Ethmia dimauraorum Phillips

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 : 24-25

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia dimauraorum Phillips sp. n. Figures 21, 66, 111, 158

Diagnosis.

This species is easily distinguished externally by the presence of two distinct black spots at base of FW posterior half and the presence of two anterior pronotal black spots. In male genitalia there is a characteristic row of five large flat spines on valva anterior margin.

Description.

Male: FW length 8.1-9.1 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus elongated surpassing base of antenna, segment I black, segment II and III whitish with black bands apical; proboscis brownish with dispersed white scaling, front and crown whitish with scattered black scaling, occipital black tuft at mid-dorsum. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, collar whitish, two anterior pronotal dark spots, large spot on scutellum sometimes divided by white; underside whitish, forelegs and middle legs whitish with black rings at tibia, hindlegs light brown with whitish rings near tarsus. FW ground color whitish mostly covered with irregular dark brown elongated markings except by apex. Two distinct dark brown dots on at base of FW posterior half. Terminal line composed of eight blackish dots from before costa to tornus. HW ground color brown, darker just at apex; costa with short whitish modified scales 0.3 × from base, not a defined brush. Abdomen: Dorsal and ventral scaling light brown, genitalia scaling pale yellow. Genitalia (Fig. 66) with uncus and gnathos absent, apex of valva produced into a “plume” with elongate base; six long and flat spines below apex disposed in a row; basal process narrow and slightly curved outwards.

Female: FW length 8.3-9.1 mm (n = 6). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 111) with papilla anales elongated; posterior apophyses long; sterigma sclerotized invaginated; ductus bursae sclerotized at base; signum a small scobinated patch, located at posterior half of corpus bursae.

Holotype.

Male: 10-SRNP-112782, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Guanacaste: ACG: Sector Cacao, Toma de agua, 1160 m, 8.x.2010, S. Ríos & F. Quesada. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Alajuela: ACG: Albergue Oscar, Manta Trocha 719 m, 1F 25.iii.2009, R. Franco & F. Quesada. Guanacaste: ACG: Sector Cacao, Derrumbe 1310 m, 4F 13.v.2010. F. Quesada & R. Franco, 1F 30.viii.2010, F. Quesada & S. Ríos, 3F 14.v.2010, R. Franco & H. Cambronero; Toma de agua, 1160 m, 1F 8.x.2010, S. Ríos & F. Quesada (BMNH, INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia dimauraorum has been found in Costa Rica (Fig. 158) from 700 to 1300 m on the Pacific slope of Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste, at 750 m in the Cordillera Volcánica Central and at 1000 m in the Caribbean side of Cordillera de Tilarán. It occurs in ACG rain forest. The food plant and immature stages are unknown.

Etymology.

Ethmia dimauraorum is named in honor of Paul and Karen Dimaura of Boston, Massachusetts, who have generously allowed the University of Pennsylvania to support Daniel Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs full-time in their efforts to facilitate the germination and growth of ACG, INBio, and the Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund.