Falcipenna irinae, 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 : 420-421

Falcipenna irinae sp. nov.

Figs 1–7 , 14–18 , 21

Type material. Holotype ♁, Kenya, Rift valley , Gilgil, 2100 m, 0°29’S 36°22’E, 3.ix.2006 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 15/23, O. Bidzilya) ( DA) . Paratype: 1 ♀, Kenya, Rift valley , Prov. Turi, 8000ft, 29.i.1999 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 16/23, O. Bidzilya) ( DA) .

Diagnosis. The ochreous-brown forewing with dark brown fasciae, silver markings and tufts of raised scales are characteristic. Falcipenna argenteomaculata sp. nov. is smaller (10.0–13.0 mm), lighter, with larger silvery marking, and its forewing is more distinctly falcate. The long (about 3/4 length of tegumen) nearly parallel-sided uncus and triangular saccus are characteristic for the male genitalia. In F. argenteomaculata sp. nov. the uncus is shorter (1/2 length of tegumen) and distinctly constricted at the base, whereas the saccus is subrectangular. Additionally, the ventral process on the cucullus is larger in F. argenteomaculata sp. nov. The female genitalia can be recognized by the two sub-rhomboid signa with transverse ridges. In F. argenteomaculata sp. nov. these signa are trapezoid, without modification.

Description. Head ( Figs 3–5, 7 ) light-brown to ochreous, palpomere 2 white with light brown shadow on outer and upper surface, brown spot at base, palpomere 3 white with black subapical ring, acute; scape light brown with brown spot before apex, flagellomeres light brown with dark brown rings at base on upper side, pecten of antenna white; thorax and tegulae ochreous-brown, darker than head; wingspan 14.0–15.0 mm, forewing ( Figs 1, 2, 6 ) with slightly falcate apex, ground colour ochreous-brown, diffuse basal dark brown transverse oblique fascia from 1/5 of costa to 1/4 of dorsum and medial fascia from 1/2 of costa to 2/3 of dorsum, dark brown pattern from 4/5 of costa to termen where it joins with medial fascia, costal margin with many black points and four larger black spots at base, at 1/5, 1/2 and 4/5, basal fascia with diffuse blackish-brown spot near costa and silver spot near dorsum, medial fascia with brown touch edged with silver near dorsum, in middle and near dorsum, narrow silvery touch under 1/5 of costa and near tornus, termen edged with silvery, tufts of raised scales in middle near base, at 1/8 under fold, just beyond middle near dorsum and between medial fascia and dark brown subapical pattern; fringe cilia ochreous-brown with light brown tips; hindwing dark grey with light grey fringe cilia.

Variation. The female is less contrasting with lighter oblique fasciae, costal margin with one black spot on 4/5.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 18 ). Uncus 2.5 times as long as broad, about 3/4 length of tegumen, weakly narrowed at base, then parallel-sided, densely covered with long hairs, posterior margin weakly rounded; gnathos strongly curved, sickle-shaped, as long as uncus; tegumen parallel-sided, 2.5 times as long as broad, anteromedial emargination narrow, triangular, extending to 1/4 length of tegumen; cucullus elongated, extending to the top of uncus, gradually widening apically, densely covered with long setae in distal half on ventral margin, ventral margin with short process at 2/3 bearing pencil of short setae, apex rounded; sacculus reduced; valvella digitate, 1/4 length of cucullus, covered with hairs; saccus short, triangular; phallic tube moderately broad, apex gently widening, rounded, with down-curved short hook, caecum rounded, weakly inflated, bulbus ejaculatorius 2.5 times as long as phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 21 ). Papillae anales subtriangular, covered with long setae at base and short hair-like setae apically; sternum VIII with triangular posteromedial emargination, antrum funnel-shaped, posterior portion broad, densely covered with microspines, anterior portion with twisted band of microspines, almost 1/3 length of ductus bursae; ductus bursae slender, coiled and moderately inflated at the entrance of corpus bursae; corpus bursae rounded, as long as ductus bursae; two signa sub-rhomboid with perpendicular triangular ridge, the third signum a rounded serrate plate.

Biology. Adults have been observed in January and September at altitudes between 2100 and 2400 m.

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The new species is named after Irina Chernyakova —a good friend of the first author.

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 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.