Philtronoma cbdora Metz, 2020

Metz, Mark A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2020, Four new gelechioid species to honor Costa Rica's conservation of wild biodiversity (Lepidoptera), Zootaxa 4810 (1), pp. 45-64 : 48-51

Philtronoma cbdora Metz , new species

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E58A27AB-12A3-4C31-9950-F7DA2DF9DE62

(Figs. 1–3, 5–7)

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latinized, arbitrary combination of letters formed to be used as a word (ICZN 11.3). The epithet is in honor of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) efforts to promote sustainable development and conservation of wild biological diversity, and especially Costa Rica’s new focus on being an exemplar tropical country for the realization of the goals of the CBD. A note on pronunciation of the species name: the abbreviation for the Convention on Biological Diversity is pronounced SEE-BEE-DEE. The new species name, likewise, should be pronounced SEE-BEE-DOR-A, which is, indeed, quite euphonious and easy to remember. It should be considered a feminine adjective.

Diagnosis. Philtronoma cbdora can be recognized by forewing pattern. It has three parallel, longitudinal black lines in the forewing apex, the two anterior lines are very distinct, the posterior line is indistinct but visible, the length of the anterior line is 0.6X the length of the middle or posterior lines, narrowest width of bronze patch at hind margin of forewing 3X wider than black line preceding it, hind tibia with pink scales dorsally, apex of valve acute, medial carinate edge continuous to valve apex, juxta broad and tapering to blunt triangle, lateral process of juxta lacking, cornutus straight in line with phallus and apex with five long teeth, corpus bursae 2X longer than widest width, narrower in middle, posterior half sclerotized dorsally, blade-like extension of paired signa length 0.75X width of individual signum, periphery of signum continuous with surface of corpus bursae faint with few darkened denticles.

Description. Head scales white, many with black tips creating a speckled look, white tending towards creamyyellow on lower face and at lower rear eye margin, scales at medial eye margin at base of antenna black iridescent; scales much longer than wide except scales at immediate eye margin almost as wide as long. Ocellus absent. Compound eye 1.2X higher than long. Scape with scales iridescent black dorsally, white ventrally and anteriorly; with a pecten of over 40 narrow white scales; remaining antennal segments with scales iridescent black dorsally, pedicel and basal 1–5 flagellomeres with white scales anteriorly and posteriorly, distal flagellomeres with iridescent black scales ventrally; with numerous long, curved setae at joints ventrally. Labial palpus curved well above top of head, completely smooth-scaled; second segment straight; third segment gently curved; second segment only measurably longer than third segment, almost equal in length; scales of first segment white with a broad, lateral black strip of black scales; second segment scales mostly white with black tips, giving a speckled look, ventral scales completely white, apex capped with iridescent black scales; third segment scales mostly white with black tips, base with only white scales except ventrally, apical 1/7th capped with iridescent black scales with one to few white scales at extreme tip. Maxillary palpus scales white with black tips. Pilifer obscured by labial palpi. At least 0.75 length of haustellum base with dense cover of white scales, some with black tips.

Thorax with scales mostly white, scattered scales with black tips; dorsum with median strip of black iridescent scales, which is slightly wider on mesonotum; median 1/3 of metascutellum covered with iridescent black scales in an oval shape, longer than broad. Leg scales mostly white with scattered scales with black tips; apex of every foreleg segment and dorsum of fifth metatarsus with black iridescent scales; apex of mid- and hindcoxae and mid- and hindfemora with iridescent black scales, mid- and hindtibiae with subapical ring of matte black scales, metatarsi of mid- and hindleg with matte black annulations; hindtibia with long plume of pink scales dorsally, plume scales at apex white. Forewing length 15.8–17.4 mm (Fig. 1), apex broadly rounded, scales predominantly white, sparsely mixed with black-tipped scales, black-tipped scales more dense along middle half of costa, forming a weak band extending posteriorly in triangular pattern to 1A, and at posterior margin in middle of wing; with beige scales on costal cell from base around wing apex, triangular shaped spots in wing apex over longitudinal veins R to Cu1, in triangular patch from costa to 1A in basal third, in triangular patch from posterior wing margin to radial sector at middle of forewing, and at discal bar; with concentrated black scales on anterior surface of costa along basal 1/6th, and forming two narrow, perpendicular bars at base over costa back to radial sector, one narrow, diagonal bar from middle of discal cell, but not reaching costa, a compound apical spot in the wing apex over R3, a narrow, curved bar in the middle of the wing from M1 posteriorly to but not reaching posterior wing margin, a narrow, diagonal bar at the apex of the discal cell, and three apical lines, the two anterior lines darker and between R5 and M1 and between M1 and M2, the posterior line fainter and between M2 and M3, middle line twice as long as anterior and posterior lines, which are subequal in length; there is an additional black spot at the forewing base in the middle, with some raised black-iridescent scales adjacent over the axial sclerites. Ventral surface of forewing (Fig. 2) with predominantly pink scales, particularly along veins, with dark gray to brown scales on anterior and apical areas between, discal cell and 1A; scales of retinaculum creamy white, with a row of closely associated, posteriorly-directed scales on the base of Sc and a closely associated row of anteriorly-directed scales on the base of M-Cu. Fringe only present along termen, scales white to creamy white, except dark gray to brown in middle. Hindwing 13.3–14.6 mm, broad and triangular, dorsal surface with slightly iridescent, pink scales. Fringe creamy white, scales with compound apices of 5 or more tips around posterior angle. Ventral surface with slightly iridescent, pink scales, fringe dark gray to brown at apex.

Abdomen with pink scales dorsally and white scales ventrally. Male genitalia (Fig. 3). Segment VIII similar in shape to the preceding segments, undifferentiated. Tegumen trapezoidal in ventral view, posterior end narrower, length 1.3X width at middle, dorsal anterior margin deeply emarginate, emargination extending almost entire length of tegumen, emargination in middle as wide or wider than tegumen halves creating broad space with acute apex. Uncus short, forming a narrow strap, lateral ends at articulation with tegumen and gnathos slightly longer, middle third of dorsal posterior margin produced slightly and notched medially. Gnathos bifurcate with symmetrical halves, each half produced as pyriform pad of denticles in ventral view, denticles smaller on lateral arm of gnathos, pad wider than long. Anal tube completely membranous. Vinculum V-shaped; saccus bluntly pointed, not produced. Juxta spanning almost entire width of diaphragm, length 2X width at middle, length equal to length of tegumen, dorsally concave, in lateral view bent ventrally, anterior margin broadly rounded, posterior apex triangular coming to blunt point, lacking lateral process. Diaphragm with slightly darkened plate at midline above phallus that could be vestigial transtilla, otherwise unadorned. Valve simple, sacculus not extremely expanded or separate from cucullus, with no extensions or processes, valves smoothly tapered from base out to acute and angular apex with no ventral expansion, length equal to lengths of tegumen and uncus lengths combined, apex with acute, medial carinate edge continuous to valve apex. Phallus cylindrical, lacking any sclerotized lateral strip, tip blunt; not fused to juxta, with membranous attachment to diaphragm; ductus ejaculatorius 3X longer than phallus, exiting anteriorly with no caecum; cornutus straight in line with phallus and apex with five long teeth. Female genitalia (Fig. 5). Segment VIII width 1.25X length at level of ostium; width 2.0X width of ostium at level of ostium; anterior margin terminate; lamella antevaginalis and lamella postvaginalis with thickened margin medially, lip-shaped; anterior apophysis not strongly sclerotized, base located posterodorsally at posterior margin of tergite VIII, short, thick, and strongly bent after base, terminus at level of ostium. Segment IX entirely membranous, same length as segment VIII, width throughout equal to width of posterior width of segment VIII. Papilla analis divided into larger anterior pad and smaller posterior pad, anterior pad kidney-shaped, posterior pad hemispherical, both pads densely covered with small denticles and filiform setae, anterior pad with a single large seta and posterior pad with two large setae on outer edge, both pads with a medial, channel-like depression filled with the same small denticles, channel adjacent to membrane surrounding anus and ovipore. Posterior apophysis darker than anterior apophysis, base located pos- terodorsally at anterior margin of papilla analis at division between anterior and posterior pads, mostly straight, terminus not reaching ostium. Antrum extremely short, length 0.2X width of ductus bursae. Colliculum not visible. Ductus bursae 1.4X longer than length of segment VIII, cylindrical, same width as anterior end of antrum posteriorly with three sections of widening and narrowing before smoothly widening into corpus bursae, entire length textured with longitudinal ridges ventrally and diagonal to perpendicular ridges dorsally. Ductus seminalis emerging from dorsum of ductus bursae immediately anterad antrum, width 1/8th width of ductus bursae, with no visible texture. Corpus bursae 2X longer than widest width, narrower in middle, posterior half with deep longitudinal and diagonal ridges, darkened dorsally; blade-like extension of paired signa length 0.75X width of individual signum, part of signum continuous with surface of corpus bursae faint with few darkened denticles.

Immature stages not examined first hand. Larva as in images (Figs. 6–7.)

DNA Barcode BOLD BIN. BOLD:AAF6938 (dx.doi.org/10.5883/BOLD:AAF6938)

Specimens Examined. Holotype ♀ (USNMENT01455825, 04-SRNP-25691, USNM slide # 146541) COSTA RICA: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG), Guanacaste Province, Sector Del Oro, Quebrada Trigal, 290m, 11.02681, -85.49547, ec. 18 Oct 2004, leg. Lucia Ríos, ex. Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) . Paratypes (1 ♂, 5 ♀♀): COSTA RICA: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG): 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480152, 04-SRNP-25689) Guanacaste Province, Sector Del Oro, Quebrada Trigal, 290m, 11.02681, -85.49547, ec. 07 Nov 2004, leg. Lucia Ríos, ex. Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480149, 04-SRNP-25688) Guanacaste Prov- ince, Sector Del Oro, Quebrada Trigal, 290m, 11.02681, -85.49547, ec. 08 Nov 2004, leg. Lucia Ríos, ex. Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) (deposited in NHMUK); 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480150, 04-SRNP-25690) Guanacaste Province, Sector Del Oro, Quebrada Trigal, 290m, 11.02681, -85.49547, ec. 13 Nov 2004, leg. Lucia Ríos, ex. Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) ; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480151, 11-SRNP-23562) Sector El Hacha, Estacion Los Almendros, 11.03226, -85.52776, 290m, ec. 16 Dec 2011, leg. Roster Moraga, ex. Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) ; PANAMA: 1 ♂ (USNMENT01480176, YB-BCI24465, USNM slide # 146553) Panama, Barro Colorado Island, 9.15472, -79.8481, 17 Mar 2010, light trap, LT-ARM 3-MAR2010 -B, leg. Bobadilla, Gonzalez, Osorio, Perez; 1 ♀ (USNMENT01480148, USNM slide # 146549); Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Island, 03 Jul 1978, Sil- berglied/Aiello, at light.

Distribution. Philtronoma cbdora is known from specimens collected at just a few locations in Costa Rica and Panama, but likely occurs throughout the range of the only known food plant.

Biology. Larvae of P. cbdora lightly roll and silk mature leaves of the treelet Neea psychotrioides (Nyctaginaceae) living at the intersection of ACG dry forest and rain forest. Records in GBIF (2019) include localities for N. psychotrioides from Sinaloa, Mexico south through Panama, with few records in western Colombia.

Remarks. Dognin’s original syntype specimens of P. roseicorpus may comprise multiple species, so comparisons to the lectotype are important (Fig. 4). Specimens identified as P. roseicorpus in the USNM represent several different species. All species of Philtronoma we examined can be readily identified by features of the male genitalia including the shapes of the valve, juxta, and cornutus (See Figs. 4 and 5 to compare the two named species.) and these correlate well with species-specific wing patterns.

Genus Tinaegeria Walker, 1856 ( Depressariidae : Tinaegeriinae) (from Stathmopodidae )

Tinaegeria Walker, 1856: 260 . Type species: Tinaegeria ochracea Walker, 1856: 260 ; Para, Brazil; by subsequent designation

( Walsingham 1889: 10). = Arauzona Walker, [1865] : 25. Type species: Arauzona basalis Walker, [1865] : 26; Ega, Brazil; by monotypy. = Machaerocrates Meyrick, 1931: 175 . Type species: Machaerocrates tunicata Meyrick, 1931: 176 ; San Bernardino, Paraguay;

by monotypy.

Walker (1856) described Tinaegeria for a species he thought was a missing link between the families Tineidae (“Tineities”, or clothes moths), and Sesiidae (“ Aegeriidae ” or clearwing moths). He named the species Tinaegeria ochracea because its body is mostly covered with orange scales and the black-scaled wings have bands of orange scales. After several decades, other species looking like small sesiids were discovered in this or other similar genera and moved to this genus, so that there are currently eight described species of Tinaegeria , all from South America ( Guyana, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Paraguay) ( Becker 1999). The sesiid-like shape and color suggests that species in this genus may be mimicking some distasteful or otherwise avoided insect, such as lycid beetles, lampyrid beetles, or stinging wasps. Lycid and lampyrid beetles contain toxic chemicals that make them distasteful. A group of scales on the antennae of Tinaegeria make their antennae appear larger, similar to the expanded antennae of the beetle models. These Costa Rican Tinaegeria also have white patches of scales near the antennae tips, suggesting that in flight they might mimic small, stinging wasps and therefore be gaining the advantage of both models. Members of the genus have narrow wings with species-specific patterns of black and yellow or orange scales. The hindwing has bare membrane similar to sesiid moths. Both male and female genitalia are diagnostic. Males have a deeply divided uncus; paired, oval, spinose distal gnathos pads; and the ductus ejaculatorius ventral on the phallus. Females have a widely divided papilla analis with a posterior and anterior pad. The posterior pad is narrow, pointed, and dorsoventrally flattened. The anterior pad is broad and laterally flattened with hooked, ventrolaterally directed setae.