Tricerophora pundamilia, 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 : 85-87

Tricerophora pundamilia sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype ♀, [RSA] "Punda Milia, K.N.P. Survey, 1-5.xii.1964, Vari & Potgieter" | "gen. slide 61/15, O. Bidzilya" ( TMSA)

Diagnosis.

The new species is characterized externally by predominately black forewing with white pattern along dorsal margin and white diffuse spots on 1/3 and 2/3 of costal margin. T. commaculata is very similar, but differs in the white head without black irroration and the dorsal margin of the forewing mottled with black. A sub-ovate ostium with two transverse sclerotized belts and sclerotized anterior margin in combination with very short ductus bursae that bears teeth are characteristic for the female genitalia.

Description. Adult (Fig. 11 ): Wingspan 17.0 mm. Head and thorax covered with white black-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 rings, underside pubescent in male. Tegulae blackish-grey. Forewing covered by 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 apex, white patch mottled in with brown from 1/5 of dorsal margin to termen, cilia white, black-tipped. Hindwing and cilia grey.

Male genitalia. Unknown.

Female genitalia (Fig. 30 ): Sternum VIII about as longer as broad, weakly narrowed distally, membranous, densely covered with fine microtrichia, anterior margin with triangular medial sclerites; ostium sub-ovate, weakly broadened posteriorly, anterior margin strongly edged, with two transverse sclerotized belts; apophysis anterioris about as long as a length of segment VIII; antrum broad, as long as apophysis anterioris, narrowed in distal part towards very short, entirely sclerotized ductus bursae that bears numerous teeth before entrance to corpus bursae; corpus bursae sub-ovate, weakly broadened anteriorly; signum with well serrated arms, the anterior one slightly longer than the posterior.

Etymology.

The species is named after Punda Milia in Kruger National Park, the type locality of the new species.

Distribution.

RSA.

Biology.

The holotype has been collected in early December.

Figures

Figures 11 - 20. Adult of Tricerophora spp. 11. T. pundamilia sp. n., HT, ♀, Punda Milia (gen. slide 61 / 15, O. Bidzilya). 12. Tricerophora sp. A, ♂, Wylies Poort (gen. slide 331 / 14, O. Bidzilya). 13 - 14. T. brumale sp. n. 13. HT, ♂, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 106 / 12, O. Bidzilya). 14. PT, ♀, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 63 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 15 - 16. T. nigrinervis sp. n. 15. HT, ♂, Brandberg (gen. slide 122 / 05, O. Bidzilya). 16. PT, ♀, Richtersveld (gen. slide 61 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 17 - 18. T. acutivalva sp. n. 17. HT, ♂, Imam Sade (gen. slide 47 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 18. PT, ♂, Imam Sade (gen. slide 1 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 19 - 20. T. minimorum sp. n. 19. HT, ♂, Opuwo (gen. slide 361 / 14, O. Bidzilya). 20. PT, ♀, Varianto (gen. slide 536 / 14, O. Bidzilya). Scale bar = 2 mm

Figures 29 - 30. Female genitalia of Tricerophora spp. 29. T. commaculata, HT, Magude (gen. slide 5544). 30. T. pundamilia sp. n., Punda Milia, HT (gen. slide 61 / 15, O. Bidzilya).