Proeulia hasta Brown, 2024

Brown, John W., 2024, New genera and species of tortricid moths from Chile and Argentina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Zootaxa 5551 (1), pp. 51-90 : 63

Proeulia hasta Brown , new species

LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3060A9DB-9C00-4AD7-8410-608BF458DCE2

( Figs. 9 , 27, 28 )

Remarks and diagnosis. Although this new species is provisionally assigned to Proeulia , that assignment is uncertain. Superficially, Proeulia hasta ( Fig. 9 ) is more reminiscent of Acmanthina and dark specimens of the highly variable in Haemateulia Razowski than to most other species of Proeulia , suggesting that it may not belong in this genus. However, the male genitalia are fairly characteristic of Proeulia , sharing with P. rucapillana Razowski & Pelz , P. robinsoni (Aurivillius) , P. griseiceps (Aurivillius) , and P. razowskii , new species, the presence of a long slender furca of the juxta. This same group of species (excluding P. robinsoni ) also share a small lobe from near the middle of the gnathos arms. The male genitalia of P. hasta can be separated by the number and size of cornuti in the vesica: a cluster of four long cornuti in the basal portion of the vesica and a patch of three shorter, slenderer cornuti in the anterior region of the vesica.

The male genitalia of P. hasta exhibit considerable variation in the length of the sacculus ( Fig. 27, 28 ), suggesting that two or more species may be concealed under this name.

Description. Head: Vertex and frons scaling mostly uniformly pale gray-brown; antennal scales pale gray-brown; scaling of labial palpus pale gray brown on outer surface, paler on inner surface.

Thorax: Dorsum scaling brown throughout, with small patch of pale brown at posterior margin of metathorax. Legs brown. Forewing length 8.0‒ 8.5 mm (n = 5); forewing ground color pale cream-tan with pale brown mottling; basal 0.25 of costa with narrow brown patch, broadening slightly toward hind margin at wing base; medial fascia ill-defined, pale tan, extending obliquely outward from costa ca. 0.75 distance from base; a short, similarly colored, ill-defined dash from just beyond middle of hind margin, bordered on inner margin by small brown spot; a tiny brown pretornal spot; a pair of small, dark brown dots between end of discal cell and termen; terminal area mostly pale brown, cream at tornus; fringe mostly pale brown. Forewing underside nearly uniformly brown. Hind wing uniformly dark grayish brown, without mottling; fringe concolorous with hindwing scaling. Underside pale gray-brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 27 ) with uncus rod-like, relatively uniform in width throughout; socius short, pendant, densely covered with fine setae; gnathos arms with small lobe immediately before upturned apical region, joined distally into V-shaped, pointed process; transtilla very slender, dorsal surface lacking spines; valva relatively broad, somewhat parallel-sided, upcurved distally, sacculus a narrow sclerotized region along basal 0.66 of venter of valva, lacking free termination; juxta a small triangular plate with a long, slender, curved furca parallel to venter of phallus; phallus short, broad, ca. as long as valva, vesica with cluster of four long, strong basally-attached, non-deciduous cornuti in basal portion of vesica and second patch of three long, slender, basally-attached, non-deciduous cornuti in distal part of vesica, latter shorter in length than cornuti in cluster of four cornuti. Female genitalia unknown.

Types. Holotype ♂, Chile, Osorno Province, Parque Nacional Puyehue, Aguas Calientes to 2 km S, 600 m, 10‒22 Feb 1979, D. Davis, M. Davis & B. Akerbergs ( USNM).

Paratypes (7♂). Argentina: Chubut Province: Esquela, Lago Menendez, Puerto Segrario , [570 m], 21 Feb 1979 (1♂), Mision Cientifica Danesa ( NHMD) . Chile: Osorno Province: Parque Nacional Puyehue, Aguas Calientes to 2 km S, 600 m, 10‒22 Feb 1979 (5♂), 2‒5 Jan 1982 (1♂), D. Davis, M. Davis & B. Akerbergs ( USNM) .

Distribution and biology. This species is recorded from Osorno Province, Chile (n = 6) and Chubut Province, Argentina (n = 1), at elevations of 570‒ 600 m. All specimens were captured in February. Nothing is known of the life history.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin “hasta” (= spear), and refers to the elongate, pointed process (furca) of the juxta.

Figures

FIGURES 9‒16. Adults of tortricid species from Chile andArgentina. 9. Proeulia hasta, holotype male. 10. Proeulia razowskii, holotype male. 11. Strophotina samara, paratype male. 12. Gnatheulia flava, holotype male. 13. Chapoania dentigera, Chile, Ñuble Province. 14. Endemulia urrai, male holotype. 15. Paratepa ferruginea, holotype male. 16. Paratepa argentinana, holotype male.

FIGURES 21‒28. Male genitalia of tortricid species from Chile and Argentina. 21. Terifrona fronteria, USNM slide 145,517. 22. Transtilliana biloba, USNM slide 154,846. 23. Vargasia karsholti, Horak slide GP 733. 24. Hamiamia trancasiana, USNM slide 92,490. 25. Varifula fulvaria, USNM slide 154,848. 26. Varifula geomops, USNM slide 68,492. 27. Proeulia hasta, furca attached to phallus, USNM slide 154,802. 28. Proeulia hasta, furca in situ, USNM slide 81,233.