Terifrona fronteria Brown, 2024

Brown, John W., 2024, New genera and species of tortricid moths from Chile and Argentina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Zootaxa 5551 (1), pp. 51-90 : 55

Terifrona fronteria Brown , new species

LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 29129CE4-F36C-4FEA-9944-5C5DA4D76373

( Figs. 2 , 21 , 40 )

Diagnosis. Terifrona fronteria can be distinguished from other species by details given in the diagnosis of the genus above. In particular, the complex male and female genitalia are unique in the tribe.

Description. Head: Vertex and frons scaling uniformly pale tannish brown; antenna with dorsal scales cream; scales of labial palpus pale tannish brown with scattered brown scales on outer surface, pale tannish brown on inner surface.

Thorax: Dorsum scaling pale tannish brown.Underside cream; prolegs with orangish brown scales, mesothoracic and metathoracic legs with brown scales. Forewing length 8.0 mm (n = 3); forewing ground color pale orangish brown ( Fig. 2 ); basal blotch represented by a narrow, inward-directed, oblique line from near costa ca. 0.33 distance from wing base; median fascia an irregularly rhomboidal band from costa ca. 0.45‒0.65 distance from wing base, to hind margin ca. 0.25‒0.85 distance from base, well defined along inner margin, less so on outer margin; fringe mostly cream, darker basally. Underside nearly uniformly pale bronze. Hindwing pale cream throughout; fringe pale cream, concolorous with wing. Underside pale cream.

Abdomen: Cream. Male genitalia ( Fig. 21 ) as described for genus. Female genitalia ( Fig. 40 ) as described for genus.

Types. Holotype ♂, Argentina, Salta Province, 72: Rosario de la Frontera, Los Baños , [770 m], 11 Apr 1979, Mision Cientifica Danesa ( NHMD).

Paratypes (2♂, 1♀). Argentina: Salta Province: 72: Rosario de la Frontera, Los Baños , 6 Apr 1979 (2♂), 9 Apr 1979 (1♀), Mision Cientifica Danesa ( NHMD) .

Distribution and biology. This species is recorded only from Salta Province, Argentina, at about 770 m elevation. All specimens were captured in April. The biology is unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of Rosario de la Frontera.

Figures

FIGURES 1‒8.Adults of tortricid species from Chile andArgentina.1. Argentiliana basipallidana, paratype female. 2. Terifrona fronteria, holotype male. 3. Transtilliana biloba, paratype male. 4. Transtilliana biloba, paratype male. 5. Vargasia karsholti, holotype male. 6. Hamiamia trancasiana, Chile, Ñuble Province. 7. Varifula fulvaria, Chile, Aconcagua Province. 8. Varifula geomops, holotype male.

FIGURES 21‒28. Male genitalia of tortricid species from Chile and Argentina. 21. Terifrona fronteria, USNM slide 145,517. 22. Transtilliana biloba, USNM slide 154,846. 23. Vargasia karsholti, Horak slide GP 733. 24. Hamiamia trancasiana, USNM slide 92,490. 25. Varifula fulvaria, USNM slide 154,848. 26. Varifula geomops, USNM slide 68,492. 27. Proeulia hasta, furca attached to phallus, USNM slide 154,802. 28. Proeulia hasta, furca in situ, USNM slide 81,233.

FIGURES 39‒44. Female genitalia of tortricid species from Chile and Argentina. 39. Argentiliana basipallida, USNM slide 154,800. 40. Terifrona fronteria, USNM slide 145,518. 41. Transtilliana biloba, USNM slide 154,847. 42. Vargasia karsholti, JWBrown slide 1216. 43. Hamiamia trancasiana, USNM slide 92491. 44. Varifula fulvaria, USNM slide 88,471.