Aphanostola calderae Bidzilya & Mey, 2016

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Agassiz, David, 2016, Review of the genus Aphanostola Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Anomologinae) with description of 19 new species from the Afrotropical Region, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 45-74 : 51

Aphanostola calderae Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 7 , 8 , 45 , 46

Type material.

Holotype ♂, [South Africa], RSA, East.[ern] Cape, Sneeuberg [area], Asante-Sana, 2.-6. iv.2011 (Mey) (gen. slide 184/12, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratypes: 5 ♂, same locality, 22-26.i.2012 (Mey) (gen. slide 582/14; 609/14, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN).

Diagnosis.

The new species is well recognizable externally by the yellow-white forewing with black markings. The male genitalia resemble those of Aphanostola acaciae sp. n. but differ in the longer uncus, the inner margin of the valva bearing a medial thorn, the sacculus not constricted before apex, the triangular saccus, and the shorter process of the phallus.

Description.

Adult (Figs 7 , 8 ). Wingspan 7.1-7.5 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae white, labial palpus weakly up-curved, brown with white apical rings, inner surface white; antenna dark brown, ciliated in male; forewing yellow-white, black dot in middle of cell, black dash in middle of fold, black spot on 2/3 near dorsal margin, a few black dots along termen, cilia white. Hindwing and cilia white.

Male genitalia (Figs 45 , 46 ). Uncus short, twice as broad as long, covered with strong, long setae, posterior margin weakly emarginated in middle; gnathos narrow, weakly curved, sickle-shaped; tegumen as a right angle, anterior margin deeply emarginated; basal half of valva straight, basal half of inner margin strongly sclerotized, terminating in a short thorn in the middle of valva length, distal part inflated, hairy, far exceeding top of uncus; sacculus narrow to moderately wide, prolonged, apex abruptly cut; vinculum moderately broad, posterior margin with very short medial and short triangular lateral humps, postero-medial incision relatively broad; saccus a right-angled triangle or slightly elongated; phallus comparatively wide, straight, edges finely serrated in apical 1/4, apex abruptly cut, about as long as length of valva, basal projection shorter than phallus, narrow, pointed.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The name refers to the location of the game farm Asante Sana in the escarpment, where the landscape is reminiscent of a caldera.

Distribution.

South Africa.

Biology.

Host plant unknown. Adults were collected late January and early April.

Figures

Figures 1 - 21. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 1. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 73 / 05); 2. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Mirabib (gen. slide 548 / 14); 3. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Kenya, Logumgum (gen. slide 1362); 4. Aphanostola pentastigma, HT, RSA, Pretoria; 5. Aphanostola pentastigma, Kenya, L. Naivasha; 6. Aphanostola morogorensis sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 7. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., RSA, Asante-Sana; 8. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., HT, RSA, Asante-Sana; 9. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 10. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., HT, Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu; 11. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 8 / 15); 12. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi; 13. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., HT, Namibia, Popa Falls; 14. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., RSA, Nwanedzi (gen. slide 36 / 15); 15. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Kavango; 16. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Rooiklip Farm; 17. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Grootfontein; 18. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., Kenya, Nakuru NP (gen. slide 596 / 14); 19. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 76 / 05); 20. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi; 21. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 155 / 15).

Figures 41 - 46. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 41. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., HT, Namibia, 20 km NW Uis (gen. slide 101 / 05); 42. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Rooiklip Farm (gen. slide 496 / 14); 43. Aphanostola pentastigma, Kenya, L. Naivasha (gen. slide 1357); 44. Aphanostola morogorensis sp. n., HT Tanzania, Morogoro Town (gen. slide 2378); 45. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., HT, Namibia, Asante-Sana (gen. slide 184 / 12); 46. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., Namibia, Asante-Sana (582 / 14).