Agdistis kaunda, Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2015

Kovtunovich, Vasily N. & Ustjuzhanin, Petr Ya., 2015, New species of plume moths of the genus Agdistis Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae: Agdistinae) from southern Africa. 6, African Invertebrates 56 (1), pp. 137-137 : 143-145

Agdistis kaunda sp. n.

Figs 11–14

Etymology: The species is named after Mr Sidney Kaunda, our assistant on many African expeditions.

Diagnosis: In males, the new species resembles A. quagga Arenberger, 2009 and A. buffelsi sp. n. in the shape of the valvae and costal projections, but differs from both in a different structure of the apical part of the valvae, in the presence of a small excavation and lateral spines on the uncus, and a deeply incised sternite VIII.

Description:

External characteristics ( Figs 11, 12 ): Wingspan 22–25 mm (25 in holotype). Forewing grey-brown. One rather large black spot beyond midlength of forewing in its posterior part; another smaller spot posteriorly in middle part; third spot closer to forewing base in its central part. Hindwing uniformly grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 13 ): Valvae asymmetrical. Apical part of left valva slightly curved anteriorly and bent posteriorly. Apical part of right valva bluntly rounded and forms small triangular projection at lower margin. Costal projection on left valva thickened in middle part along lower margin and ends with narrow apex. Costal projection on right valva also thickened in middle part but ends with broad apex. Both costal projections reach beyond midlength of valvae; right costal projection a little longer than left one. Uncus broad, with small excavation apically and with triangular projections laterally. Sternite VIII with deep triangular incision; lobes of sternite VIII narrowed in apical part. Aedeagus slightly bent, as long as costal projection of left valva.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 14 ): Papillae anales elongated triangular. Apophyses posteriores thin and long, 3× as long as papillae anales and short and thick apophyses anteriores. Lamina postvaginalis of sternite VII bilobed. Antrum short and broad. Ductus bursae short. Ductus seminalis long, oval-shaped; bursa copulatrix also oval-shaped and a little longer than d. seminalis.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Springbok, Kopperberg farm, 29°42'S 17°55'E, 3–4.x.2009, Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin ( BMNH, gen. pr. 22730).

Paratype: SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: 2♂ 1♀ Springbok , 18–20.x.1954, Janse ( BMNH, gen. pr. 22731, TMSA, gen. pr.15265, 15266); same data as holotype , 50 specimens ( BMNH, TMSA, CUK) ; 1♂ Nababiep, 13–14.viii.1961, van Son & Vari ( CUK, gen. pr.198) .

Distribution: South Africa: Northern Cape.

Remarks: Flight period in August and October.

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to Dr Martin Krüger (TMSA) and Mr Kevin Tuck (BMNH) for providing access to collections of Pterophoridae . The authors also acknowledge the invaluable help of three members of expeditions to South Africa: Andrey Sochivko (Moscow, Russia),Vasiliy Anikin (Saratov, Russia) and Sidney Kaunda (Mzuzu, Malawi), who assisted with the collection of the material.

Figures

Figs 11–14. Agdistis kaunda sp. n., adults and genitalia: (11, 13) holotype, male, BMNH 22730; (12, 14) paratype, female, CUK 69E8.