Stigmella eiffeli Diskus & Stonis, sp. nov.

32. Stigmella eiffeli Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.

(Figs 9, 34, 37, 72–76)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, PERU, Dept. Lima, 32 km E Pacarán, above Hortigal, elevation ca. 3600 m, 6– 8.iii.1987, O. Karsholt, genitalia slide no. AD 668♂ (ZMUC).

Diagnosis. Belongs to the S. nivea species group. The combination of specific shape of caudal process of gnathos, widely bilobed uncus, blunt apical processes of valva, medially interrupted transtilla, very short lateral lobes of vinculum and band of cornuti divided into two groups of large spine-like cornuti distinguishes S. eiffeli sp. nov. from all other Stigmella species, including the members of the S. nivea group.

Male (Fig. 34). Forewing length about 3.0 mm; wingspan about 6.4 mm. Head: palpi cream white; frontal tuft pale grey-ochre; collar indistinctive or rubbed in holotype, possibly grey-white; scape grey cream; antenna significantly longer than half the length of forewing; flagellum with 38 segments, dark grey on upper side, ochreous grey to dark grey on underside. Thorax, tegula and forewing brownish cream, speckled with dark greybrown scales; fringe pale grey; underside of forewing grey-brown, without spots. Hindwing pale grey on upper side and underside, without spots or androconia; its fringe grey. Legs dark grey on upper side, grey on underside. Abdomen grey-brown on upper side, grey cream on underside; genital plates cream; anal tufts indistinctive, brown cream.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia (Figs 72–76). Capsule longer (255–260 µm) than wide (150 µm). Uncus widely bilobed. Gnathos with one large, gradually tapered caudal process and medially very slender plate. Valva 155 µm long, 55– 60 µm wide, with two large blunt apical processes; transtilla interrupted in the midle, with short sublateral processes. Juxta membranous. Vinculum with very short but wide lateral lobes. Phallus (Figs 73, 74) 220 µm long, 50–75 µm wide; vesica a band of large spine-like cornuti divided into two clusters: short apical and longer basal.

Bionomics. Host-plant and leaf-mine unknown. It is expected that S. eiffeli could be a Trixis (Asteraceae) miner because a fully developed pupa with similar male genitalia was reared by A. Diškus in Coroico, Bolivia from a Trixis plant. Adults fly in March. Otherwise biology unknown.

Distribution (Figs 9). This species occurs in the Peruvian Andes (Peru: Lima Departamento) at altitudes about 3600 m.

Etymology. This species is named after Gustave Eiffel and his famous tower—the Eiffel Tower in reference to the specific shape of gnathos somehow resembling the Eiffel Tower in Paris.