Tricerophora minimorum, Bidzilya & Mey, 2018

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Mey, Wolfram, 2018, Review of the genus Tricerophora Janse, 1958 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) with description of six new species, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 65 (1), pp. 81-98 : 93

Tricerophora minimorum sp. n.

Type material.

Holotype ♂, "Namibia, Opuwo, Op. County Hotel, 2.ix.2012, 1237 m, W. Mey" | "gen. slide 361/14, O. Bidzilya" (MfN). Paratypes: 1 ♀, Namibia, Varianto Farm, Otavi Mountains, 29-31.iii.2003 (Mey) (gen. slide 576/14, O. Bidzilya) (MfN)

Diagnosis.

The species is unmistakable separated from rest of Tricerophora species by its exceptionally small size and uniformly coloured yellowish-white forewing. The male genitalia are defined by the saccus that is about as long as the length of valva, the uncus that is as long as gnathos and a very short cornutus in the phallus. T. pundamilia sp. n. is somewhat similar but the saccus is about half the length of valva. The long apophysis anterioris and ductus bursae equally divided in sclerotized and membranous halves are characteristic for the female genitalia.

Description.

Adult (Figs 19-20 ): Wingspan 7.0 mm. Head and labial palpus yellowish-white, segment 3 mixed with brown on base and before apex. Scape yellow mottled with light brown, flagellum yellow with broad brown rings, pubescent by male on underside. Thorax, tegulae and forewing covered with yellowish-white brown-tipped scales, cilia white. Hindwing and cilia light grey.

Male genitalia (Fig. 28 ): Posterolateral processes of tegumen short, pointed; uncus straight; gnathos as long as uncus, narrow with distinctly broadened round apex; tegumen 1.5 times as long as broad; valva narrow, straight, weakly broadened and haired dorsally, slightly extending beyond the tip of uncus, apex pointed; sacculus about 1/3 length of valva, very narrow, straight; vinculum 3.5-4 times as broad as long, about 1/4-1/5 times length of valva, posteromedial lobe sub-triangular, extending to 1/3 length of valva; saccus long and narrow, apex rounded; phallus slightly swollen at base, cornutus short.

Female genitalia (Fig. 38 ): Sternum VIII slightly broader than long, evenly sclerotized, ostium indistinct; apophysis anterioris twice as long as segment VIII; antrum narrow, funnel-shaped, 1/3 length of apophysis anterioris; ductus bursae as long as apophysis anterioris, weakly broadened towards corpus bursae, sclerotized in proximal half; corpus bursae rounded; signum with long, serrated arms of equal length.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the small size of the new species.

Distribution.

Namibia.

Biology.

Adults have been collected in September and March.

Figures

Figures 11 - 20. Adult of Tricerophora spp. 11. T. pundamilia sp. n., HT, ♀, Punda Milia (gen. slide 61 / 15, O. Bidzilya). 12. Tricerophora sp. A, ♂, Wylies Poort (gen. slide 331 / 14, O. Bidzilya). 13 - 14. T. brumale sp. n. 13. HT, ♂, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 106 / 12, O. Bidzilya). 14. PT, ♀, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 63 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 15 - 16. T. nigrinervis sp. n. 15. HT, ♂, Brandberg (gen. slide 122 / 05, O. Bidzilya). 16. PT, ♀, Richtersveld (gen. slide 61 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 17 - 18. T. acutivalva sp. n. 17. HT, ♂, Imam Sade (gen. slide 47 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 18. PT, ♂, Imam Sade (gen. slide 1 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 19 - 20. T. minimorum sp. n. 19. HT, ♂, Opuwo (gen. slide 361 / 14, O. Bidzilya). 20. PT, ♀, Varianto (gen. slide 536 / 14, O. Bidzilya). Scale bar = 2 mm

Figures 25 - 28. Male genitalia of Tricerophora spp. 25. T. brumale sp. n., HT, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 106 / 12, O. Bidzilya). 26. T. acutivalva sp. n., HT, Imam Sade (gen. slide 47 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 27. T. nigrinervis sp. n., HT, Brandberg (gen. slide 122 / 05, O. Bidzilya). 28. T. minimorum sp. n., HT, Opuwo (gen. slide 361 / 14, O. Bidzilya).

Figures 36 - 38. Female genitalia of Tricerophora spp. 36. T. brumale sp. n., PT, Xaragu Camp (gen. slide 63 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 37. T. acutivalva sp. n., PT, Imam Sade (gen. slide 77 / 18, O. Bidzilya). 38. T. minimorum sp. n, PT, Varianto (gen. slide 536 / 14, O. Bidzilya).