Tricerophora rukinga, Bidzilya & Mey, 2018

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Mey, Wolfram, 2018, Review of the genus Tricerophora Janse, 1958 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) with description of six new species, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (1), pp. 81-98 : 87

Tricerophora rukinga sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, "KENYA: Coast, Rukinga Estate 500 m, S 3°42'22" E 38°46 '34", 14.xi.2012, Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford" | "gen. slide 324/14 (=1542 DJLA), O. Bidzilya" (DA). Paratypes. 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as for holotype; 1 ♀, same data as for holotype but 11.xi.2012 (Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford) (gen. slide 325/14 (=1543), O. Bidzilya); 1 ♀, KENYA: Coast, Rukinga Estate, same data but 13.xi.2012; 1 ♂, KENYA: Coast, Rukinga Reserve, 520m, 3°35'15.7S, 38°44'29.6E, 21.xi.2010 (Agassiz & Ngugi); 1 ♀, KENYA: Coast, Rukinga Reserve, 520m, 3°35'15.7S, 38°44'29.6E, 23.xi.2010 (Agassiz & Ngugi) (all DA).

Diagnosis.

The new species is characterized externally by predominately black forewing with white pattern along dorsal margin and white blocks on 1/3 and 2/3 of costal margin. It can hardly be distinguished from T. pundamilia sp. n. and T. commaculata without examination of the genitalia. The male genitalia are very characteristic having a long uncus sub-equal in length with tegumen, a stout sacculus broader than valva and with a pointed, inwardly curved apex as well as the phallus is extremely slender. The rounded, strongly edged ostium with one transverse medial belt, the broad and short antrum, the entirely sclerotized, very short ductus bursae and segment VIII with broad strongly sclerotized anterior margin are characteristic for the female genitalia.

Description.

Adult (Figs 7-8 ): Wingspan 13.2 (♂)-14.0 (♀) mm. Head and thorax covered with white brown-tipped (♀) or grey brown-tipped (♂) scales, labial palpus white, segment 2 with black base and rare brown scales on outer surface, brush of scales underside, segment 3 acute, white mottled with black. Scape brown, flagellum white with brown belts, pubescent on underside in male. Tegulae blackish-grey (♂) or cream-brown (♀). Forewing covered with weakly raised black-tipped scales, diffuse white spots on 1/4 and 1/2 of costal margin, subcostal vein with black interrupted streak from base to 1/2 length, distinct black pattern around fold and in mid width from 2/3 towards to apex, white patch mottled with brown from base to termen along dorsal margin, cilia white, black-tipped. Hindwing and cilia grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 24 ): Posterolateral processes of tegumen reduced; uncus very long, narrow; gnathos about two times shorter than uncus, sub-triangular, broadened from base towards trifid apex; tegumen twice as long as broad; valva moderately broad, wrinkled in basal half, distinctly broadened and densely haired in distal 1/3, apex rounded, extending to 2/3 length of uncus; sacculus stout, broader than valva on base, about 1/4-1/5 length of valva, with inwardly curved tip; vinculum two times as broad as long, about 1/3 length of valva, posteromedial lobe irregular, extending to about 1/4-1/5 length of the valva; saccus comparatively short, sub-triangular, gradually narrowed towards slightly pointed apex; phallus very slender, of even width, cornutus short, pointed.

Female genitalia (Fig. 31 ): Sternum VIII nearly as long as broad, weakly sclerotized, densely covered with fine microtrichia, anterior margin broadly sclerotized; ostium rounded, strongly edged posteriorly, with transverse medial belt; apophysis anterioris about as long as a length of segment VIII; antrum broad, half the length of apophysis anterioris, ductus bursae as long as antrum but narrower, entirely sclerotized; corpus bursae sub-ovate; signum with well serrated arms, the anterior one slightly longer than the posterior one.

Etymology.

The species is named after the Rukinga Estate in Kenya, the type locality of the new species.

Distribution.

Kenya.

Biology.

Adults have been collected in November.

Figures

Figures 1 - 10. Adult of Tricerophora spp. 1 - 4. T. commaculata. 1. HT, ♀, Magude (gen. slide 5544). 2. PT, ♂, Inyack Isl. (gen. slide 8617). 3. ♀, Pretoria (gen. slide 8406). 4. Zimbabwe, ♂ (gen. slide 322 / 07, O. Bidzilya). 5 - 6. T. nigribasis. 5. HT, ♂, Pentonville (gen. slide 8455). 6. ♂, Brandberg (gen. slide 117 / 05, O. Bidzilya). 7 - 8. T. rukinga sp. n. 7. HT, ♂, Rukinga (gen. slide 324 / 14, O. Bidzilya (= 1542, DJLA )). 8. PT, ♀, Rukinga (gen. slide 325 / 14, O. Bidzilya (= 1543, DJLA )). 9 - 10. T. objecta. 9. HT, ♀, Harare. 10. ♀, Kenya, Tschinkolobwe (gen. slide 103 / 18, O. Bidzilya). Scale bar = 2 mm.

Figures 21 - 24. Male genitalia of Tricerophora spp. 21. T. commaculata, Zimbabwe (gen. slide 322 / 07, O. Bidzilya). 22. T. nigribasis, Brandberg (gen. slide 117 / 05, O. Bidzilya). 23. Tricerophora sp., Wylies Poort (gen. slide 331 / 14, O. Bidzilya). 24. T. rukinga sp. n., HT, Rukinga (gen. slide 324 / 14, O. Bidzilya (= 1542, DJLA )).

Figures 31 - 32. Female genitalia of Tricerophora spp. 31. T. rukinga sp. n., PT, Rukinga (gen. slide 325 / 14, O. Bidzilya (= 1543, DJLA )). 32. T. objecta, Kenya, Tschinkolobwe (gen. slide 103 / 18, O. Bidzilya).