Dishkeya tarapotica Diškus & Stonis, 2025

Dishkeya tarapotica Diškus & Stonis , sp. nov.

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Figs 4–28 View FIGURES 4–11 View FIGURES 12–17 View FIGURES 18–21 View FIGURES 22–28

Type material. Holotype: ♂, PERÚ: San Martín Region, San Martín Department, Tarapoto , 6°26'57"S, 76°20'42"W, elevation 520 m, developed pupa in a leaf mine on Gouania polygama (Jacq.) Urb. ( Rhamnaceae ), 3.ii.2025, ex pupa 7.ii.2025, field card no. 5386, A. Diškus, genitalia slide no. AD1225 ♂ (genitalia from adult in pupal skin, no pinned adult preserved) ( MfN). GoogleMaps

Paratype: 1 ♀, same label data as holotype, genitalia slide no. AD1233 GoogleMaps ♀ ( MfN). The original label data of the specimens are given with the term ‘Province’ instead of ‘Department’ .

Diagnosis. Dishkeya tarapotica sp. nov. is externally distinguished by its intensely dark beige-orange forewings—a coloration notably darker and more intensely orangish than that of other known Dishkeya species. In females, the presence of unusually long antennal sensilla—approximately three times the width of the flagellum—is a particularly striking and diagnostic character ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 4–11 ). In male genitalia, the species can be readily identified by the lateral processes of the phallus with large spines and by the exceptionally long carinae, which clearly separate it from all congeneric species ( Figs 15–17 View FIGURES 12–17 , 20 View FIGURES 18–21 ).

Barcodes. We barcoded the male holotype and the female paratype; the sequence have been deposited in GenBank (accession IDs: PX220393 and PX220394).

External characters ( Figs 4–11 View FIGURES 4–11 ) (see Remarks). Forewing length approx. 2.8 mm; wingspan approx. 6.1 mm (n = 1). Head: palpi pale yellowish beige; frons smoothly scaled, pale greyish beige speckled with brown and dark brown scales; pecten small, slender, pale greyish beige; frontal tuft glossy dark grey, smoothly overlapping head; collar large and wide, comprised of glossy blackish grey lamellar scales; antennal flagellum glossy blackish grey; in females, antennal sensilla about three times longer than width of flagellum. Thorax: tegula greyish beige, proximally covered with grey-black scales with some purple iridescence; thorax glossy, predominantly dark grey beige sparsely irrorated with grey-black scales; forewing glossy, predominantly intense dark yellow-beige with blue-purple iridescence; costal margin irrorated with grey-black scales; apex marked with black scales showing purple iridescence; fringe grey to blackish grey, without fringe line; forewing underside black-brown, lacking spots or androconia. Hindwing without androconia, dark brown-grey on upper side and underside though under certain angles it may appear brown with golden gloss; fringe grey. Legs predominantly pale brown with golden gloss and with some dark grey-brown scales speckled on upper side.

Male genitalia ( Figs 12–21 View FIGURES 12–17 View FIGURES 18–21 ). Genital capsule approximately 505 µm long and 260 µm wide. Uncus ( Figs 12, 13 View FIGURES 12–17 , 18 View FIGURES 18–21 ) composed of two lateral lobes wide only at the base and slender along most of their length, appearing almost rod-like ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 18–21 ). Socii ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 12–17 , 18 View FIGURES 18–21 ) strongly modified: laterally membranous but medially sclerotized, forming pseudognathos ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 12–17 ) covered with fine spines. Valva ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 12–17 , 19 View FIGURES 18–21 ) approximately 305 µm long (excluding basal process); inner lobe of valva distinctly bulged ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 18–21 ). Vinculum medium large, triangular distally ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 12–17 ), without lateral lobes. Phallus ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 12–17 , 20 View FIGURES 18–21 ) approximately 515 µm long (measured including lateral processes), 155 µm wide basally, only slightly constricted medially; equipped with long lateral processes bearing 3–4 large spines, and unusually long and slender carinae, which are bifid basally ( Figs 16, 17 View FIGURES 12–17 , 20, 21 View FIGURES 18–21 ).

Female genitalia ( Figs 22–28 View FIGURES 22–28 ). Total length approximately 810 µm. Ovipositor lobes ( Figs 22, 23 View FIGURES 22–28 ) moderately large, rounded, and densely covered with peg-like setae; second pair of ovipositor lobes three to four times smaller, bearing numerous long setae; lateral lobes short, not reaching ovipositor lobes. Anterior and posterior apophyses of equal length ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 22–28 ). Prela consists of two pairs of rod-like processes and one pair of lobular structures: transverse prela ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 22–28 ) rod-like and relatively slender; median prela also rod-like and relatively long ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 22–28 ); inner prela barely visible and lobular, with lobes widely separated ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 22–28 ). Additionally, sclerotized thickenings occur caudal or ventral to the inner prela ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 22–28 ). Corpus bursae without pectinations or signa ( Figs 22, 25 View FIGURES 22–28 ), but neck of corpus bursae hardened and with minute spines ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 22–28 ). Ductus spermathecae with approximately 9–11 coils (predominantly small, with some being three times larger), and relatively large, rounded vesicle ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 22–28 ).

Bionomics ( Figs 29–35 View FIGURES 29–35 ). The host plant is Gouania polygama (Jacq.) Urb. ( Rhamnaceae ) ( Figs 29–31 View FIGURES 29–35 ). Larvae feed in late January to February and produce remarkably branched leaf mines ( Figs 32, 33 View FIGURES 29–35 ). When disturbed, the larvae cease feeding and retreat into the linear portion of the mine, often positioned along a leaf vein, making them barely visible. Pupation occurs within the leaf mine, along the leaf vein ( Figs 34, 35 View FIGURES 29–35 ), in an elongated white nidus that is not externally visible and requires dissection to detect. Based on rearing data, adults emerge and are active in February. The other aspects of the species’ biology remain unknown.

Distribution. This species is known only from a single locality in the Peruvian Amazon: Tarapoto, San Martín Department, Perú, at an elevation of approximately 520 m.

Etymology. The species is named after the locality of Tarapoto, where it was discovered.A noun in the nominative singular standing in apposition to the generic name.

Remarks. The external description of the species is largely based on the examined female paratype, as the holotype (a single male adult) was available only as a specimen within the pupal skin. Based on our observations— within the limits allowed by the preserved material—the male in the pupal skin closely resembled the female paratype. However, the entire male body, except genitalia, was used for DNA extraction; therefore, no pinned adult male was preserved.