Gibbalaria chiloanei Brown and Aarvik, 2023

Brown, John W., Aarvik, Leif & Timm, Alicia, 2023, Gibbalaria: A new genus of Olethreutini from the Afrotropical Region (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), and a new combination in Cosmopoda Diakonoff, Zootaxa 5263 (2), pp. 217-239 : 228

Gibbalaria chiloanei Brown and Aarvik , new species

Figs 4 , 20, 21 , 32

Diagnosis. Superficially, G. chiloanei has a slightly greater forewing than G. divergana and G. occidentana , and the forewing pattern includes a pair of pale markings in the distal 0.3 that are more pronounced (i.e., in greater contrast to the ground color) than in those species. The male genitalia of G. chiloanei are extremely similar to those of G. occidentana , but they can be distinguished from those of the latter by the length of the valva (longer in G. chiloanei ), the size of the rectangular flange at the base of the cucullus (narrower in G. chiloanei ), and the configuration of the associated patch of long setae at the base of the flange (extending beyond the width of the flange in G. chiloanei , not extending beyond the flange in G. occidentana ).

The genitalia of the two males included under this species ( Figs 20, 21 ) have many subtle differences, enough that based on morphology alone, we initially considered them to represent different species. However, DNA barcodes convincingly place them as conspecifics. Whether morphological differences actually represent individual variation, or the DNA barcodes are misleading, can be determined only with additional material.

Description. Head: As described for genus. Thorax: As described for genus. Forewing length 7.5–8.0 mm (mean = 7.7 mm; n = 4); forewing pattern as in G. divergana but less defined ( Fig. 4 ); male hindwing lacking patch of secondary scales on ventral surface. Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Figs 20, 21 ) with uncus distinctly differentiated from top of tegumen, slightly narrowed subbasally to about 0.75 its distal width, with apical portion bearing a few long, fine setae from venter; top of tegumen somewhat rounded; socii ill defined, fused to margin of tegumen; valva broad basally, abruptly narrowed at middle, distal 0.6 nearly uniform in width, somewhat long-rectangular, rounded apically; costa of valva with triangular basal process bearing three slender spines; rectangular flange at base of cucullus (distal end of sacculus) bearing one large socketed spine and patch of long, fine, copper-colored setae, with patch extending basad beyond the width of the flange; second patch of finer setae midway between base and termination of sacculus; phallus as described for genus, vesica with two large, thorn-like, non-deciduous cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 32 ) as described for genus; sterigma a semicircular shield-like plate, antrum with nearly straight posterior edge (= ostium), bifurcate anteriorly; ductus bursae membranous, about as long as corpus bursae, with characteristic small diverticulum immediately anterad of antrum on left side; corpus bursae rounded-oblong; signum a small, coarsely reticulated area with a very shallow pocket; anterior end of corpus bursae attenuate.

DNA barcodes. DNA barcodes of the holotype and three paratypes form a distinct BIN ( BOLD: AAY9224 ) separated from its nearest neighbor, G. divergana , by a difference of 3.37 %

Types. Holotype ♁, South Africa, Eastern Cape, Makhanda (Grahamstown), Rhodes University botanical garden, ca. 580 m, -33.33136, 26.5163, 6 Mar 2014, Timm, Chiloane & Lancaster ( USNM), USNM slide 145,619.

Paratypes (1♁, 3♀). South Africa: Eastern Cape Province: Makhanda [Grahamstown], 18 Aug 2014 (1♁), D. V. Chiloane ( USNM), USNM slide 145,615; 2 Sep 2014 (1♀), 3 Sep 2014 (1♁, 1♀), D. V. Chiloane ( USNM), USNM slide 145,797 .

Distribution. This species is known only from Makhanda in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Specimens were collected in March (n = 1), late August (n = 1), September (n = 3), likely represented two broods.

Etymology. The species name is a patronym for D. Chiloane, who played a role in the collection of all the specimens of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 3‒10. Adults of Gibbalaria. 3. G. divergana holotype female; 4. G. chiloanei holotype male; 5. G. occidentana paratype female; 6. G. occidentana holotype male; 7. G. occidentana paratype female; 8. G. longiphallus holotype male; 9. G. mabalingwae holotype male; 10. G. scabellana male, South Africa.

FIGURES 19‒24. Male genitalia of Gibbalaria. 19. G. occidentana, USNM slide 145,608; 20. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,619 (HT); 21. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,615 (PT); 22. G. scabellana, USNM slide 144,616; 23. G. scabellana, USNM slide 145,603; 24. G. longiphallus, Bassi slide 6441(HT).

FIGURES 30‒35. Female genitalia of Gibbalaria. 30. G. divergana, USNM slide 145.609; 31. G. occidentana, USNM slide 145,620; 32. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,979; 33. G. scabellana, USNM slide 144,801; 34. G. scabellana, USNM slide 145,652; 35. G. bagamoyo, NHMO slide 4116.