Paratischeria belizensis Remeikis & Stonis, 2020

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius & Lewis, Owen T., 2020, Exceptional diversity of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) from a single tropical forest site in Belize, Central America, European Journal of Taxonomy 723, pp. 33-76 : 64-66

Paratischeria belizensis Remeikis & Stonis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1182B62C-7E7E-4EA8-866C-BCF6578F9F34

Figs 24–25 , 124–127

Diagnosis

External characters are not sufficient for the identification of this species. In the male genitalia, the phallus being fused with the anellus, with two apical, pointed lobes ( Figs 124, 127 ), and the elaborated uncus ( Fig. 125 ) distinguish Paratischeria belizensis sp. nov. from other congeneric species.

Etymology

This species is named after Belize where it occurs.

Type material

Holotype

BELIZE • ♂; Cayo District, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas ; 16°43′53″ N, 88°59′11″ W; alt. 550 m; 3–16 Apr. 1998; R. Puplesis and S.R. Hill leg.; at light; genitalia slide no. 010316193♂; NHMUK 010289283 .

Description

Male

EXTERNAL CHARACTERS ( Figs 24–25 ). Forewing length 2.8 mm; wingspan 6.1 mm (n = 1). Head: palpus, pecten and frons golden cream, glossy; frontal tuft golden cream with some pale grey scales; antenna slightly exceeding ½ of forewing; flagellum pale grey, glossy. Thorax ochre-yellow, with some pale grey scales medially; tegula pale grey, with a few ochre-yellow scales. Forewing ochre-yellow, irregularly speckled with grey-brown scales; fringe grey, apically ochre-yellow; fringe indistinctive; forewing underside grey-brown. Hindwing and fringe pale brown. Legs ochre-yellow, covered with grey-brown scales on upper side (particularly abundant on forelegs). Abdomen unknown (unstudied before dissection).

MALE GENITALIA ( Figs 124–127 ). Capsule about 710 µm long, 430 µm wide. Uncus with long but slender lateral lobes ( Figs 125–126 ) and oval excavation ( Fig. 125 ). Valva about 520 µm long, without additional

lobes, inwardly curved ( Fig. 124 ); anellus fused with phallus ( Figs 124, 127 ); transtilla and juxta absent. Ventral lobe of vinculum large, distally rounded ( Figs 124, 127 ). Phallus about 515 µm long.

Female

Unknown.

Biology

Host plant and biology unknown.

Flight period

Based on a single specimen collected at light, adults fly in April.

Distribution

So far this species is known from a single locality in Belize, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Las Cuevas, at an elevation of about 550 m.

Figures

Figs 21–34. Tischeriidae collected in Las Cuevas, Belize. 21. Paratischeria tubifex sp. nov., holotype (NHMUK 010289272). 22. Same, paratype (010289282). 23. Same, paratype (010289276). 24–25. P. belizensis sp. nov., holotype (010289283). 26–28. P. neotropicana (010289285). 29. Dishkeya gouaniae, paratype (010289320). 30. Coptotriche pulverea (010289324). 31. Same (010289322). 32–34. C. forsteroniae, paratype (010289330).

Figs 124–127. Male genitalia of Paratischeria belizensis Remeikis & Stonis sp. nov., holotype (genitalia slide no. 010316193, NHMUK). 124. Capsule, with phallus inside. 125. Median excavation of uncus. 126. Socii. 127. Lateral view of capsule with phallus inside.