Asapharcha unipunctella, Bidzilya & Mey & Rajaei, 2024

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Rajaei, Hossein, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 5443 (4), pp. 548-566 : 564-565

Asapharcha unipunctella sp. nov.

Figs 15 , 21 , 31

Type material. Holotype ♂, Namibia, Rundu , Okavanga River, 27–28.iii.2003, leg. Mey; gen. slide 484/07, O. Bidzilya (MfN).

Diagnosis. The new species is easily recognizable by the pale forewing with a black dot in the middle of the cell, black markings along costal margin, and the presence of pecten on the scape. The last character has not been observed in other species of this genus that are either darker coloured with additional markings, or have a large dark spot in cell. The male genitalia are characterized by a cucullus that is gradually broadened distally and a phallic tube with an internal spiraled trunk. Asapharcha hirsuta has a similarly shaped phallus, but the cucullus is parallel-sided to 2/3 its length rather than gradually broadened distally as in the new species.

Description ( Figs 15 , 21 ). Wingspan 15.2 mm. Head pale white; frons white; labial palpus recurved, pale white, segment 2 with moderately long brush of scales beneath, black at base on outer surface, slender black ring near apex; segment 3 with broad subapical belt, as long as and slightly narrower than segment 2; antennal scape dark brown, apex and ventral side pale white, pecten a single brown scale; flagellomeres light grey ringed with light brown, ventral side densely ciliated; tegulae white with black base; thorax white with black caudal irroration; forewing white to light brown with few black-tipped scales, costal margin mottled with black to 3/4, black spot at base and on 3/4 of costal margin, additional black point in middle of cell; tornus spotted with black; fringe greyish-black with light brown medial line; hindwing and fringe light grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 31 ). Uncus subrectangular, twice as long as broad, lateral margins densely covered with hairs; gnathos stout, strongly curved on 1/3, then straight, apical 3/4 pointed, upcurved; tegumen somewhat parallel-sided, slightly longer than broad, anteromedial emargination subtriangular, extending to 1/3 length of tegumen; cucullus slender at base, gradually broadened distally, posterior margin rounded, extending to 2/3 length of uncus; sacculus reduced; valvella short, hump-shaped; vinculum slender, band-shaped; saccus moderately long, U-shaped; phallus moderately long and broad, caecum about 1/2 length of phallic tube, weakly swollen, phallic tube with internal twisted trunk, apex rounded with down-curved pointed sclerite.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. The holotype was collected in late March. The hostplant is unknown.

Distribution. Namibia.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the single black dot in the middle of forewing that is characteristic for the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 11–16. Asapharcha spp., adults, dorsal view. 11–14. A. tauropis. 11. Holotype, female; 12. Female (holotype of A. crateropa). 13. Male (South Africa, Hoedspruit). 14. Male (Kenya, Lake Bogoria). 15. A. unipunctella, holotype, male (Namibia, Rundu, Okavanga River; gen. slide 484/07, O. Bidzilya). 16. Lasiarchis pycnodes, holotype, male (South Africa, Pretoria; gen. slide 503/23, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 17–22. Asapharcha spp., head. 17. A. angustella sp. nov., lateral view. 18. A. fuscomaculata, dorsolateral view. 19. A. lacistoides sp. nov., lateral view. 20. A. strigifera, lateral view. 21. A. unipunctella, sp. nov., dorsal view. 22. Lasiarchis pycnodes, holotype, male, lateral view (South Africa, Pretoria; gen. slide 503/23, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 30–32. Asapharcha spp., male genitalia. 30. A. tauropis (South Africa, Hongonyi Lodge; gen. slide 29/23, O. Bidzilya). 31. A. unipunctella sp. nov., holotype (Namibia, Rundu, Okavanga River; gen. slide 484/07, O. Bidzilya). 32. Lasiarchis pycnodes, holotype (South Africa, Pretoria; gen. slide 503/23, O. Bidzilya).