Megalota flintana 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

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFDE-FF81-FDA6-E4B7FC46F9D7
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota flintana Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

22. Megalota flintana Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 23 View FIGURES 13–24 , 47 View FIGURES 46–48

Diagnosis. Superficially, M. flintana is similar to many smaller species of Megalota , such as M. chamelana ; the only well-defined forewing pattern elements are confined to the region from mid-costa and mid-termen to the apex. Megalota flintana can be distinguished by several unique features of the male genitalia: the basal process of the valva has an attenuate, spined, accessory lobe subapically; the basal patch of spiniform setae is bordered distally by a narrow sclerotized ridge; and the vesica has a distinctly triangular cornutus rather than the thorn or spinelike cornuti of other species.

Description. Head: Vertex creamy white with pale brown laterally, frons pale creamy orange; labial palpus mostly creamy white with pale brown distally on second segment, third segment mostly cream-colored. Thorax: Dorsum brown mixed with pale copper and creamy white, metascutum with brown tuft. Hind tibia in male with broad patch of large, flattened, mostly appressed, shiny white sex scales concealing hairpencil. Forewing length 7.7 mm; basal 0.5 pale ocherous, variegated with specks of pale and darker brown; redbrown triangular patch from costa ca. 0.45–0.55 distance from forewing base to apex, with apex of triangular patch curved distad at lower edge of discal cell toward termen, patch continuing to dorsum as faded, oblique median fascia; an oblong red-brown blotch in apico-subterminal region, expanded towards apical termination of triangular patch. Fringe mostly brown with some red-brown scales. Hindwing uniformly pale gray-brown, anal margin in male without distinct patch of sex scales. Abdomen: Pale gray-brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 46–48 ; 1 View FIGURES 1–12 preparation examined) with tegumen rectangular, lacking conspicuous dorsal lobes; uncus lobes large, rounded, densely spined; valva narrow, nearly parallel-sided; basal patch of spiniform setae arranged perpendicular to long axis of valva, overlaying a small triangular flange, bordered distally and dorsally by a narrow sclerotized ridge; second patch of spiniform setae from venter near mid-valva; basal process of valva short, 2.0–2.5 times as long as wide, widened mesally, with attenuate, spined, accessory lobe subapically. Phallus curved at 0.3 length from base to tip, with tiny subdorsal and subapical thorns; vesica with distinctly triangular cornutus. Female genitalia unknown.

Holotype. Male , Brazil, Rio de Janiero, Nova Friburgo, municipal water supply, 24 Apr 1977, C. M. & O. S. Flint, Jr. ( USNM), USNM slide 124,500.

Etymology. This species is named for Oliver Flint, Jr., a noted neuropterist and trichopterist and the collector of the holotype.

C. The plenana group

The divergent male genitalia of M. plenana inhibit its confident placement in either of the proposed informal species groups. The basal process of the valva is extraordinarily long, longer than the valva, with an unusual pointed process apically; the uncus is strongly flattened; and the valva is short and narrow. Discovery of the female likely will help resolve the taxonomic position of the species.