Megalota jamaicana Brown, 2009

Brown, John W., 2009, The discovery of Megalota in the Neotropics, with a revision of the New World species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutini), Zootaxa 2279 (1), pp. 1-50 : 21-22

12. Megalota jamaicana Brown , new species Figs. 12 , 36

Diagnosis. A single male from Jamaica has genitalia ( Fig. 36 ) that are mostly indistinguishable from those of M. delphinosema , but its phallus lacks the 120° bend at the middle and the associated long dorsal thorn characteristic of the latter species ( Fig. 35 ). In addition, the forewing pattern is relatively distinct ( Fig. 12 ): there is a pale creamy pink area of ground color between the basal and median subbasal fasciae that extends uninterrupted from the costa to the dorsum; the distal 0.6 of the wing is nearly uniformlyly brown; and the hindwing is pale gray, brown along the perimeter, unlike any other species in the genus.

Description. Head: Vertex copper and red brown, frons creamy white; labial palpus creamy white in basal portion, copper brown in distal portion. Thorax: Dorsum red-brown, metascutum with large copper tuft. Hind tibia in male with expanded silky white scaling concealing hairpencil. Forewing length 7.0 mm; basal patch red-brown in costal 0.5, confluent with dark brown triangular blotch at dorsum; a pale creamy pink submedian fascia extending from costa to dorsum; distal 0.6 of wing mostly brown, obscuring typical forewing markings represented by a trace; diffuse orange-red subapical patch. Fringe brown. Hindwing uniformly pale gray, brown along perimeter; anal margin in male with well-developed roll of sex scales. Fringe pale brown. Abdomen: Brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 36 ; 1 preparation examined) with tegumen elongate-subrectanglar, lateral sides nearly straight, with small lobelike expansion just before attachment of uncus; uncus broad, each lobe kidney bean-shaped, densely spined; socius membranous, pendant, subrectangular; valva somewhat parallelsided, narrowed just beyond middle, slightly attenuate in distal 0.15; cluster of spiniform setae near venter ca. 0.5 distance from base to apex; subbasal patch of elongate setae ill-defined, represented by fine scattered setae between spiniform cluster and lower edge of basal concavity; basal process of valva relatively long, 4–5 times as long as wide, curved-elbowed near middle, a patch of 5 long setae on inner surface near middle, distal 0.2 with dense patch of short spines. Phallus ca. 0.5 as long as valva, gently curved throughout, with a few tiny serrations in distal 0.25; vesica with two cornuti: one broad from an irregular, sclerotized, C-shaped base, the other one slender, needlelike, from small rounded base. Female genitalia unknown.

Holotype. Male , Jamaica, Portland Parish, 4 mi S Hartford, 850', 26–27 Apr 1973, D. & M. Davis ( USNM), USNM slide 124,108.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the country from which this species is described.

Remarks. In contrast to M. submicans , which appears to be fairly widespread in the Caribbean, M. jamaicana is known only from Jamaica.

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Adults of Megalota. 1. M. submicans (holotype), 2. M. synchysis (paratype), 3. M. peruviana (paratype), 4. M. aquilonaris (holotype), 5. M. vulgaris (paratype), 6. M. cacaulana (holotype), 7. M. macrosocia (holotype), 8. M. ochreoapex (holotype), 9. M. spinulosa (holotype), 10. M. simpliciana (paratype), 11. M. delphinosema (Costa Rica), 12. M. jamaicana (holotype).

FIGURES 34–36. Male genitalia of Megalota; valva spread, phallus removed. 34. M. simpliciana, image of USNM slide 85,851; 35. M. delphinosema, image of USNM slide 84,895; 36. M. jamaicana, image of USNM slide 124,108.