Asapharcha centrotypa ( Meyrick, 1920 ) 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 : 552

Asapharcha centrotypa ( Meyrick, 1920) , comb. nov.

Figs 2 , 25

Melitoxestis centrotypa Meyrick, 1921 . Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 8 (2): 76. Holotype (♂), examined (DMSA).

Type material examined. Holotype ♂, “Sawmills, Rhod., 2/18, A.J.T. Janse ” | “2205” | “ Melitoxestis centrotypa M., Type No. 580” | “g. 4248” ( DMSA).

Diagnosis. With it plainly coloured ochreous-brown forewing with two dark dots in cell and dark grey hindwing, Asapharcha centrotypa is unique among Asapharcha ( Fig. 2 ). The male genitalia of A. centrotypa are uniquely characterized by a stout, long, strongly curved gnathos, and long phallus (longer than cucullus) with a twisted inner trunk and obliquely margined apex. In Asapharcha hirsuta ventral margin of the cucullus is bent rather than straight, and the phallus is shorter than the cucullus.

Addition to original description. Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ). Uncus large, tongue-shaped, about twice as long as wide; gnathos stout, long, curved at right angle at base and in 1/3, distal part straight with pointed tip; tegumen subrectangular, anteromedial emargination rounded, extending to 1/3 length of tegumen; cucullus distinctly broadened distally, dorsal margin straight, ventral margin gradually bent, posterior margin rounded, extending to 3/4 length of uncus; valvella short, elongate; saccus moderately long, rounded apically; phallus conspicuously longer than cucullus, caecum rounded, strongly swollen, about 1/2 length and 1/2 width of phallic tube, distal part with narrow inner twisted trunk, apex obliquely angled with slender down-curved sclerite.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Biology. The holotype was collected in February. Hostplant is unknown.

Distribution. This species is known only from Zimbabwe.

Remarks. Melitoxestis was described as monotypic, with M. centrotypa as its type species ( Meyrick 1921). In the original description, Meyrick suggested that it may be related to Stomopteryx Heinemann, 1870 . Janse (1958: 27–28) recognized the affinity of Melitoxestis to Anisoplaca Meyrick, 1886 based on wings and genitalia, but noticed the differences in the shape of labial palpus. The male genitalia and external characters clearly justify the assignment of centrotypa to Asapharcha rather than to Anisoplaca , the latter of is characterized by having a projection on the ventral margin of the cucullus. Accordingly, we proposed the synonymy of Melitoxestis Meyrick, 1921 syn. nov. with Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 .

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 23–26. Asapharcha spp., male genitalia. 23, 24. A. angustella sp. nov. 23. Holotype (South Africa, Lelyfontein; gen. slide 48/09, O. Bidzilya). 24. Paratype (Namibia, N Montagu, Burger-Pass; gen. slide 549/23, O. Bidzilya). 25. A. centrotypa, holotype (Zimbabwe, Sawmills, gen. slide “g. 4248”). 26. A. fuscomaculata (Namibia, 40 km N Palmwag; gen. slide 37/23, O. Bidzilya).