Ozadelpha rionegrella Remeikis & Dobrynina, 2021

Remeikis, Andrius & Dobrynina, Viktorija, 2021, Differentiation of the Andean Ozadelpha ovata and O. rionegrella sp. nov (Lepidoptera, Nepticulidae) based on characters of the male genitalia, Zootaxa 5016 (2), pp. 283-288 : 284

Description of Ozadelpha rionegrella Remeikis & Dobrynina , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7EF760C4-EB94-4F33-AAA5-F32F6CF4ADE5

( Figs. 1, 2 , 6 , 7 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ARGENTINA, Río Negro, Lago Nahuel Huapi, Puerto Blest , elevation ca. 770 m, 22.xi.1981, leg. Nielsen & Karsholt, genitalia slide no. RA 290♂ ( ZMUC).

Diagnosis. In the male genitalia, Ozadelpha rionegrella sp. nov. differs from all congeneric species in the combination of the uncus with two small lobes, long sublateral processes of transtilla, basally large valva, and a triangular gnathos (also see a provided diagnostic tool in Fig. 7 ).

Male ( Fig. 1 ). Wingspan about 5.5 mm. Head: palpi and frons greyish cream; frontal tuft large, comprised of brown-grey piliform scales; collar indistinctive, comprised of brown-grey piliform scales; scape glossy cream; antenna significantly longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum dark brown. Thorax and tegula covered with dark grey-brown and some brownish cream scales. Forewing ( Fig. 1 ) dark grey-brown, with a wide, ill-defined sub-basal fascia and a wide, very distinctive subapical fascia; fringe line absent; underside of forewing dark brown. Hindwing and fringe grey-brown on the upper side and underside. Legs grey-brown on upper side, paler on underside.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 2 , 6 ). Capsule significantly longer (385–390 μm) than wide (235 μm). Pseuduncus absent. Tegumen ( Fig. 6 ) very wide. Uncus with two small lobes caudally. Gnathos with triangular central element and well-thickened arms. Valva 220 μm long, 85–95 μm wide, with very large, gradually narrowed apical process and with a large, heavily papillated base. Transtilla interrupted in the middle, with long sublateral processes ( Fig. 6 ). Juxta slender. Vinculum very large, without lateral lobes, distally truncated. Thickened tube of phallus (see Fig. 2 ) 190 μm long (with a protruding vesica, 320 μm long), 90 μm wide; vesica with a large band of predominantly small spine-like and plate-like cornuti.

Bionomics. Host plant is unknown. Adults fly in late November and early December.

Distribution. Currently known from the southern Andes, Argentina (Río Negro) at an elevation of about 800 m.

Etymology. The species is named after the province where it was collected (Río Negro, Argentina).

Remarks. Ozadelpha rionegrella is known only from Río Negro, a province of western Argentina. During our study, we had another specimen from Rio Negro as a loan from ZMUC, with label data resembling the holotype of O. rionegrella (Río Negro, San Carlos de Bariloche, Colonia Suiza, 800 m, 7.xii.1981, leg. Nielsen & Karsholt). However, when dissected, this specimen appeared to be not O. rionegrella but identical with the holotype of O. ovata .

Figures

FIGURE 7. An updated and modified pictorial tool for the differentiation of Ozadelpha species

FIGURES 1–3. Ozadelpha species. 1, male adult of O. rionegrella Remeikis & Dobrynina, sp. nov.; 2, same, phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA290 (ZMUC); 3, O. ovata (Puplesis & Robinson), phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus184 (ZMUC)

FIGURES 4–6. Comparison of male genitalia of two resembling Ozadelpha species. 4, 5, O. ovata (Puplesis & Robinson), holotype and paratype (first documentation) (ZMUC); 6, O. rionegrella Remeikis & Dobrynina, sp. nov., holotype, genitalia slide no. RA290 (ZMUC)