Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata, 2018

Gaedike, Reinhard, 2018, New data on the taxonomy, distribution and host plants of Australian Epermeniidae (Lepidoptera: Epermenioidea), Zootaxa 4524 (1), pp. 33-50 : 44-45

Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata sp. nov.

( Figs 18 , 31–32 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ Queensland: “ 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site , Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 27 Jun 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak;” “Gen. präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9148;” “ Holotypus ♂, Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata sp. n., det. R. Gaedike 2018;” ANIC , Paratype: 1♀, from same location, but 30 Jun 1989, and: Gen. präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9186, ANIC .

Description. ( Fig. 18 ). Wingspan 10 mm.

Head light yellowish-brown, labial palpus internally yellowish-brown, externally covered with darker brown scales; antenna with pecten, flagellum brown-grey.

Thorax and tegulae with same colouration as head, tegulae basally darker; forewing narrow, dorsum at 1/3 with large dark brown tuft of raised scales, a minute black dot at 1/2 and at 3/4 of forewing, a dark brown patch near apex, a light brown area apically from the patch; fringe around apex with dark brown, nearly black scale line; hindwing grey.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 31 ). Uncus narrow, slightly curved, with pointed tip; valva with thin apodemes, ampulla thin, nearly straight, border to valva strongly sclerotized, cucullus clearly longer than ampulla, apically rounded, sacculus ending in a small strongly sclerotized tooth; phallus as long as valva, cornutus more than half of the length of phallus, band-shaped, basally and apically rounded.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Ductus bursae with a small strongly sclerotized ring, signum oval, basally broadened, with rounded edges, the entire edge dentate.

Diagnosis. Externally only one large tuft of raised scales makes the new species distinguishable from E. commonella ; additional differences are seen in the male and female genitalia structure: in male of E. macrodentata sp. nov. ampulla thin and nearly straight; phallus with long cornutus, while in E. commonella ampulla short and broad with truncated apex and phallus without cornutus. In the female genitalia of new species signum oval, basally broadened, with rounded edges, while in E. commonella oval signum, wing-shaped laterally.

Bionomics. The early stages and host plants are unknown.

Etymology. The species name refers to the characteristic large tuft of raised scales on dorsum.

Figures

FIGURES 13–18. Adults. 13, Gnathifera robinsoni, holotype ♂ CSIRO Exp. Fm., Wilton, N. S. W., 6.4.1972, [leg.] V. J. Robinson, genitalia slide Gaedike Nr. 9165, ANIC. 14, Gnathifera montana, holotype ♂, Mt. Gingera, A. C. T. 5600ft. 22.10.1968, [leg.]V. J. Robinson & I. F. B. Common, genitalia slide Gaedike Nr. 9172, ANIC. 15, Paraepermenia santaliella, ♂, 30°21'S, 139°22'E, 5km SE of Arkaroola Village, S.A., emerged 11., 29.xi.1993, larva in galls of Santalum lanceolatum, leg. E. D. Edwards & E. S. Nielsen, genitalia slide Gaedike Nr. 9179, ANIC. 16, Epermenia exilis, ♂, 2.7km NE of Queanbeyan, 670m, N.S.W., 10.xi.1974, leg. I. F. B. Common, ANIC. 17, Epermenia tasmanica, ♀, 42°10'S, 145°20'E, Strahan, Tasmania, 5.ii.1969, leg. I. F. B. Common, ANIC. 18, Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata, paratype ♀, 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site, Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 30 Jun 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak, genitalia slide Gaedike Nr. 9186, ANIC.

FIGURES 31–34. Male and female genitalia. 31, Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata, holotype ♂, 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site, Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 27 Jun 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak, Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9148, ANIC. 32, Epermenia (Epermeniola) macrodentata, paratype ♀, 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site, Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 30 Jun 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak, Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9186, ANIC. 33, Gaedikermenia australica, paratype ♂, “16°35'S, 145°18'E, 3km E of Mt Lewis, Q[ueensland], 5 Mar[ch], [leg.] D. C. F. Rentz;” “Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9180;” ANIC. 34, Gaedikermenia australica, paratype ♀ 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site, Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 27 Jun[e] 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak, Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9258, ANIC.