Metura phyllosacca Beaver 2020, sp. n.
Creators: name: Beaver, Ethan P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Psychidae
Metura
Metura phyllosacca

description: Metura phyllosacca sp. n.
(Figs. 2 C–D, 8C–D, 3G–H, 4I–J, 4N, 5I, 5J, 6C)
Type specimens: Holotype ♂, ANIC. Paratypes 14 ♂, ANIC, QM, AHC, SAMA.
Type locality: Caparra, New South Wales, Australia.
Type material. HOLOTYPE, (in ANIC) 1 ♂ Lot 72, Caparra, NSW, Aust., 05 January 1994, S. Watkins, J. Stockard, to MV light / BOLD DNA voucher specimen, sample ID 10ANIC-04439, BOLD proc.ID ANICH442-10 / ANIC 31-036053 / Dissection ID EPB-024.
PARATYPES: (14 ♂ in total), 9 in ANIC: 1 ♂ Upper Brookfield, Qld, Aust., 19 Sept 2009, J.F. R. Kerr / ANIC 31-036054 / Dissection ID EPB-023. 1 ♂ Cooran, Noosa, Qld, Aust., M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036055. 1 ♂ pupa and associated larval bag, 25 Nov 2018, Banyabba Station Rd, Banyabba, NSW, Aust., 29°20’44.3”S 153°00’32.7”E, E.P. & G. P. Beaver, on Alphitonia excelsa / ANIC 31-036056. 1 ♂ 29 Jan 1998, Mapleton, Qld, J.F. R. Kerr / ANIC 31-036057. 1 ♂ 10 Dec 2001, Cooran, Noosa, Qld, M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036058. 1 ♂ 07 Oct 2004, Sunshine Beach, Qld, M. Pulvertaft / ANIC 31-036059. 1 ♂ 04 Jan 1962, St Bernard’s, Mt Tamborine, Qld, C & W. Frazier, at light / ANIC, Uni of New England coll, donated 1983 / ANIC 31-036060. 1 ♂ Oct 1995, Bucasia, nth. Qld, K.J. Sandery, emerged unnoticed / ANIC 31-036061. 1 ♂ 10 Nov 2015, 7 km SWS of Millaa Millaa, Qld, 17°34’S, 145°35’E, E.D. Edwards / ANIC 31-036062. 1 in SAMA: 1 ♂ Atherton, Qld, Aust., Dec 1943 / SAMA no. 31-017607 / Dissection no. EPB-022. 1 ♂ in QM: 0.5 km S of Dayboro, Qld, 27.12’S x 152.49’E, 31 Oct 2002, 60m, S & J. Wright, at light / Photographed QM slide no. PN8.34. 3 ♂ in AHC: 2 ♂ Mt Glorious, SE Qld, Aust, 2000’, to light, 16 Dec 1976, A. Hiller. 1 ♂ Mt Glorious, 22km NW Brisbane, SE Qld, 635m, rainforest, to light, 09 Feb 1981, A. Hiller.
Additional material examined: 1 ♂ (by photograph, Fig. 8 C-D) 30 Dec 2019, Bull Hill, Tinonee, NSW, Aust., V.W. Fasio III.
Diagnosis. The male of this species is readily distinguished from the sympatric M. elongatus by the scale pattern on the thorax, which is black dorso-centrally on the mesoscutum and with only the patagium yellow or orange compared with M. elongatus, which has the mesoscutum anteriorly orange. The similarities in thoracic colour pattern are shared with M. aristocosma and M. oceanica. However, Metura aristocosma has the frons yellow, which in M. phyllosacca and M. oceanica is mixed yellow with dark brown scales. Metura phyllosacca lacks the distinctive triangular patch of orange scales on the dorso-anterior aspect of the abdomen present in M. oceanica. (Not to be confused with the brown integument showing through in Figure 2C, see live Figure 8 C–D for a specimen in better condition). The male genitalia are superficially similar only to M. oceanica however may be distinguished primarily by the shape of the uncus, which is shorter (as high as wide) in this species with lateral margins concave near apex, while in M. oceanica the uncus is higher than wide, with lateral margins straight. Additionally, the transitellar arms have both anterior and posterior margins straight in this species while in M. oceanica they are convex anteriorly and concave posteriorly. The spines on the valvae are close to the dorsal margin in M. phyllosacca while in M. oceanica they are distributed on the inner surface closer to the medial area. The phallus is distinctive, the vesica is elongate, strongly recurved and heavily spined with the dorsal aspect bulbous in this species while in M. oceanica it is shorter, straight, not spined, and the dorsal aspect is narrow. Sternite VIII is also similar however the lateral margins of the anterior apophyses are straight, whereas they are convex in M. oceanica, and the posterior margin is weakly convex compared with the concave condition in M. oceanica. The later instar larval bags are diagnostic, like M. oceanica this species adorns the larval bag with foliage, however with near no parts of the silken bag visible externally. The foliage is less haphazardly placed compared with M. oceanica, and is larger at 105 mm compared with the ~ 80 mm male M. oceanica. The foliage is placed in such a way as to be widest at the posterior aperture, unlike M. oceanica which is widest towards the middle. These same differences also distinguish M. phyllosacca from the Australian Hyalarcta huebneri. Metura phyllosacca is the only Metura species in Australia with a foliage bag design.
Description. Male (Fig. 2 C–D, 3G–H). Forewing 21-24 mm, hindwing 12-14 mm. Expanse 45-52 mm.
Head. Scape club like, broad, rounded at posterior apex, anterior apex over ½ width of posterior. Pedicel flattened, disc-like. Scape and pedicel covered with ochreous-brown scales. Antenna bipectinate, filiform at apex, 45 flagellomeres, scaled along entire length, yellow at scape, becoming white toward apex, rami 8× width of flagellomere at widest. Frons and vertex with ochreous-brown scales. Labial palps greatly reduced, two segmented, rectangular, narrow, final longest, apex blunt.
Thorax. Black scales dorsally on mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, dark orange scales along lateral edge from wing base along tegula and patagium, ventral similar. Forelimb femur and tibia yellow-ochreous, tarsus black, mid- and hindlegs black. When cleared (Fig. 5I), all lightly sclerotised, all tibiae with rounded node at ventral anterior apex. Foreleg with narrow, elongate epiphysis, femur ventrally convex. Mid and hindleg with two tibial spurs, inner spur ½ size of outer. Forewing elongate, triangular; costa straight, gently convex to blunt apex, termen with subtle convex central part, inner margin subtly concave posteriorly, convex anteriorly. Hindwing costa highly convex, apex pointed, termen convex centrally, inner margin expanded, convex. Venation as in Figure 5J. Both forewing and hindwing surface black, distal ends of all veins lightly scaled, transparent. Scales on basal hindwing are piliform.
Abdomen. Telescopic; sternites and tergites joined by highly elastic membrane, sternites and tergites highly sclerotised dark brown, membrane lighter reddish brown. Tergites clothed with black scales dorsally and orange at lateral margins, sternites yellow, membrane unscaled. Sternite VIII (Fig. 4N) anterior apophyses long, outer lateral margins straight, anterior margin concave. Posterior margin weakly convex, lateral margins concave.
Genitalia (Figure 4 I–J). Saccus narrow, elongate, posterior margin weakly discernible, broad ‘V’ shape. Vinculum with vincular arms straight, parallel on inner margin with saccus, outer margin sclerotised, triangular towards tegumen. Tegumen outer margin straight. Uncus broad, approximately as high as wide, triangular, posterior apex pointed, bifurcate, setose on dorsal aspect, lateral margins mostly straight except concave near apex. Transitellar arms narrow, anterior and posterior margin straight. Valvae narrow, apexes bifurcate to two lobes, ventral lobe shorter, hooked, short spines at apex, inner surface with many short spines close to dorsal margin, sacculus low, lightly spined at apex, otherwise smooth. Phallus elongate, ventrally concave, dorsally convex, ductus ejaculatorius heavily spined, vesica elongate, strongly recurved, heavily spined, dorsal aspect bulbous.
Female. Unknown.
Larval bag. Figure 6C. Grey-white silken tube, length 105 mm, width in middle 35 mm, comprised of approximately 60 leaves and leaf sections, all of which are attached in overlapping layers by the leaf bases. The largest leaves selected by the larva are towards middle.
Etymology. The name phyllosacca refers to the larval bag which is constructed from leaves, a distinct condition among Australian Metura species. A noun in the nominative singular case.
Distribution. This species is widespread in eastern Australia, specimens are known from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, as well as from the Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland, Australia (Fig. 9A) in the higher rainfall regions of the eastern edge of the Great Dividing Range.
Biology and phenology. An empty larval bag and associated pupal exuvia was collected attached to Alphitonia excelsa (Rhamnaceae). The foliage included in the larval bag (Fig. 6C) is comprised exclusively of that from this plant, and it is expected that this is also a hostplant for the larvae. The habitat in which the larval bag was collected is a mixed lowland subtropical Eucalyptus and Casuarina forest (Fig. 10C), with Alphitonia growing in cleared and disturbed areas such as along roadsides. Other specimens were also taken from Eucalyptus forest (Dayboro, Qld; S. Wright pers. comm.) while a few specimens have been taken from upland subtropical and tropical rainforest (Fig. 10A, D). The males have been collected at light from September through to February. This species is relatively commonly encountered, with most specimens taken after 1990, though appears less common than the sympatric M. elongatus.
Remarks. This species may be found to be more widespread in eastern Queensland where several large gaps are present in the distribution (Figure 9A). This may be reflective of collection bias as suitable habitat is present in these regions. There are two colour forms of the adult males, one dark orange (Fig 2 C–D, holotype) and the other yellow (Fig. 8 C–D). Metura phyllosacca differs by 28.6% in mitochondrial CO1 (uncorrected p-distance) compared with M. aristocosma, and by 24.7–24.9% compared with M. elongatus (see supplementary table S1). Metura phyllosacca shares many similarities with M. oceanica and may share a common ancestor with this Pacific species rather than with the partially sympatric Australian M. aristocosma, however further research is required to provide a molecular phylogeny of Metura.
description: Published as part of Beaver, Ethan P., 2020, Revision of the genus Metura (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with description of two new species, pp. 188-210 in Zootaxa 4861 (2) on pages 203-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4861.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4414734