Apoxyptilus, Alipanah, Helen, Sari, Alireza, Sarafrazi, Alimorad, Gielis, Cees & Manzari, Shahab, 2010

Alipanah, Helen, Sari, Alireza, Sarafrazi, Alimorad, Gielis, Cees & Manzari, Shahab, 2010, Key to the genera of Oxyptilini (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae: Pterophorinae), with descriptions of two new genera, Zootaxa 2693, pp. 21-34 : 24-26

maximum length of the valva ≤ 0.45 .......................................................................................................... Procapperia - In the male genitalia, valva not shaped as a regular paddle ( Fig. 6 I, D); maximum length of specialized eighth sternite/maximum length of the valva 0.55–0.70 ............................................................................................. Paracapperia Apoxyptilus , gen. nov.

Type species: Oxyptilus anthites Meyrick, 1936 .

Diagnosis. Apoxyptilus is characterized by the absence of a pronounced ventral scale brush on the second segment of the labial palpus; a strongly oblique termen of the second lobe of the forewing; the distance between the subapical and apical scale teeth exceeding three times the length of the subapical tooth; male genitalia with the uncus reduced and the valva without a valvular lobe; and female genitalia with a cylindrical antrum and lacking a signum.

Description. Head. Frons and vertex smooth scaled. Labial palpus straight; second segment without pronounced ventral scale brush extending along third segment. Length of antenna ca. one-half length of forewing; dorsal surface ringed with black and white scales. Chaetosema absent. Thorax. Smooth scaled. Legs with pronounced rough scales at base of spurs. Forewing ( Fig. 7 A) with cleft positioned centrally; first lobe nearly lanceolate, pointed apically; second lobe decreasing in width approximately from mid-dorsum towards apex. Fringe yellowish white, at dorsum of first lobe with a narrow preapical group of rather long dark fringe bordered by whitish fringe. Hindwing ( Fig. 7 A) with first lobe tapering towards apex, nearly pointed apically; width of second lobe decreasing approximately from mid-dorsum or slightly beyond towards apex, with strongly oblique and slightly excavated termen. Fringe yellowish white with two dark scale teeth on dorsum of third lobe: subapical and apical; distance between these two scale teeth more than three times length of subapical one. Venous scales on underside of hindwing ferruginous brown, in two longitudinal rows. Forewing venation ( Fig. 7 B) with R1 absent; R2 and R5 free; R3 and R4 stalked; M1, M2, Cu1, and Cu2 present; Cu1 branched from one-fourth length of M3 length; Cu2 branched from slightly beyond lower angle of discal cell. Hindwing venation with Sc+R1 extending to middle of wing; M3, Cu1, and Cu2 present; Cu1 branched from slightly beyond first cleft; third lobe of hindwing with one anal vein (An1). Abdomen. Lateral concavity of tergite II of male at 0.65–0.75 length of tergite II; specialized eighth sternite of male unilobed. Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 C) with valvae symmetrical; nearly spoon-shaped; without costal processes and valvular lobes; cucullus undifferentiated. Uncus reduced. Gnathos arms absent. Anellus without arms. Phallus nearly straight, without conspicuous process. Female genitalia ( Fig. 7 D) with papillae anales setaceous on posterior margins. Apophysis posterioris slender throughout. Apophysis anterioris absent. Ostium and antrum exposed and positioned centrally. Antrum cylindrical, of a single plate. Ductus bursae narrow, parallel-sided. Corpus bursae lacking signum. Ductus seminalis arising from posterior end of corpus bursae.

Etymology. The generic name indicates that this genus not closely related to Oxyptilus .

Remarks. As with Oxyptilus , Apoxyptilus is characterized by the posterior margin of the eighth abdominal tergite covered by scales in the form of a V-shaped structure; gnathos arms absent; the phallus nearly straight; the ostium bursae exposed; and the ductus seminalis originating from the posterior end of the corpus bursae. Apoxyptilus differs from Oxyptilus in the shape of the second forewing lobe; forewing venation; position of the dark scale teeth on dorsum of the third lobe of the hindwing; absence of a ventral scale brush on the second segment of the labial palpus; absence of a transverse white band at the upper portion of the fronto-clypeus; pattern of the scales covering surface of tegula; lateral concavity of abdominal tergite II of male, which is at 0.65–0.75 length of tergite II; unsclerotized eighth tergite; unilobed specialized eighth sternite; reduced uncus; shape of the valva, anellus, and saccus; absence of a signum in the corpus bursae; and a cylindrical antrum. In addition, preliminary results of a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data (see Alipanah et al. in press) separate it convincingly from Oxyptilus species. Apoxyptilus shares the absence of vein R 1 in the forewing and stalked R3 and R4 with Capperia , Procapperia , Paracapperia , Intercapperia , Tomotilus and Geina ; the position of the lateral concavity of tergite II of the male with Capperia , Procapperia , Paracapperia , Intercapperia and Geina ; the spoon-shaped valva with Paracapperia esuriens and all Capperia species except C. raptor and C. insomnis ; the position of dark scale teeth on the dorsum of the third hindwing lobe with Trichoptilus and two Megalorhipida species, viz., M. angusta and M. pseudodefectalis ; the unilobed, specialized eighth sternite with Stangeia , and the reduced uncus with Buckleria and Trichoptilus pygmaeus . It also differs from all other known species incorrectly assigned to Oxyptilus species in wing shape and genitalia characteristics.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Stylized drawings of some parts of the male (I) and female genitalia (II). I, A – B, uncus-tegumen complex; light grey areas refer to the uncus. I, C – D, valva. II, A – B, posterior end of the female genitalia including the seventh abdominal sternite, ostium bursae, antrum, antrum plate, ductus bursae, and sclerotized parts at the posterior margin of the lamella antevaginalis (dark grey). II, C – E, anterior end of the female genitalia including the corpus bursae, anterior side of ductus bursae and ductus seminalis.

FIGURE 7. Apoxyptilus anthites (Meyrick) comb. nov. A, adult male. B, fore- and hindwing venation. C, male genitalia (ventral view) and phallus. D, female genitalia.