Phyllopalpia, DRAUDT, 1932

32. PHYLLOPALPIA DRAUDT, 1932 View in CoL

Phyllopalpia Draudt 1932 . In Seitz, Der Gross Schmett d‘Erde 6: 939. Type species: Phyllopalpia triangulum Draudt 1932 . Ibidem 6: 939.

Adults. ( Figure 3I View FIGURE 3 , 11A View FIGURE 11 ) Head: male antennae bipectinated to basal half, female antennae filiform; antennal tufts present; male third segment of labial palpus small. Thorax: scent pocket absent on male prothoracic leg. Wings: males 22 mm, females 30 to 34 mm; forewing with areole present, hindwing with Sc-Rs short stalked. Forewing pattern with two white patches on the discal cell (similar to those found on Didugua , but wings with paler mesal regions than Didugua ). Male terminalia ( Figure 7G View FIGURE 7 ): eighth tergite with midplate; eighth sternite with antecosta Mshaped, with a tapered shape and sinuous ridges, caudal edge modified into paired, triangular, lobes. SSO absent, uncus with a flat prominence with slightly notched tip and a ventral membranous projection in P. marcella , or with a rounded tip in P. triangulum ; base square with lateral ridges; sclerotized socii with a toothed flange (fang shaped); costulae absent but costal base of valvae with sclerotized projection.Aedeagus small and long with callosum footlike. Female terminalia: Papillae anales membranous with long setae on outer half; posterior apophyses very long. Eighth tergite with a thin band lacking ornamentation; anterior apophyses long and slender. Eighth sternite with small, lateral prominences and a pair of midventral, rounded prominences; with a midventral desclerotization; ostium bursae wide, lamellae antevaginalis unornamented. Ductus bursae upper fourth weakly sclerotized, remainder a membranous tube; corpus bursae membranous with a small signum.

Diagnosis. Species can be recognized by the combination of the white patches present near the discal cell on the forewing, the long antennal tuft, the short third segment of the labial palpi, and the bipectinated antennae to basal half in males.

Comments. Phyllopalpia means flat and leaf-like palpus ( Weller 1989). Species habitus resembles some Calledema , Ankale or even Lepasta and Didugua species. Brushing male terminalia to view the VIII sternite’s caudal edge is sometimes helpful. We have doubts about the monophyly of this genus. A complete and thorough revision is necessary.

Distribution. From Costa Rica to Paraguay.

Species included (6).

Phyllopalpia asaphina (Schaus, 1939)

Phyllopalpia branda (Schaus, 1928)

Phyllopalpia maltha (Schaus, 1905)

Phyllopalpia marcella (Schaus, 1911)

Phyllopalpia triangulum Draudt, 1932 *

Phyllopalpia viridis (Schaus, 1905)