Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen, 2023

Kovtunovich, Vasyly, Ustjuzhanin, Petr, Pototski, Aleksander & Haverinen, Risto, 2023, To the plume moths fauna (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Kenya, Ecologica Montenegrina 62, pp. 127-138 : 128-129

Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:98312569-8D00-466F-BF57-236DCBFF2193

( Figs 1–5 )

Type material: Holotype, male ( IZBE, gen.pr. № 230503), KENYA, Manganga , 770 m, 3°26'30.48"N, 38°26'23.64"E, 8.II.2022, R. Haverinen & A. Pototski leg. , Paratypes, 1 male ( IZBE, gen.pr. № 230505), same data as holotype , 1 male ( CUK, gen.pr. № 380), same data as holotype ; 1 female ( IZBE, gen.pr. № 230504), KENYA, 1 km N Mtb. Mwagoh near Voi river , 710 m, 3°27'19.8"N, 38°28'17.04"E, 5.II.2022, R. Haverinen & A. Pototski leg.

Description: External characters ( Fig. 1 ). Wingspan 15–17 mm, holotype – 17 mm. Fore wings ash-grey. Three dark longitudinal strokes on costal margin distally. Two dark elongated spots located obliquely to each other behind the middle of wing; one more, small and less expressed elongated spot located at middle, closer to base. Hind wings grey, unicolorous. Fringe on all wings light-grey.

Male genitalia ( Figs 2 , 3 ). Valves asymmetric, left valve apically slightly drawn forwards and acute; right valve distally knee-bent. Costal processes on both valves thickened in lower part, beyond the middle, and noticeably narrowing apically. Uncus of a complicated structure, with three pairs of forked processes. Lobes of sternum VIII short, narrow-triangle, slightly narrowing to apices. Aedeagus poorly curved, with bluntly rounded protrusion basally, closer to middle. Cluster of tiny spiky cornuti behind this protrusion, in middle part of aedeagus, and nearby – one elongated crest-like cornutus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 4 ). Papillae anales oval, apically acute. Posterior apophyses thin, short, apically acute. Anterior apophyses narrow-triangle. Antrum wide, on margins with two narrow sclerotized spikes, directed upwards. Lamina vaginalis of sternum VII with two elongated oval lobes. Bursa copulatrix elongated, oval, poorly sclerotized.

Differential diagnosis. In the male genitalia, in the shape of the valves and their costal processes, the new species is similar to Agdistis kaunda Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2015 (type locality – South Africa, Northern Cape, Springbok, Kopperberg Farm), but clearly differs in the shape of the uncus and the lobe of sternum VIII. The special, unusual uncus structure with three pairs of fork-like processes differentiates this species from all the known representatives of the genus .

Distribution. Kenya

Flight period. February

Etymology. The new species is named after Ivars Šulcs (05.08.1945 - 01.08.2021), a Latvian lepidopterologist and member of the Estonian Society of Lepidopterologists, who made an important contribution to the study of Latvian and Estonian moths fauna.

Figures

Figure 1. Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov., adult (holotype).

Figure 2. Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov., male genitalia.

Figure 3. Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov., male genitalia (uncus).

Figure 4. Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov., female genitalia

Figure 5. Agdistis ivarssulcsi Kovtunovich, Ustjuzhanin, Pototski & Haverinen sp. nov., biotope.