Schacontia clotho Solis & Goldstein

Goldstein, Paul Z., Metz, Mark A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2013, Phylogenetic systematics of Schacontia Dyar with descriptions of eight new species (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), ZooKeys 291, pp. 27-81 : 63-64

Schacontia clotho Solis & Goldstein sp. n. Figs 9293458-60

Material examined.

Type material. Holotype (♂, USNM) (Fig. 9): Ecuador: Loja Catamayo, 1300 m, 20. xii 1992, V.O. Becker Col., Col. Becker 102660, Genitalia 1287. Paratypes (1♂, 1♀), USNM. Ecuador: Same data as holotype (1♂, 1♀), the latter accompanied by "Genitalia Slide ♀ by JAL."

Diagnosis.

Habitus (Fig. 9). This species superficially resembles Schacontia rasa in coloration and maculation; it is smaller and the male bears all of the secondary sexual characters, including coremata, known to occur within Schacontia (Table 1).Genitalia(Figs 58-60). The male genitalia of Schacontia clotho place it unambiguously within the Schacontia nyx complex as opposed to with Schacontia themis or Schacontia rasa . Moreover the subcostal lobe of the valva is elongate.

Description.

Male. (Fig. 9). Forewing length: 6.9-7.0 mm (n=3) (Female 6.8 mm). Head - Ocelli present; proboscis normal; frons of normal contour; labial palpi porrect, extending beyond clypeus. Thorax - Prothoracic collar and tegulae an admixture of brown and mouse-gray scales. Flattened hind tibial spur, specialized hind tibial scales, epipleural setae present, and dark patch amidst male hind tibial scales all present. Female with two pairs of hind tibial spurs (medial pair present); shallow concave metatarsal modification present. Forewing. More lanceolate than in other Schacontia species. More or less uniform mouse gray, with very light dusting of very pale gray in medial and postmedial areas; medial area more darkly shaded than basal area and postmedial areas; FW fringe brown; subterminal line unbroken. Hindwing. Nearly translucent; postmedial line absent; fringe pale yellowish; subterminal line unbroken. Abdomen - Scales arranged in two terminal black dorsal spots in males; elongate coremata on 4th abdominal segment (Fig. 34). Tympanal organs (Fig. 29). As for ysticalis-themis group, vide supra. Male genitalia (Figs 58, 59) - Uncus trefoil-shaped tip reduced to a small, more or less rhomboid nipple; lateral edges of uncus simple, undifferentiated; juxta broadly V-shaped, comparable in shape to an avian furcula, arms not robust; valvae complex, intrasaccular flange at latero-ventral edge and sclerotized to form a trigger-shaped process; robust, spine-like setae at base of valva; saccular margin rounded at mid-point; prominent setal comb at ventro-medial margin of valva; ventro-marginal setae concentrated at saccular ulna; costal bar diverges from subcostal lobe towards base of costa (isolation of costa>75% along length, character 49); valva with pronounced, elongate secondary outer lobe or process below costa; recurved/decumbent setal plume associated with terminus of costa; sharply hooked setal cluster prominent. Phallus moderately sclerotized; vesica with two large cornuti. Female genitalia (Fig. 60) - Papillae anales separate, not swollen; antrum/ductus bursae elongate (not chalice-like), faintly sclerotized posterior to colliculum, separated from colliculum by a sharp constriction; colliculum a short ring (not an elongate collar), with faintly sclerotized band, immediately posterior to corpus bursae; corpus more or less globular, surface complex; ductus seminalis originates at posterior end of corpus bursae.

Immature stages.

Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the youngest of the three fates in Greek mythology, responsible for spinning the thread of human life, and is treated as a noun in apposition.

Biology.

Unknown. Adults December.

Distribution.

Southern Ecuador.