Ethmia helenmillerae 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 : 29-30

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia helenmillerae Phillips sp. n. Figures 26, 71, 116, 160

Diagnosis.

Ethmia helenmillerae is distinguished by its smaller size and white forewings with spaced black markings, dark brown HW, valva in male genitalia with 2 long spines inwardly directed, and female genitalia lacking a signum.

Description.

Male: FW length 6.3-6.8 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus elongated exceeding base of antenna, whitish; proboscis, front and crown white. Thorax: Tegula and collar white, pronotum white with four dark brown spots, one pair under tegula apices, the other at scutellum. FW ground color white, 6 defined dots distributed on 2/3 from base: three at costal area approaching costa and three at posterior half, triangulated; terminal area with a line from almost center of the wing to tornum, a wider and curved line from costa just before apex to middle of wing; terminal line black, fringe whitish. HW ground color dark brown, costal fringe pale ochreous. Abdomen: Dark brown, genital scaling pale. Genitalia (Fig. 71) with uncus and gnathos absent, apex of valva produced into a lobe with a “plume” with dense setation, base of plume with shorter setae transversely directed to setae at plume; a group of seven long spines bellow apex, two inwardly directed; a short pointed sacculus projection below spines.

Female: FW length 6.5-7.5 mm (n = 2). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 116) with sterigma a simple band lightly sclerotized; antrum laterally enlarged; corpus bursae a simple sac with no signum.

Holotype.

Male: 11-SRNP-103265, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Alajuela: ACG: Albergue Oscar, Casa, 725 m, 15.i.2010, R. Franco & F. Quesada. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Guanacaste: Sector Maritza, Casa Rafa 579 m, 1F 1.vi.2011, R. Franco & S. Ríos; Sector Santa Elena, La Angostura, 2F 25.v.2009, F. Quesada & R. Franco, Manta Potrero Grande 20 m, 1F 22.v.2009, F. Quesada & H. Cambronero, 1F 24.v.2009, F. Quesada & R. Franco, 4F 21/22.viii.2009, F. Quesada & R. Franco; Sector Santa Rosa, Luces 575 m, 3F 30.v/1.vi.2011, R. Franco & S. Ríos, 2F 31.v.2011, H. Cambronero & S. Ríos, 5F 1.vi.2011, H. Cambronero & R. Franco, Mirador Río Cuajiniquil, 242 m, 1M 3F 23.vi.2009, R. Franco & F. Quesada, 1F 23.vi.2009, H. Cambronero & R. Franco (BMNH, INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia helenmillerae has been collected in ACG dry forest on the Pacific slope of Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste from 0 to 579 m. The food plant and immature stages are unknown

Etymology.

Ethmia helenmillerae is named in honor of Helen Miller of Arlington, Virginia, an early major donor for ACG rain forest purchase, and her production of Scott Miller, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, a faithful supporter of ACG inventory for biodiversity development.