Banyallarga (Histricoverpa) acutiterga

Banyallarga (Histricoverpa) acutiterga (Denning and Hogue)

Figs. 16–18

Murieila acutiterga Denning and Hogue, in Denning et al. 1983:188 [Type locality: Costa Rica, San José Province, Motel Prado, San Isidro del General; LACM; male;].

Banyallarga acutiterga — Flint et al. 1999b:73.

Banyallarga acutiterga, as its name implies, is distinguished by the long, acute apicoventral projection of tergum X. In overall genitalic morphology, it is similar to B. quincemil and sylvana, but these species lack the long acute projection.

Adult. Forewing length 9.8–10.5 mm (n=22).

Head chestnut brown. Maxillary palps chestnut brown. Antenna twice forewing length, chestnut brown, each flagellomere pale basally and with narrow patch of pale sensilla on anterior surface. Dorsal pterothorax chestnut brown; ventrolateral thorax and femora chestnut brown, metathoracic tibia of male with long posterior setal fringe. Forewing mottled chestnut and golden brown. Hind wing of male with basal semimembranous sleeve or pouch, enclosing brush of long setae.

Male. Lateral margin of sternum IV deeply excavated (Fig. 16). Sternum VII with pointed anteromesal process (Fig. 16). Tergum IX with darkly sclerotized anterior ridge, posterior margin indistinct from tergum X (Fig. 17B); lateral ridge present; dorsal pleural setae numerous, long. Preanal appendage much longer than tergum X, narrow, slightly expanded and flexible apically, with long setae on apical 2/3. Tergum X with long acute apicoventral projections (Figs. 17A, B); cleft posteromesally (Fig. 17B). Inferior appendage simple, with long setae ventrally and laterally on coxopodite; harpago rounded apically, of uniform circumference, with short fine setae basally and peglike setae apically. Phallus with phallotremal sclerite U­shaped (17E), thornlike setae on endothecal membrane.

Female. Sternum VII with pointed anteromesal process. Sternum VIII narrow anterior marginal ridge darkly sclerotized; fine setae covering posterior 1/4 of sternite. Tergum IX with mesal ridge extending posteriorly 1/2 length of segment; sternum IX with anterior and posterior lobes striate. Tergum X semimembranous, appendage short, smoothly rounded posteriorly (Fig. 18B); sternum X with fine setae lateral to anal opening. Vaginal apparatus anterior and posterior sclerites equal in length; anterior sclerite rounded anteriorly, posterolateral projections truncate; posterior sclerite ovoid (Fig. 18A).

COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 13 mi. E of Esparta, 853 m 25.vii.1967 — 2 males (NMNH); 2.8 mi E of Golfito, 3–4.vii.1967, Flint & Ortiz — 9 males (NMNH); Río Bellavista, ca. 1.5 km NW Las Alturas, 08°57'04"N 82°50'46"W, 1400 m, 10–11.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik, & Muñoz — 2 males (UMSP); 16–17.iii.1991, Holzenthal, Muñoz, & Huisman — 1 male (UMSP); 8–9.iv.1987, Holzenthal, Hamilton, & Heyn — 1 female (INBIO); 1 male (UMSP); Río Cotón, in Las Alturas, 08°56'17"N 82°49'34"W, 1360 m, 13–14.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik, & Muñoz — 1 male (INBIO); Río Jaba, rock quarry, 1.4 km (air) W Las Cruces, 08°47'24"N 82°58'12"W, 1150 m, 9.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik, & Muñoz — 3 males, 3 females (UMSP); Jardín Botanico R & C Wilson, unnamed trib., Sendro del Agua, 08°48'00"N 82°57'36"W, 1180 m, 8.viii.1990, Holzenthal, Blahnik, & Muñoz — 2 males, 2 females (UMSP); San José: Motel Prado, San Isidro del General, 10.vi.1967, Hogue — holotype male, 1 male paratype (LACM).

Distribution. Costa Rica.