Acalyptris hilli Stonis & Diskus 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Stonis, Jonas R.
name: Diškus, Arūnas
name: Remeikis, Andrius
name: Vargas, Sergio A.
name: Solis, M. Alma
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Nepticulidae
Acalyptris
Acalyptris hilli

description: 12. Acalyptris hilli Stonis & Diškus, sp. nov. (Figs 65–77)
Diagnosis. External characters of A. hilli are not always sufficient for species identification, however, the new species differs from the most Neotropical Acalyptris by the silvery glossy forewing with strong purple iridescence and black postmedian fascia (Figs 65–67). In the male genitalia, the presence of large cornuti in the phallus, uniquely-shaped uncus (Fig. 77), large, bilobed juxta (Fig. 69), and extremely short vinculum (Fig. 69) easily distinguishes A. hilli from all known Acalyptris species.
Description. Male (Figs 65–67). Forewing length 2.2 mm; wingspan 4.9 mm (n = 1).
Head. Scape cream with some pale ochre scales; frontal tuft dark ochre; collar small, comprised of brownish cream piliform scales; antenna distinctly shorter than one-half length of forewing; flagellum dark grey-brown on upper side and underside, with some golden gloss and purple iridescence, with about 30 segments.
Thorax. Tegula and thorax dark grey, glossy, with some blue and purple iridescence; forewing pale grey with strong purple iridescence, some yellowish cream tint along costal margin, distinctive, oblique, postmedian fascia comprised of brown-black or black scales and some black scales apically (Fig. 65); fringe silvery shiny, pale grey (or grey on tornus), without fringe line; forewing underside grey-brown, with some purple iridescence, without androconia or spots, except a small, elongated scaless spot at the base. Hindwing and fringe dark grey-brown on upper side and underside, with slight purple iridescence, without spots or androconia. Legs glossy, dark grey-brown on upper side, brownish cream on underside.
Abdomen. Black with purple iridescence on upper side, glossy cream on underside; anal tufts distinctive, browngrey or pale brown; genital plates brownish cream. Genitalia (Figs 68–77) with capsule about 235 µm long, 210 µm wide. Pseuduncus with two wide lobes (Fig. 75). Uncus three-lobed (Figs 76, 77). Phallus about 280 µm long, with horn-like carinae and spine-like cornuti (Figs 70–72).
Female. Unknown.
Bionomics. Host plant is unknown. Adults fly in May (one specimen was attracted at light). Otherwise, biology is unknown.
Distribution (Fig. 1). Currently known from a single locality in Peru, Departamento de Junín: Selva Central, Satipo (Figs 2–5).
Etymology. The species is named in honour of Simon R. Hill (London, U.K.), a passionate collector and friend.
Type material. Holotype: ♂, PERÚ: Junín Region, Satipo, 11°15ꞌ30ꞌꞌS, 74°37ꞌ56ꞌꞌW, elevation 1660 m, at light, 13–15.v.2018, J. R. Stonis & S. Hill, genitalia slide no. AD951 (ZMUC).
description: Published as part of Stonis, Jonas R., Diškus, Arūnas, Remeikis, Andrius, Vargas, Sergio A. & Solis, M. Alma, 2020, Diagnostics and updated catalogue of Acalyptris Meyrick, the second largest genus of Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) in the Americas, pp. 201-247 in Zootaxa 4748 (2) on page 217, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4748.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3698667