Agrionympha kroonella 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 : 12-13

Agrionympha kroonella Gibbs sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 B, 2E, 4D, 9E–H, 11)

Material examined. Holotype 3, South Africa, Transvaal, Mariepskop, 24º34ʹS 32º52ʹE, 1680 m, 29 Jan 1986, G.W. Gibbs & D.M. Kroon ( TMP). Paratypes: 63 2Ƥ, same data as above ( ZMUC, TMP). Male genital preps N.P. Kristensen NPK1033 ( ZMUC); G.W. Gibbs G1003, G1007 ( TMP); Female genital preps N.P.Kristensen NPK1029; G.W. Gibbs G1022 ( TMP). Other material: 13 1Ƥ, from same locality in alcohol.

Description. Head: Antennae pale yellowish-brown with a grey tip of 15 flagellomeres in male, 2 in female; a total of 39–40 flagellomeres in male with basal 2 scale-covered, 28–29 in female with basal 5 scaled. Piliform scales on scape, pedicel and scales of first few flagellomeres dark blackish-brown, strongly contrasting with main antennal colour. Head piliform scales creamy-white, paler than antennae, darkening along the midline.

Thorax: Tegulae with silvery-white scales; mesonotum black-scaled with purple iridescence. Legs with all femora silvery-white, darker at distal joints; foretibia white with a black anterior face, midtibia white, hindtibia mainly black; tarsi virtually all black but with proximal ends of tarsomeres 1 and 2 of midtarsus whitish. FW length of male and female 3.2 mm (3.1–3.3). FW maculation ( Fig. 2 E) with a strong arrow-shaped claval mark, broadening distally and terminating obliquely at about one third; a small triangular remnant of the median band on the dorsum; an uninterrupted postmedian band, tapering towards the dorsum end; a broad apical band which is slightly subterminal.

Male postabdomen ( Fig. 9 E, F): Sternum VIII remnants irregularly delimited, somewhat rhomboidal with about 4 small setae. Anteroventral margin of IX sclerotisation broadly rounded and thickened. Median plate broad, subrectangular with rounded corners, anterior part lightly sclerotised. Valvae of moderate length (ratio length:width 4.0), gently curved upward and tapering. Dorsum of IX with about 80 hair-sensilla between the dorsal arms of the vinculum. Phallus very thick and broad, ratio length:height 4.0; distal phallus lacking a constricted ‘neck’ region in dorsal view; gonopore orientated anterodorsally, very wide and gaping, almost as wide as widest part of phallus; a distinctive heavily darkened body within centre of aedeagus at the level of the lappets; ventral bulb large (male genital preps. G1003, G1007).

Female postabdomen: Segment V gland 0.4 mm diam., with about 10 fluted sales, three of which arise from the discal area of the protuberance. Segment X approximately equidimensional, its sclerites rounded. Papilla forming a thickened ‘collar’ region between genital chamber and bursa, its length equalling its width, anterior and posterior margins not strongly reflexed but dorsal side deeply cut away for passage of the thick-walled duct of spermatheca; the latter with its bulbous distal end about 2/3 diameter of ductus length, thin-walled mid section of utriculus shorter than ductus, anterior sac of utriculus 0.07 mm diameter (female genital prep. G1022).

Diagnosis. Presence of forewing median band only as a costal spot is unique in genus.

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr Doug Kroon whose knowledge and enthusiasm for South African Lepidoptera helped uncover the diversity of micropterigids there.

Bionomics. This species occurred amongst moist ferns and low shrubs on a sunny roadside bank in the transition zone between taller forest and higher altitude low fynbos-type vegetation. It was found while GWG and DMK were unsuccessfully searching for A. vari in the vicinity of its type locality.

Distribution. South Africa, Mpumalanga Province, formerly Transvaal. Only known from the type locality in the Drakensberg Ranges at 24º34ʹS and 32º52ʹE.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Adult moths from life: A, Agrionympha capensis Whalley, Storms River; B, A. kroonella, sp. nov. Mariepskop; C, A. fuscoapicella, sp. nov. Hogsback; D, A. sagittella, sp. nov. Hogsback. Scale bar = 1 mm.

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.