Aphanostola namibiensis 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 : 55-56

Aphanostola namibiensis Bidzilya & Mey sp. n. Figs 24 , 25 , 54 , 76

Aphanostola namibiensis Genus 1, sp. 3. - Bidzilya 2007: 95, fig. 4; pl. 5, fig. 5.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, Namibia, Brandberg, Wasserfallfläche, 18.iii.2002, LF, 1940 m (gen. slide 107/05, O. Bidzilya) ( MfN). Paratypes: 2 ♂ (1 ex abd. miss.), Namibia, Auas Mt., Kromhuk, 1850 m, 24.i.2009, LF (Mey); 1 ♀, Namibia, Auas Mt., Windhoek, 1917 m, 25.i.2009, LF (Mey) (gen. slide 465/14♀, O. Bidzilya); 1 ♀, Namibia, E Etosha, Farm Sachsenheim, 29-30.viii.2012 (Mey) (gen. slide 534/14, O. Bidzilya) (all MfN).

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles externally Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., but differs by the narrower forewing and the smaller, rounded black spot in the middle. The male genitalia are well recognizable by the shape of the sacculus, deep and comparatively broad medial emargination of the posterior margin of the vinculum, the short saccus and the comparatively long uncus. The female genitalia are characterized by distinctly sclerotized patches on segment VIII, short, digitate sub-ostial sclerites, long ductus bursae and the presence of a belt of spikes on the wall of the corpus bursae.

Description.

Adult (Figs 24 , 25 ). Wingspan 9.0-9.1 mm. Head white, neck with some brown-tipped scales, segment two of labial palpus black rarely mottled with white, inner and outer surface white, three white with some black scales, antenna in male thick, finely ciliated, antenna in female thin, scape and other antennal segments black; thorax and tegulae black, white-tipped; hindwing light grey to whitish, black pattern to ¼ of costal margin, in its distal half and in sub-apical area, black dash in fold to mid-length, rounded black spot in middle, diffuse black spot on ¾ near dorsal margin, cilia grey black-tipped; hindwing grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 54 ). Uncus longer than broad, slightly widened apically, posterior margin shortly ciliated, with distinct triangular, medial incision; gnathos moderately thick, of even width, gradually curved; tegumen twice as long as broad, anterior margin with moderately deep triangular emargination; valva straight, strongly inflated in distal 1/3, apex rounded; sacculus long, narrower than valva, apex distinctly pointed; vinculum broad, posterior margin with deep and wide medial emargination, medial projections short, triangular; saccus short, sub-rectangular, extending to apex of pedunculus; phallus comparatively long, weakly narrowed distally, apex distinctly tapered, basal projection absent.

Female genitalia (Fig. 76 ). Segment VIII nearly as long as broad, evenly sclerotized, except for distinct, sclero tized patches from the base of apophyses anteriores extending to the posterior margin of segment VIII; antrum weakly broadened, membranous; sub-ostial sclerite short, digitate; apophyses anteriores about 2.5 times longer than segment VIII; ductus bursae long, gradually broadening proximally to sub-ovate corpus bursae; the wall of corpus bursae with ovate belt of spikes; signum absent.

Etymology.

The species is named after the country of its occurrence.

Distribution.

Namibia.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The adults were observed in late August, January and March up to 1900 m elevation.

Figures

Figures 22 - 39. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 22. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge; 23. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (209 / 12); 24. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., HT, Namibia, Brandberg; 25. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Auas Mts.; 26. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 74 / 05); 27. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 28. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Mt. Etjo (gen. slide 597 / 14); 29. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, E. Etosha (gen. slide 151 / 15); 30. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Kenya, Baringo; 31. Aphanostola emarginata sp. n., HT, RSA, Mkuzi; 32. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 143 / 15); 33. Aphanostola melliferae sp. n., HT, Kenya, L. Bogoria; 34. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., Ethiopia, Tana-See; 35. Aphanostola maxima sp. n., HT, Ethiopia, Tana-See; 36. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, L. Bogoria (gen. slide 577 / 14); 37. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest (gen. slide 590 / 14); 38. Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n., Kenya, Kakamega Forest; 39. Aphanostola atripalpis, PT, India, Pusa (gen. slide 411 / 14).

Figures 53 - 58. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 53. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., HT, RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (gen. slide 208 / 12); 54. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 107 / 05); 55. Aphanostola brandbergensis sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 103 / 05); 56. Aphanostola aarviki sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town (gen. slide 2380); 57. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Omatjete Farm (gen. slide 553 / 14); 58. Aphanostola africanella sp. n., Namibia, Okahanja (gen. slide 198 / 12).

Figures 74 - 76. Female genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 74. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, Katima Mulilo (gen. slide 508 / 14); 74 a. Signum (gen. slide 76 / 05); 75. Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., RSA, Hongonyi Lodge (gen. slide 81 / 12); 75 a. Subostial sclerite (gen. slide 209 / 12); 76. Aphanostola namibiensis sp. n., Namibia, Etosha (gen. slide 534 / 14).