Phyllocnistis rotans Meyrick, 1915

Figs. 3T, 4T, 5, S1; Tab. 2

Phyllocnistis rotans; Meyrick 1915b: 242. Davis & Miller 1984: 27. De Prins et al. 2016: 37.

Type material. Description of Phyllocnistis rotans Meyrick, 1915 was based on five specimens from Alauzi, Ecuador. Five syntypes with no sex identification were found in Meyrick’s collection at NHMUK. The syntype herein designated as lectotype (Fig. 3T), presents the following labels (separated by forward slash symbols, Fig. 4T): / SYNTYPE / Alausi Ecuador P. 9450.6.14 [VI.1914] / rotans Meyr. / Meyrick Coll. B. M. 1938-290. / Phyllocnistis rotans 1/5 Meyr. E Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll / PHYLLOCNISTIS Z. / BMNH(E) 1412616 /; the other syntype, with the following labels is herein designated as paralectotype: / SYNTYPE / Alausi Ecuador P. 9450 -6-14 [VI.1914] / Meyrick Coll. B. M. 1938-290. / Phyllocnistis rotans 2/5 Meyr. E Meyrick det. in Meyrick Coll. / BMNH(E) 1412347 /. This decision is made for the correct identification of the species. To the lectotype and the paralectotype, the following labels were added: / Lectotypus / Lectotypus P. rotans Meyrick, 1915 Brito 2017 /. In addition, to the paralectotype: / Paralectotypus / Paralectotypus P. rotans Meyrick, 1915 Brito 2017 /.

Forewing length. 2.68 mm (n=5).

Diagnosis (Figs. 3T, S 1; Tab. 2). Dorsal forewing: ground color grayish. lf wide, yellowish, with brown borders, emerging at the costal margin base, running straight to center of the wing, ending completely separated from other transversal fasciae. These have a coloration pattern similar to lf. The c-shaped tf1, emerges from the costal margin and crosses the wing entirely, narrower in central region. tf2 short, restricted to costal region. tf3 and tf4 fused, forming a large blotch on the distal region (III). Costal and strigulae similar, typical for the genus. The wide and straight, light yellow, brown bordered lf, completely separated from a full-developed tf1, is a unique characteristic for this species compared to other Neotropical congeneric species.

Geographical distribution (Fig. 5). Known only from Alausi, Chimborazo province, Ecuador, at 2880 m elevation.

Natural history. No information available.

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Examined material. Lectotype and 4 paralectotypes, none of which with sex identified. Ecuador: Chimborazo - Alausi, 2880 m, VI.1914, Parish leg., 5 specimens (BMNH (E)1412616, BMNH (E)1412347, BMNH (E)1412364, BMNH (E)1412351, BMNH (E)1412365) (NHMUK) .

Remarks. The genitalia were not described by the author and due to the small number of specimens at NHMUK, none were dissected for this review.