Neotrifurcula specimen EvN4504

van Nieukerken, Erik J., Doorenweerd, Camiel, Nishida, Kenji & Snyers, Chris, 2016, New taxa, including three new genera show uniqueness of Neotropical Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera), ZooKeys 628, pp. 1-63 : 33-34

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Nepticulidae

Neotrifurcula specimen EvN4504

Differential diagnosis.

Externally similar to Neotrifurcula gielisorum , but no distinct fascia. Female genitalia characterised by ductus spermathecae with 3.5 convolutions, distinct reticulate signa and omega-shaped sclerotisation in vestibulum.

Description.

Male. Unknown.

Female (Fig. 99). Head with frontal tuft pale yellow ochreous, collar similar, comprising hairscales; scale and pedicel similar, flagellum grey-brown. Antenna with 47 segments. Thorax descaled, forewing somewhat worn, fuscous with pale cream basal patch of ca. half wing length, with scattered fuscous scales and some metallic silver scales. Hindwing broad, brown, costal bristles present. Ovipositor rounded.

Measurements. Female: forewing length 3.8mm, wingspan 8.2 mm.

Female genitalia (Figs 107-110). T9 forming a pair of protruding anal papillae with 12 setae each; T8 rounded, with a few setae. Anterior apophyses anteriorly widened, slightly longer than posterior ones. Total bursa length 1160 µm long. Vestibulum with an omega shaped sclerotisation surrounding entrance of ductus bursae (Fig. 109); a pair of reticulate signa of ca 340 µm long, maximum 5 cells wide (Fig. 110); wall of bursa devoid of pectinations. Ductus spermathecae with 3.5 convolutions.

Biology.

Host plant. Unknown.

Voltinism and habits. The moth was collected in February.

Distribution.

Chile: Valparaiso. Collected in open shrubby habitat, with shrubby species of Nothofagus (Fig. 106).

DNA barcode.

We obtained a full barcode of the specimen, with BINBOLD:ACU6693, showing a distance to barcodes of Neotrifurcula gielisorum of ca 12%.

Remarks.

The huge barcode distance to Neotrifurcula gielisorum and the differences in the wing pattern show clearly the species status of this specimen. It could possibly be the female of the next species, but difference in size and number of antennal segments make this rather unlikely.

Material examined.

1♀, Chile: Valparaiso, Parque Nat. La Campana, 6 km E of Olmue, 450 m, 33.00S- 71.03W, 19.ii.2001, R.T.A. Schouten & H. W. van der Wolf, station 90, Nothofagus forest near brooklet, genitalia slide EvN4504 (RMNH).