Megalota beckeri 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 : 30

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.2279.1.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5315472
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038E7928-FFDD-FF82-FDA2-E6E7FD7AF83F
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Megalota beckeri Brown
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

21. Megalota beckeri Brown View in CoL , new species Figs. 21 View FIGURES 13–24 , 45 View FIGURES 43–45

Diagnosis. In facies, M. beckeri is similar to many congeners, however, the forewing ground color is slightly darker than most. Also, the edge of the hindwing has a rounded concavity between 1A+2A and the anal margin that is either much less pronounced or absent in other species of Megalota . The male genitalia are easily distinguished by the short, stout basal process of the valva with a densely spined distal region; the distinctive configuration of the lobes of the uncus, forming a somewhat V-shaped process; and the absence of the cluster of spiniform setae at mid-valva. Although the basal process of the valva is similar to that of M. cacaulana , other features of the genitalia suggest that the two are not closely related.

Description. Head: Vertex, frons, and labial palpi red-brown and creamy white. Thorax: Dorsum brown, metascutum with weak crest, brown with creamy white-tipped scales. Hind tibia in male with dense sex scales, white on inner surface of tibia, tawny gray on outer surface, concealing hairpencil. Forewing length 7.0– 7.5 mm (mean = 7.3); basal 0.5 variegated brown and dark red-brown, with some scattered creamy white scales; an ill-defined, incomplete, oblique fascia from costa 0.5–0.7 distance from base, darkest in costal region, roughly forming a triangular patch; an irregularly oblong-ovate patch in terminal region below apex, extending to dorsum near termen as dark brown band of nearly uniformly width. Fringe brown. Hindwing brown, anal margin in male with well-developed, elongate roll of pale creamy white sex scales. Abdomen: Brown. Male genitalia ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 43–45 ; 3 View FIGURES 1–12 preparations examined) with tegumen rectangular, lacking conspicuous dorsal lobes, uncus lobes forming V-shaped 90° angle, lobes nearly straight along anterior edge, rounded in posterior portion; socius ill defined, membranous; valva straight, moderately uniformly in width in distal 0.65, with a distinct notch along venter ca. 0.35 distance from base; a sparse patch of long, straight setae from conspicuous sockets subbasally from venter of valva; basal process of valva short, stout, club-shaped, ca. twice as long as wide, rounded apically, slightly narrowed basally, with dense spines in distal 0.35. Phallus curved near middle, with dorsal hump subapically; cornuti absent. Female genitalia unknown.

Holotype. Male, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Sete Lagoas , 720 m, Apr 1974, V. O. Becker ( USNM), USNM slide 124,145.

Paratypes (2♂). BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Nova Lima , 850 m, 8–9 Oct 1985 (1♂), S. E. Miller ( USNM) . São Paulo: São Paulo , 900 m, 3–7 Jan 1983 (1♂), V. O. Becker ( VBC) .

Etymology. This species is named for my friend and colleague Vitor Becker, whose knowledge of Neotropical Lepidoptera is exceeded by none.