Megalota plenana (Walker) 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 : 31-32

23. Megalota plenana (Walker) , new combination Figs. 22 , 46

Carpocapsa plenana Walker, 1863: 397 (description).

“ Olethreutes ” plenana: Powell et al. 1995: 153 (checklist).

“ Olethreutinae Unplaced Species ” plenana: Brown 2005: 448 (catalog).

Diagnosis. Megalota plenana is superficially similar to other species in the genus, but its male genitalia ( Fig. 46 ) are highly divergent from those of its congeners. The uncus is modified distally into a pair of elongate, flattened process, the valva is extremely short and narrow, and the basal process of the valva is sinuate and nearly 1.5 times as long as the valva.

Redescription. Head: Vertex, frons, and labial palpus ferruginous. Thorax: Dorsum ferruginous with three faint cinereous bands, metascutum with brown tuft. Hind tibia in male without expanded scaling and hairpencil. Forewing length 7.0 mm (n = 1); irregularly variegated with ferruginous and rust; a darker, illdefined subbasal fascia from costa to dorsum; a darker, slightly undulating, median fascia from costa to dorsum, bordered distally and basally by narrower, ill-defined, pale areas; a narrow dark brown dash extending from mid-termen towards costa. Fringe ferruginous. Hindwing brown, anal margin in male with a patch of long, white sex scales. Abdomen: Brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 46 ; 2 preparations examined) with tegumen subrectangular, with triangular dorsal lobes; uncus broad, shorter than that of congeners, with densely setose, elongate, flattened distal portion; remnant of gnathos a weakly sclerotized band with elongate mesal process truncate apically; valva short, slender; basal process of valva extremely long, longer than valva, sinuate, with row of 4 spines at ca. 0.6 distance from base and curved spine at apex. Phallus stout, gently curved, expanded distally, terminating in flange-shaped process roughened on dorsum in distal 0.25; vesica with a single large slender cornutus. Female genitalia unknown.

Lectotype (hereby designated). Male, Brazil, Amazonas, Ega (BMNH). Because of the potential confusion of this species with Carpocapsa incultana , a lectotype is necessary in order to stabilize the nomenclature and identity of M. plenana .

Lectoparatype. Brazil, Amazonas , Ega, (1♂) ( BMNH), BMNH slide 31,397 .

Remarks. Powell et al. (1995) listed Carpocapsa incultana Walker as a synonym of plenana , the latter of which they included in “ Olethreutes ” [unplaced], and this treatment was followed by Brown (2005). However, based on the female genitalia of the type of incultana (BMNH) , it is highly unlikely that it is congeneric with other species of Megalota . Hence, although Megalota plenana becomes a new combination, incultana is retained in “unplaced Olethreutinae ” for the present.

D. The pastranai group

As with Megalota plenana , the highly divergent male genitalia of M. pastranai inhibit its confident placement in either of the proposed species groups, and it is possible that it requires a separate genus. Superficially, the male lacks the modified anal region of the hindwing characteristic of most species in the genus. The discovery of the female may help resolve its taxonomic position.

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. Adults of Megalota. 13. M. ricana (holotype), 14. M. ceratovalva (holotype), 15. M. bicolorana (holotype), 16. M. longisetana (holotype), 17. M. deceptana (holotype), 18. M. crassana (holotype), 19. M. gutierrezi (holotype), 20. M. chamelana (holotype), 21. M. beckeri (holotype), 22. M. plenana (holotype), 23. M. flintana (holotype), 24. M. pastranai (holotype).

FIGURES 46–48. Male genitalia of Megalota; valva spread, phallus removed. 46. M. plenana, image of BMNH slide 31,397; 47. M. flintana, image of USNM slide 124,500; 48. M. pastranai, image of USNM slide 84,885.

FIGURES 1–12. Adults of Megalota. 1. M. submicans (holotype), 2. M. synchysis (paratype), 3. M. peruviana (paratype), 4. M. aquilonaris (holotype), 5. M. vulgaris (paratype), 6. M. cacaulana (holotype), 7. M. macrosocia (holotype), 8. M. ochreoapex (holotype), 9. M. spinulosa (holotype), 10. M. simpliciana (paratype), 11. M. delphinosema (Costa Rica), 12. M. jamaicana (holotype).