Ethmia ehakernae Phillips

Phillips-Rodriguez, Eugenie, Powell, Jerry A., Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, A synopsis of the genus Ethmia Huebner in Costa Rica: biology, distribution, and description of 22 new species (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Depressariidae, Ethmiinae), with emphasis on the 42 species known from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, ZooKeys 461, pp. 1-86 : 27-28

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Depressariidae

Ethmia ehakernae Phillips sp. n. Figures 24, 69, 114, 159

Diagnosis.

Ethmia ehakernae its most similar externally to Ethmia billalleni and Ethmia duckworthi and can be distinguished by its small, unornamented signum.

Description.

Male: FW length 9.1-9.8 mm (n = 3). Head: Labial palpus curved, long, exceeding base of antenna, white with irregular black bands basal and subapical at II and III segment; proboscis whitish, frons and crown whitish, occipital black tuft at mid-dorsum with lateral white tufts. Thorax: Dorsal scaling whitish, pronotum with three lateral pairs of black spots: near tegula at collar, at tegula apices and at sides of scutellum, a smaller median spot preceding scutellum; underside white, middle and hind coxa mostly white, tibia with black bands. FW ground color whitish, covered by irregular, dark brownish longitudinal streaks and spots, posterior half before middle and terminal area paler, the latter crossed just below apex by an elongate blotch. Two spots near base of posterior half, inner one very small, outer one distinct. HW ground color whitish basally, becoming brownish at apical area; costal area simple, without hair pencil. Abdomen: Dorsal and ventral scaling whitish, genital pale ochreous. Genitalia (Fig. 69) with uncus and gnathos absent; basal processes wide, sinuous reaching anterior margin of fultura; valva with straight spines at apex, posterior margin straight.

Female: FW length 10.2-10.8 mm (n = 3). Head and thorax: As described for male. Abdomen: Genitalia (Fig. 114) with anterior and posterior apophyses long; sterigma narrow, slightly sclerotized; antrum sclerotized at base with anterior lateral enlargement and a small sclerotized patch; signum a small and unornamented fold located close to ductus bursae junction.

Holotype.

Male: 10-SRNP-102921, DNA Barcoded, Costa Rica: Alajuela: ACG: Albergue Oscar, Casa, 725 m, 15.i.2010, R. Franco & F. Quesada. Deposited in INBio. Paratypes: Costa Rica: Alajuela: ACG: Albergue Oscar, Casa, 725 m, 1F 14.i.2010, F. Quesada & S. Ríos, 1F 15.i.2010 R. Franco & F. Quesada. Guanacaste: ACG: 4 km E. Casetilla Rincón Nat. Pk., 700 m 1F 25.i.1982, 1M 14.ii.1983, Janzen & Hallwachs. Rincón Nat Pk Mirador 900 m, 1M 29.iii.1984, Janzen & Hallwachs. Puntarenas: ACA: Monteverde 1300 m, 1M 20.vii.1982, Janzen & Hallwachs (INBio, EME, USNM).

Distribution and biology.

Ethmia ehakernae has been collected in Costa Rica (Fig. 159) from 700 to 1300 m in the Pacific side of Cordillera de Guanacaste and Cordillera de Tilarán. It occurs in ACG rain forest. The food plant and immature stages are unknown.

Etymology.

Ethmia ehakernae is named in honor of Eha Kern of Vaesterhaninge, Sweden, for being one of the two motors, fuel and drivers of Childrens Rainforest Sweden for three decades of life blood, bone and muscle for the Eternal Childrens’ Rainforest of Monteverde, Costa Rica, and for two decades of support of ACG rain forest land purchase for permanent wildland conservation.