Fomoria cornijuxtata Remeikis & Stonis, 2018

Stonis, Jonas R. & Remeikis, Andrius, 2018, Odd species of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from the American rainforest and southern Andes, Zootaxa 4392 (3), pp. 458-468 : 462

Fomoria cornijuxtata Remeikis & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 11–17 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, ARGENTINA, Neuquen, N of Chos Malal, Barrancas , elevation ca . 850 m, 22.iii.1979, Mision Cientifica Danesa, genitalia slide no. RA 589♂ (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. The combination of a slender valva with two basal processes, very long and slender caudal process of gnathos and a small rounded vinculum in the male genitalia distinguishes F. cornijuxtata sp. nov. from all currently known nepticulid species (also see Remarks).

Male ( Fig. 11 ). Forewing length 3.5 mm; wingspan 7.6 mm. Head: palpi very long (as long or longer than the length of head), brownish to pale brown; frontal tuft fuscous brown on frons, ochreous cream on vertex; collar comprised of piliform scales, ochreous cream; scape cream; antenna slightly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with about 45 segments, pale brown to ochreous cream. Thorax and tegula cream, speckled with dark brown scales; forewing relatively slender, cream, speckled with dark brown or black-brown scales, except for tornal margin which remains cream, without dark scales; fringe cream to ocherous cream; underside of forewing cream, with distictive ocherous cream edges, without spots or androconia. Forewing venation with a small closed cell and anal loop ( Figs 12–14 ). Hindwing whitish cream to cream (depending on an angle of view); underside of hindwing without androconia; fringe cream to ochreous cream. Legs pale brown to brownish cream, except for forelegs which densely speckled with dark brown scales. Abdomen cream on upper side and underside; anal tufts very short, cream; genital plates cream.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 15–17 ). Capsule about 380 µm long, 230 µm wide. Uncus with two lobes ( Fig. 17 ). Gnathos with very long and slender caudal process, small central element, and large lateral arms ( Figs 15, 17 ). Valva ( Figs 15, 17 ) slender, 215–220 µm long, 40–42 µm wide, with two basal processes ( Fig. 17 ) which somehow resemble juxta in other Nepticulidae . True juxta absent. Phallus ( Fig. 16 ) 265–270 µm long, 55–65 µm wide, with two ventral carinae; vesica without cornuti.

Bionomics. Host plant: Unknown. Adults fly in March.

Distribution. This species occurs in the southern Andes ( Argentina: Neuquen) at an elevation about 850 m.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin cornus (a horn) and juxta (a structure of male genitalia) in reference to the horny valva with two basal, juxta-like processes.

Remarks. The taxonomic position of this species is uncertain and, therefore, provisional. However, the morphology of the male genitalia of cornijuxtata is compatible with that of some Fomoria Beirne species and forewing venation shows certain similarity with Fomoria , in particular, with the African representatives of the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 11–17. Fomoria cornijuxtata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., holotype (ZMUC). 11, male adult; 12–14, forewing venation, slide no. RA589; 15, 17, male genitalia, slide no. RA589, capsule; 16, same, phallus