Eridachtha cardialis Park, 2024

Park, Kyu-Tek, Minet, Joël, Koo, Jun-Mo & Yu, Tae-Uk, 2024, Review of the Afrotropical members of the genus Eridachtha Meyrick, 1910 (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae: Lecithocerinae), with descriptions of 12 new species, Zootaxa 5468 (2), pp. 275-307 : 284-287

2. Eridachtha cardialis Park , sp, nov.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EA376451-2D2F-4B83-98CF-C64E4FB5C439 ( Figs 6 , 7 )

Type specimens. Holotype male: Kenya [ COLL. MUS. TERVUREN], Aberdares Nat. Park , Ruhuruini Gate, Salient alt. 2,126 m, 00˚23'S 36˚52'E (A7), 21 xi 2000, leg. Ugo Dall'Asta, gen. slide no. CIS-7529, in RMCA . Paratypes: 3♂, Kenya, same data as holotype, leg. Ugo Dall'Asta, gen. slide nos. CIS-7528, -7310, & -7600, in RMCA ; 1♀, Central , Castle Forest Lodge, 0˚22'51''S 37˚18'35''E, 2,050 m, 24 x 2016, D. Agassiz & K. Larsen, gen. slide no. CIS-7580 (wing slide no. CIS-7589), in NHMUK ; 3♂, same locality, 25 x 2016, D. Agassiz & K. Larsen, gen. slide no. CIS-7530, in NHMUK ; 1♀, same locality, 27 x 2016, D. Agassiz & K. Larsen, gen. slide no. CIS-7602, in NHMUK ; 1♂, Kenya, The Ark , Aberdares 7,500 ft, 31 v 2000, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, gen. slide no. CIS-7539, in NHMUK .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to E. calamopis Meyrick , which was described from Kenya, but it can be distinguished by its forewing ground colour (greyish-brown), shape (wing slightly dilated distally), and venation (with R 4 and R 5 stalked for basal 2/3 ( Fig. 6D ), whereas these veins are stalked for about 1/ 2 in E. calamopis ( Fig. 3C ). The male genitalia are also very similar to those of the latter (prep. J. Minet no. 1668), but they can be distinguished by the basal plate of gnathos which is more elongated, with a triangularly produced apical margin ( Fig. 7C ), costa of valva less concave, cucullus shorter and broader; and median protrusion on anterior margin of juxta narrower.

Description. Male and female ( Figs 6A–E ). Wingspan 16.0–17.0 mm.

Head: orange-white, with concolourous erect scales laterally. Antenna longer than forewing; scape dilated distally, orange-white throughout, without annulation. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, with rough scales dorsally and ventrally; orange-white on outer surface, irrorated with brownish scales centrally, orange-white on inner surface; 3 rd segment slightly shorter than 2 nd segment.

Thorax: tegula and thorax orange-white. Forewing ground colour greyish-brown, densely scattered with yellowish-brown scales evenly, with a small visible discocellular spot at end of discal cell, without any distinct markings; costa arched beyond 3/4; apex somewhat rounded; termen oblique, slightly concave medially; fringe concolourous with ground colour; venation ( Fig. 6D ) with R 1 arising from about 2/5 of discal cell; distance between R 2 and R 3 about twice that separating R 3 and R 4+5 at base; R 3 free; R 4 and R 5 stalked for basal 3/4; R 5 to termen; M 1 remote from R 4+5; M 2 well-developed, close to M 3 at base; CuA 1 and CuA 2 connate. Hindwing ground colour greyish; apex produced; fringe concolourous with ground colour; M 3 and CuA 1 coincident; M 2 stalked with M 3 +CuA 1 for basal 2/5; discal cell open.

Abdomen: no spinous zones on upper surface; lacking long hair-pencils; sternum VIII of male slightly concave medially on caudal margin ( Fig. 7D ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 7A–C ): basal lobes of uncus heart-shaped, with ovate lateral arms, deeply concave on caudal margin. Basal plate of gnathos elongated, triangularly produced apically. Costal bar narrowly banded, and slightly angulate medially. Valva broad basally; costa concave medially; saccular margin slightly concave; cucullus elongated, as long as basal part of valva, costal margin slightly convex beyond middle, densely setose with rounded apex; sacculus broadly developed. Juxta shield-shaped with concaved lateral margin and small spine-like latero-caudal processes; median lobe on anterior margin thumb-like. Vinculum broadened. Aedeagus about as long as valva, as wide as cucullus, slightly bent medially, with a pair of small triangular processes pre-apically on dorsal surface; cornuti consisting of a long cluster of numerous setae as long as about 2/3 of aedeagus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 7F ): posterior margin of abdominal sternite VIII emarginated medially. Apophyses anteriores somewhat thick, forked apically, about half the length of apophyses posteriores. Ostium bursae slightly concave. Antrum large, cup-shaped, narrowed anteriorly, membranous. Ductus bursae narrowed in distal 1/3, extremely broadened in anterior 2/3, as wide as half width of corpus bursae, conjunction between ductus bursae and corpus bursae not demarcated; ductus seminalis arising before corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovate; signum with heavily sclerotized, triangular upper plate and large, weakly sclerotized, quadrate lower plate.

Distribution. Kenya (Central).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek, - kardia (= heart), referring to the heart-shaped basal lobes of the uncus in the male genitalia.

Remarks. Two additional specimens (1♂, same locality as holotype, 4 iv 2000, Ugo Dall'Asta, gen. slide no. CIS-7312, in RMCA, and 1♂, Rift Valley Gilgil, 2,100 m, 0˚32'S 36˚22'E, 26 xi 2005, D.J.L. Agassiz, gen. slide no. CIS-7541, in NHMUK) are not included in the type series, due to the observed slight difference in the shape of the cucullus (slightly dilated distally) or the forewing ground colour. A molecular study of these specimens would be required to specify their taxonomic status.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Eridachtha calamopis Meyrick, 1920: A, male, lectotype; B, labels; C, forewing venation; D, male genitalia (slide J. Minet no. 1668); E, aedeagus; F, close-up of D (vinculum, tegumen and A10). Scale bar for D and E: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Eridachtha cardialis Park, sp. nov.: A, male, paratype (corresponding slide: no. CIS-7600); B, head, dorsal view; C, labial palpi; D, wing venation (wing slide no. CIS-7589); E, lateral view of adult, paratype.

FIGURE 7. Eridachtha cardialis Park, sp. nov. (except for E):A, male genitalia, holotype (slide no. CIS-7529); B, aedeagus; C, close-up of A (vinculum, tegumen and A10); D, pregenital segments; E, A10 (i.e. uncus and gnathos) of E. calamopis Meyrick; F; female genitalia (slide no. CIS- 7602). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (same magnification for A and B).