Sparganothoides albescens (Walsingham)

Kruse, James J. & Powell, Jerry A., 2009, Systematics of Sparganothoides Lambert and Powell, 1986 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Sparganothini), Zootaxa 2150 (1), pp. 1-78 : 50

25. Sparganothoides albescens (Walsingham)

Figs. 31 , 87

Platynota albescens Walsingham 1913: 218 .

Sparganothoides albescens ; Powell 1986: 149; Powell et al. 1995: 149; Brown 2005; 564.

Diagnosis. This species appears to be most closely related to S. morata , from which it can distinguished by its paler color and absence of a sclerotized crease in the valva.

Description. Male. Head: Frons white, smooth scaled, with small rounded exoskeletal protuberance between antennae; vertex roughened, white to yellowish white, two small exoskeletal protuberances between mesal-posterior margins of eyes, dense clump of small white scales between protuberances, extending mesally along vertex between compound eyes and antennae to near clypeus. Labial palpus white mesally, white and yellowish white laterally. Antennal scaling white basally, brown distally. Thorax: Dorsum smooth scaled, brownish yellow; tegula with clump of small, orange, acutely tipped scales at apex giving tegula truncate appearance. Forewing length 8.1 mm (n = 1). Forewing costal fold extending about 0.6 wing length; forewing ground color yellowish white, with series of ill-defined transverse striae represented by interrupted lines with brownish orange, brown, and black-tipped scales; costa with series of dark brown to black spots; indistinct brown subterminal fascia; dark brown, irregularly shaped pretornal patch from discal cell to margin, angled inward at middle; conspicuous dark brown to black spot at apex of discal cell; irregular patch of brownish orange scales subbasally from about mid-wing to dorsal margin. Fringe yellowish white. Hindwing white with sparse transverse striae throughout. Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 31 ; slide #3708; BMNH; Amula, Guerrero, Mexico; n = 1) with uncus long, slender, bifurcate well before apex, with sparse long setae dorsally and short setae ventrally from bifurcation; tegumen not raised, subtriangular at base of uncus; socius rounded posteriorly, secondary arms long, slender, strongly sclerotized, gently curved before enlarged, asymmetrically lobed, mitten-shaped apices; transtilla strongly sclerotized with median lobe, spines short, numerous over most of posterior margin; valva ovate without sclerotized crease, costa convex, sacculus convex, pulvinus present; phallus pistol-shaped, aedeagus shorter than phallobase, parallel-sided, with dorsal hump subapically [tip not visible on slide], attached to juxta by a thin process; cornuti presumably deciduous [absent in preparation].

Female. Unknown.

Type material. Holotype: Male: MEXICO: GUERRERO: Amula, 6000’, viii.[no year], H. Smith ( BMNH).

Remarks. Collecting near the type locality by J. Powell and J. A. Chemsak in September 1982 failed to recover additional specimens of S. albescens .

Figures

FIGURES 31–36. Male genitalia of Sparganothoides; valvae spread, aedeagus removed. 31. S. albescens. 32. S. torusana. 33. S. prolesana. 34. S. polymitariana. 35. S. silaceana. 36. S. aciculana.

FIGURES 79–94. Adults of Sparganothoides. 79. S. probolosana (paratype: Mexico: Durango: 24 mi W La Ciudad). 80. S. licrosana (holotype). 81. S. canorisana (paratype: Mexico: Tamaulipas: Gómez Farias, 1000m, 29–31.vii.1988, V. Becker and M. Solis). 82. S. capitiornata (paratype). 83. S. arcuatana (paratype, copper form: Mexico: Veracruz: 22 km W Cd. Mendoza, 2150m, 13.viii.1987, J. Brown and J. Powell, JAP lot 87H7.6, emerged 12.i.1988). 84. S. arcuatana (paratype, gold form: Mexico: Jalisco: Nevado de Colima, 10.7 mi. N Hwy 54, 8200', 17.ix.1986, N. Bloomfield). 85. S. lentiginosana (USA: FL: Escambia County, Pensacola, 3.v.1962, S. Hills). 86. S. morata (Venezuela: Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100', 21–25.i.1966, S. and W. Duckworth). 87. S. albescens (holotype). 88. S. torusana (holotype). 89. S. prolesana (holotype). 90. S. polymitariana (holotype). 91. S. silaceana (paratype: Costa Rica: Alajuela: Volcán Poás, 2350m, 25.viii.1987, J. Brown and J. Powell). 92. S. aciculana (holotype). 93. S. broccusana (holotype). 94. S. cornutana (holotype).