Ethmia transversella Busck

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 : 41-42

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia transversella Busck Figures 38, 83, 128, 165

Ethmia transversella Busck, 1914b: 53

Diagnosis.

Ethmia transversella can be distinguished by the valva of the male genitalia produced into a short “plume”.

Description.

Male: FW length 14.0-15.6 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus moderately elongate, grayish, broad black bands basal and subapical of II and III segment. Thorax: Gray, collar darker narrowly, a pair of small blackish spots on middle of pronotum, four larger spots lateral. FW ground color gray, with blackish markings, the most evident a curved narrow blotch from middle of costa reaching a longitudinal blotch that goes from center to before termen; an elongated inwardly directed blotch at terminal area from distal end of longitudinal blotch to torsum. HW ground color whitish, brownish along costal on terminal margin; costal fold enclosing a whitish brush of hair scales. Abdomen: Gray, genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia (Fig. 83) with basal processes broad basally; valva emarginated before apex with a group of distal curved spines; valva apex produced into a short plume.

Female: FW length: 16.8-19.1 mm (n = 2). Head and thorax: As described by male, HW unmodified. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 128) with antrum sclerotized; signum a large and well-defined notched keel.

Holotype.

Male: Costa Rica, Juan Viñas [no date] (W. Schaus) [USNM, examined].

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia transversella has been collected in Costa Rica (Fig. 165) throughout the country from 1200 to 1750 m. It occurs in ACG rain forest. The food plants and immature stages are unknown.