Alasea corniculata Rota

Rota, Jadranka, 2008, A new genus and new species of metalmark moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) from Costa Rica, Zootaxa 1933, pp. 12-18 : 15-17

Alasea corniculata Rota , new species

Figs. 1–8

Description. Male. Head: Frons and vertex dark fuscous with metallic blue-green sheen. Eye bordered by orange-yellow scales mesally, ventrally, and laterally ( Fig. 2 ). Labial palpus orange-yellow laterally and pale yellow mesally, with dark fuscous tip (in some specimens reduced to a few fuscous scales) ( Fig. 2 ). Proboscis with pale yellow scales basally. Antenna fuscous with metallic purple sheen, flagellomeres from about 0.3 to 0.7 length of antenna with patches of silvery-white scales ( Fig. 4 ).

Thorax: Dark fuscous with metallic blue-green sheen; ventrally with large creamy-yellow scales anteriorly; creamy-yellow band from head towards wing base ( Fig. 3 ). Legs with alternating fuscous and orangeyellow bands on tibia; tarsus with alternating fuscous and white bands; each of these light-colored bands on tibia and tarsus accompanied by elongate piliform scales of same color ( Fig. 3 ). Forewing length 4.5–5.2 mm (n = 10). Upper side dark fuscous with irregular silvery-white streaks and spots ( Fig. 1 ). Incomplete antemedial band formed by silvery-white scales. Silvery-white streak at 0.6 costa curving towards apex. Underside fuscous with metallic bronze sheen; longitudinal orange-yellow streak from base towards apex to 0.75 length; orange-yellow spot above this streak approximate to wing center. Fringe light fuscous, with some pale-tipped scales, and with metallic sheen. Hindwing with upper side orange-yellow; with area of dark fuscous scales at base, apex, and anal region; area of white scales along costal margin ( Fig. 1 ). Black terminal band from costa, starting before apex and extending to the anal area. Fringe light fuscous with metallic sheen; most scales paletipped. Underside similar to upper side, but dark fuscous scales absent at base and apex, present only in anal region, sometimes in streaks, sometimes covering entire anal area.

Abdomen: Light fuscous with seven irregular orange-yellow annulations posteriorly on each segment; annulations more pronounced dorsally than ventrally. Genitalia (n = 8) as described for genus ( Figs. 6, 7 ).

Female. Head and thorax: As described for male. Length of forewing 5.2–5.7 mm (n = 9).

Abdomen: Genitalia (n = 5) as described for genus ( Fig. 8 ).

Holotype. Male, Costa Rica, Province Heredia, La Selva Biological Station, 50–150 m, 10º26’ N, 84º01’ W, 22–29 Jan 2000, at MV light, L/00/666, coll. D. Wagner, CRI 002724390, genitalia slide JR 2008-50. Holotype deposited in INBio.

Paratypes. Costa Rica: Province Heredia: La Selva Biological Station, 50–150 m, 10º26’ N, 84º01’ W, 8– 25 Mar 1999 (1 ɗ), area laboratorios, L/00/594, CRI 002739331, genitalia slide JR 2008-48 (JR collection); 22–31 Mar 2001 (2 ɗ), at MV/UV light, colls. D. Wagner, J. Rota, INB0003205582, genitalia slide JR 2008- 49 ( USNM) and INB0003205569, genitalia slide JR 2008-47 ( BMNH); 20 Apr 1999, bosque secundario, L/ 08/621, CRI 001284938 (1 ɗ) ( RMNH) and CRI 001284937 (1 &), wing slides JR2003-1 and JR2003-2 ( INBio); 23–29 Feb 2004 (1 &), at MV light, coll. D. Wagner, INB0003609767, genitalia slide JR 2008-51 ( USNM); 9 Mar 2004 (1 &), canopy UV light trap, colls. G. Brehm, J. Rota, INB0003611787, genitalia slide JR 2008-52 (JR collection); 10–25 Jan 1999 (1 ɗ), at light, coll. D. Wagner, genitalia slide JR 2008-45 ( UCMS); 28 Jun 1994 (1 &), bosque secundario, L/06/107, CRI 001243945 ( INBio); 10 May 1996 (1 &), biblioteca, L/04/237, CRI 002062296, genitalia slide JR 2008-29 ( INBio); 6 Apr 1999 (1 &), bosque primario, L/ 09/610, CRI 001285629 ( INBio). Braulio Carrillo NP, Est. Magassay, 200 m, Dec 1990 (1 ɗ), L N 264600 531100, coll. M. Zumbado, CRI 000228433, genitalia slide JR 2008-46 ( INBio); 11 km ESE La Virgen, 250– 350 m, 10º21’ N, 84º03’ W, 17 Mar 2004 (1 &), 03/L/00/034, UV light trap, coll. J. Rota, INB0003611759, genitalia slide JR 2008-24 ( INBio). Province Puntarenas: Osa Peninsula, 200 m, bosque esquinas, Mar 1994 (1 ɗ), coll. M. Segura, L S 301400_542200, #2776, CRI 001757112, genitalia slide JR 2008-26 ( INBio); Corcovado NP, Sirena, 15–16 Aug 1980 (1 &), colls. D. H. Janzen and W. Hallwachs, INB0003868490, genitalia slide JR 2008-25 ( INBio). Province Limon: Sector Cerro Cocori, Finca de E. Rojas, L N 286000 567500, coll. E. Rojas, 150 m, Jan 1992 (1 ɗ), CRI 000332924, genitalia slide JR 2008-23 ( INBio); Nov 1990 (1 &), CRI 000594414, genitalia slide JR 2008-29 ( INBio); Mar 1992 (1 ɗ), CRI 000363517, genitalia slide JR 2007- 28 ( INBio).

Remarks. This species is relatively uncommon; it is encountered at lights and in light traps in primary and secondary forest.

Etymology. The species is named for the horn-shaped projection on the valva. The word is derived from the Latin adjective corniculatus.

Discussion. Currently, Alasea is known only from a few localities in Costa Rica. Its biology and immature stages are unknown. Alasea can be assigned to Choreutinae with little question. As with other choreutines, its forewing and hindwing have an acute, bluntly pointed apex (not obtuse as in Brenthiinae ) (see Arita 1987, Diakonoff 1986); the basal segment of the labial palpus is parallel-sided (not narrowed basally as in Brenthiinae ) (see Arita 1987); the hindwing is orange-yellow (as in many species of Choreutis , Hemerophila , and Rhobonda , but not in Brenthiinae ); the basal flagellomeres of the antenna are heavily scaled (no such scaling occurs in Brenthiinae ). In addition, preliminary results of an analysis of molecular data (to be published elsewhere) place it convincingly within Choreutinae . Alasea shares the presence of a small spine at the apex of the valva with Hemerophila , Rhobonda , and Zodia . This spine is variably developed in these groups, and it is unclear whether it represents a synapomorphy.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Morphological features of Alasea corniculata. 1. Adult male holotype; upperside on right, underside on left; 2. Head, lateral view; 3. Adult male holotype, lateral view; 4. Antenna of the male holotype; 5. Wing venation (JR 2003 - 1, INBio).

FIGURES 6 – 8. Genitalia of Alasea corniculata. 1. Male holotype genitalia with phallus removed and valvae not spread (slide JR 2008 - 50, INBio); 2. Phallus (slide JR 2008 - 50, INBio); 3. Female genitalia (slide JR 2008 - 29, INBio).