Antillopsyche, Aguila, Rayner Núñez & Davis, Don R., 2016

Aguila, Rayner Núñez & Davis, Don R., 2016, Antillopsyche sessilis, new genus and species, a new Psychidae (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea) from Cuba with an unusual larval feeding behavior, Zootaxa 4066 (1) : -

Antillopsyche gen. nov.

Type species. Antillopsyche sessilis , new species Male. Forewing length: 5.2–6.7 mm.

Head ( Figure 1 ): Vestiture of frons semi-erect, moderately rough; scales relatively broad, apices bi- to quadridentate; scales of vertex elongated, more rough, with a low ridge of scales curling down toward frons between antennae; occiput with a pair of erect tufts of slender scales with bidentated apices. Eye large, interocular index 1.4. Ocelli absent. Antenna 0.3–0.4x length of forewing, 36–43 segmented, serrated ventrally almost to apex, serrations less than 0.5x the diameter of segment; scape smooth ventrally, without scales or setae; scales of dorsum rough, anterior margin with long bidentated scales curling down toward eyes; basal third of flagellum with a dorsal row of broad scales with tri to quadridentate apices on each segment; remainder of flagellum naked; sensillia dense, 0.5x diameter of flagellomere in length, each segment also bearing two pair of longer bristles, about 1.5x the diameter. Haustellum reduced, about half the length of second segment of labial palpus. Maxillary palpus consisting of two short segments, 0.4–0.5x length of haustellum. Labial palpus upcurved, 3-segmented; vestiture smooth; segments ratio from base: 1.0: 1.5: 0.75.

Thorax: Vestiture smooth. Forewing relatively broad, width/length (W/L) index 0.37–0.42, apex evenly rounded; radius 3-branched, Rs2 and Rs3 completely fused ending above wing apex; Rs3+4 fused, extending to wing apex; accessory cell absent; base of M simple within discal cell ( Figure 2 ). Hindwing shorter and slightly more slender than forewing, W/L index 0.33–0.39; base of M simple within discal cell; vein 1A+2A sinuated; frenulum consisting in a single large bristle ( Figure 2 ). Foreleg with epiphysis well developed, approximately 0.5 length of tibia, spinose on inner surface; tibial spur pattern 0-2-4.

Abdomen: Eighth sternum with apodemes of anterolateral angles present but greatly reduced, apices blunt ( Figure 3 ). Sternum 8 with a pair of small slender coremata present on each side.

Genitalia ( Figures 4–6 ): Tegumen moderately slender and elongated, lightly sclerotized; caudal margin shortly bilobed. Vinculum-saccus V-shaped. Apotheca absent. Anellar tube membranous, cylindrical, and firmly enclosing aedeagus; juxta undeveloped. Valva moderately broad, divided into a large, setose dorsal lobe (cucullus) and a smaller broad ventral lobe (saccullus); apex of saccullus round without processes, bearing 16–23 short spines. Aedeagus cylindrical, straight; vesica not permanently extruded.

Female. Forewing length: 8.7 mm. Similar to male except antenna 0.25x length of forewing. Frenulum consisting in a cluster of 5 smaller bristles.

Abdomen: Seventh segment entirely encircled by dense whitish to creamy corethrogyne scales.

Genitalia ( Figure 7 ): Ovipositor greatly extended and with three pairs of apophyses; posterior apohyses the longest, ~ 2x the length of anterior apophyses and ~ 3x the length of accessory apophyses. Caudal margin of lamella antevaginalis approximately truncate; ostium not extended, instead flush with eighth sternum. Bursa copulatrix not examined (lost in dissection).

Etymology. The generic name is derived from antillae, the Latin word for Antilles, the archipelago where this taxon occurs, and the Greek psyche (butterfly, spirit, life) in reference to the West Indian distribution of the only known member of this psychid genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Adult morphology of Antillophanes sessilis 1 — Anterior view of male head, scale bar 0.2 mm. 2 — Wing venation, scale bar 1 mm. 3 — Eight abdominal sternum, scale bar 0.1 mm. 4 — Ventral view of male genitalia. 5 — Inner lateral view of valva. 6 — Aedeagus, scale bar 0.1 mm. 7 — Ventral view of female genitalia, scale bar 0.1 mm.