Asapharcha ochrocapitella, 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 : 556-559

Asapharcha ochrocapitella sp. nov.

Figs 6 , 28 , 35 , 42

Type material. Holotype ♂, Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Matopo Nat. Park , 28–30.xi.1993, leg. Mey & Ebert; gen. slide 508/07, O. Bidzilya (MfN) . Paratype: 1 ♀, same data as holotype; gen. slide 47/09, O. Bidzilya (MfN) .

Diagnosis. The species superficially resembles to A. strigifera , but it is darker, with a more developed brown pattern, and a grey rather than brown hindwing. In the male genitalia, A. ochrocapitella sp. nov. has a posteriorly serrated uncus; a ventral hump before the apex in the gnathos; a subrectangular cucullus with a straight distal margin; comparatively large, rounded sacculi; and a phallus with inner twisted trunk. In A. strigifera the distal margin of the uncus is straight; the gnathos lacks a subapical hump; and the cucullus is rounded apically and with tuft of scales on ventral margin. The female genitalia of Asapharcha ochrocapitella sp. nov. are unlike any other species of Asapharcha with a slender, strongly sclerotized band-shaped anterior margin of sternum VIII, a distinct antrum, and two large, elongated signa.

Description. ( Fig. 6 ). Wingspan 19.2–20.0 mm. Head yellowish-brown; labial palpus recurved, smooth scaled, light brown, segment 2 dark brown on outer surface of basal 1/2; antennal scape dark brown with light brown apex; flagellomeres brown with very narrow yellow rings, moderately long-ciliated in male and short-ciliated in female. Tegulae dark brown, caudally yellowish-brown; thorax blackish-brown, edged with light brown caudally. Forewing greyish-brown with dense dark brown suffusion at base, along costal margin, and in apical 2/3; short transverse brown streaks mainly in dorsal 1/ 2 in medial 2/3, fold light brown, three diffuse brown spots in cell, irregular grey spot on 3/4 of costal margin; fringe with short black and long grey scales; hindwing covered with grey brown-tipped scales; fringe light grey with dark grey medial line.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 28 ). Uncus tongue-shaped, elongated, shorter than tegumen, weakly widened to 3/4, posterior margin weakly rounded, serrated, densely covered with hairs along margins; gnathos long, stout, strongly curved, distal part straight with ventral hump before pointed apex; tegumen subrectangular, distinctly separated from uncus, anteromedial emargination triangular, extending to 1/3 length of tegumen; cucullus trapezoidal, gradually broadened posteriorly, posterior angles rounded, extending to 1/2 length of tegumen, densely haired; sacculus short, broadly rounded; valvella reduced; saccus triangular, rounded anteriorly, not extending to base of tegumen; phallus straight, distal part with inner twisted trunk and semicircular apical sclerite, apex rounded, caecum weakly swollen, 1/3 length of phallus tube, ductus ejaculatorius 2.5 times as long as phallus, with irregular sclerotization in anterior part.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Papillae anales subtrapezoidal, slightly elongated, about 1/3 length of apophyses posteriores, covered with long setae at base and short setae in distal part; apophyses posteriores twice as long as segment VIII and apophyses posteriores; segment VIII as wide as long, unmodified, evenly sclerotized, anterior margin narrow, bent, strongly sclerotized, projecting anteriorly; apophyses anteriores straight, as long as segment VIII; ductus bursae moderately broad, gradually narrowed anteriorly, antrum distinct, about 1/2 length of ductus bursae; corpus bursae very long, pear-shaped, distinctly narrowed posteriorly, two signa large, elongated, transverse plates.

Biology. Adults have been collected late November. Hostplant unknown.

Distribution. This species is recorded only from Zimbabwe.

Etymology. The specific name refers to ochreous head, which is characteristic for the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Asapharcha spp., adults, dorsal view. 1. A. angustella sp. nov., holotype, male (SouthAfrica, Lelyfontein; gen. slide 48/09, O. Bidzilya). 2. A. centrotypa, holotype, male (Zimbabwe, Sawmills, gen. slide “g. 4248”). 3. A. fuscomaculata, holotype, male (Namibia, Kunene, Palmwag Lodge). 4. A. hirsuta, holotype, male (Zimbabwe, 38 miles N of Bulawayo, road to Victoria Falls). 5. A. lacistoides sp. nov., holotype, male (Namibia, Hobatere Lodge). 6. A. ochrocapitella sp. nov., holotype, male (Zimbabwe, Bulawayo; gen. slide 508/07, O. Bidzilya). 7–10. A. strigifera. 7. Female (South Africa, Gauteng Province, junction of Crocodile and Marico rivers; gen.slide B.M. 7393). 8. Male (holotype of Lacistodes brunneostola). 9. Male (Namibia, Varianto, Otavi Mts). 10. Male (Namibia, Waterberg NP; gen. slide 44/09, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 27–29. Asapharcha spp., male genitalia. 27. A. lacistoides sp. nov., paratype (Namibia, Koakov; gen. slide 35/23, O. Bidzilya). 28. A. ochrocapitella sp. nov., holotype (Zimbabwe, Bulawayo; gen. slide 508/07, O. Bidzilya). 29. A. strigifera (Namibia, Waterberg NP; gen. slide 44/09, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 33–38. Asapharcha spp., female genitalia. 33. A. fuscomaculata (Namibia, Kunene, Epupa Falls; gen. slide 38/23, O. Bidzilya). 34. A. lacistoides sp. nov., paratype (Namibia, Hobatere Lodge gen. slide 34/23, O. Bidzilya). 35. A. ochrocapitella sp. nov., Paratype (Zimbabwe, Bulawayo; gen. slide 47/09, O. Bidzilya). 36. A. strigifera (Namibia, Kunene; gen. slide 30/23, O. Bidzilya). 37. A. tauropis, holotype of A. crateropa (Mozambique, Makulane; gen. slide 500/23, O. Bidzilya). 38. A. tauropis, Blouberg, NR, South Africa (South Africa, Blauberg NR; gen. slide 385/23, O. Bidzilya).

FIGURES 39–42. Habitats of Asapharcha species. 39. Esel-Kop near Lelyfontein, South Africa. Habitat of A. angustella sp. nov. 40. Epupa Falls, Namibia. Habitat of A. fuscomaculata and A. lacistoides sp. nov. 41. Hobatere Campsite, Namibia. Habitat of A. lacistoides sp. nov. 42. Matopo National Park, Zimbabwe. Habitat of A. ochrocapitella sp. nov. (all photographs made by Wolfram Mey).