Cryptophasa watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015

Sutrisno, Hari & Suwito, Awit, 2015, Discovery of Cryptophasa Lewin, 1805 (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) from Indonesia with the descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 3994 (1), pp. 122-132 : 123-127

Cryptophasa watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–4 )

Diagnosis. The adult of C. watungi sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from other species based on the wing maculation. The characteristics of male forewing are black fuscous along the entire costa, white fuscous with brown-tinged from the discal cell towards dorsum and two black spots on the discal cell. The hindwing is predominantly white fuscous tinged with brown from the cubito-anal (CuA1 and CuA2) area towards dorsum, with an orange-tinged basal line of terminal cilia which becomes paler towards tornus. In the male genitalia, the distinguishing character of this species is a strongly sclerotised apex of the finger-shaped uncus.

In the female, the forewings are white-ochreous tinged with brown, more pronouncedly so toward the margins, with a black reniform spot at discal cell, indistinct black dots at margin and a yellow-orange basal line of terminal cilia.

Description. Male ( Fig 1 ): Wing length 14 mm. Head grey. Labial palpus grey, slender, about 2 times vertical diameter of eye, pointed last segment directed slightly forward. Antenna fasciculate-ciliated, extended to about half of length of forewing, dorsal surface covered with longitudinal rows of black scales along entire length. Thorax white, tegula dark grey. Legs black, with hind tibia externally covered greyish-white scales. Forewing oblong, costa slightly arched at base, thence nearly straight, apex obtuse, hind margin slightly oblique, rounded, along entire costa black, discal cell with two dark spots, from discal cell towards dorsum white, terminal cilia black. Hindwing black fuscous, except at 2/3 basal costa white, from cubito-anal (CuA1 and CuA2) area towards dorsum white-fuscous with brown tinge, terminal cilia grey with orange-tinged basal line at termen, basal line paler towards tornus. Abdomen slender with first segment white, second segment toward seventh segment brown to dark brown gradually, distal segment black with white tinge.

Female ( Fig. 2 ): Wing length 24 mm. Head white. Labial palpus grey, slender, directed upward. Antenna fasciculate-ciliated (cilia less dense than those of male), dorsal surface covered with longitudinal rows of black scales along entire length. Thorax entirely white. Legs black, with last tibia partly covered with grey scales. Forewing white ochreous tinged with brown, denser towards margin; discal cell with a black reniform spot; margin with indistinct black dots; terminal cilia grey with yellow-orange basal line. Hindwing fuscous; hind margin with indistinct black dots; cilia yellow orange. Abdomen dark fuscous, except for first segment greyish white.

Male genitalia ( Figs 3a, 3b ): Uncus divided dorsally into two lobes, divided into two apical processes, slightly bent downward, strongly sclerotised at finger-shaped apex. Gnathos laterally fused with two sclerotised arms to base of uncus. Tegumen broad, gently arched, margins slightly sclerotised; articulated with vinculum. Vinculum Ushaped, with weakly developed saccus. Juxta weakly sclerotised, bottle-shaped, elongate and extended from tegumen to saccus. Anellus tubular, weakly sclerotised, broad towards distal end; apex bifid. Valva tapered with scattered short setae. Costa of valva strongly arched inwardly; apex blunt. Lower margin of supravalva gently curved, slightly sinuate towards base. Basis of valva elongate-triangular. Sacculus elongate, rounded towards base, scattered setae; apex sharply pointed. Claspers joined to upper saccular margin, extended up to apex of sacculus. Aedeagus tapered with a narrowed part near anterior end.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 4): Ovipositor lobes tubular with scattered setae, anterior apophyses long, posterior apophyses shorter, about half of length anterior aphophyses. Antrum with rather narrow patch of strong sclerotisation; ductus bursae rather long, about 1.5 length of posterior apophyses, slender, membranous. Corpus bursae ovate, membranous, without signa.

Holotype: 1 ♂; Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Bolaang Mongondow Selatan, Pinolosian, Lungkap. N 00° 27ʹ 25.3ʺ E 124° 11ʹ 02. 6ʺ. Alt. 552 m. Emerge on 05.X.2014. Coll. J.F. Watung, Genitalia slide MZB. Lepi. 172.

Paratypes: 1♂; Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Bolaang Mongondow Selatan, Pinolosian, Lungkap. N 00° 27ʹ 25.3ʺ E 124° 11ʹ 02. 6ʺ. Alt. 552 m. Emerge on 25.IX.2014. Coll. J.F. Watung; 1 ♀; Indonesia, North Sulawesi, Bolaang Mongondow Selatan, Pinolosian, Lungkap. N 00° 27ʹ 25.3ʺ E 124° 11ʹ 02. 6ʺ. Alt. 552 m. Emerge on 16.X.2014. Coll. J.F. Watung, Genitalia slide MZB. Lepi. 173.

Etymology. This species is named after its collector, J.F. Watung (junior author) who has collected extensively larvae in clove plantation in North Sulawesi and reared them during two and half months to get the adults.

Distribution and biology. This species is distributed across North Sulawesi following the presence of clove trees in that area. The species is recorded in the following five districts: Minahassa, South Minahassa, North Minahassa, Bolaang Mongondow and South Bolaang Mongondow. The larvae of this species feed in the bark and bore the stem of clove tree ( Syzygium aromaticum : Myrtaceae ) forming a shallow tunnel (2-3 cm in deep) for burrowing and pupation. The active larvae always build a shelter from the frass or a mix of frass and leaves to protect the burrow from water and predators.

Remarks. This species is sexually dimorphic, the male is about half the size of the female. As in other species of Cryptophasa , the male antennal ciliae are also longer than those in the female. Most conspicuous is the different wing pattern between the sexes: the male has predominantly black forewings, whereas the female has predominantly white forewings.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cryptophasa watungi sp. nov. ♂

FIGURE 2. Cryptophasa watungi sp. nov. ♀

FIGURE 3 a, b. Male genitalia of Cryptophasa watungi sp. nov.