Ethmia blaineorum Phillips

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 7-8

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia blaineorum Phillips sp. n. Figures 4, 49, 94, 148

Diagnosis.

Ethmia blaineorum is most similar to Ethmia festiva in forewing pattern and color, but Ethmia blaineorum is a slightly larger species. The male genitalia of Ethmia blaineorum is easily distinguished by the larger and more ornamented gnathos and longer basal processes. The female genitalia is distinguished by a more sclerotized anterior margin of the sterigma and by the shape of the signum: longer, curved and bearing short spines in Ethmia blaineorum .

Description.

Male: FW length 8.3-8.6 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus whitish curved, elongate, reaching antenna base; front white brownish at base; crown white. Thorax: Dorsal scaling white, dark narrow band at base of tegula and anterior pronotum. FW ground color white; three distinct lines, brownish: first near base from costa to posterior margin, second at basal one fourth from below costa to posterior margin, and third at middle of wing, angling outward on costal half, reaching above a large, square, bright ochreous patch from above Cu fold to just above dorsum; apical and terminal area with a broad, triangular, bright ochreous patch; terminal area between latter and cell with an open circle composed by five brownish radiating arms. HW ground color whitish becoming brownish 0.5 × from base, fringe ochreous, costal area simple. Abdomen: Dorsal scaling pale brownish; underside and genital scaling ochreous. Genitalia (Fig. 49) with uncus deeply notched, basal processes broad, short, surpassing base of gnathos; gnathos round, its diameter 0.3 × the length of uncus from base; distal notch of valva broad, round, simple; sacculus simple, not enlarged.

Female: FW length 8.8-10.1 mm (n = 3). Head and Thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 94) with sterigma bearing lateral lobes sclerotized in anterior margin; anterior apophyses short; ductus base simple; signum a long, curved dentate fold.

Holotype.

Male: 06-SRNP-104306, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Guanacaste: ACG: Sector Santa Elena, La Angostura 300 m, 25.v.2006, F. Quesada & R. Franco. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Guanacaste: ACG: Sector Santa Elena, La Angostura 300 m, 1M 3F 25.v.2006, 3F 25-26.v.2009, F. Quesada & R. Franco; Mirador Río Cuajiniquil 242 m, 1F, 14.vi.2007, F. Quesada & R. Franco; Manta Potrero Grande 20 m, 1F 22.v.2009, F. Quesada & H. Cambronero, 2F 23.v.2009, S. Ríos & R. Franco. Sector Santa Rosa, Luces 575 m, 1F 1.vi.2011, F. Quesada & R. Franco. (BMNH, INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia blaineorum has been collected in Costa Rica (Fig. 148) in the Pacific side of Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste (ACG) from sea level to 600 m, just in the dry forest. Food plant and immature stages are unknown.

Etymology.

Ethmia blaineorum is named in honor of Joan and Anne Blaine of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, for being early major donors for ACG rain forest purchase and for more than a decade of co-stimulating the entire Stroud family diaspora to be ACG supporters.