Stigmella imperatoria Puplesis & Robinson, 2000

Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Gerulaitis, Virginijus & Karsholt, Ole, 2016, Leaf-mining Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from record high altitudes: documenting an entire new fauna in the Andean páramo and puna, Zootaxa 4181 (1), pp. 1-94 : 49-51

Stigmella imperatoria Puplesis & Robinson, 2000

( Figs 18 , 27 , 128–132 )

Stigmella imperatoria Puplesis & Robinson, 2000: 30 –31, Figs 23 , 113–116 .

Material examined. 1 Ƌ (holotype), PERU, Dept . Ancash, 35 km SE of Huaraz, Cerro Cahuish, Quabrada Pucavado , 4100 m, 15–18.ii.1987, O. Karsholt, genitalia slide no. Diškus 195 ( ZMUC) ; 2 Ƌ (paratypes), same label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus196 (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. This relatively large species differs from other Stigmella species, including other Andean species, in the long and narrow uncus, gnathos and phallus, and also by the copper-gold lustre of forewing. The configuration of the cornuti in the phallus (see fig. 132) is highly diagnostic.

Male ( Figs 128, 129 ). Forewing length: 4.1–4.3 mm; wingspan: 9.0– 9.6 mm. Head: palpi cream to grey, distally and on underside usually fuscous; frontal tuft very large, comprised of cream or pale ochreous and numerous dark brown piliform scales, the latter mostly central; collar of mainly cream or greyish cream lamellar scales, additionally with some overlapping piliform scales; scape small, almost covered by frontal tuft, glossy greyish cream with a few piliform scales anteriorly; antenna distinctly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 54 segments, blackish brown with golden and purple lustre. Thorax, tegula and forewing uniformly brown with strong coppery golden lustre, no purple iridescence; fringe brown; underside of forewing dark greybrown, without spots. Hindwing and its fringe brown, without spots or androconia. Legs cream, fuscous brown or fuscous grey on upper side. Abdomen grey-brown on upper side, yellowish cream on underside; genital segments paler but not contrasting significantly with main colour of abdominal sternites.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs 130–132 ). Capsule 535–675 µm long, 290 wide. Uncus unusually long, very strongly sclerotized laterally, slightly widened at apex and with two very short lateral lobes. Gnathos with narrow central plate and two very long caudal processes with apices turned outwards; anterior anterior margin of gnathos with shallow central emargination; lateral arms narrow and moderately long. Valva ca. 345 µm long, with large inturned apical process; bulged inner lobe of valva forming wide triangular subapical extension (process). Transtilla with short and rather slender transverse bar characterized by pointed and anteriorly-directed angles, but without sublateral processes. Vinculum with large, widely rounded lateral lobes; ventral plate large, with V-shaped anterior emargination. Juxta membranous, widening towards caudal end. Phallus ( Fig. 132 ) very long (about 570 µm) and slender (90–115 µm); vesica with a apical cluster of about 10 spine-like cornuti and with a long basal band of mainly very tiny, needle-like or spine like cornuti.

Bionomics. Adults fly in February. Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution ( Figs 18 , 27 ). This species occurs in the high Peruvian Andes ( Peru: Ancash Departamento) at altitudes about 4100 m.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin imperator (emperor, commander) in reference to the very large frontal tuft, also the crown-like uncus and specific shape of the gnathos.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Distribution map of the high-Andean Nepticulidae with height records.

FIGURES 18 – 19. Distribution of high altitude Nepticulidae and collecting in the Peruvian Andes. 18, distribution map; 19, collector and co-author Ole Karsholt in Polylepis forest during Polylepis Expedition organized by Prof. Dr. Jon Fjeldså (the leader of the Polylepis Expeditions, ZMUC) in 1987.

FIGURES 128 – 132. Stigmella imperatoria Puplesis & Robinson. 128, 129, male adult, holotype; 130, male genitalia, capsule with phallus, holotype, genitalia slide no. Diškus 195; 131, same, uncus and gnathos; 132, same, phallus (ZMUC).

FIGURES 22 – 26. The Altiplano, Bolivia; 22 – 24, habitats; 25, 26, habitats of Stigmella ageratinae sp. nov., S. clinopodiella sp. nov., and S. calceolarifoliae sp. nov., southern shore of Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, 16 ° 09 ' 42 " S, 69 ° 05 ' 19 " W, elevation 3930 m.

FIGURES 113 – 117. Stigmella auriargentata Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov. 113, male adult, holotype; 114, male genitalia, holotype, genitalia slide no. RA 537, phallus; 115, 116, same, capsule without phallus; 117, female genitalia, paratype, genitalia slide no. RA 542 (ZMUC).