Urodeta noreikai, Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2013

Sruoga, Virginijus & Prins, Jurate De, 2013, A new species of Urodeta (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) from Nepal, the first record of the genus from Asia, showing an ancient distribution pattern, Zootaxa 3599 (1), pp. 94-100 : 95-98

Urodeta noreikai sp. nov.

( Figs 1–17 )

Type material. Holotype: 3, Nepal, 70 km W Kathmandu, Baikunthapuri, 450 m, 27°48’ N 84°51’ E, 21.iv.1995, V. Sruoga leg. Gen. prep. VS385 ( LUES).

Paratypes: same locality and collector, 1 3, 19.iv.1995; 4 3, 20.iv.1995. Gen, prep. VS316, 317, 384 ( LUES); 5 3, 2 Ƥ, 20.iv.1995. Gen. prep. VS315, 318, 319 ( LUES).

Diagnosis. Urodeta noreikai is a small species with ochreous brown and somewhat maculate forewing pattern. In genitalia, the new species is somewhat similar to U. acerba Sruoga & De Prins , known from Democratic Republic of the Congo (for genitalia illustrations refer to Sruoga & De Prins 2011). However, these species are considerably different in their colouration ( U. acerba is grey brown and mottled with blackish brown tipped scales). The male genitalia of the new species are easily recognized by the notched vinculum, presence of hookshaped carina and particularly by the very small spinose knob of the gnathos. The spinose knob of gnathos in U. noreikai is about 11 times shorter than the ventral lobe of valva; in U. acerba it is about 5 times shorter. The female genitalia are also easily recognized by the spines arranged around the signum.

Male ( Figs 1–3 ). Forewing length 2.5–3.2 mm; wingspan 5.6–7.2 mm (n=11). Head: frons pale ochreous, an inner layer of scales slightly darker, with some metallic lustre; vertex pale ochreous, some scales with dark brown tips; neck tuft pale ochreous, mottled with dark brown tipped scales; labial palpus very short and straight, pale ochreous above, fuscous below; scape broader than flagellum, covered with pale ochreous scales with dark brown tips; flagellum pale brown, weakly annulated with darker rings basally. Thorax and tegula covered by pale ochreous scales with dark ochreous and brownish black tips. Ground colour of forewing pale ochreous to ochreous, mottled by dark ochreous tips of scales; denser brownish black scales forming irregular patch extending obliquely at 1/2 of costa towards tornus. Brownish black scales forming one large spot of raised scales on fold before middle of wing, and four small spots at 1/4 (just near costa), 1/3, 2/3 from base of wing, and apex. Fringe scales ochreous grey with irregularly scattered brownish black tipped scales. Hindwing very narrow, brownish grey, its fringe paler.

Female ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing length 2.7–2.9 mm; wingspan 6.0–6.3 mm (n=2). Similar to male, but antenna thinner and with more distinct annulations.

Male genitalia ( Figs 5–11 ). Uncus not developed, tegumen weakly sclerotized, small, about 4 times shorter than ventral lobe of valva. Spinose knob of gnathos very small, about 11 times shorter than ventral lobe of valva. Valva divided into two separate lobes ( Figs 7–8 ): ventral lobe large, almost parallel sided and rounded apically, inner surface with sparse setae ( Fig. 7 ); dorsal lobe triangular, with few setae ( Fig. 8 ). Ventral shield of juxta elongate, widened basally, apex fused to phallus; juxta lobes not developed. Vinculum narrow, U-shaped, anterior margin with distinct notch, without saccus. Phallus about 1.6 times as long as valva, gradually tapered; medial carina of phallus large, hook-shaped; vesica with several minute spines and two clusters of large cornuti (about 15–20 and 18–26) slightly different in size.

Female genitalia ( Figs 12–17 ). Papillae anales with round desclerotized spots where long setae arise [in an unstained preparation these spots are also seen as desclerotized and not as pinacula, which are small sclerotizations ( Hasenfuss & Kristensen, 2003)]. Apophyses posteriores vestigial. Tergum 8 very short, length/width ratio about 5.5, not sclerotized, apophyses anteriores basally widened, extending from central part of segment and spreading apart laterad. Additional pair of weakly sclerotized apophyses extending slightly posterad of apophyses anteriores ( Fig. 15 ). Ostium bursae situated at posterior margin of sternum 7. Antrum with weakly sclerotized longitudinal folds, funnel-shaped, as long as length of sternum 7. Colliculum slightly longer than antrum, with weakly sclerotized longitudinal folds. Ductus bursae spirally coiled, posterior part with coarse internal spines. Corpus bursae oval (in one paratype with coarse internal scobination distally ( Fig. 17 )); signum rounded, dentate, surrounded by spines arranged radially.

Biology. Unknown.

Flight period. Based upon specimens available, adults fly in April.

Distribution. So far this species is known only from the Central Region of Nepal.

Etymology. The species is named to honour Remigijus Noreika, Lithuanian entomologist (LUES), a friend and colleague, who participated in the moth collecting expedition in Nepal in 1995.

Remarks. In male genitalia the juxta apically is fused with the phallus. Therefore, during preparation, if the phallus is removed, the apical part of the juxta can be separated along with the phallus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Urodeta noreikai, sp. nov. 1, adult male, holotype; 2, same, head; 3, adult male, paratype, scale bars 1 mm; 4, head of female, paratype; 5, male genitalia (phallus removed), holotype, gen. prep. VS 385; 6, same, phallus. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 7 – 11. Urodeta noreikai, sp. nov., male genitalia. 7, general view (phallus removed), paratype, gen. prep. VS 316; 8, same, lateral view, an arrow indicates the dorsal lobe of valva (in glycerol before permanent mounting in Euparal); 9, apical part of phallus, holotype, gen. prep. VS 385; 10, same, paratype, gen. prep. VS 316; 11, same, gen. prep. VS 384. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 12 – 17. Urodeta noreikai, sp. nov., female genitalia. 12, caudal part, paratype, gen. prep. VS 318; 13, same, ductus and corpus bursae; 14, same, caudal part, enlarged; 15, same, colliculum and caudal part of ductus bursae: Ap. post. — apophyses posteriores, Ap. anter. — apophyses anteriores, Addit. apoph. — additional apophyses; 16, same, signum; 17, signum, paratype, gen. prep. VS 315. Scale bars 0.2 mm.