Pselnophorus boldyrevae 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) : -

Pselnophorus boldyrevae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 )

Type material: Holotype male, ( TMSA 15332 ), South Africa , Eastern Cape, Garden Route N.P., Tsitsikamma , 34°01'S 23°53'E, 94 m, 06–08.xii.2016, Kovtunovich V., Udovichenko P. & Bezverkhov Yu.; Paratypes: 1 ♂, (CUK 306), with same data as holotype ; 5 ♀: ( MfN 201701 , 201702 , ZISP 1899 , CUK 307, 308), Western Cape Villiersdorp, Wolfkloof , 400 m, 28.xi.2013, W. Mey.

External characters. Wingspan 17–20 mm (holotype 18 mm). Head covered with dark brown scales. Thorax and tegulae with pale brown adpressed scales. Labial palpi straight, thin, short, half diameter of eyes. Antenna thin, pale brown, covered with small white scales. Forewing pale brown; costal edge noticeably paler up to cleft base; a dark brown longitudinal streak present along costal edge above cleft of first lobe; fringe inside cleft and along hind edge of second lobe with patches of alternating pale and brown hairs. Hindwing unicolorous, brown grey. Legs pale grey with patches of dark scales at spur base.

Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetrical. Left valva slightly wider and longer than right one, with large uncinate harpe widened at base. A small fold present at base of right valva. Uncus arched, tapered to apex. Right anellus arm well developed, left arm reduced. Saccus arched. Phallus narrow, slightly curved, tapered in distal part, in size 1.5 times shorter than right valva.

Female genitalia. Papillae anales triangular. Posterior apophysis robust, comparatively long, widened at apex and slightly curved. Ostium bursae situated in left part of abdomen. Corpus bursae small, oval, weakly sclerotized, without signum.

Diagnosis. With respect to wing coloration, P. boldyrevae resembles Pselnophorus hunti Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich 2015 , from which it differs, however, in the colour of the fringe inside the cleft, the absence of a wide pale spot at the second lobe base and in the paler colour of the thorax and tegulae. In the male genitalia, the new species is also similar to P. hunti with regard to the curved harpe on the left valva, but differs in the fold on the right valva, the unequal size of the left and right valva and the distally curved phallus.

Distribution: South Africa.

Flight period: November, December.

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

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Pselnophorus boldyrevae Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin sp. nov. 1. Adult (Holotype, TMSA); 2. Male genitalia (Holotype, TMSA 15332); 3. Female genitalia (Paratype, CUK 307).