Ethmia mnesicosma Meyrick

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 18-19

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia mnesicosma Meyrick Figures 16, 61, 106, 140, 155

Ethmia mnesicosma Meyrick, 1924: 119; Powell 1973: 148.

Diagnosis.

Ethmia mnesicosma has a FW pattern similar to that of Ethmia exornata , Ethmia dianemillerae , Ethmia adrianforsythi and Ethmia phylacis but specimens are smaller and have the basal blue dark spotting extended over the posterior half of the base of the FW.

Description.

Male FW length: 7.5-8.9 (n = 4). Head: Labial palpus curved barely reaching base of antenna, smooth scale white, first and second segment tingled with brownish, third segment white. Base of antenna dorsum black with white spots near head. Proboscis brownish, head with white long scales. Thorax: Whitish with dark gray markings narrow in the base of collar, broad on base of tegula, a large spot on scutellum sometimes split in two longitudinally by white; underside light brown, white laterally. FW ground color white, several dark spots in costal and posterior half; a light brown narrow band starting 0.25 × from base of costa to 0.70 × of FW, base of costa white split by dark spot; a large reddish spot surrounded by brown from middle of cell to dorsal, from antemedial to postmedial line; termen reddish finishing golden, two big spots on costal and posterior half preceding termen. HW costal area simple, ground color light brownish with termen pale ochreus. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling brownish, white lateral, genital scaling pale ochreous. Genitalia (Fig. 61) with uncus simple, without lateral arms; gnathos large with posterior large spines; basal processes broad; anterior margin of valva nearly entire, sacculus not separated by a deep notch.

Female: FW length 8.9-9.2 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male, except HW darker. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 106) with sterigma slightly sclerotized; antrum enlarged sclerotized, with many inwardly directed spurs; signum a deep fold with a row of teeth.

Lectotype. Female: Costa Rica, San José, lectotype by Clarke (1965) [BMNH, examined].

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia mnesicosma has been collected from both coasts in southern Mexico, to northern Venezuela, Trinidad and in southern Brazil. In Costa Rica (Fig. 155) Ethmia mnesicosma has been found on both slopes of Cordillera de Guanacaste at middle elevations and on the Península de Nicoya. It has been found in ACG dry and rain forest.

Food plant records.

Ethmia mnesicosma has been reared from larvae feeding on Boraginaceae : Cordia alliodora .

Immature stages

(Fig. 139). Dorsum: Head capsule and prothoracic shield black with yellowish dots, pattern of regular blocks of yellow and white squared markings alternating every 3 to 4 segments.

Parasitoids. Diptera : Tachinidae : Hemisturmia Wood02 (n = 25), Frontiniella Wood01 (n = 24).