Pigritia uuku Adamski

Medeiros, Matthew J & Adamski, David, 2012, Three new species of Hawaiian moths from Kahoolawe island (Lepidoptera: Crambidae & Coleophoridae), Zootaxa 3341, pp. 59-63 : 60

Pigritia uuku Adamski sp. nov.

(Figs. 1.1 & 2.1)

Diagnosis. Pigritia uuku is closely related to two North American Pigritia Clemens (1860) species, P. laticapitella Clemens and P. murtfeldtella (Chambers) . All three species share a similar forewing pattern with a pale basal 1/3 and darker distal 2/3, an uncus that is absent, a divided juxta, a basally hinged apical process to the lower part of valva, a densely setose proximal flange, and an anellus with sclerotized elements. It differs from the latter two species by having tergal setae extending beyond midlength of tegumen, an apically spinose juxta, asymmetric proximal flanges, outwardly twisted apical processes of the lower part of the valva, an anellus with elongate, posterior pointed processes with basally spined inner margins, and a laterally-curved, spinelike apical process arising from an ovoid basal lobe.

Description. Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus with dark-brown scales tipped with pale brownish orange; labial palpi diminutive, not extending beyond middle of frontoclypeus (lost when head detached from body during transport); outer surface and inner surfaces of labial palpus dark brown; scape dark brown intermixed with few brownish-orange scales, flagellum dark brown; proboscis pale brownish orange.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brownish orange. Legs dark brown intermixed with brown, and brownish-orange scales along all midsegments and apical margins of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing (Fig. 1.1): Length 4.9 mm (n = 1), brownish orange intermixed with brown and dark-brown scales; basal 1/3 brownish orange intermixed with dark-brown scales along costa and CuP; submedian fascia transversely juxtaposed to a paler basal part; basal region of submedian fascia dark brown gradually intermixed with pale brownish-orange scales to crossvein; cell with three small, dark-brown spots, one near middle, nearly obliterated by surrounding dark scales, two spots on distal part along crossvein; distal part brownish orange intermixed with brown and darkbrown scales, many dark scales tipped with pale brownish orange, submarginal spots faint; fringe scales brown intermixed with dark-brown scales each tipped with pale brownish-orange. Undersurface dark brown. Hindwing pale grayish brown.

Abdomen: Male Genitalia (Fig. 2.1): Uncus and gnathos absent; tegumen widely emarginate dorsomedially, partially supplanted by tuba analis. Tergal setae extending beyond midlength of tegumen. Valva divided; lower part basally protracted inwardly, broadly rounded apicoventrally, extending to base of a large, apical process; process hinged basally, constricted beyond base, broadened to middle, gradually narrowing to an acuminate apex, outer surface setose, inner surface planate, bearing a densely setose ridge at base; upper part with costa extending from dorsal articulation to 3/4, forming a dorsally produced digitate process; basal ridge of digital process extending ventrally fusing with dorsal part of proximal flange; proximal flanges asymmetric, left flange subelliptical, right flange subquadrate and larger, both densely setose, margins entire. Juxta divided medially forming two elongate, apically spinose, plates. Vinculum U-shape. Phallus slightly curved from a widened base; sclerite of phallus acutely curved basally, shallowly curved apically; anellus with two elongate, basally pointing processes, processes spinose along inner margin, apically produced into elongate lobes, each bearing a laterally curved spinelike process.

Female Genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype 3: UNITED STATES: Hawaii: Kahoolawe: Hakioawa, D4 Planting Area, 20 Oct 2008, M.J. Medeiros (genitalia slide by D. Adamski, No. 6189) (BPBM).

Etymology. The species epithet, uuku , is derived from the Hawaiian language meaning, tiny, and referring to the size of this moth species.

Remarks. Pigritia uuku is the second species of Blastobasinae described from the Hawaiian Islands. The other species, Blastobasis inana (Butler) , which was described from Hawaii but is widespread and considered nonnative, can be differentiated from P. uuku by the presence of a dilated first flagellomere of the antenna. Consult Adamski & Brown (1989) and Hodges (1999) for information on the monophyly of Blastobasinae. It is not known whether P. uuku is endemic to Hawaii. If it is endemic, P. uuku would represent a new lineage not previously known from the Hawaiian Islands, and the fact that it is known from the heavily impacted island of Kahoolawe would be remarkable. However, the possibility exists that P. u u k u is a widespread, possibly introduced, species in Hawaii that has simply been overlooked on other islands.