulipas: Guemes , 28 Jun 1965 (1♀), P. J. Spangler ( USNM) .

Distribution and Biology. This species is known from the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, and Tamaulipas, suggesting a rather broad range from the west-central to the northeastern portions of the country. The early stages are unknown.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the collecting locality of Chamela, Mexico