Pfitzneriella titarenkoi, ♂, Grehan & C. Mielke, 2018

Grehan, John R. & Mielke, Os. G. C., 2018, New species of Dugdaleiella, gen. nov., Kozloviella, gen. nov., and Pfitzneriella Viette from upper elevation Andes of Ecuador and Peru (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Zootaxa 4497 (1), pp. 1-28 : 15-17

Pfitzneriella titarenkoi sp. n.

( Figs 6a, 6b , 9d , 10f , 13d, 14c , 16e , 22 )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other Hepialidae by unipectinate lamellar antennae and from other Pfitzneriella species by the lack of transverse banding and presence of small scattered white spots on the FW. Greyish brown ground color also shared with P. antonkozlovi sp. n. and P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. Outer margin of FW strongly convex towards apex compared with a less curved outer margin near apex in other Pfitzneriella species.

Description. Male ( Figs 6a, 6b ). Wingspan 38 mm; FW length: 18 mm, width: 9 mm, ratio 2: 1; HW length: 16 mm, width: 8 mm, ratio 2: 1.

Head. Frons and vertex covered with grayish-brown piliform scales. Interocular-antennal scales piliform, blackish-brown, overlapping about half eye width. Mouthparts covered with blackish-brown piliform scales. Antenna lamelliform, unipectinate, blackish-brown, annuli laterally compressed, each annulus with dorsal and ventral cluster of sensillae chaetica, lamellate dorsal flange, angled disto-ventrally oriented, increasingly towards antennal tip, terminal segments missing [antennae broken], 33 + flagellomeres; scape rounded, covered with piliform scales. Clypeus unscaled, projecting anteriorly as a transverse ridge. Labium subsquare. Labial palpus two segmented, proximal palpomere short, oval, distal palpomere long and narrow, about four times long as basal, slightly wider distally ( Fig. 9d ). Small round lobe antero-lateral to labium possible mandible remnants. Pair of larger lobes that are subequal to basal palpus posterior to labium possible remnants of maxillae.

Thorax. Dorsally covered with dark yellowish brown scales, scutum III pale greyish-brown, free of scales other than posterior and medial regions, obscured from direct view by overlapping mesothoracic scales. Ventral greyish brown. Legs ( Fig. 13d ) coloured as the thorax, tibial and tarsal scales not obscuring individual tarsal segments; metaleg pale orange-brown, basal metatibia slightly enlarged with androconia; metatibial gland present ( Fig. 14c ); length ratio (pro-, meso-, meta-) 1.5: 1.7: 1; epiphysis absent. FW costal margin slightly convex; outer margin convex to CuA2, anal margin weakly convex. Venation hepialine ( Dumbleton 1966), base of FW anal vein strongly curved anteriorly, distally curved posteriorly ( Fig. 10f ). FW dorsal ground colour a mix of diffuse blackish-brown and yellowish-brown; concentrated diffuse band of yellowish-brown distal to cross veins over much of outer central region, scattered white spots edged with black, thin convex marginal bands between veins from CuA2 to apex composed of basal black line subtending white; fringe greyish-black; two dark patches between 1A and anal margin. FW ventral ground colour greyish brown; costal pocket present. HW dorsal greyish brown. HW ventral greyish brown marginal row of orange-brown scales along outer and anal margins, marginal fringe greyish-brown.

Abdomen. Anteriorly yellowish brown to about segment III then greyish brown. Tergosternal connection with elongate tergosternal bar with central, narrowly teardrop shaped weakly sclerotized lacuna, elongate lateral tergal brace and short and wide dorsal brace not connected to anterior ridge of tergum II, tergal knob absent. Tergites and sternites weakly sclerotized. Tergum II with anterior ridge across median, lateral ridge thin, 2/3 segment length, with a rounded curve at the outer edge of the lateral tuberculate plate, not extending to anterior margin; sternum II sub-square, anterior margin broad, curved V-shape to lateral margin, anterior lateral arms short, dorsal edge of tergosternal attachment with very short and weakly developed longitudinal ridge extending posteriorly. Tergum VII rectangular, wider than long, but slightly longer than preceding tergites. Tergum VIII rectangular, narrowing slightly to slightly concave posterior margin; sternum VIII rectangular, wider than long, anterior margin slightly concave medially, posterior-medial region setose, posterior margin slightly convex medially with a narrow, central unsclerotized region extending anteriorly, but medial notch absent ( Fig. 16e ).

Male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ). Tegumen partially distinct from pseudotegumen. Saccus longitudinally short, apodemal suture with short posterior-ventral lateral shelf each side of the median, each with rounded distal margin, lateral internal margin ridged, ridge extending to medio-lateral corners of anterior margin, thin suture line extending medially between apodemal suture and anterior margin, anterior margin slightly convex medially. Pseudotegumen comprising pair of triangular plates, wide dorsally, narrowing ventrally to a strongly sclerotized and pointed apex, slightly angled laterally, convex margin adjacent to phallus, not fused medially, ventral apex widely separated medially. Valva broad, spatulate with rounded distal margin, inner and distal surfaces setose, anterior distal corner pointed. Fultura superior membranous, longitudinally short; fultura inferior four times wider than long at median, anterior margin medially concave and laterally convex to straight lateral margins angled medially to posterior corner, posterior margin concave with sclerotized rim (possibly fused region of fultura inferior). Phallus membranous without cornutus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. South-central eastern Peruvian Andes ( Figs 27a, 28 ). Known only from type locality in upper river valley west of Satipo, collected by disturbed forest near river at 3,380 m ( Fig. 26d ).

Ethology. Attracted to UV-light at collecting sheet.

Host plant. Larval habits and host plants are unknown.

Etymology. Named after Andrey Yurievich Titarenko (Moscow, Russia), Russian philosopher, image processing researcher and enthusiastic insect collector, at the special request of Anton Kozlov.

Type material. Holotype male (with the following labels separated by forward slashes): / S. America, PERU, Junin reg. Satipo Prov , Pampa Hermosa distr . 11.4865S, 074.8871W, h= 3380 m, 21/I/2017, A. Kozlov, Yu. Kovaleva, R. Gortovannyi leg. / Holotypus, Pfitzneriella titarenkoi ♂, Grehan & C. Mielke det. 2017/ Dissection JRG 260/ (CMNH). Figs 6a, 6b .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Wing venation (male unless otherwise specified). 10a, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n.; 10b, P. antonkozlovi sp. n.; 10c, P. olafi sp. n.; 10d, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 10e, P. remota (from photo only, venation incomplete due to damaged condition of HT); 10f, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n.; 10g, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. (female); 10h, Dugdaleiella monticola.

FIGURE 26. Collection localities. 26a–26b, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n. Peru, Cerro Machete, 2,050 m; 26c, Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi sp. n., Peru, Marañon Province, 3,270 m; 26d, P. titarenkoi, sp. n. and P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n., Peru, Pampa Hermosa district, 3,380 m; 26e–26f, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n., Peru, Pampa Hermosa district, 2,960 m. With permission by Anton Kozlov and Yuliya Kovaleva, foreground 26b, 26e, Anton Kozlov and 26f, Yuliya Kovaleva. Photos: Anton Kozlov.

FIGURES 1–7. Voucher specimens. 1, Kozloviella viazmenskyi gen. n., sp. n. male HT (CMNH). 1a, dorsal; 1b, ventral. 2, Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi sp. n. male HT (CMNH), 2a, dorsal; 2b, ventral. 3, P. olafi sp. n. male HT (MNHN), 3a, dorsal; 3b, ventral. 4, P. rawlinsi sp. n. male, 4a, HT dorsal (CMNH); 4b, PT dorsal; 4c, PT ventral (CGCM). 5, P. remota male HT dorsal (MNHN). 6, P. titarenkoi sp. n. male HT (CMNH), 6a, dorsal; 6b, ventral. 7, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. male HT (CMNH), 7a, dorsal; 7b, ventral. Female PT (CMNH); 7c, dorsal; 7d, ventral. Photos: Ernst Brockmann (Fig. 5), Jane Hyland (Fig. 4a), Anton Kozlov (Figs 1, 2, 6, 7), and Carlos Mielke (Figs 3, 4b, 4c).

FIGURES 8–9. Voucher specimens. 8, Dugdaleiella monticola male. 8a, LT (ZMHB); 8b, Cotopaxi, Ecuador (CMNH); 8c, Volcán Chiles, Ecuador (CMNH); 8d, male, Volcán Chiles, Ecuador (CMNH). 9, Labial palpi (male unless otherwise specified), 9a, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n.; 9b, Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi sp. n.; 9c, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 9d, P. titarenkoi sp. n.; 9e, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n.; 9f, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. (female); 9g, Dugdaleiella monticola. Photos: Jane Hyland (Fig. 8), John Grehan (Figs 9a–b, d–h), and Carlos Mielke (Fig. 9c). Scale 1 mm (when present).

FIGURES 12–14. 12, Antenna. Pfitzneriella rawlinsi sp. n. (unscaled). 13, Legs. 13a, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n.; 13b, P. olafi sp. n.; 13c, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 13d, P. titarenkoi sp. n.; 13e, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. 14, Metatibia. 14a, P. antonkozlovi sp. n.; 14b, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 14c, P. titarenkoi; 14d, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n.; 14e, P. antonkozlovi sp. n.; 14f, Dugdaleiella monticola. Photos: John Grehan (Figs 12, 14e, 14f), Carlos Mielke (Figs 13,14a–d). Scale 1 mm.

FIGURES 15–16. Tergosternal connection. 15a, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n.; 15b, Pfitzneriella yuliyakovalevae sp. n.; 15c, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 15d, Dugdaleiella monticola. 16, Abdomen (males unless otherwise specified). 16a, K. viazmenskyi sp. n.; 16b, P. antonkozlovi sp. n.; 16c, P. olafi sp. n.; 16d, P. rawlinsi sp. n.; 16e, P. titarenkoi sp. n.; 16f, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n.; 16g, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. (female); 16h–16j, Dugdaleiella monticola. 16h, tergum II; 16i, sternum II; 16j, tergum and sternum VIII. Photos: John Grehan (Figs 15d, 16h–16j), Carlos Mielke (Figs 15a–15c, 16a–16g).

FIGURES 17–25. Genitalia (male unless otherwise specified). 17, Kozloviella viazmenskyi sp. n. HT. 17a, ventral; 17b, lateral. 18, Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi sp. n. HT, ventral. 19, P. olafi sp. n. HT, ventral. 20, P. rawlinsi sp. n. HT, ventral. 21, P. remota HT (redrawn from Viette (1951a)). 22, P. titarenkoi sp. n. HT, ventral. 23, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. 23a, ventral; 23b, lateral. 24, P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. PT female. 24a, posterior; 24b, lateral. 25, Dugdaleiella monticola. 25a, LT (ZMHB); 25b, Cotopaxi, Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. Dissection JRG 136 (CMNH). sa = saccus, fs = fultura superior, fi = fultura inferior, as = apodemal suture. Scale 1 mm (when present). Photos: Carlos Mielke (Figs 17–20, 22–25b).

FIGURES 27–29. Distribution. 27, Dugdaleiella gen. n., Kozloviella gen. n., and Pfitzneriella locality records. 27a, Ecuador and Peru. Tectonic boundaries approximate; 27b, Dugdaleiella gen. n. and P. lucicola in Ecuador. 28, Locality records of Peruvian Pfitzneriella in relation to eastern Andean montane forests (modified from Young & León (2000) with permission by Kenneth Young). 29, Principal groups of Hepialidae in Central and South America. Phassus/Schausiana/Phthius (solid line), cibyrine genera of Hepialidae (dotted line), Dugdaleiella gen. n./Kozloviella gen. n./Pfitzneriella (pale green), Uiridigigas (red), and southern Andean genera (blue).