Argyrotaenia tucumana, Trematerra, Pasquale & Brown, John W., 2004

Trematerra, Pasquale & Brown, John W., 2004, Synopsis and descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 574, pp. 1-12 : 4-5

Argyrotaenia tucumana , new species

Figs. 3, 4 , 10 , 15

Diagnosis. Argyrotaenia tucumana can be distinguished from other Argentine Argyrotaenia by the following: a more typical Argyrotaenia forewing pattern in the male with a median fascia and a well defined subapical blotch; a slightly shorter valva with a nearly straight costa; the sacculus extending to near the apex of the valva; the vesica of the aedeagus with approximately 14 deciduous cornuti, forming a dense fascicle; the sterigma of the female concave in the middle dorsally, with a weakly sclerotized anterior edge; the cup­shaped antrum with distinct microsetae; and the colliculum not broader than ductus bursae.

Description. Male ( Fig. 3 ). Head: Pale brown. Labial palpus pale brown, speckled with dark brown scales. Thorax: Pale brown. Forewing length 5.1–7.1 mm (mean = 6.0, n = 3), oblong, weakly expanding terminally, costa moderately arched near base, slightly concave subapically, apex obtuse­pointed, termen rather oblique. Forewing ground color pale tan; basal blotch ill defined, pale brown; median fascia oblique, brown, dark and well defined in costal area, becoming less defined at dorsum; subapical blotch semicircular, dark brown; terminal fascia brownish. Cilia pale brownish. Hindwing pale cream grey, tinged grey in apical 0.3. Cilia pale cream. Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 10 ) with uncus relatively long, rounded apically; tegumen small; socius small with weak hairs; gnathos arm slender, terminal plate pointed; vinculum with distal fold sclerotized; valva broad, shorter than in pomililiana , with costa nearly straight; pulvinus distinct, digitate, with long slender hairs; sacculus simple, long, extending to apex of valva, slightly convex in median part, without free termination; transtilla plate­shaped, tapering medially; juxta small. Aedeagus long and slender, with sharp termination, caulis small, coecum penis rounded and developed; vesica with approximately 14 short, lanceolate, deciduous cornuti, forming a dense fascicle.

Female ( Fig. 4 ): Head: As is male. Thorax: Forewing length 8.0 mm (n =1), ground color slightly darker than in male, yellow ochre; basal blotch brownish; median fascia brownish, obsolete in costal area; subapical blotch faint. Hindwing darker than in male. Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 15 ) with papillae anales large, well developed; apophyses anteriores long; sterigma concave in middle dorsally, with weakly sclerotized anterior edge, anteostial portion weakly sclerotized; antrum large, cup­shaped, with distinct microsetae; colliculum not broader than ductus bursae, strengthened with internal sclerite; ductus bursae moderately long; ductus seminalis postmedian and receptaculum seminis developed; proximal sclerite of ductus bursae absent; corpus bursae well developed, spherical; signum typically archipine with internal spine and external capitulum, elongate, length less than 0.5 of corpus bursae.

Holotype, ɗ, Argentina , Tucumán, Ciudad Universitaria, 800 m, 17 February 1959, J. F. G. Clarke (USNM).

Paratypes. Same data as holotype (2ɗ, 1Ψ) (USNM).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality of Ciudad Universitaria, Tucumán.

Biology. Unknown; adults have been collected in February. Remarks. The association of the sexes is based on the identical collecting data of the type series.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the region of Tucumán in Argentina .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Adults of Argyrotaenia species. 1, A. pomililiana (male); 2, A. pomililiana (female); 3, A. tucumana (male); 4, A. tucumana (female); 5, A. loxonephes (male); 6, A. loxonephes (female); 7, A. sphaleropa (male); 8, A. sphaleropa (female).

FIGURES 9 – 12. Male genitalia of Argyrotaenia species; valvae spread and aedeagus removed. 9, A. pomililiana; 10, A. tucumana; 11, A. loxonephes; 12, A. sphaleropa.

FIGURES 13 – 15. Female genitalia of Argyrotaenia species. 13, A. sphaleropa; 14, A. loxonephes; 15, A. tucumana; 16, A. pomililiana.