Phyllonorycter agassizi De Prins 2012, new species

15. Phyllonorycter agassizi De Prins, new species

(Figs 40, 176–181, 369)

Diagnosis. The wing pattern of P. agassizi De Prins, n. sp., consists of a short, truncate oblique, strigulae and is unique among Afrotropical Phyllonorycter. Only five other species, P. achilleus, P. chionopa, P. grewiella, P. lemarchandi, and P. obandai lack a transverse fascia on the forewing. This is the only similarity between these species. The shape of the valva in is similar to that of Cremastobombycia kipepeo. But the strongly developed anellus in C. kipepeo, and generic differences between Phyllonorycter and Cremastobombycia do not suggest the grouping of those two species.

Holotype: ♂, [1] ‘ Kenya / Ndoinet, 9000 ft / 20.xii.1998 / [leg.] D. J. L. Agassiz’; [2] ‘Gen. Prep. 3490♂ / De Prins’; [3] ‘MRAC/KMMA / 00655’; specimen ID: [4] ‘ RMCA ENT 000006146 ’; [5] ‘Holotype ♂ / Phyllonorycter / agassizi / De Prins, 2012 ’; in RMCA.

Description. Adult (Fig. 40). Forewing length: 3.3 mm.

Head: Vertex tufted with dark brown piliform scales of different length, occiput with bunches of longer scales directed dorsolaterally, tufted white piliform scales of equal length with light ochreous bases distributed all over posterior sector of vertex and occiput, directed dorsolatery on lateral sector of vertex and dorsoposteriorly on median sector of occiput; frons smooth white with slight ochreous lustre ventrally, a bunch of ca. 3, long, flat, rectangular-shaped, shiny white scales directed ventroanteriorly on frontoclypeus, just lateroventrad of each antenna. Labial palpus slightly longer diameter of compound eye, white dorsally and fuscous along all palpomeres on outer margin laterally, drooping, directed lateroventrally, terminal palpomere with sharp apex, maxillary palpus white, proboscis with pale beige shading. Antenna slightly shorter than forewing, not ringed; flagellomeres dirty white fuscous-ochreous basally (slender dirty white and fuscous piliform longitudinal scales intermixing) with gradual darker fuscous shading towards apex dorsally; lighter, piliform scales more ochreous than fuscous with dark brown tips ventrally; scape long, almost as long as diameter of compound eye, dorsally dirty white at anterior 1/3, ochreous at midden 1/3, and pale beige at posterior 1/3, ventrally shiny white, with 8–9 long, slender, shiny, light ochreous pecten, slightly shorter than diameter of compound eye, pedicel as remaining flagellomeres.

Thorax: Dirty white on lateral margins, light ochreous on posterior margin, tegulae dark ochreous. Forewing elongate, ground colour fuscous brown, darker shading towards apical part due to more dense intermixtion of darker brown scales; with white markings consisting of 5 costal strigulae, and 3 pale beige almost indisting dorsal strigulae; all strigulae are broadly edged basally with triangular shaped strigulae-like streaks of dark brown scales, which are clearly distinctive on dorsal margin of forewing; first costal strigula at 1/3 of forewing, straight, oblique towards apex, truncate rod shaped, just not reaching middle of forewing, edged basally with triangular patch of dark brown scales; second costal strigula at 1/2 at middle of forewing, parallell to first costal strigula but slightly longer, truncate, edged basally by narrow triangular patch of dark brown scales; third costal strigula shorter than first and second costal strigulae, less oblique toward apex, tapering caudally, thickly edged basally by 2–3 rows of dark brown scales; fourth costal strigula at subapex, comma shaped, clearly white, basally edged by narrow row of dark brown scales; fifth costal strigula white elongate patch at apex, surrounded by an irroration of dark brown scales; first dorsal strigula indistinct pale beige at 2/5, not directly opposite first costal strigula, but slightly moved towards apex, triangular shaped, not reaching middle of forewing, slightly oblique, basally edged with 2–3 rows of dark brown scales; second dorsal strigula opposite third costal strigula, indistinct, without regular shape, pale beige patch, basally edged with triangular shaped patch of dark brown scales, third dorsal strigula only few whitish scales at tornus, but tip of it forms a round small white patch, distinct in subapical sector of forewing; apical sector of forewing filled with a thick irroration of dark brown tipped scales, extended as a short apical fringe line; fringe short, dirty white from apex to tornus, and long, dirty white with some golden shine along dorsal margin. Hindwing silvery shiny pale beige; fringe very long, shiny, concolourous with hindwing, with slight intermixture of darker scales. Fore femur and fore tibia fuscous dorsally and dirty white ventrally, shiny, tarsomeres I and II dark fuscous with pale beige apices, tarsomere III pale beige with fuscous apex, terminal tarsomeres fuscous; mid-femur pale beige, mid-tibia dirty white with longitudinal dirty beige stripes, tibial spurs dirty white at basal half, and beige at apical half, tarsomeres light fuscous, with long irregular white patches at median part, gradual shading to lighter colouration towards caudal part of midleg, hind legs broken.

Abdomen: Dark fuscous ochreous dorsally with ochreus genital segments. Sternum VIII rather long, slightly tapering towards gently rounded caudal end; rough edged.

Male genitalia (Fig. 176–181). Tegumen as long as valva (760 µm), tegumenal arms narrow, sclerotized, abutting at 2/3, apical part conical, less sclerotized, with small, sharply pointed apex covered by tiny microchetae (visible at 250×) and no long setae. Valvae symmetrical, slightly concave basally, ca. 760 µm in length; narrow, gently tapering subcaudally, curved at subapex with significantly enlarged cucullus area, and terminating in extended short projection; ventral surface of valva from basal 1/4 to 3/4 bearing a slender suture and medial part covered with numerous long, slender, hair-like setae, subapical sector of valva nearly lacking setae (only 3–4 separate slender setae present); long, dense setae along margins of cucullus. Vinculum well developed, thick, sclerotized, broad V-shaped with short, slender, terminal process, 60 µm in length, elongate, with gently rounded caudal end, saccus projecting cephalad. Transtilla narrow, complete, sclerotized, arc-shaped. Aedoeagus long, 858 µm, slightly longer than valva, with enlarged basal part, tapering towards vesica; subcaudal sclerotized lateral part of aedoeagus bearing two short barbs, arranged longitudinally; vesica flexible, weakly sclerotized tip with three tiny barbs alligned in a horizontal row (visible at 250×).

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the collector of the holotype, David J. L. Agassiz, a microlepidopterist and active collaborator at the Natural History Museum, London. With their warm personalities, friendliness, and hospitality, David and Dorothea Agassiz have spent many years collecting and studying Microlepidoptera in East Africa and have helped to train many beginners in African insect biodiversity.

Habitat. East African savannah areas.

Host plant(s). Unknown.

Flight period. The specimen was collected in late December.

Distribution. (Fig. 369). Known only from the type locality in Kenya.