Blastobasis lex Adamski

Adamski, David, 2013, Review of the Blastobasinae of Costa Rica (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Blastobasidae), Zootaxa 3618 (1), pp. 1-223 : 63-65

Blastobasis lex Adamski , new species

( Figs. 117–118 , 302 , 345 , Map 19)

Diagnosis.— Blastobasis lex is similar to B. vesta in facies but differs from the latter by having a more apically broader uncus; a narrower proximal flange of the dorsal part of the valva; and a larger phallus.

Description.—Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus brownish gray. Outer surface of labial palpus brown intermixed with pale-brown scales along apical margins of segments 1–2, inner surface pale brown. Antennal scape with brownish-gray scales tipped with pale brownish gray, [pecten missing], flagellum brown gradually brightening apically; first flagellomere in male dilated, inner surface of dilated part with 54 palmate sex scales (n=1), ( Fig. 302 ). Proboscis brownish gray.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum with brownish-gray scales tipped with pale brownish gray. Legs brown intermixed with pale-brown scales near midsegments and apical margins of all segments and tarsomeres. Forewing ( Fig. 345 ): Length 5.9 mm (n = 1), pale brown intermixed with brown scales; base brown; cell with three brown spots, one spot near middle, two spots on apical end along crossvein; marginal spots brown. Undersurface brown. Hindwing: Translucent pale brown.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Figs. 117–118 ): Uncus slightly narrowed from base, broadly rounded apically, slightly downcurved, sparsely setose, shorter in length than width of anal opening. Dorsal strut of tegumen absent. Gnathos wide, confluent with tegumen, posteroventral margin slightly protracted mesially, narrowly bidentate; midwidth of pigmented part of gnathos wider than width of uncus. Sockets of tergal setae not extending beyond midlength of tegumen. Valva divided; ventral part angled dorsolaterally from beyond base, abruptly narrowed apically, forming inwardly curved spinelike process; process setose on outer surface, planate on inner surface; ventral margin setose from 1/5, upturned, forming narrow fold to near slightly raised setose lobe at base of apical process; dorsal part with apical portion of costa extending dorsolaterally, forming setose digitate process; area beneath costa overlaid with sparse microtrichiate membrane, extending above and below phallus to opposite side; basal ridge of digitate process protracted ventrally fusing with dorsolateral ridge of proximal flange; ventral margin of proximal flange slightly cleft, extending ventrolaterally, forming broadly rounded ridge; proximal flange bearing numerous spinules intermixed with sparse microtrichiae. Juxta bandlike. Vinculum semicircular. Phallus and sclerite of phallus longer than valva; sclerite of phallus abruptly curved near 1/2; anellus gradually narrowing from widened base, slightly notched apically, setose mostly along lateral margins. Female Genitalia: Unknown.

MAP 19. Distribution of Blastobasis lex (●) and B. vesta (˔).

Holotype, 3, “Est[ación] Maritza, 600 m, Lado O Vol[can] Orosi, Prov[incia] Guanacaste, Costa Rica, M. Ortiz, 27 Feb [rero]- 10 Mar [zo] 1992, L-N-326900, 373000”, “INBio: COSTA RICA: CRI000, 695165” [barcode label], “INBio 3 Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 3488” [yellow label].

Distribution (Map 19). Blastobasis lex is known from one collecting site on the western most part of the Cordillera de Guanacaste in western Costa Rica.

Etymology. The specific epithet lex is derived from the Latin, legis meaning, a contract.

Figures

FIGURES 117 – 122. Male genitalia of Blastobasinae. 117 – 118, Blastobasis lex (slide 3488). 119 – 120, Blastobasis vesta (slide 3517). 121 – 122, Blastobasis nivis (slide 3581).

FIGURES 300 – 307. Male sex scales on first flagellomere of Blastobasis. 300, Blastobasis deliciolarum. 301, Blastobasis abollae. 302, Blastobasis lex. 303, Blastobasis vesta. 304, Blastobasis nivis. 305, Blastobasis phaedra. 306, Blastobasis aedes. 307, Blastobasis tapetae.

FIGURES 344 – 351. Imagos of Blastobasinae. 344, Blastobasis abollae, holotype. 345, Blastobasis lex, holotype. 346, Blastobasis vesta, holotype. 347, Blastobasis nivis, holotype. 348, Blastobasis phaedra, holotype. 349, Blastobasis aedes, holotype. 350, Blastobasis tapetae, holotype. 351, Blastobasis rotae, holotype.