Aphanostola longicornutata Bidzilya, Agassiz & 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 : 59-60

Aphanostola longicornutata Bidzilya, Agassiz & Mey sp. n. Figs 36-38 , 63 , 82

Type material.

Holotype ♀, Namibia, E. Etosha, Farm Sachsenheim, 29.-30.viii.2012, LF (Mey) ( MfN). Paratypes: 3 ♂, 12 ♀, same data as holotype (486/14♂; 503/14♂; 484/14♀; 485/14♀; 487/14♀, O. Bidzilya); 3 ♀, Namibia, Kunene, Fort Sesfontein, 5.ix.2009, Turm (Mey) (gen. slide 500/14, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN); 1 ♂, Kenya: Rift Valley, L. Bogoria, 3000 ft, 3.vii.1999 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 577/14) (coll. Agassiz); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Kenya, Kakamega Forest, UDO Camp, 1600 m, 00 21N, 34 52 E (08), 17.iv.2001 (J. De Prins) (gen. slide 589/14♂; 590/14♀, O. Bidzilya) (all BMNH).

Diagnosis.

The new species can be separated from the similar Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., Aphanostola antennata sp. n., and Aphanostola alternella sp. n. only by examining the genitalia. The male genitalia can easily be recognized by the presence of a very large, lateral, vincular projection, a long and narrow saccus as well as an extremely long phallus with one large cornutus. The female genitalia are defined by a wrinkled antrum, a narrow, serrated signum, the coiled corpus bursae and by the other details.

Description.

Adult (Figs 36-38 ). Wingspan 5.8-7.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae light grey with a few brown-tipped scales, frons slightly lighter, labial palpus nearly straight, black with white apex, inner surface grey, antenna thick in both sexes, finely ciliated by male, scape brown, flagellum with alternate brown and whitish rings; forewing dark grey, margins and apical area suffused with black, two black spots in middle of cell, indistinct black dash in fold, black spot in the corner of cell hidden by black scales, cilia grey, black-tipped; hindwing and cilia light grey.

Variation. The black markings can be reduced so that the forewing looks uniformly grey in some specimens.

Male genitalia (Fig. 63 ). Uncus very short, posterior margin broadly rounded; gnathos short, strongly curved at base, distal portion straight, gradually narrowed apically; tegumen short, sub-rectangular, anteromedial emargination broad, shallow; valva straight, narrow; sacculus short, beak-shaped; vinculum moderately broad, medial projections short, lateral projections very large, broader than valva, extending to ¾ of its length; medial incision traingular, v-shaped; saccus very long, far exceeding beyond the apex of pedunculus, distal portion very narrow; phallus very long, straight apex broadly rounded, distal portion with big weakly curved cornutus, basal projection narrow, arising from 2/3 length of phallus, vesica with numerous small spikes.

Female genitalia (Fig. 82 ). Segment VIII about as long as broad, weakly narrowed posteriorly, evenly sclerotized, apophyses anteriores moderately thick, longer than segment VIII; antrum tubular, wrinkled; sub-ostial sclerite sub-ovate; ductus bursae long, coiled before corpus bursae, with sclerotized filament inside of coil; corpus bursae large, pear-shaped; signum a narrow, prolonged plate with serrated margins.

Etymology.

Derived from “longus” and “cornutus” (Latin), long resp. cornutus, referring to the unusual long cornutus of the phallus

Distribution.

Namibia, Kenya.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The adults have been collected in late August-early September in Namibia and in mid-April, early July in Kenya.

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 59 - 64. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 59. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi (gen. slide 48 / 15); 60. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slode 1549); 61. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Namibia, Sandveld (gen. slide 457 / 07); 62. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See (gen. slide 427 / 07); 63. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Namibia, Etosha (gen. slide 503 / 14); 64. Aphanostola atripalpis, India, Pusa, PT (gen. slide 411 / 14).

Figures 80 - 82. Female genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 80. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 1550); 81. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 8 / 15); 82. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Namibia, E. Etosha (gen. slide 500 / 14).