Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia hammella Busck Figures 44, 89, 134, 168

Ethmia hammella Busck, 1910: 53; Powell 1973: 212.

Diagnosis.

Ethmia hammella is easily distinguished from other Ethmia in Costa Rica by the broad FW, which is pale yellowish with blue markings.

Description.

Male: FW length 9.0-10.5 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus elongate, exceeding base of antenna; proboscis, front and crown beige, posterior margin of occipital tuft blue. Thorax: Dorsal scaling bluish with a beige posterior line on tegula. FW ground color pale yellow with distinct blue spots: three at costal area near medial line, one at postmedial line, one at base; terminal blotch blue. HW ground color pale brown, costa unmodified. Abdomen: Brownish, segments with caudal margin whitish, genital scaling whitish. Genitalia (Fig. 89) with basal processes broad, short; valva with a short preapical “plume” and group of 4 large curved setae distally.

Female: FW length 10.5-11.1 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 134) with sterigma simple; ductus with basal sclerotized sleeve; antrum simple not enlarged; signum a small sclerotized patch.

Holotype .

Male: Costa Rica, Tuis, 5800', [no date], W. Schaus [USNM, examined].

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia hammella has been collected in Costa Rica, Panamá and Colombia. In Costa Rica (Fig. 168), it has been found in the Caribbean lowlands and on both slopes of the Cordillera Volcánica de Guanacaste (ACG rain forest), Tilarán, Volcánica Central and Talamanca from 400 to 1600 m elevation.