Gaedikermenia australica sp. nov.

(Figs 19, 33–34)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Queensland: “ 13°44'S, 143°20'E, Golden Nugget Ck Camp Site, Mcllwraith Ra., Q[ueensland], 520m, 26 Jun [e] 1989, [leg.] Nielsen, Edwards & Horak;” “Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9259;”“ Holotypus ♂, Gaedikermenia australica sp. n., det. R. Gaedike 2018;” ANIC, Paratypes: 1 ♀, same location, but Gen. präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9149, SDEI, 1 ♀, same location, but collection date 27 Jun [e] 1989, Gen. präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9258, ANIC, 1 ♀, same location, but 420m, and collection date 29 Jun [e] 1989, ANIC, 1 ♂, “ 16°35'S, 145°18'E, 3km E of Mt Lewis, Q[ueensland], 5 Mar [ch], [leg.] D. C. F. Rentz;” “Gen.präp. [genitalia slide] Gaedike Nr. 9180;” ANIC.

Description. (Fig. 19). Wingspan 11–13mm.

Head light yellowish-brown, scales on neck dark brown-grey with lighter tips; labial palpus short, scales dark with lighter tips; antenna with pecten, scapus of the same colouration as head, flagellum somewhat ringed.

Thorax and tegulae light yellowish-brown, tips of scales dark; forewing with a clear golden-brown pattern; a tuft of raised scales near base and before 1/2 of forewing at dorsum, the basal tuft larger and darker than the second one; basal area of the first tuft nearly complete golden-brown, covered partly with lighter yellowish coloured scales, a golden-brown strip from second tuft to costa, basally and apically surrounded by lighter yellowish coloured scales, apical third of wing nearly complete golden-brown, a dark dot at the apical end of cell; a minute dark dot at ½ of forewing; scales on fringe at termen with dark tips; hindwing dark grey. Some specimens with darker colouration, the pattern of forewing variable, however the two dark dots at 1/2 of forewing and at the apical end of cell are clearly visible.

Male genitalia (Fig. 33). Uncus horn-shaped, each part curved outwards, tegumen with strongly sclerotized basal and apical edges; valva as long as uncus+tegumen, basally truncated, apically rounded, costal edge with a narrow rod-shaped sclerotization, subbasally enlarged, at the beginning of cucullus and connected with a digital sclerotization, directed apically. Four long, curved, thin, strongly sclerotized bristles are present at the connection point; additional long bristle situated apically, saccullus truncated, ending at 2/3 of valva; phallus as long as valva, straight, vesica with numerous minute, dentate sclerotizations.

Female genitalia (Fig. 34). Anterior apophyses unforked, characteristic for the genus, ductus bursae with a broad strongly sclerotized ring-shaped area, apical part hyaline, with minute slcerotizations, two round signa in bursa consist of small, strongly sclerotized triangular thorns.

Diagnosis. The clear golden-brown pattern is characteristic for the new species, while G. epispora bears a whitish-coloured wedge-shaped patch, oblique directed to cell at dorsum before ½ of forewing. Gaedikermenia parasitica with more or less grey-brown coloured forewing. Clear diagnostic differences are seen in the genitalia structure: uncus horn-shaped, valva with characteristical rod-shaped and digital sclerotizations, while uncus in G. epispora with each two pincer-like pointed lobes laterally, and valva with only one process, apically truncated; uncus in G. parasitica without lobes, valva with one thin strongly sclerotized process, directed apically.

Distribution. Queensland.

Bionomics. The early stages and host plants are unknown.

Etymology. The species name refers to the country, in which the type series was collected.

The systematic placement of the following two species was up to now uncertain. The similarities in the genitalia structure of males, especially the shape of valvae, make it plausible to regard them as members of the genus Gaedikermenia Sohn & Wu, 2015.