Gargela acutibrachium Leger 2024, sp. n.
Creators: name: Léger, Théo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Crambidae
Gargela
Gargela acutibrachium

description: Gargela acutibrachium Léger, sp. n.
https://zoobank.org/ DC8217B7-9C33-4BA3-A934-4481FEC32A76
Figs. 29, 88.
MATERIAL
Holotype: ♂ (specimen identifier coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_eca446, DNA voucher MFNLEP-PYRALPHIL09-G09, genitalia on slide TL1398♂; BOLD sample ID PYPHI301-22, Genbank Accession Number PP196980). PHILIPPINES: Luzon, Laguna, Mount Makiling, 850 m, 30-31.03.2000 (K. Ebert, W. Mey). Deposited in MfN.
Paratypes: 5 ♂ (coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_72eab6, 33a322, 9c8b85, 189117, d44f2d) (detailed information in table S1; https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b8gtht7mh).
SIMILAR SPECIES
Gargela grandispinata Li, 2019.
DIAGNOSIS
From the other Gargela species in the Philippines, this species can be separated by the copper color of the fringes towards termen on the forewing (Fig. 29). In male genitalia (Fig. 88), the arm-like costal process at base of valva separates this species from its congeners. Females are not known.
HABITUS (FIG. 29)
Forewing length 5.0-5.5 mm (n = 4); ground color snow white. Median line broadly arched towards margin. Postmedian line originating at 3/4 of costa, curved towards margin, then inwardly around subterminal spot, running downwards to termen; costally dark brown, dorsally ocher. Subterminal area broadly filled with ocher; conspicuous dark brown blotch between M3 and CuA1. Margin indented at R5-M1; apically dark brown, elsewhere ocher. Fringe white in apical half, copper in dorsal half. Hindwing white, tornus bearing tuft of thin brown iridescent scales in males.
MALE GENITALIA (FIG. 88)
Uncus about 9/10 of tegumen arm length, with conspicuous ventral triangular lobe at base, dorsally with thin setae, ventrally covered with thick setae, slightly bent downwards on distal 1/4, apex pointed. Gnathos projection about 1/3 of uncus length, slender, directed posterad. Costal process projecting into an arm about 1/3 of valva length. Costal arm fused to valva, elongate, distally curved upwards into a tip. Valva narrowing on distal half, dorsal margin straight, valva apex rounded. Juxta elongate, narrow at base, enlarging on distal half; distal part forming two incurved arms about 1/4 X juxta length, with rounded setose apex. Phallus straight, narrowing towards apex, slightly sclerotized. Vesica with one large cornutus (length = 200 μm) and two rows of densely packed cornuti.
FEMALE GENITALIA
Not known.
DISTRIBUTION
PHILIPPINES: Leyte, Luzon (Bicol), Mindanao (Davao Oriental). Collected at altitudes between 650 and 1050 m.
DNA BARCODING
The species delimitation analysis recovered three different MOTUs for the specimens of Leyte, Luzon (Laguna), and Mindanao (Davao Oriental). The highest intraspecific divergence observed is of 4.8% between samples MFNLEP-PYRALPHIL08-D06 from Leyte and MFNLEP-PYRALPHIL09-A09 from Luzon (Laguna).
ETYMOLOGY
From the Latin acute, sharp, and brachium, ii, the arm, refering to the conspicuous arm of male genitalia.
REMARKS
Examination of male genitalia from specimens of the different MOTUs revealed no major differences.
description: Published as part of Léger, Théo, 2024, Half of the Diversity Undescribed: Integrative Taxonomy Reveals 32 New Species and a High Cryptic Diversity in the Scopariinae and Crambinae of the Philippines (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), pp. 1-93 in Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists 3 (2) on pages 41-42, DOI: 10.18061/bssb.v3i2.9527, http://zenodo.org/record/15116964