Aphanostola griseella Bidzilya & Mey, 2016

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Agassiz, David, 2016, Review of the genus Aphanostola Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Anomologinae) with description of 19 new species from the Afrotropical Region, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 45-74 : 53-54

Aphanostola griseella Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 17 , 18 , 72 , 73

Type material.

Holotype ♀, NAMIBIA -Exp., ZMB 1992, Grootfontein: Otavi Lux, 19 38S / 17 21E, lux., 16.-19.ii.92, leg. Mey (gen. slide 502/14, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype; 1 ♀, NAMIBIA-Exp., ZMB 1992, Kavango: Katima Mulilo, 17 29S / 24 17 E, lux., 3-8.iii.92 (Mey) (gen. slide 225/12, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN); 1 ♀, Abachaus, SWA, xii.1946 (Hobohm) (gen. slide 5/15, O. Bidzilya) ( TMSA); 1 ♀, South Africa, RSA, Transvaal, Nyslvley, Sericea-Farm, 28-30.xi.2004, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 221/12, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN); 1 ♀, Kenya, Nakuru National Park, Makalia Falls Camp Site, 00°27'S 036°04'E, 1855 m, 10.x.2001 (J. De Prins) (gen. slide 596/14, O. Bidzilya) (NHM).

Diagnosis.

The species is very similar externally to Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., Aphanostola africanella sp. n. and Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., but can be defined by the nearly uniformly grey forewing with poorly expressed black markings in cell. The female genitalia most closely resemble those of Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n. - for the differences see under that species.

Description.

Adult (Figs 17 , 18 ). Wingspan 6.7-7.1 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae light grey with a few brown scales, labial palpus brown with narrow white apical rings, antenna in male thick, antenna in female thin, finely ciliated in both sexes, scape brown with a few white scales, other antennal segments brown, whitish-ringed; forewing grey mottled with brown-tipped scales along margins and in subapical area particularly, costal margin brown from base to 1/5 length, two very indistinct brown spots in cell, brown dot on ¾ of dorsal margin, cilia light grey; hindwing grey.

Male. Unknown.

Female genitalia (Figs 72 , 73 ). Segment VIII about as broad as long, evenly sclerotized; apophyses anteriores about 1.5 times longer than segment VIII; antrum tubular, weakly broadened before ductus bursae, sub-equal in length to apophyses anteriores; sub-ostial sclerite trapezoidal with short and narrow posterior projection; ductus bursae of moderate width; corpus bursae large, egg-shaped; signum a prolonged plate densely covered with spikes and with medial cord inside.

Etymology.

Derived from “griseus” (Latin), grey, referring to the grey forewings.

Distribution.

South Africa, Namibia, Kenya.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The adults were observed in October-November and again in February-March.

Figures

Figures 1 - 21. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 1. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 73 / 05); 2. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Mirabib (gen. slide 548 / 14); 3. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Kenya, Logumgum (gen. slide 1362); 4. Aphanostola pentastigma, HT, RSA, Pretoria; 5. Aphanostola pentastigma, Kenya, L. Naivasha; 6. Aphanostola morogorensis sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 7. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., RSA, Asante-Sana; 8. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., HT, RSA, Asante-Sana; 9. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 10. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., HT, Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu; 11. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 8 / 15); 12. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi; 13. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., HT, Namibia, Popa Falls; 14. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., RSA, Nwanedzi (gen. slide 36 / 15); 15. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Kavango; 16. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Rooiklip Farm; 17. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Grootfontein; 18. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., Kenya, Nakuru NP (gen. slide 596 / 14); 19. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 76 / 05); 20. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi; 21. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 155 / 15).

Figures 71 - 73. Female genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 71. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., Namibia, Rooiklip Farm (gen. slide 554 / 14); 71 a. Signum (gen. slide 547 / 14); 72. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Otavi (gen. slide 502 / 14); 73. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., Namibia, Popa Falls (gen. slide 225 / 12).