La wagneuri Landry & Léger, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Landry, Bernard
name: Léger, Théo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Pyralidae
La
La wagneuri

description: La wagneuri sp. nov.
Figs 21-26, 48, 59
Material examined: Holotype: ♂, ‘ ECU[ADOR]., GALAPAGOS | Isabela, V[olcan]. Darwin | 300 m elev[ation]., 15.v.1992 | M[ercury]V[apour]L[ight], leg [it]. B. Landry’; ‘HOLOTYPE | La | wagneuri | Landry & Léger’; ‘ MHNG | ENTO | 00085756 ’. Deposited in MHNG.
Paratypes: 37 ♂, 10 ♀ from the Galápagos Island of Isabela, Darwin Volcano. 1 ♂, V[olcan]. Darwin, 700 m, 13.ii.1999, U[ltra].V[iolet].L[ight]. (L. Roque, n° 99.17); 1 ♂, Volcán Darwin, 700 ms[obre el]n[ivel del]m[ar], 4.iii.2000, UV-W[hite]L[ight] trap (L. Roque, n° 2000- 09); 1 ♀, Tagus Cove, 13.v.1992, M[ercury]V[apour] L[ight] (B. Landry); 14 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype; 4 ♂, 2 ♀, V. Darwin, 630 m elev., 16.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 2 ♂, 3 ♀, V. Darwin, 630 m elev., 17.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 7 ♂, 2 ♀, V. Darwin, 1000 m elev., 18.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 3 ♂, V. Darwin, 1240 m elev., 19.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 2 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85682), 1 ♀ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85681), V. Darwin, 300 m elev., 20.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 2 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85683), n[ea]r Tagus Cove, 100 m elev., 21.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry). Deposited in CDRS and MHNG.
Additional material examined: 34 ♂, 8 ♀ from the Galápagos Islands. – Fernandina: 3 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85710), 1 ♀, SW side, GPS: 352 m elev[ation]., S00°20.503’, W091°36.969’, 10.ii.2005, u[ltra].v[iolet].l[ight]. (B. Landry, P. Schmitz); 2 ♂, SW side, crater rim, GPS: 1341 m elev., S00°21.910’, W091°34.034’, 12.ii.2005, uvl (B. Landry, P. Schmitz); 1 ♂ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85712), 1 ♀ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85711), SW side, GPS: 815 m elev., S00°21.270’, W091°35.341’, 14.ii.2005, uvl (B. Landry, P. Schmitz). Isabela, Alcedo Volcano: 1 ♀, NE slope Alcedo, near pega-pega camp, GPS: 483 m elev., S00°24.029’, W91°02.895’, 31.iii.2004, uvl (B. Landry, P. Schmitz); 3 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85678), NE slope Alcedo, ca. 400 m up (S) Los Guayabillos Camp, GPS: elev. 892 m, S00°25.208’, W91°04.765’, 1.iv.2004, uvl (B. Landry, P. Schmitz); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, V[olcán]. Alcedo, Lado Este [east slope], 200 m [e] ter]s elev., 4.iv.1999, UVL-F[luorescent].L[ight]. (L. Roque); 5 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85679), 1 ♀ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85680), Alcedo, lado NE, 200 m, camp arida alta, 14.iv.2002, uvl (B. Landry, L. Roque); 1 ♂, Alcedo, lado NE, 400 m, camp pega-pega, 15.iv.2002, uvl (B. Landry, L. Roque); 1 ♂, Alcedo, lado NE, 700 m, camp guayabillos, 16.iv.2002, uvl (B. Landry, L. Roque). – Isabela, Sierra Negra Volcano: 1 ♀, 11 km N Puerto Villamil, 9.iii.1989, M[ercury]V[apour] L[ight] (B. Landry); 6 ♂ (2 dissected, BL 182 and 1185), Sierra Negra, pampa zone, 1000 m, 12.iii.1989, MVL (B. Landry); 2 ♂, 11 km N Puerto Villamil, 13.iii.1989, MVL (B. Landry); 2 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85684), 1 ♀ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-248653), ± 15 km N P[uer]to Villamil, 25.v.1992, MVL (B. Landry). – Marchena: 1 ♂, Playa Negra, 3.iii.2001, uvl (L. Roque, A. Mieles); 3 ♂, no precise locality, 12.iii.1992, MVL (B. Landry); 3 ♂ (one dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85699), 1 ♀ (dissected, MHNG-ENTO-85700), no precise locality, 23.iii.1992, MVL (B. Landry).
Etymology: This species is dedicated to Philippe Wagneur, photograph at the MHNG, for his beautiful photos of the specimens published here and in other papers by BL.
Diagnosis: Among the brown cluster of La species in the Galapagos, this one is recognized by its generally smaller size (wingspan: 11.5-19.0 mm) and darker blackish brown colour of the forewings (Figs 21-26). From the other smaller species of the cluster, La paquitae sp. nov. (Figs 27, 28), it differs in having transverse markings on the forewing and uniformly coloured hindwings contrasting with the longitudinal forewing pattern and white veins of the hindwing of La paquitae sp. nov. The male genitalia of this species (Fig. 48) and La paquitae sp. nov. (Fig. 49) have the tegumen with the lateral arms shorter than the dorsal section as opposed to a shorter dorsal section in La galapagensis sp. nov. (Fig. 47) and the tegumen arms are at right angle with the tegumen dorsal roof as opposed to presenting a broadly concave ventral margin in La galapagensis sp. nov.; the median projection of the costal process of the valva is thicker and curving in apical half as opposed to the thinner and basally curving process of La galapagensis sp. nov., and the outer projection of the costal process is distinctly narrowing and curving subapically whereas in La galapagensis sp. nov. it is not narrowing and only slightly curving subapically.
Description: Male (n=72) (Figs 21, 22, 24, 26). Head with frons slightly rounded, not produced; vestiture greyish brown, with scales white tipped, more conspicuously white at base of antennae medially, sometimes more uniformly pale greyish fawn, with thin scales behind eyes blackish brown, with some white tipped. Antenna on scape blackish brown, on antennomeres dark greyish brown. Maxillary palpus vestiture expanded apically as feather duster, greyish brown, darker laterally at base, lighter to sometimes white medially, with apical scales tipped white. Labial palpus with third segment slightly drooping; vestiture greyish brown, darker laterally on first two palpomeres, with longer scales projecting anteriorly, especially ventrally on second palpomere, with some scales tipped white on all three segments, especially the last. Haustellum pale greyish brown. Thorax mostly greyish brown with scales white tipped, with darker scales at bases of patagia and tegulae, and on mesoscutellum, with metathorax mostly pale fawn with pale greyish brown medially. Forewing length: 5.0- 7.0 mm (holotype: 7.0 mm); wingspan: 11.5-15.5 mm (holotype: 15.5 mm). Ratio length/width (n=4): 3.0- 3.2. Wings with colour and pattern as illustrated (Figs 21, 22, 24, 26). Prothoracic leg coxa dirty white, with uniformly pale fawn scales apically; femur greyish brown with some white-tipped scales, darker at apex; tibia greyish brown; tarsomeres greyish brown with apical scales paler on each tarsomere. Mesothoracic leg coxa dirty white with uniformly pale fawn scales apically; femur greyish brown with darker scales at base and apex, with dirty white dorsolaterally on second half; tibia greyish brown at base, dirty white to pale fawn postmedially, pale greyish brown subapically, white at apex; tarsomeres greyish brown, inconspicuously paler at their apices. Metathoracic leg coxa dirty white and pure white, with uniformly pale fawn scales apically; femur pale greyish brown with darker scales at base and apex; tibia white to whitish fawn, with greyish brown subapically; tarsomere I pale fawn to dirty white with lighter apical scaling; tarsomeres II-V darker, greyish brown, with distinct ring of paler whitish scales apically. Abdomen dorsally greyish fawn with darker brown along apical margin on tergites I-III, darker brown on subsequent tergites; ventrally white to pale greyish brown with scattered darker greyish brown scales on median sternites.
Male genitalia (n=9) (Fig. 48). Uncus rather short (0.67 length of tegumen dorsally, n=2), slightly downcurved and pointed apically. Gnathos narrow, with downward-bent apical bulge and dorsomedial cleft apically. Tegumen with lateral arms of medium width, shorter than dorsal section, with more or less complete extension of sclerotization midventrally. Valva with cucullus narrow, tapering toward apex, apically rounded; mediobasal projection reduced, apically rounded, with thickened apical margin; costal process with projections of unequal lengths; median projection shorter, strong, pointed, curving in apical half, with few short setae at base laterally; outer projection flat, longer, almost reaching cucullus apex, slightly wider than cucullus medially, slightly constricted and curving inwards subapically, with apex blunt. Vinculum enlarging laterally; basal margin medially narrowly rounded, forming short, upturned saccus. Pseudosaccus slightly longer than wide, with short, flat crest. Phallus rather short, 750 µm long (n=1), narrow and slightly enlarging along mid-section, with narrower coecum penis slightly curved upward and about 0.2 length of whole phallus, with apex rather narrowly rounded, with basolateral projections weakly sclerotized, with spine of apicolateral projections very short, and with median margin of opening apparently membranous, indistinct, with long wrinkles; vesica without cornuti.
Female (n=18) (Figs 23, 25). Head with frons as male’s. Antenna filiform, with scaling more abundant than in males. Forewing length: 7.0-9.0 mm (wingspan: 15.0- 19.0 mm). Ratio length/width (n=2): 3.30-3.37. Frenulum with 2 fused acanthae. Abdominal segment VII broadly sclerotized medially on sternite, slightly more thickly sclerotized on distal half of tergite.
Female genitalia (n=3) (Fig. 59). Papillae anales small, with more thickly sclerotized area about twice as wide at bases of posterior apophyses, distinctly produced medially, with short to medium length sparse setation. Posterior apophyses short, reaching anterior margin of segment VIII, straight, thin with base slightly enlarged. Tergite VIII a narrow ring. Anterior apophyses shorter than posterior apophyses, with wider triangular base, subapically curved. Ostium bursae a large squarish plate with apical margin sometimes slightly produced and sometimes medially notched, also with a small squarish lamella postvaginalis. Ductus bursae wide and short, not well delimited from corpus bursae. Corpus bursae an elongate simple sac only slightly widening.
Biology: Unknown except that moths come to light and that specimens were found between sea level up to the highest elevations on Isabela and Fernandina, at 1341 m on the latter island.
Distribution: Presently known from Fernandina, Isabela and Marchena islands.
Remarks: On account of the phenotypic variation observed in this species, the type series is restricted to Darwin Volcano, on Isabela Island, where the largest series of specimens available also comes from. The series of specimens from Alcedo Volcano and Fernandina and most from Sierra Negra fall within the range of the phenotypic variation of the paratypes, but four specimens of the Sierra Negra series are more similar in colour and forewing pattern to specimens of La galapagensis sp. nov. (e.g., Fig. 17) while one other from Sierra Negra even has a striped pattern similar to that of La paquitae sp. nov. (Figs 27, 28). The specimens from Marchena island are also small and with a pattern like that of the type series, but theirs is less contrasting. In male genitalia, specimens other than the type series (Fig. 48) may have the outer projection of the costal process of the valva subapically not narrowing and less curved, but the median projection remains stouter than in La galapagensis sp. nov. (Fig. 47). In female genitalia, the apical margin of the ostium plate is slightly variable as seen in all available females from brushing the scales off over the ventral tip of the abdomen, and the corpus bursae may be slightly widened laterally as observed in La galapagensis sp. nov. (Fig. 58).
description: Published as part of Landry, Bernard & Léger, Théo, 2024, Taxonomic revision of the Crambinae (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae sensu lato) of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, pp. 357-387 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 131 (2) on pages 375-379, DOI: 10.35929/RSZ.0129, http://zenodo.org/record/15085298