Crocidosema nitsugai, Vargas, Hector A., 2019

Vargas, Hector A., 2019, A new species of Crocidosema Zeller (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) from the Andes of northern Chile, Nota Lepidopterologica 42 (2), pp. 129-136 : 129

Crocidosema nitsugai sp. nov. Figs 1-5

Type material.

HOLOTYPE, male, CHILE: Putre, Parinacota, Chile, emerged April 2019, H.A. Vargas coll., ex-larva Lupinus oreophilus , March 2019, genitalia slide HAV-1278 ( MNNC).

Paratypes, CHILE. One male, two females, same data as holotype, genitalia slides HAV-1261, 1270, 1271 ( MNNC); four males, one female, same data as holotype, genitalia slides HAV-1259, 1275, 1276, 1277, 1279 (IDEA).

Diagnosis.

The genitalia of C. nitsugai are remarkably similar to those of C. marcapatae (Razowski & Wojtusiak, 2010), described under Epinotia Hubner, [1825] from Cusco, Peru. However, the female genitalia of C. nitsugai have a parallel-sided antrum with the dorsal wall posteriorly projected and the posterior margin of sternum VII widely notched at the middle. In contrast, those of C. marcapatae have a cup-shaped antrum without posterior projection of dorsal wall and posterior margin of sternum VII almost straight. In the male genitalia of C. nitsugai the neck of the valva is almost uniform in height throughout its length with a narrow longitudinal carina, and dorsal and ventral lobes of the cucullus are similar in size. In contrast, in C. marcapatae the neck of the valva is broadened on basal half and lacks carina, and the dorsal lobe of the cucullus is conspicuously smaller than the ventral lobe. The female genitalia of C. nitsugai also resemble those of C. pusula Razowski & Becker, 2014, described from Carchi, Ecuador. However, the parallel-sided antrum, cingulum longer than the larger signum and two longitudinal stripes along the middle of sternum VII of C. nitsugai contrast with the cup-shaped antrum, cingulum slightly shorter than the smaller signum and absence of longitudinal stripes on the sternum VII of C. pusula . The male of C. pusula is unknown, impeding comparisons with C. nitsugai .

Description.

Male. ( Figs 1-5 ) Forewing length 8.5-9.5 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons mainly whitish gray with a few scattered grayish brown scales. Labial palpus mainly grayish brown with a few scattered whitish gray scales. Antenna whitish gray.

Thorax. Mainly yellowish brown dorsally with a few scattered dark gray scales, whitish gray latero-ventrally; patagium grayish brown. Foreleg with anterior face grayish brown, posterior face whitish gray. Midleg similar to foreleg in coloration, tibial spurs whitish gray. Hindleg whitish gray, including tibial spurs. Forewing mainly yellowish brown with abundant whitish gray and grayish brown scales intermixed outside the discal cell, a few scattered dark gray scales near external margin; fringe grayish brown. Hindwing mainly grayish brown, scattered whitish gray scales, fringe whitish gray.

Abdomen. Grayish brown. Tergum VIII ( Fig. 4 ) somewhat T-shaped; anterior margin straight; lateral margin widely excavated on anterior half; posterior margin about 1/3 the width of anterior margin. Sternum VIII somewhat square-shaped, posterior margin widely excavated in the middle.

Male genitalia ( Figs 2 , 3 ). Tegumen with anterior and posterior margins mainly parallel. Uncus cylindrical, slightly sclerotized, broadened basally, apex rounded, covered with hair-like setae. Socius slightly longer than uncus, narrow, tapering apically. Juxta semicircular, dorsal margin straight. Henion (sclerite between anellus and gnathos) narrow, elongated, well sclerotized, slightly longer than socius. Valvae symmetrical, wide incision on ventral margin; base of valva triangular; sacculus narrow; neck of valva almost uniform in height throughout its length, a narrow longitudinal carina on medial face; cucullus densely covered with hair-like scales, dorsal and ventral lobes similar in size. Phallus cylindrical, slightly longer than sacculus, slightly broadened basally; vesica with several spine-shaped cornuti.

Female. Similar to male in maculation and size.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 5 ). Papillae analis narrow, elongated, slightly sclerotized, with hair-like setae. Posterior apophysis spine-shaped, slightly broadened basally, about twice length of papillae analis. Anterior apophysis similar to posterior apophysis in shape and length. Tergum VIII with U-shaped notch on anterior margin. Sternum VII with anterior margin straight; lateral margin widely excavated close anterior margin; posterior margin bilobed, widely notched in middle; two mainly parallel longitudinal stripes along the middle diverging close the anterior margin. Antrum parallel-sided, dorsal wall posteriorly projected. Ductus bursae slightly curved, membranous basally and apically; a well-developed cingulum with apex exceeding anterior margin of sternum VII. Corpus bursae membranous, pear-shaped, about 1.5 times length of ductus bursae; two slightly curved saw-like signa laterally.

Geographic distribution.

Crocidosema nitsugai is known only from the type locality, in the surroundings of Putre, Parinacota Province, at 3670 m elevation on the Andes of northern Chile ( Fig. 6 ).

Host plant.

The only host plant currently known for C. nitsugai is the perennial herb Lupinus oreophilus Phil. ( Figs 7-9 ), upon which the larvae feed on leaves, flowers and unripe fruits and seeds.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is dedicated to the memory of the great Paraguayan guitarist and composer Agustín Pío Barrios, also known as Nitsuga Mangoré, as an acknowledgement to his amazing musical contribution.

Figures

Figures 1 - 5. Adult stage of Crocidosema nitsugai sp. nov. 1. Holotype male in dorsal view. 2. Male genitalia in ventral view, phallus removed; upper right rectangle showing longitudinal carina on the neck of the right valva. 3. Phallus in lateral view; upper left rectangle showing base of cornuti. 4. Tergum (left) and sternum (right) of male abdominal segment VIII. 5. Female genitalia in ventral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (1), 0.3 mm (2 - 4), 0.25 mm (5).

Figures 6 - 9. Habitat and host plant of Crocidosema nitsugai sp. nov. 6. Habitat of C. nitsugai in the type locality, near Putre, Parinacota Province, at 3670 m elevation on the Andes northern Chile. 7. The host plant Lupinus oreophilus. 8. Inflorescence of L. oreophilus. 9. Fruits of L. oreophilus.