Pseudopostega matrona, Stonis & Remeikis & Solis & Karsholt, 2021

Stonis, Jonas R., Remeikis, Andrius, Solis, M. Alma & Karsholt, Ole, 2021, Diagnostics and updated checklist of Oriental Pseudopostega (Opostegidae) including the matrona species group with a new, extralimital species discovered in the Mediterranean, Zootaxa 4933 (3), pp. 341-360 : 346

The matrona group (formerly the nigrimaculella group)

Externally, species possess various patterns of the forewing ( Fig. 2 ), however, usually they have dark markings on the costal margin of the forewing; snow white frontal tuft. In the male genitalia, the uncus is comprised of two distinctive, but variously shaped lateral lobes (see Fig. 2 ); the gnathos is an inverted V-shape; the valva with a unique, short, oval-shaped, median process ( Fig. 2 ); and the vinculum with a distinctive, elaborate, basally widened juxta. Females are unknown.

From other groups of Oriental (or Neotropical) Pseudopostega , the matrona group is easily distinguished by the unique median process of valva in the male genitalia ( Fig. 2 ).

Distribution. Currently the group is comprised of two Oriental species from Thailand and one Mediterranean species described below ( Fig. 3 ).

Remarks. The nigrimaculella group was erected in the taxonomic revision of the Oriental Opostegidae (Puplesis and Robinson 1999) based on two white-colored species described from Thailand: one possessing a tiny black costal spot on the forewing and another without a spot. The diminutive name nigrimaculella is derived from the Latin nigrus (black) and macula (a spot, stain) in reference to a black spot on the forewing of P. nigrimaculella . Because of the discovery of P. matrona sp. nov., described below, the concept of the species group was redefined. Within the species group, P. matrona sp. nov. is characterized by very distinctive external and internal (genital) characters but has no spot on the forewing. Because of the discovery of P. matrona sp. nov., we selected a new name for the species group: the Pseudopostega matrona group.

Figures

FIGURES 2–3. Diagnostic tool for species identification of the Pseudopostega matrona group and its distribution. 2, pictorial tool for species differentiation; 3, known distribution (map base, courtesy of T. Patterson, USA)