Falcipenna, Bidzilya & Aarvik, 2023

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Aarvik, Leif, 2023, A new genus and two new species of the tribe Pexicopiini (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5297 (3), pp. 417-426 : 418

Falcipenna gen. nov.

Type species: Falcipenna irinae sp. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis. The new genus is characteristic in having a cucullus with a subterminal process bearing a hair-pencil, and a distinct setaceous valvella in the male genitalia; this combination of characters is unique in Pexicopiini . The female genitalia are distinct in having a long funnel-shaped antrum with a spiralled spinose band in combination with a triple signum, which is also unique among species of Pexicopiini ; externally the forewing with falcate apex, in combination with silvery markings and tufts of raised scales is diagnostic.

Description. Head ( Figs 3–5, 7 , 13 ) smooth, ocelli present; labial palpus strongly recurved, smooth scaled, 4–5 times as long as eye diameter, palpomere 2 about 1.5 as broad and only slightly longer than palpomere 3; pecten of antennae consists of single scale, flagellomeres ciliate on underside in male. Thorax. Forewing ( Figs 1, 2, 6 , 8–12 ) distinctly or weakly falcate at apex, with silvery markings (spots, points and streaks) and tufts of raised scales. Hindwing distinctly excavated below the apex, apex narrow, pointed. Abdomen. Male. Tergum VIII and sternum VIII ( Fig. 14 ) merged in unbroken ring, tergum VIII tongue-shaped, slightly longer than broad, sternum VIII 1.5 times longer than wide, unmodified; coremata absent; sternum II ( Fig. 15 ) without group of sensory setae, apodemes short, free, venulae slender. In male genitalia ( Figs 18–20 ) uncus spatulate, 2–3 times longer than wide, densely covered with long hairs; gnathos long, sickle-shaped; tegumen parallel-sided, 2–2.5 times longer than wide, anteromedial emargination short, with distinct transition to uncus; cucullus elongated, gently widening apically, densely covered with long setae, ventral margin with short process at 2/3 bearing pencil of short setae; sacculus reduced; valvella digitate, 1/5–1/4 length of cucullus, covered with hairs; juxta absent; vinculum narrow, bandshaped; saccus short, triangular or subrectangular; phallic tube with distinct lateral trunk, apex well sclerotized, rounded or weakly pointed, with small hook or with irregular sclerotization, caecum rounded, weakly inflated, bulbus ejaculatorius 2.5 times as long as phallus, without internal sclerotization. Female. Tergum and sternum VII unmodified ( Fig. 16 ), almost as broad as long, weakly emarginated posteriorly; sternum II ( Fig. 17 ) without group of sensory setae, apodemes short, free, curved inwards, venulae absent. In female genitalia ( Figs 21–23 ) tergum VIII evenly sclerotized, subrectangular, sternum VIII weakly sclerotized, with deep posterior and anterior emarginations, ostium opening large, situated near anterior margin of sternum VIII, antrum large, funnel-shaped, distinctly widening posteriorly, anterior portion with spirally twisted band of microspines; ductus bursae slender, coiled or bulbous at the entrance of corpus bursae; corpus bursae rounded, membranous; signum triple: two of them a plate (simple or with perpendicular ridge), and the third one an elongated serrate plate on the opposite wall of the corpus bursae.

Biology. Host plant and immature stages unknown.

Distribution. Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Latin “ falcatus” meaning sickle, and “ penna” meaning wing, and refers to the shape of the forewing apex of the new genus.

Remark. Sitotroga exquisita Bidzilya & Mey, 2011 has weakly falcate apex of the forewing resembling species of Falcipenna gen. nov. The current assignment of this species to Sitotroga Heinemann, 1870 seems to be incorrect. This species along with at least one undescribed species from Kenya, is very distinct by combination of external and genital characters, and its position in Pexicopiini needs a separate revision.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Falcipenna irinae sp. nov., adults, Kenya. 1. Holotype, male (gen. slide 15/23, O. Bidzilya). 2. Paratype, female (gen. slide 16/23, O. Bidzilya). 3–5. Holotype, male, head. 3. Dorsal view. 4. Frontal view. 5. Scape with a pecten. 6, 7. Paratype, female. 6. Head and right forewing, frontal view. 7. Head, frontal view.

FIGURES 8–13. Falcipenna argenteomaculata sp. nov., adults. 8. Holotype, male, Kenya (gen. slide 9/23, O. Bidzilya). 9. Paratype, female, Kenya (gen. slide 10/23, O. Bidzilya). 10. Paratype, female, Tanzania (gen. slide NHMO 2374, O. Bidzilya). 11. Paratype, male, South Africa (gen. slide 506/07, O. Bidzilya). 12, 13. Paratype, female, Kenya. 12. Head and right forewing, frontal view. 13. Head, fronto-lateral view.

FIGURES 14–17. Falcipenna irinae sp. nov., abdominal segments. 14. Male segments VII–VIII, tergum (left), sternum (right). 15. Male segments I–III, sternum II–III (left), tergum I–III (right). 16. Female segment V–VII, tergum (left), sternum (right). 17. Female segments I–III, sternum II (left), tergum I–III (right).

FIGURES 18–20. Falcipenna spp., male genitalia. 18. F. irinae sp. nov., holotype (gen. slide 15/23, O. Bidzilya). 19, 20. F. argenteomaculata sp. nov. 19. Paratype, Kenya (gen. slide 5/23, O. Bidzilya). 20. Holotype (gen. slide 9/23, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 21–23. Falcipenna spp., female genitalia. 21. F. irinae sp. nov., paratype (gen. slide 16/23, O. Bidzilya). 22, 23. F. argenteomaculata sp. nov., paratypes, Kenya. 22. Gen. slide 6/23, O. Bidzilya. 23. Gen. slide 10/23, O. Bidzilya.