Merrifieldia innae, Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin, 2011

Kovtunovich, Vasily & Ustjuzhanin, Petr, 2011, On the fauna of the plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Lesotho, African Invertebrates 52 (1), pp. 167-167 : 173-174

Merrifieldia innae sp. n.

Figs 10–12

Etymology: The species is named after Inna Kuleshova.

Diagnosis: Outwardly and in the overall habitus of male genitalia, the new species is similar to Merrifieldia improvisa Arenberger , described from Kenya, but differs well from the latter by the absence of harpa on the right valva and a larger and bent harpa on the left valva.

Description:

External characters. Forehead smooth, with tightly pressed yellow-brown scales. Labial palps thin, slightly longer than eye diameter. Antennae slender, light brown, slightly indented. Forewing length in holotype 12 mm. Wingspan 18–26 mm (holotype, 25 mm). Forewings yellowish brown; at cleft base is barely noticeable dark dot. Hindwings dull yellow-brown.

Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetric; well-developed sclerotized harpa on left valva, smoothly bent towards upper, outer edge of valva. Outer costal projection of left valva reaches apex. Right valva has similar outer costal projection, but slightly broader than on left. Small triangular ruga in middle of right valva. Uncus slightly curved, pointed towards apex. Aedeagus short, almost straight, with small triangular protrusion at apex. Holotype: ♂ Valley Mt, Masoleng, 10 km N of Mafolaneng, 29°10'S: 28°52'E, 24.i.1990, D.M. Kroon ( TMSA, genit. prep. 14807).

Paratypes: LESOTHO: 1♂ Blu Montain Pass, Maloti Mts , 16.i.1973, L. Vari ( TMSA, genit. prep. 14720); 2♂ 25 km W Sani Pass, 29°26'S: 29°09'E, 17–18.iii.2010, V . Kovtunovich &A. Sochivko. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: 1♂ Golden Gate, GGHNP Survey, 16–25.i.1968, Potgieter & Jones ( CUK). KwaZulu-Natal: 1♂ Royal Natal Nat. Park , 28°41'20"S: 28°56'20"E, 1480 m, 10–12 xii.2004, P. Ustjuzhanin, at light ( CUK); 1♂ same data but 8–12 xii.2005, at light, M. Mostovski ( NMSA) .

Distribution: Lesotho and South Africa.

Notes: The representatives of this genus are mainly distributed in the western Palaearctic. Up to now, only one species, M. improvisa Arenberger , has been known from the Afroropics ( Kenya; Arenberger 2001). The new species inhabits mountain grassland at the altitude of about 1500 m and higher.

Figures

Figs 7–12. New plume moths from Lesotho: (7–9) Hellinsia basuto sp. n., habitus (7), female genitalia (8), male genitalia (9); (10–12) Merrifieldia innae sp. n., habitus, photo (10) and drawing (11), male genitalia (12).