Gibbalaria occidentana Brown and Aarvik, 2023

Brown, John W., Aarvik, Leif & Timm, Alicia, 2023, Gibbalaria: A new genus of Olethreutini from the Afrotropical Region (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), and a new combination in Cosmopoda Diakonoff, Zootaxa 5263 (2), pp. 217-239 : 225-227

Gibbalaria occidentana Brown and Aarvik , new species

Figs 6, 7 , 19 , 31

Diagnosis. Gibbalaria occidentana has about the same forewing length as G. divergana , and is slightly smaller and darker than G. chiloanei . The male genitalia of G. occidentana can be distinguished from those of G. chiloanei by the size of the rounded-triangular flange at base of cucullus (distal end of sacculus), which is broader in G. occidentana , and the configuration of the associated patch of long setae at the base of the flange, which extends beyond the width of the short flange in G. chiloanei but does not extending beyond the width of the flange in G. occidentana . The female genitalia of G. occidentana are very similar to those of G. divergana and G. chiloanei , but the signum lacks the small tooth present in G. divergana , and the lobe-like diverticulum of the ductus bursae is more square than round and lobe-like.

Description. Head: As described for genus. Thorax: As described for genus; forewing length 7.0 mm (n = 2); male hindwing lacking patch of secondary scales on ventral surface. Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 19 ) with uncus distinctly differentiated from top of tegumen, slightly narrowed subbasally to about 0.75 its distal width, with apical portion bearing a few long, fine setae from venter; top of tegumen somewhat rounded; socii ill defined, fused to margin of tegumen; valva broad basally, abruptly narrowed at middle, distal 0.5 nearly uniform in width, somewhat long-rectangular, rounded apically; costa of valva with distinct subtriangular basal process bearing three slender spines; rounded-triangular flange at base of cucullus (distal end of sacculus) bearing one large socketed spine and patch of long, fine, copper-colored setae, with patch confined to valva immediately adjacent flange; second patch of similar setae midway between base and termination of sacculus; phallus as described for genus, vesica with two thorn-like, non-deciduous cornuti. Female genitalia ( Fig. 31 ) as described for genus; sterigma a semicircular shieldlike plate, antrum with nearly straight posterior edge (= ostium), bifurcate anteriorly; ductus bursae membranous, about as long as corpus bursae, with characteristic small diverticulum immediately anterad of antrum on left side; corpus bursae rounded-oblong; signum a small, coarsely reticulated area with a very shallow pocket; anterior end of corpus bursae narrowed, rounded-triangular.

DNA barcodes. Neither the holotype nor paratype yielded DNA sequence data.

Types. Holotype ♁, South Africa, Western Cape Province, above Brackenhill Falls , 9 km E Knysna, 175 m, eucalyptus litter, 16 Mar 1978, M. Davis, USNM slide 145,608 ( USNM).

Paratype (1♀). South Africa: Western Cape Province: Brackenhill Falls , 9 km E Knysna, 175 m, eucalyptus litter, 15–16 Mar 1978, D. & M. Davis & B. Akerbergs, USNM slide 145,620 (USNM).

Distribution. This species is known only from near Knysna at the eastern edge of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, at an elevation of 175 m, the lowest elevation records from the genus. Specimens were collected in March (n = 2).

Etymology. The Latin “occidentalis” means west, and refers to the western distribution of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 3‒10. Adults of Gibbalaria. 3. G. divergana holotype female; 4. G. chiloanei holotype male; 5. G. occidentana paratype female; 6. G. occidentana holotype male; 7. G. occidentana paratype female; 8. G. longiphallus holotype male; 9. G. mabalingwae holotype male; 10. G. scabellana male, South Africa.

FIGURES 19‒24. Male genitalia of Gibbalaria. 19. G. occidentana, USNM slide 145,608; 20. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,619 (HT); 21. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,615 (PT); 22. G. scabellana, USNM slide 144,616; 23. G. scabellana, USNM slide 145,603; 24. G. longiphallus, Bassi slide 6441(HT).

FIGURES 30‒35. Female genitalia of Gibbalaria. 30. G. divergana, USNM slide 145.609; 31. G. occidentana, USNM slide 145,620; 32. G. chiloanei, USNM slide 145,979; 33. G. scabellana, USNM slide 144,801; 34. G. scabellana, USNM slide 145,652; 35. G. bagamoyo, NHMO slide 4116.