Agrionympha karoo Gibbs

Gibbs, George W. & Kristensen, Niels P., 2011, Agrionympha, the long-known South African jaw moths: a revision with descriptions of new species (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae), Zootaxa 2764, pp. 1-21 : 11-12

Agrionympha karoo Gibbs sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 B, 9A–D, 11.)

Material examined. Holotype 3, South Africa, Eastern Cape, Great Karoo near Graaff Reinet, Swart River Valley, SW slope of Toorberg, 32º 11ʹS, 24º 0 3ʹE, 1607 m, 9 Feb 2004, G.W. Gibbs & D.M. Kroon. (male genital prep. G1024, TMP). Paratype Ƥ from same site, 10 Feb 2004 ( TMP).

Description. Head. Antennae black throughout; 36 flagellomeres in male, basal 1 or 2 with black scales; 28 flagellomeres in female, basal 8 with scales. Piliform scales on scape and pedicel black. Head piliform scales offwhite, grey-tipped.

Thorax. Tegulae and dorsum black-scaled with coppery reflections. Sides of thorax silvery-white scaled, forecoxa dark grey anteriorly but with a few silver scales laterally; femora pale grey with dark band distally; tibia and tarsi entirely black except for a pale grey band on midtarsomere 3. FW length 2.5 mm in male, 2.6 mm in female. FWs ( Fig. 2 B) iridescent coppery dark-grey, maculation with all 4 silvery-white bands present, bordered with black scales: a slightly crescentic oblique claval mark; a strongly kinked continuous median band, widest at costa, interrupted on R and M by thin lines of black scales, most prominent in female; a near-straight postmedian line, broad, uininterrupted in male but with black scales along M in female; an equally broad subapical line; apex black. HWs dark-grey.

Male postabdomen ( Fig. 9 A–D): Sternum VIII remnants roughly trapezoidal, bearing about 6 small setae. Anteroventral margin of IX sclerotisation extended into a very broad rounded apex, markedly thickened but not darkened. Median plate tapering to a sharp point, unevenly sclerotised with a central keel. Valvae of moderate length (ratio length:width 3.8), angled upwards and distinctly elbowed on mesal aspect in ventral view. A row of about 11 hair-sensilla on the membraneous dorsum of IX. Phallus moderately elongate, ratio length:height 4.5; aedeagus with a constricted ‘neck’ region in dorsal view; gonopore moderate, slightly less than half width of phallus at lappets, heart-shaped with its proximal border raised on a prominence; ventral bulb large (male genital prep. G1024).

Female postabdomen not dissected.

Diagnosis. Forewing with coexistence of discrete and complete median band with similarly complete postmedian band unique in genus.

Etymology. Named after the semi-arid region in which it occurs.

Bionomics. This smallest species of Agrionympha has occurred amongst Adiantum and other ferns on the rocky bank of stream where seepage maintained very limited growth of thallose liverworts and mosses in an otherwise hot and arid environment. The adults were taken flying at 6.30–7.00 am while dew remained on the grass. Since all other Agrionympha species, and indeed micropterigids in general, are essentially species of moist forests or forest margins, the existance of A. karoo within this semi-arid region suggests a relictual ecological status in the face of long-term climate change.

Distribution. South Africa, known only from the type locality in Eastern Cape, near Graaff Reinet at 1600m.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Forewing maculation of Agrionympha species: A, A. capensis; B, A. karoo, C, A. pseudovari, D, A. fuscoapicella; E, A. kroonella, F, A. sagittella; G, A. jansella; H, A. pseliacma; I, A. vari.

FIGURE 9. Agrionympha male genitalia. A – D, A. karoo, sp. nov. Toorberg: A, lateral, inset – ventral view of median plate; B, dorsal; C, phallus lateral; D, phallus dorsal. E – H, A. kroonella, sp. nov. Mariepskop: E, lateral, inset – ventral view of median plate; F, dorsal; G, phallus lateral; H, phallus dorsal.