Gibbalaria divergana Brown and Aarvik, 2023

Brown, John W., Aarvik, Leif & Timm, Alicia, 2023, Gibbalaria: A new genus of Olethreutini from the Afrotropical Region (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), and a new combination in Cosmopoda Diakonoff, Zootaxa 5263 (2), pp. 217-239 : 225

Gibbalaria divergana Brown and Aarvik , new species

Figs 3 , 30

Diagnosis. Gibbalaria divergana is superficially most similar to G. occidentana ; unfortunately, the male of G. divergana is unknown. Gibbalaria divergana has about the same forewing length as G. occidentana , and is slightly smaller than G. chiloanei , but this is based on exceedingly few specimens. Gibbalaria divergana appears to have a slightly darker forewing pattern, with a well-defined, sub-rectangular bar extending from mid-termen that represents the remnant of the post-median fascia, and darker markings in general. In the female genitalia, the antrum of G. divergana is slightly shorter than that of G. occidentana and G. chiloanei , and the diverticulum at the posterior end of the ductus bursae is small and lobe-like. DNA barcodes provide additional evidence that is it distinct from those two species ( Figs 1 , 2 ).

Description. Male unknown. Female. Head: As described for genus. Thorax: As described for genus; with distinct metathoracic tuft with distal scales slightly metallic bluish; forewing length 7.0 mm (n = 1); forewing with a series of ill-defined, parallel, outwardly oblique fascia, starting at about mid-costa, basal-most brown, followed by narrow silver-gray, then pale brown, then silver-gray, with a distinct, sub-rectangular, dark brown bar near midtornus ( Fig. 3 ). Abdomen: Genitalia ( Fig. 30 ) as described for genus; sterigma a short, semicircular, shield-like plate, antrum with posterior edge (= ostium) nearly straight, weakly bilobed anteriorly, slightly shorter than that of congeners; ductus bursae membranous, about as long as corpus bursae, with characteristic small diverticulum immediately anterad of antrum on left side; corpus bursae rounded-oblong; signum a small, coarsely reticulated area with a very shallow pocket with a single long tooth; anterior end of corpus bursae with a tiny lobe-like extension.

DNA barcodes. The DNA barcode from the holotype is joined by a specimen from BOLD to form a BIN ( BOLD: ACN9260 ) that is 3.37% different from its nearest neighbor .

Types. Holotype ♀, South Africa, Eastern Cape Makhanda [Grahamstown], 550 m, 30.3106°S, 26.5256°E, 12 Nov 2013, J. Brown ( USNM), USNM slide 145,609. [Grahamstown has officially been renamed Makhanda, and the latter name is used throughout the manuscript.]

Distribution. This species is known only from one specimen from Makhanda, Eastern Cape Province, and one from The Crags, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The holotype was collected in March.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the slightly divergent appearance of the species, with a rather bold forewing pattern.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum (ML) likelihood tree for species of Gibbalaria and out-groups.

FIGURE 2. Bayesian tree for species of Gibbalaria and out-groups.

FIGURES 3‒10. Adults of Gibbalaria. 3. G. divergana holotype female; 4. G. chiloanei holotype male; 5. G. occidentana paratype female; 6. G. occidentana holotype male; 7. G. occidentana paratype female; 8. G. longiphallus holotype male; 9. G. mabalingwae holotype male; 10. G. scabellana male, South Africa.

FIGURES 30‒35. Female genitalia of Gibbalaria. 30. G. divergana, USNM slide 145.609; 31. G. occidentana, USNM slide 145,620; 32. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,979; 33. G. scabellana, USNM slide 144,801; 34. G. scabellana, USNM slide 145,652; 35. G. bagamoyo, NHMO slide 4116.