Astrotischeria incae Diškus & Stonis, sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4C61DB8E-7E6D-4019-BE53-0CC90FA3E2DC

(Figs 453–481)

Type material. Holotype: Ô, PERU: Urubamba Prov., near Machu Picchu, 13°9’58”S, 72°32’26”W, elevation 2370 m, feeding larvae 20.x.2008, field card no. 4947, leg. A. Diškus [in collaboration with Quechua counterparts], genitalia slide no. AD1115 (MfN). Paratypes: 1 Ô, 1 ♀, same label data as holotype, genitalia slide nos AD1107Ô, AD1108 ♀ (MfN).

Diagnosis. Externally, this new species can be confused with other sparsely speckled Astrotischeria species. However, the new species is characterized by the unique feature of females: they possess unusually long antennal sensilla unlike other Tischeriidae. In the male genitalia, A. incae sp. nov. resembles the Andean A. colombiana Stonis & Vargas, A. recta Diškus, Mey & Stonis, and particularly A. bachariphaga Diškus & Stonis. However, the combination of an inwardly strongly bent dorsal lobe of valva (Fig. 466), shape of uncus (Fig. 462), a triangular vinculum, and a phallus with two simple apical lobes distinguishes A. incae from all known congeneric species. The female genitalia of A. incae are without peg-like setae (distinctly atypical for Tischeriidae) and, also unlike other Tischeriidae, with weakly divided, almost coalescent ovipositor lobes. The new species is also characterized by unique lobe-like projections of prela (Fig. 474), and numerous tiny spines on membrane between inner prela (Figs 473, 475).

DNA barcode. Unavailable.

Description. Male (Figs 453–458). Forewing length 3.3–3.6 mm; wingspan 7.1–8.0 mm (n = 2). Head: palpi greyish cream to pale brown-grey; frons very glossy, pale brown-grey; pecten small, very slender, predominantly pale grey; frontal tuft comprised of long grey-brown, cream-tipped lamellar scales, therefore, the frontal tuft pale grey-brown proximally, brownish cream distally; collar short, weakly paired, comprised of dark grey-brown, cream tipped lamellar scales; antenna slightly longer than one half the length of forewing; flagellum grey-brown; sensilla relatively short, very fine, almost indistinctive, whitish cream. Tegula dark grey-brown, with some cream-tipped scales distally; thorax grey-brown. Forewing yellow-ochre, densely irrorated with dark brown scales along the margins and on apex, with a tornal spot of dark brown scales (note that most of dark brown scales of forewing are cream-tipped); fringe grey-brown, without a fringe line; forewing underside grey-brown to dark grey-brown, without spots or androconia, except for small cream, irregular, scaleless spot basally. Hindwing grey-brown to dark grey-brown on upper side and underside, without androconia, but with very small scaleless basal spot; fringe pale ochreous brown to grey-brown. Legs densely covered with grey-brown scales, ochreous cream distally. Abdomen grey, golden glossy on upper side and underside; genital plates small, grey-cream, almost inconspicuous; anal tufts grey, relatively short.

Female (Fig. 459). Forewing length 3.9 mm; wingspan 8.6 mm (n = 1). Similar to male, but thorax and forewing tend to be paler, i.e., less speckled with dark brown scales. Palpi and frons grey-brown. Sensilla of antenna very fine, as for female, atypically long, i.e., of similar length as those in males.

Male genitalia (Figs 460–467) with capsule 425–500 µm long, 230–240 µm wide. Uncus comprised of two relative short, elongated, lateral lobes (Fig. 462) and two very short, rounded, median lobes (Fig. 463). Socii relatively small, membranous, indistinctive. Valva ca. 335 µm long; ventral lobe (main body of valva) slender; dorsal lobe strongly thickened, strongly bent inwardly (Figs 461, 466), basally, with hardened folds (Fig. 465). Anellus mostly membranous, thickened only laterally. Vinculum triangular. Phallus ca. 340–410 µm long, rod-like, divided in two simple elongated lobes in apical half (Fig. 467).

Female genitalia (Figs 468–475) about 1710 µm long. Ovipositor lobes uniqually modified, very large, weakly individualized (almost undivided, coalescent), with numerous very slender setae but, in contrast to the general plan of the family Tischeriidae, without peg-like setae (Fig. 470); second pair of ovipositor lobes twice or three times smaller, with numerous relatively long setae. Posterior apophyses slightly shorter than anterior apophyses; prela comprised of three pairs of unique, rod-like projections, with lobe-like projections proximally (Fig. 474); inner prela long; membrane between the processes of inner prela with numerous tiny, weakly chitinized spines (Figs 473, 475). Corpus bursae with very long and extremely slender proximal part and small, oval-shaped main body without pectination (Fig. 472). Ductus spermathecae short, sinuous, with 3.5 relatively small but distinctive coils (Fig. 471) and large, irregularly shaped vesicle.

Bionomics (Figs 476–481). Host plant is unknown (unidentified Asteraceae plant) (Fig. 477). Larvae mine leaves in October. The initial part of the leaf mines is linear (gallery-like), almost completely filled with frass; later the leaf mine develops into an irregular blotch-like mine without frass or with very little frass. A nidus is invisible; the larva hides under a stained epidermis. Adults occur in late October—November. Otherwise, biology is unknown.

Distribution. This species is known from a single locality in Peru, Urubamba Province (near Machu Picchu), at an elevation of 2370 m.

Etymology. This species is named after the Inca, ancient Empire of South America, referring to the locality where the species was collected by us and our Quechua counterpart in a river valley near Machu Picchu.