(Figs. 171–173, 344, Map 31)

Diagnosis.— Glyphidocera novercae is most similar to G. tibiae but differs from the latter by having sex scales between abdominal terga 2–3 in male, a narrower dorsal furca of the valval costa, and a more protuberant ventral furca.

Description.— Head: Vertex and frontoclypeus pale brownish yellow; outer surface of labial palpus with segments I–II brown intermixed with pale brownish­yellow scales, segment III pale brownish yellow; inner surface pale brownish yellow; scape of antenna pale brownish yellow intermixed with few brown scales, flagellum with alternating bands of pale brownish­yellow and pale­brown scales; male 4 th flagellum dorsally protuberant and curved, forming a deep concavity opposite slightly excavated flagellomeres 5–6; concavity nearly closed by a few setiform scales on apex of 4 th flagellomere; proboscis pale brownish yellow.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum pale brownish yellow. Foreleg and midleg brown intermixed with pale brownish­yellow scales to near apical margins of all segments and tarsomeres or pale brownish yellow; hindleg pale brownish yellow. Forewing (Fig. 344): Length 6.1 –8.0 mm (n = 9), pale brownish yellow intermixed with brown scales; cell with 2–3 brown spots, 2 spots, near middle [or coalescent, forming one large spot], 1 small spot near distal end; base with a short, medial streak present or absent [rubbed specimens with all spots absent]. Undersurface brown intermixed with pale brownish­yellow scales along costa. Hindwing: Pale yellow.

Abdomen (Fig. 171): Male with 3 irregular rows of sex scales within median area between terga 2–3, and 4 transverse, irregular rows of sex scales between terga 3–4.

Male Genitalia (Figs. 172–173): Uncus elongate, wide at base, broadly constricted near 1 / 3, widened apically; apex setose, acuninate, and recurved; gnathos setose, protuberant, wide throughout length, apically upturned; tegumen slightly widened basally; dorsal strut of tegumen with arms convergent, fusing from posteroventral margin, extending widely to base of uncus; costa of valva slightly sloped dorsally from a shallow depression beyond a basal, digitate process to an upturned dorsal furca; apex widely bifurcate, each furca divergent; dorsal furca about twice length of ventral furca; ventral furca about twice as wide as dorsal furca; sacculus twisted apically constricting valva slightly beyond midlength, widening distoventrally forming an angular­shaped cucullus; cucullus membranous and setose; vesica denticulate, bearing an elongate, and narrow apical cornutus; cornutus with one side shortened near midlength, exposing a hollow, basal cavity.

Female Genitalia: Unknown.

Holotype, ɗ, “Est[ación] Pitilla, 700 m, 9 km, S S[an]ta Cecilia, P[arque] N[acional] Guanacaste, Prov[incia] Guanacaste, COSTA RICA, C. Moraga, 2–9 Mar. 1992, L­N­ 330200, 380200 ”, “ INBio: COSTA RICA: CRI 000, 414812 ” [bar code label], “ INBio, ɗ Genitalia Slide by D. Adamski, No. 751 ” [yellow label].

Paratypes (8 ɗ): 3 ɗ, Same label data as holotyoe except, “ Abr. 1991 ”, “ CRI 000, 484628 ”, “Slide No. 956 ”; “ Jul. 1991 ”, “ CRI 000, 300183 ”, “Slide No. 958 ”; “ Ene. 1995, L­N­329950, 380450, # 4354 ”, “ CRI 002, 131713 ”, “Slide No. 957 ”; 1 ɗ, “Monumento Nacional Guayabo, Amistad, Prov. Carta., COSTA RICA, 1100 m, Jun. 1994, G. Fonseca, L­N­ 217400, 570000, # 2989 ”, “ CRI 001, 880995 ”, “Slide No. 814 ”; 2 ɗ, “ COSTA RICA, Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 50–150 m, 10 ° 26 'N, 84 °01'W, Jan. 1996, INBio­OET”, “ 13 Ene. 1996, Bosque primario, L0010”, “ CRI 001, 219541 ”, “Slide No. 982 ”; “ 17 Abril 1996, L/04/ 218, Biblioteca”, “ CRI 002, 060458 ”, “Slide No. 979 ”; 2 ɗ, “Est. Sirena, P.N. Corcovado, 0–100 m, Prov. Punt., COSTA RICA, G. Fonseca, Nov. 1990, L­S­ 270500, 508300 ”, “ CRI 000, 445864 ”, “Slide No. 813 ”; “ Oct. 1990 ”, “ CRI 000, 179015 ”, (4 in INBio, 4 in USNM).

Distribution (Map 31): Glyphidocera novercae is known from five collecting sites in Costa Rica; two nearby sites in the northwest along the Cordillera de Guanacaste, two sites in the north­central part of the country along the Cordillera Central, and one coastal site in the southeast.

Etymology: The species epithet novercae is derived from the Latin word for stepmother ­ noverca.