Pelochrista wrighti Gilligan and Matthews, 2018

Gilligan, Todd M., Matthews, Deborah L. & Miller, Jacqueline Y., 2018, Two new species of Eucosmini from the Bahamas (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Zootaxa 4378 (2), pp. 265-268 : 266-268

Pelochrista wrighti Gilligan and Matthews , sp.n. ( Figs. 4–6, 8 )

Diagnosis. The distinctive male genitalia place P. wrighti in Pelochrista in the canana group (species 78–87 in Wright and Gilligan 2015). Pelochrista wrighti can be separated from all other members of the group by the lack of a welldefined ocellus and the white and brown fasciate pattern on the forewing.

Description. Male ( Figs. 4-6, 8 ). Head: Frons white; vertex white with mix of brown scales laterally; labial palpus length ca. 1.25 × horizontal diameter of compound eye, first two segments light pale brown dorsolaterally, white ventrally, third segment solid brown; antenna light pale brown; scape white. Thorax: Dorsal surface and tegula white with mottled patches of brown and light brown; pro- and mesothoracic legs brown, metathoracic leg pale brown to white, tarsi with white annulations. Forewing ( Figs. 4–6 ) length 6.5–7.6 mm (mean 7.1 mm; n = 3), AR = 2.74; costal fold present along basal 1/3 of costa; ground color brown; wing markings white and brown; costal strigulae strongly expressed distad of costal fold (pairs 3–9); subbasal fascia dark brown, continuous from dorsum to radius; striae associated with costal strigulae pairs 5–6 dislocated distally and confluent with stria 7, separating the median and postmedian fasciae into narrow bands and a conspicuous dark brown pretornal patch; postmedian band and preterminal fascia indistinct patches or bands; ocellus absent. Hindwing brown, fringe scales brown basally, pale grayish brown apically. Abdomen: Genitalia (n = 2) ( Fig. 8 ) with uncus evenly rounded, densely setose, weakly differentiated from dorsolateral shoulders of tegumen; socii long, densely setose, narrowed distally; phallus relatively long, tapering gradually, with base loosely surrounded by anellus; vesica with 9–10 deciduous cornuti; valva with costal margin weakly concave to nearly straight, ventral emargination moderate, NR = 0.35, saccular corner acute, mean SA = 76°; valval neck with subcostal line of hairlike setae; cucullus with dorsal lobe weakly developed and rounded, ventral lobe triangular, anal spine stout, medial surface covered in coarse setae.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype ( Fig. 4 ). ♂, “ BAHAMAS: South Abaco, Schooner Bay Institute, vic. power substation, 26.167500°, - 77.18900°, 4.vi.2016, J. Miller, G. Goss, M. Simon, D. Matthews. Bahamas Survey, MGCL Accession # 2016-09. TMG 729 Genitalia dissection. MGCL 246573 McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity, FLMNH, UF [barcode]” MGCL .

Paratypes ( Figs. 5–6 ). BAHAMAS: N. Andros, Stafford Creek, Love at First Sight ( Motel , at MVL), 24.901449°, - 77.936089°, 18 m, 28.x.2011, J. Y. Miller, M. Simon, G. Goss, D. Matthews. J. Y. Miller et al. Bahamas Survey MGCL Accession No. 2011-32. MGCL 233027 McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity, FLMNH, UF (1 ♂ MGCL) ; Grand Bahama Island , Freeport, Sea Gate Ln., 26.504418°, -78.650936°, 24.x.2014, J. Miller, M. Simon, R. Rozycki, D. Matthews. Bahamas Survey MGCL Accession No. 2014-31. D. Matthews Genitalia Prep. # 1806. MGCL 238166 McGuire Center for Lepidoptera & Biodiversity, FLMNH, UF (1 ♂ MGCL).

Etymology. The species name is in honor of Donald J. Wright, whose tireless work on Eucosma and Pelochrista for the past 20 years has provided us with an understanding of these otherwise impossible groups.

Distribution and Biology. This species has been recorded from three islands in the Bahamas, with adults captured in June and October. Larval hosts are unknown. Specimens were collected in or near relict or larger tracts of rocky pineland dominated by Pinus caribaea . The holotype was collected in a relatively pristine tract of pineland on the outskirts of a recent housing development.

Figures

FIGURES1–8. Wing patternsand genitalia.1. Eucosmabahamae (male,holotype).2–3. E.bahamae (male,paratype).4.Pelochrista wrighti (male, holotype). 5–6. P. wrighti (male, paratype). 7. E. bahamae (male genitalia, holotype). 8. P. wrighti (male genitalia, holotype).