Aphanostola brandbergensis 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 : 56-57

Aphanostola brandbergensis Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 26 , 55 , 77

Aphanostola brandbergensis Genus 1, sp. 4. - Bidzilya 2007: 94, figs 7, 8; pl. 5, fig. 6.

Type material.

Holotype ♀, Namibia, Brandberg, Mason Shelter, 6.iii.2002, 1740 m (Mey) (gen. slide 74/05, O. Bidzilya) (MfN). Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (gen. slide 103/05, O. Bidzilya); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, same data but 5,6,9.iii.2002; 2 ♂, Namibia, Brandberg, 1100 m, 1.xii.2000, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 82/05, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♂, Namibia, Brandberg, Ugab, 4.xii.2000 (Mey) (gen. slide 80/05, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN).

Diagnosis.

The new species can easily be recognized by the cream forewing with black dots and black irroration along costal margin and by its comparatively small size. The male genitalia are well defined by the broad valva, the very short saccus, the shape of valva and other details. The female genitalia are characterized by long apophyses anteriores, prolonged corpus bursae and unmodified sternite VIII.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 26 ). Wingspan 5.8-6.1 mm. Head yellowish-white, labial palpus nearly straight, segment two yellow basally, brown in distal portion, inner surface yellowish-white, segment three brown with yellow apex, antenna in male slightly thicker than in female, scape brown with some white scales, other segments brown with narrow, whitish basal rings; thorax and tegulae yellowish-white, sometimes with a few black scales; forewing cream, mottled with brown mostly along margins and near apex, costal margin brown from base to 1/5 length, three brown spots in cell, two brown spots on ¾ of dorsal margin, diffuse brown spot and a few black dots in termen, cilia white, brown-tipped; hindwing light grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 55 ). Uncus heart-shaped, short, twice as broad as long, posterior margin straight; gnathos strongly curved at base, distal portion straight, gradually narrowing towards pointed apex; tegumen sub-rectangular, twice as long as broad, anterior margin with deep emargination; valva wide and comparatively short, angled at 150° in the middle, distal half turned outwards, apex rounded, inner margin with distinct, medial thorn placed close to sacculus; sacculus short, triangular and narrow; vinculum narrow, medial projections short, rounded, medial incision short, narrow; saccus weakly developed, very short, extending to apex of pedunculus; phallus as long as tegumen, gradually narrowed distally, apex with short tooth, basal projection absent.

Female genitalia (Fig. 77 ). Segment VIII twice as long as broad, weakly sclerotized, without modification; apophyses anteriores twice the length of segment VIII and less than half length of apophyses posteriores; ductus bursae narrow, gradually merging into the long corpus bursae; signum absent.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Brandberg, the type locality of the new species.

Distribution.

Namibia.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. Adults were collected in December and in February up to 1740 m elevation.

Figures

Figures 22 - 39. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 22. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge; 23. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (209 / 12); 24. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., HT, Namibia, Brandberg; 25. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Auas Mts.; 26. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 74 / 05); 27. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 28. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Mt. Etjo (gen. slide 597 / 14); 29. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, E. Etosha (gen. slide 151 / 15); 30. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Kenya, Baringo; 31. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi; 32. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 143 / 15); 33. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., HT, Kenya, L. Bogoria; 34. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., Ethiopia, Tana-See; 35. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See; 36. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 577 / 14); 37. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest (gen. slide 590 / 14); 38. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest; 39. Aphanostola atripalpis, PT, India, Pusa (gen. slide 411 / 14).

Figures 53 - 58. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 53. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (gen. slide 208 / 12); 54. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 107 / 05); 55. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 103 / 05); 56. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town (gen. slide 2380); 57. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Omatjete Farm (gen. slide 553 / 14); 58. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Okahanja (gen. slide 198 / 12).

Figures 77 - 79. Female genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 77. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., HT, Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 74 / 05); 78. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Fort Sesfontein (gen. slide 489 / 14); 79. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Kenya, L. Baringo (gen. slide 1363); 79 a. Signum (enlarge) (gen. slide 1370).