Carmenta splendens Eichlin

Eichlin, Thomas D. & Kinnee, Scott A., 2002, Brazilian Sesiidae in the collection of the Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 108, pp. 1-15 : 14

Carmenta splendens Eichlin , sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Wing length: 10­12 mm. The wings are clear with very narrow margins and a narrow discal spot. The scaling is dark overall and with a blue­green iridescence.

Description. Male: Head structures blue black. Thorax blue black but with white scales on ventroposterior surface of metathorax. Abdomen blue black but with white on tip of exposed genital valves. Legs blue black, some white mixed on tibial tufts near spur pairs on hindtibia. Wings hyaline: forewing with very narrow margins and narrow discal spot. Genitalia ( Fig. 18 ) with valvae broad; saccus thick, long, about one­half length of valvae; scopula androconialis short, less than one­fourth length of valvae.

Female ( Fig. 12 ): Same as for male. Antenna ventrally with short but noticeable setae. Genitalia ( Fig. 24 ) with antrum elongate, nearly straight, sclerotized; ductus bursae initially greatly expanded, sclerotized, distal portion narrower, membranous, wrinkled; corpus bursae globose, without signum.

Host plant. Unknown.

Types. splendens : Holotype male ­ BRAZIL: S. Paulo, V.51, S. Amaro, V. Lane (UCR).

Allotype female ­ BRAZIL: 43 (red circle), 6.5.25, Bud 23; Conopia scarabitis Meyr.; Marten II, scarabitis, 6; Saarbrücken (IGUS). Paratypes (2 females): (1) 42 (red circle), 3.4.19; 3/4­1919, (zu Lic..(?) (unreadable); Saarbrücken (IGUS); (1) 2.4.1921, An Plaumann (?), i. Sorten (?); Saarbrücken (IGUS).

Etymology. The name splendens is derived from the Latin splendor (luster), referring to the blue­green sheen of the scales on this species.

Remarks. The specimen labels of the IGUS types provide little more than dates, and the handwritten labels are mostly unreadable.

Figures

FIGURES 14 ­ 19. Male gentialia of clearwing moths. 14, Carmenta angarodes; 15, C. asema; 16, C. leptosoma, Paratype; 17, C. aerosa; 18, C. splendens, Holotype; 19, C. plaumanni, Paratype.

FIGURES 7 - 13. Adult clearwing moths. 7, C. laticraspedontis, female, Holotype (ventral aspect, abdomen removed); 8, Synanthedon hemigymna, female, Holotype; 9, S. flavostigma, female, Holotype. 10, Carmenta angarodes, male, (Lectotype of semitrista Zuk., n. syn); 11, C. angarodes, female (post. portion of abdomen removed); 12, C. splendens, female, Allotype; 13, C. leptosoma, male, Holotype.

FIGURES 20 ­ 24. Female genitalia of clearwing moths. 20, Carmenta plaumanni, Allotype; 21, C. asema; 22, C. laticraspedontis, Holotype; 23, C. angarodes; 24, C. splendens.