Stigmella ampla Diškus & Stonis, 2016

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Gerulaitis, Virginijus & Karsholt, Ole, 2016, Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna, Zootaxa 4181 (1), pp. 1-94 : 54-58

Stigmella ampla Diškus & Stonis , sp. nov.

( Figs 18 , 27 , 152–156 )

Type material. Holotype: Ƌ, PERU, Dept. Lima, 10 km N Oyón, Quabrada Quichas, Pueblo Quichas , 10°34'17"S, 76°46'03"W, 4000 m, 24–26.ii.1987, leg. O. Karsholt, genitalia slide no. AD645Ƌ ( ZMUC).

Diagnosis. The combination of a large speckled forewing, apically widening valva, and spine-like cornuti gathered in four compact clusters distinguishes S. ampla sp. nov. from all other Stigmella species.

Male ( Fig. 152 ). Forewing length about 5.1 mm; wingspan about 10.8–10.9 mm. Head: palpi cream; frontal tuft comprised of dark grey-brown and cream scales (the latter prevail); collar cream; scape cream with some brown scales; antenna distinctly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 48 segments, grey-brown, golden glossy on upper side and underside. Thorax and tegula golden cream, with some brown scales. Forewing golden cream, irregularly speckled with grey-brown scales with weak purple iridescence; fringe golden cream; underside of forewing grey-brown, with no spots. Hindwing and its fringe pale brown on upper side and underside, with no spots or androconia. Legs glossy cream, darkened with grey-brown on upper side. Abdomen brown on upper side, brownish cream on underside; tufts cream; genital segments brownish cream.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 153–156 ). Capsule longer (425 µm) than wide (245 µm). Uncus with two wide thickened caudal lobes. Gnathos with two stout caudal processes and slender central plate. Valva 260–265 µm long, 60–65 µm wide, widened in apical part, without apical processes; transtilla with short slender sublateral processes. Juxta membranous, indistictive. Vinculum with triangular lateral lobes and very short ventral plate. Phallus ( Fig. 156 ) 345 µm long, 65–95 µm wide; vesica with spine-like cornuti gathered in four compact clusters.

Bionomics. Adults fly in February. Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution ( Figs 18 , 27 ). This species occurs in the high Peruvian Andes ( Peru: Lima Departamento) at altitudes 4000 m.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin amplus (large, wide, imposing) in reference to the large size of adults and to the unusual, apically widening valva in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution map of the high-Andean Nepticulidae with height records.

FIGURES 18 – 19. Distribution of high altitude Nepticulidae and collecting in the Peruvian Andes. 18, distribution map; 19, collector and co-author Ole Karsholt in Polylepis forest during Polylepis Expedition organized by Prof. Dr. Jon Fjeldså (the leader of the Polylepis Expeditions, ZMUC) in 1987.

FIGURES 152 – 156. Stigmella ampla Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov. 152, holotype, male adult; 153, same, genitalia, slide no. AD 645, transtilla; 154, same, valvae; 155, same, capsule with phallus removed; 156, same, phallus (ZMUC).