Crassuncus ermakovae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2017

Kovtunovich, V., Ustjuzhanin, P., Morney, M. De, Udovichenko, P. & Bezverkhov, Yu., 2017, Fauna of Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Garden Route National Park, South Africa, Zootaxa 4350 (3) : -

Crassuncus ermakovae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov.

( Figs. 8 – 9 )

Type material: Holotype male, ( TMSA 15335 ) Republic of South Africa, Eastern Cape, Garden Route N.P., Tsitsikamma , 34°01'S 23°53'E, 94 m, 0 6 – 08.xii.2016, Kovtunovich V., Udovichenko P. & Bezverkhov Yu. ; Paratype: 1 ♂ (CUK 311), Republic of South Africa, Western Cape, Garden Route N.P., 04.ii.1996, G. Bassi.

External characters. Wingspan 15 – 16 mm, (holotype— 16 mm). Head, thorax and tegula yellow. Labial palpus thin, very short, three times shorter than diameter of eye. Antenna thin, pale yellow, with well-expressed, protruding brown scales. Forewing yellow, with a small and elongated central brown spot; a dark brown longitudinal streak present along costal edge of first lobe, above cleft base; a distinct dark brown spot at cleft base; a prominent dark brown elongated spot in apical part of first lobe along hind edge; fringe inside cleft yellow; dark brown streaks present along hind edge of second lobe. Hindwing unicolorous, yellow, fringe of same color; small distinct dark brown spots at apex of each lobe. Hind leg pale yellow.

Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetrical. A large folded sclerotized structure present in the middle of the left valva. Harpe narrow and arcuate, curved from its base at acute angle. Anellus arms short. Uncus wide at base, with sclerotized fold in middle part and two sharp spikes on edges. Top of uncus narrowed, but not pointed. Phallus thin, almost twice as short as valva, slightly arched.

Female unknown.

Diagnosis. In the male genitalia, C. ermakovae is similar to Crassuncus timidus (Meyrick, 1908) , but differs in the arched harpe on the left valva, the uncus with its central sclerotized fold and two sharp spikes on the edges, whereas in C. timidus the harpe is almost straight and the uncus has no corresponding structures. The valvae of C. ermakovae are more compact and not elongated as in C. timidus . These moths are also different externally: the new species has a smaller size (15–16 mm) while C. timidus is over 20 mm; the new species has also a distinctive big brown spot in the cleft base ( Fig. 8 )

Distribution: South Africa.

Flight period: December, February.

Etymology. The species is named after Oksana Ermakova, an employee of the diplomatic service, who rendered great assistance in organizing the expedition.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 9. Crassuncus ermakovae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. 8. Adult (Holotype, TMSA); 9. Male genitalia (Holotype, TMSA 15335).