Elachista cordata, Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2011

Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2011, New species of Elachistinae (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) from Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zootaxa 3008, pp. 1-32 : 2-3

Elachista cordata , sp. n.

( Figs 1, 3, 4 , 6–12 )

Type material. Holotype: 3, CAMEROON, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°25’N 012°47’E, 04.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5253, gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 592 ( RMCA).

Paratype: 13, CAMEROON, North Province, Faro River Camp, 275 m, 08°23’N 012°49’E, 09.v.2005, leg. J. & W. De Prins. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5254, gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 593 ( RMCA).

Diagnosis. In wing pattern and male genitalia, this species closely resembles Elachista chelonitis Meyrick, 1909 , known from South Africa and Kenya (for external characters refer to Parenti 1988 and for male genitalia to Sruoga & De Prins 2009), however, the new species is distinguished by features of the male genitalia. The main differences between E. cordata and E. chelonitis are: (1) in E. cordata the lobes of cucullus are shorter and the dorsal lobe is longer than the ventral one, in E. chelonitis the lobes of cucullus are longer than those of E. cordata and both (dorsal and ventral) lobes are of same length; (2) the posterior margin of spinose knob of gnathos in E. cordata is deeply incised, in E. chelonitis it is not incised; (3) the apical margin of juxta in E. cordata is convex, in E. chelonitis it is concave; (4) phallus length/width ratio in E. cordata is 14–19, in E. chelonitis it is 26–27.

Male ( Figs 6, 7 ). Forewing length ~ 4 mm; wingspan 8.7–8.8 mm (n=2). Head: Frons white; vertex and neck tuft white, some scales with brownish tips; labial palpus white above, brownish below except third segment almost whitish; scape brownish except ventral and dorsal margins white, pecten white; flagellum light yellowish brown, with very short cilia, length of cilia about 1/10 diameter of shaft. Thorax and tegula white with sparse brownishtipped scales. Forewing ground colour white, base of costa and dorsum with narrow irregular dark brown blotch, sometimes tinged with ochreous, another similar blotch on fold; apical half of wing mottled due to dark brown tips of scales; ochre scales forming two irregular patches: one at 1/2 and smaller one at 2/3 of wing; dark brown raised scales forming patch near dorsum just before middle of wing. Hindwing brownish grey, its fringe paler.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 8–12 ). Uncal lobes long and narrow, widest at base, gradually tapering, inner margin slightly rounded, outer margin with few long setae. Socius well developed, with several short setae. Basal arms of gnathos narrow and long, posterior margin of spinose knob distinctly incised, forming two rounded lobes. Costa of valva almost straight; cucullus divided into two lobes: triangular ventral lobe where sacculus meets cucullus, and long and narrow dorsal lobe. Juxtal lobes large, median margin straight, apical margin somewhat convex, with setose prominent swelling laterally. Digitate process absent. Vinculum without median ridge, tapered unto broad saccus. Phallus long and narrow, gradually tapered towards apex, one apical side more sclerotized and prolonged, inwardly slightly bent; coecum short; vesica with one curved cornutus.

Biology. Unknown.

Flight period. Based upon the two specimens available, adults fly in early May.

Distribution. So far this species is known only from the North Province of Cameroon ( Figs 1, 3, 4 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin cordatus (heart shaped) in reference to the shape of the gnathos.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Collecting localities of the Afrotropical Elachistinae species. 1, Cameroon, North Province, Faro River floodplain; 2, DRC, Bas-Congo, Mayumbe Forest; 3, general map indicating collecting sites; 4, collecting site in Cameroon; 5, collecting site in DRC.

FIGURES 6 – 12. Elachista cordata sp. n. 6, holotype. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5253. Scale bar 1 mm; 7, head, latero-frontal view, male, paratype. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000005254; 8, general view of male genitalia (phallus removed); 9, phallus; 10, juxta region; 11, apical part of phallus. Holotype. Scale bar 0.1 mm. Gen. prep. MRAC / KMMA 0 0 592, specimen ID: RMCA ENT 000005253; 12, gnathos, in glycerol before permanent mounting in Euparal. Paratype. Specimen ID: RMCA ENT 0 0 0 0 0 5254.