Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi ♂, Grehan & C. Mielke 2018, sp. n.

Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi sp. n.

(Figs 2a, 2b, 9b, 10b, 11b, 14a, 14e, 16b, 18)

Diagnosis. The broadly triangular base and sharply narrowed apical region of the valvae distinguishes this species from all other Hepialidae we have examined. In P. olafi sp. n. and P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n. the apex is rounded. In P. rawlinsi sp. n. and P. titarenkoi sp. n. the apex is pointed, but without forming a distinct narrowed region. The FW color tone and pattern is most similar to P. yuliyakovalevae sp. n., but central region between CuA2 and CuP with broad yellowish brown band curving posterior to dark grayish brown patch along central CuA2. The FW color tone differs from the yellowish brown of P. olafi, sp. n. P. rawlinsi sp. n., and P. remota, the indistinct markings on a dark grayish brown background in P. titarenkoi sp. n., and the light grayish brown with pale to indistinct grayish white markings in Dugdaleiella gen. n.

Description. Male (Figs 2a, 2b): Wingspan 46 mm; FW length: 22 mm, width: 9 mm, ratio 2.4: 1; HW length: 22 mm, width: 8 mm, ratio 2.8: 1.

Head. Frons and vertex covered with yellowish brown piliform scales tipped with dark brown. Interocularantennal scales piliform, overlapping eye. Antenna filiform, blackish-brown, 44 flagellomeres, annuli laterally compressed, with numerous sensillae chaetica, dorsoventrally wide over much of basal and central flagellum, tapering to tip, terminal segment in the form of a narrowed, elongate triangle; scape rounded, covered with lamellar scales. Clypeus unscaled, projecting anteriorly as a transverse ridge. Labium subsquare. Labial palpus long (extend beyond length of labial scales), two segmented, distal palpomere twice as long as basal (Fig. 9b).

Thorax. Dorsally covered with yellowish brown scales, scutum III pale greyish brown, free of scales other than posterior and medial regions, obscured from direct view by overlapping mesothoracic scales; ventral thorax yellowish brown. Pro- and meso- legs missing; metaleg pale yellowish brown with basal tibial gland (Fig. 14a) supporting elongate androconial scales (Fig. 14e). FW costal margin slightly convex; outer margin weakly convex with extended shallow curve to anal margin. Venation hepialine (Dumbleton 1966), base of FW anal vein strongly curved anteriorly, distally curved posteriorly (Fig. 10b). FW dorsal ground colour a mix of diffuse pale orange brown and black markings; cubital region with longitudinal curved band of pale orange with anterior edge subtending black patch ending at CuA2, and posterior edge with inner black line and outer whitish line; outer terminus of curved band continued between veins as a curved, broken band to base of cell between M1 and M2; areas of black shading predominant between anal margin and CuA2, and distally between curved band and outer margin below M2 (Fig. 11b); outer margin with submarginal row of ovoid pale whitish brown sequentially edged with black and white lines, marginal band of black subtending orange-brown fringe tipped with black scales in line with terminus of veins, most noticeably between CuA2 and apex. FW ventral costal pocket present; ground colour greyish brown. HW dorsal greyish brown with pale orange-brown shading near apex and along outer fringe. HW ventral greyish brown except for orange-brown scales between Sc and costal margin, and marginal fringe as in FW.

Abdomen. Greyish brown. Tergites and sternites weakly sclerotized. Tergosternal connection with elongate tergosternal bar, elongate lateral tergal brace and short dorsal brace (damaged), tergal knob absent. Tergum II with thin lateral ridge, extending antero-medially to anterior margin by curing around outer and then anterior edge of the anterior lateral tuberculate plate; sternum II sub-rectangular, anterior margin broad V-shape to lateral margin, anterior lateral arms short, point of tergosternal attachment with short longitudinal ridge extending posteriorly. Sternum VII longer than wide, lateral margins convex. Tergum VIII subsquare, narrowing to rounded posterior margin, sternum VIII rectangular, wider than long, lateral margins slightly concave, posterior margin with slightly projecting lobe at lateral corners; margin forming a shallow V-shaped notch at median (Fig. 16b).

Male genitalia (Fig. 18). Tegumen not distinct from pseudotegumen. Saccus forming a shallow ring with raised posterior margins lateral to valva, apodemal suture with pair of short triangular projections separated at median by deep central notch. Tergal lobes absent. Pseudotegumen as a pair of triangular plates, wide dorsally, narrowing to pointed apex ventrally, convex adjacent to membranous phallus, not fused medially. Valva distally lobate, pointed end facing ventro-posteriorly; inner and distal surfaces setose. Fultura superior membranous half distance from pseudotegumen, then sclerotized to broad fultura inferior, width twice length, anterior and lateral margins rounded, posterior broad shallow V-shape from posterior corners to median. Phallus membranous without cornutus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Collected in a mountain valley adjacent to forest at 3,720 m (Fig. 26c). Central eastern Peruvian Andes, known from the type locality only (Figs 27a, 28)

Habitat. Flight record at the beginning of February coincides with wettest month of the year with an average monthly rainfall of 60 mm (World Weather & Climate 2018). At an elevation of 3,270 m this record is close to the tree line of about 3,600-4,000 m, although the precise limits in the local region are obscured by extensive conversion to farmland at higher elevations. The type locality is close to the upper elevation limits of relatively continuous forest cover (Fig. 26c).

Host plant. Larval habits and host plants are unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named after Anton Olegovich Kozlov (Moscow, Russia), for collecting specimens of Hepialidae resulting in this description.

Type material. Holotype male (with the following labels separated by forward slashes): / S. America, PERU, Huanoco [recte Huánuco] reg., Maranon prov. 08.68902S, 076.99518W, h= 3270m, 2/II/2017, A. Kozlov, Yu. Kovaleva, R. Gortovannyi leg./ Holotypus, Pfitzneriella antonkozlovi ♂, Grehan & C. Mielke det. 2017/ Dissection JRG 259/ (CMNH). Figs 2a, 2b.