Aphanostola alternella Bidzilya & Agassiz, 2016

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V., Mey, Wolfram & Agassiz, David, 2016, Review of the genus Aphanostola Meyrick, 1931 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Anomologinae) with description of 19 new species from the Afrotropical Region, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 45-74 : 52

Aphanostola alternella Bidzilya & Agassiz sp. n. Figs 12 , 49

Type material.

Holotype ♂, Kenya, Rift valley, Turi, 8000ft, 11.iii.2000 (Agassiz) (gen. slide 307/14 (=1538), O. Bidzilya) (coll. Agassiz).

Diagnosis.

The new species can be reliably separated from Aphanostola joannoui sp. n., Aphanostola antennata sp. n. and Aphanostola longicornuta sp. n. by the study of the genitalia. The male genitalia are most similar to those of Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n. but the sacculus is longer, the gnathos is narrower and the basal projection of the phallus is longer than in the mentioned species.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 12 ). Wingspan 7.0 mm. Head, thorax and tegulae greyish-brown, labial palpus brown mottled with black, segment two mixed with grey on inner side, segment three with white medial belt and white apex, antenna in male moderately thick, finely ciliated, scape brown, flagellum with alternating brown and whitish rings; forewing grey, costal margin and apical 1/4 mottled with black, two black spots in cell; cilia grey, black tipped; hindwing light grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 49 ). Uncus heart-shaped, posterior margin with deep medial emargination; gnathos long, narrow, slightly broadened before apex, gradually curved in basal half; tegumen sub-trapezoidal, anterior margin twice as long as posterior margin, anteromedial emargination broad, moderately deep; basal part of valva straight inner margin with distinct narrow thorn just after the sacculus, distal part densely haired, apex rounded; sacculus stout, elongated, as broad as valva, narrowed towards pointed apex, outer margin strongly curved; vinculum moderately broad, medial projections deep and narrow, medial incision very narrow; saccus basally broad, then tapered, slightly exceeding beyond apex of pedunculus; phallus weakly narrowed apically, basal projection narrow, reaching to ¾ length of phallus.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from “alternarius” (Latin), alternating, which refers to the alternating brown and white rings of the antenna.

Distribution.

Kenya.

Biology.

The host plant is unknown. The adult moth was collected in March at an altitude of 2400 m.

Figures

Figures 1 - 21. Adults of Aphanostola spp. (scale bar 1.0 mm) 1. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 73 / 05); 2. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Namibia, Mirabib (gen. slide 548 / 14); 3. Aphanostola acaciae sp. n., Kenya, Logumgum (gen. slide 1362); 4. Aphanostola pentastigma, HT, RSA, Pretoria; 5. Aphanostola pentastigma, Kenya, L. Naivasha; 6. Aphanostola morogorensis sp. n., HT, Tanzania, Morogoro Town; 7. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., RSA, Asante-Sana; 8. Aphanostola calderae sp. n., HT, RSA, Asante-Sana; 9. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 10. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., HT, Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu; 11. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 8 / 15); 12. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi; 13. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., HT, Namibia, Popa Falls; 14. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., RSA, Nwanedzi (gen. slide 36 / 15); 15. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Kavango; 16. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Rooiklip Farm; 17. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., HT, Namibia, Grootfontein; 18. Aphanostola griseella sp. n., Kenya, Nakuru NP (gen. slide 596 / 14); 19. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 76 / 05); 20. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi; 21. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, E. Caprivi (gen. slide 155 / 15).

Figures 47 - 52. Male genitalia of Aphanostola spp. 47. Aphanostola kenyella sp. n., Kenya, between Limuru and Mai Mahiu (gen. slide 1497); 48. Aphanostola kruegeri sp. n., RSA, Pretoria (gen. slide 4 / 15); 49. Aphanostola alternella sp. n., HT, Kenya, Turi (gen. slide 307 / 14); 50. Aphanostola antennata sp. n., Namibia, Popa Falls (gen. slide 54 / 08); 51. Aphanostola rooiklipella sp. n., Namibia, Omatako (gen. slide 213 / 12); 52. Aphanostola centripunctella sp. n., Namibia, Brandberg (gen. slide 106 / 05).