On the Fauna of the Plume Moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) of Lesotho

ABSTRACT The fauna of the plume moths of Lesotho is reviewed based on existing collections. Four new species are described: Platyptilia bowkeri, P. sochivkoi, Hellinsia basuto and Merrifieldia innae. In total, 16 species of Pterophoridae are found in Lesotho, with 15 of them being recorded in the country for the first time.


INTRODUCTION
Although the plume moth fauna of southern Africa has being extensively studied over the last few years (Gielis 2008;Kovtunovich & Ustjuzhanin 2009a, b;Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich 2010), no special studies of the plume moths of Lesotho have been carried out. In a monograph by Kopij (2006) on the fauna of the Lepidoptera of Lesotho, only a single species of Pterophoridae is given, Walker. In 2008 and collected a few Pterophoridae. The mountainous terrain of the country provides peculiar environmental conditions and is responsible for a variety of habitats that seem suitable for new to science. Our short stay in Lesotho made it impossible to study the Pterophoridae in detail, and many more species will undoubtedly be found in the future. Very little is known about the biology of the Pterophoridae. The adult moths are prebefore sundown, or even during the day if disturbed. The larval stage of the majority of Pterophoridae species is associated with herbaceous plants and shrubs, much more rarely with trees. As a rule, they are oligophages, more rarely mono-or polyphages. In southern Africa, no special studies have been undertaken on the phenology of the plume cultivated plants, but no species of this kind have ever been recorded in Africa yet.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
This paper is based on the material collected by the authors and their collaborators in 2008 and 2010, the holdings of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria; TMSA), and the private collection of Dr D.M. Kroon (Sasolburg, South Africa). The holotypes of newly described species are deposited in the TMSA and in the Natural History Museum (BMNH, London); paratypes are in the TMSA, BMNH, KwaZulu-Natal Museum (NMSA) and in the private collection of P. Ustjuzhanin and V. Kovtunovich (Russia, Novosibirsk, Moscow; CUK). http://www.africaninvertebrates.org.za phoridae. Normally, the abdomen is boiled in a 10-15 % solution of potassium hydroxide until it becomes semitransparent. After this, it is rinsed thoroughly for permanent pre-Euparal after being rinsed in water and soaked in 100 % ethanol. The mount then is covered with a cover glass. In case the genitalia structures are not well sclerotized, they are stained with Chlorazol Black, to give greater contrast. A permanent preparation dessicates for at least two weeks before it can be studied. This species is recorded in Lesotho by Kopij (2006 Platyptilia bowkeri sp. n.

Figs 1-3
Etymology: The species is named after Col. James Henry Bowker (1822-1900), a South African soldier and naturalist with a special passion for Lepidoptera. Diagnosis: Externally, the new species is distinguished well by the absence of the costal triangle on the forewing. In male genitalia, it slightly resembles P. sabia in the shape of the valvae, but is easily distinguishable from the latter species by the shape of the uncus and saccus, and also by the cutout on the valvae apex. In female genitalia, it is readily distinguishable from other species by a short scyphiform antrum.  (2), habitus (3); (4-6) P. sochivkoi sp. n., habitus (4), male genitalia (5), female genitalia (6).

Platyptilia sochivkoi sp. n.
Figs 4-6 Etymology: The species is named after our colleague Andrey Sochivko (Moscow), who accompanied us on expeditions to South Africa and Lesotho. Diagnosis: Externally, the new species can be well distinguished by the presence of a In male genitalia, it resembles Platyptilia periacta Meyrick, 1910 in the shape of the Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/African-Invertebrates on 29 Sep 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use valvae, uncus, and aedeagus, but can be easily distinguished from the latter species by the shape of the saccus and anellus. In female genitalia, it differs well from other South African species by very short signae. Description: External characters. Forehead with distinct cone-shaped bundle of brown scales. Labial palps light grey, rather long, 1.5× as long as eye diameter, tapering apically. Antennae thin, brown. Forewing length in holotype 10 mm. Wingspan 16-23 mm (21 mm in holotype). Forewings light brown. Costal triangle indistinct. Cleft base in forewing with elongated dark stroke, sometimes poorly expressed. First and second lobes with distinct ash-grey. Third lobe with dark brown scales on outer margin from base to midlength. Male genitalia. Valvae of even width. Uncus simple, with small bulb at apex. Anellus branches narrow and short; additional sprouts not large, narrowed towards apex. Outer edge of saccus has broad hilum, inner edge has deep, wedge-shaped cutout. Aedeagus arcuate, basal projection located obliquely towards cekum. Female genitalia. Anal papillae narrow, oval. Rear apophysises rather long and thin. Vaginal plates in form of 2 ovals. Front apophysises thin, rather long. Antrum long, Distribution: Lesotho. Remarks: Alpine species.

Hellinsia basuto sp. n.
Figs 7-9 Etymology: The species is named after Basuto, occurring in the state of Lesotho. Diagnosis: In male genitalia, the new species is close to (Staudinger, 1859) in the shape of sacculus on the right valva, but differs from the latter species by a different shape of harpa on the left valva and by the absence of harpa on the right valva. In female genitalia, the new species is similar to (Meyrick, 1911), from which it differs by a shorter ostium. Description: External characters. Forehead smooth, with tightly pressed light yellow scales. Labial palps light yellow, thin, short, 2× shorter than eye diameter. Antennae thin, light brown. Forewing length in holotype 7 mm. Wingspan 14-15 mm (holotype, 15 mm). Forewings yellowish green; barely visible dark dot at cleft base. Hindwings uniformly light grey. Male genitalia. Valvae asymmetric. Left valva has well-developed harpa with apex, bent at right angle. Sacculus projection on right valva rounds valva apex. Anellus branches slightly bent, equal in length, with small hook at apex. Uncus arcuate, of even thickness, pointed towards apex. Aedeagus short, 2× shorter than valva length; smoothly bent in middle. Cornutus well-developed, located in distal part of aedeagus. Female genitalia. Anal papillae narrow, prolonged. Rear apophysises long. Sternite 8 rectangular, with legibly tapered angles. Ostium located in left part of sternite 8. Bursa copulatrix oval, without signa.

KwaZulu-Natal
Distribution: Lesotho and South Africa. Notes: The representatives of this genus are mainly distributed in the western Palaearctic. Up to now, only one species, Arenberger, has been known from the Afroropics (Kenya; Arenberger 2001). The new species inhabits mountain grassland at the altitude of about 1500 m and higher.