Manitischeria brachiata Diskus & Stonis 2021, sp. nov.

15. Manitischeria brachiata Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 28515B35-2998-4D8A-8750-997BED4F3C12

(Figs. 13–18, 29–32, 74–84)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, CAMBODIA: Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap, 13°27’33”N, 103°52’01”E, elevation 40 m, feeding larvae 15.ii.2015, ex pupa ii.2015, field card no. 5187, A. Diškus, genitalia slide no. AD 895♂ (ZIN).

Diagnosis. Externally, M. brachiata sp. nov. can be confused with other speckled Tischeriidae species. In the male genitalia, the unique, branched juxta (Fig. 77) distinguishes the new species from all known congeneric species.

Male (Figs. 29–32). Forewing length 2.8 mm; wingspan 6.0 mm (n = 1). Palpi cream; frons pale brown, distally and laterally cream; pecten grey-brown; frontal tuft brown, comprised of slender lamellar, cream-tipped scales; collar brownish cream; antenna longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum brownish cream. Tegula and thorax ochre-cream. Forewing ochre cream, with two irregular and ill-defined patches of grey-black and black scales along costal margin and two spots along dorsum; fringe yellowish cream; fringe line present, comprised of brown-black scales; forewing underside grey-brown, without spots or androconia. Hindwing grey-brown on upper side and underside; fringe dark grey-brown. Legs covered with dark brown scales on upper side, brown cream on underside. Abdomen dark brown on upper side, grey-brown on underside; genital plates cream to brown; anal tufts cream, long.

Female. Unknown.

Male genitalia (Figs. 74–84) with capsule 305 µm long, 170 µm wide. Uncus comprised of two long lobes (Figs. 78–80). Diaphragm with an inner bulge (Figs. 81, 82, 84). Valva sinuous (Fig. 74); lateral arm with a group of pectens distally (Figs. 79, 83). Juxta with median and lateral branches (Figs. 75, 77). Vinculum with a median, triangular, distally rounded ventral lobe (Figs. 74, 75, 79). Phallus (Figs. 74, 75, 79) with long, lateral arms apically.

Bionomics (Figs. 13–18). Host plant is Helicteres Pluk. Ex L. sp., Malvaceae (Figs. 13, 14). Larvae mine leaves in February. Larva greenish grey, with a dark brown head. The mine (Figs. 15–18) is a sinuous, gradually widening gallery, with some greenish grey frass only at the beginning (Fig. 16). Adults occur in late February.

Distribution. This species is known from the single locality in Cambodia, Siem Reap Province, at elevation 40 m, but the host plant has a much wider distribution.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin brachiatus (branched), for the strongly branched juxta in the male genitalia.