Sufetula monticola Müller, Hayden & Léger, 2025

Sufetula monticola Müller, Hayden & Léger , sp. nov.

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:685C97C9-AA41-4AEE-B5DE-BE59DA55AF1C

( Figures 12, 13 View Figures 9-14 , 26 View Figures 19-26 , 38 View Figures 38-41 , 49 View Figures 46-49 )

Material examined. Holotype. Ƌ. PHILIPPINES: Luzon, Nueva Vizcaya, Bald Mountains, Santa Fe ; 16.18 ǫN 120.86 ǫE; 1150m; 11-13 Nov.1997; K. Ebert, W. Mey, M. Nuss leg.; DNA voucher MFNLEP941 ; genitalia slide MfN gen. prep. 332M; specimen identifier coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_2a6f5f ( MfN). Paratypes. 4 Ƌ; specimen identifiers coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_2a6f5e, 96e51d, 884347, 2a6f5d; 7 ♀; specimen identifiers coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_f3238a, b03275, 18dc1a, 410f79, 2a6f61, 2a6f60, 2265d4. Detailed information on Table S1 .

Diagnosis. Sufetula monticola sp. nov. is best separated from other Sufetula species by examination of the forewings: the antemedian line forms one conspicuous, narrow jag projected toward the discoidal spot, followed by two well-marked curves, and the costal spots are semi-circular, pale yellow edged with dark brown ( Figures 12, 13 View Figures 9-14 ). In the male genitalia ( Figure 38 View Figures 38-41 ), the uncus is slightly shorter than in other Sufetula species, being ca 1/4 of the length of the tegumen. In the female genitalia ( Figure 49 View Figures 46-49 ), the anterior apophyses are comparatively short, and the corpus bursae bears a large signum about half of the corpus length.

Description. Wings ( Figures 12,13 View Figures 9-14 ). Forewing length: 7 - 8.5 mm in both sexes; forewing ground colour greyish brown. Small basal dark brown dot. Antemedian line thin, white, edged with dark brown, forming one conspicuous tooth pointing distad toward discal spot, then arced toward dorsum with two shallow curves. Median discoidal spot oblong, black. Three costal pale yellow semicircles innerly light brown. Postmedian line forming triangular blotch at costa, slightly incurved on radial veins, roundly curved distad on medial fold, then bent inwards toward dorsum, slightly thickened around anal fold. Margin chequered with dark brown and pale yellow. Fringes chequered with brown and pale yellow. Hindwing cream coloured with faintly marked white median line shifted inwards at 2 A vein. Dark brown dashed line bordering margin; margin forming thin, cream-coloured line. Forewing CuP vein absent. Tympanal organs ( Figure 26 View Figures 19-26 ). Ƌ ♀. Bullae tympani posterior fourth recessed. Posterior depressions shallow, large, half width of bulla. Venulae secundae faintly marked, incurved medially, running down to anterior 1/3 of sternum II. Pons tympani fused anteriorly, forming rounded opening posteriad. Male genitalia ( Figure 38 View Figures 38-41 ). Uncus ca 1/4 of tegumen arm length, triangular, apex bluntly pointed. Valva suboval, ventral margin straight, dorsal margin conspicuously rounded at base, slightly convex otherwise; apex rounded. Female genitalia ( Figure 49 View Figures 46-49 ). Posterior apophyses 2.3 × tergite VIII length. Anterior apophyses 1.9 × tergite VIII length, thicker than posterior apophyses. Ductus bursae ca twice the length of corpus, straight, covered with minute spicules. Corpus bursae large, globular, covered with acanthae. Signum ca half the length of corpus, forming rounded patch of short, tooth-shaped, sclerotised thorns.

Distribution. Known from Luzon (Benguet, Mountain Province) at an elevation between 600 and 2350 m ( Figure 55 View Figure 55 ).

Etymology. From the Latin monticola , ae, f, “mountain dwelling”, referring to the medium elevation distribution of the species.

DNA barcoding. The species delimitation analysis recovers three different MOTUs differing by 4.7 - 6.2%. Two MOTUs are recovered within the specimens from the Cordillera Central on Luzon, one including the specimens MFNLEP939, MFNLEP940 and MFNLEP-PYRALPHIL09-G11 collected at elevations between 1650 and 2350 m, while the 11 specimens of the other MOTUs were collected at elevations between 750 and 1150 m. The third MOTU represents the single specimen MFNLEP-PYRALPHIL09-H10 from Mindoro.

Remarks. The second MOTU represented by three specimens collected at higher elevation could represent a distinct species. In the male genitalia, the uncus is shorter than in other specimens. The restriction to higher elevation of this MOTU suggests possible allopatric divergence through elevational isolation.