Aenetus verdiceae Grehan, C. Mielke & Ignatev, 2025

Aenetus verdiceae Grehan, C. Mielke & Ignatev View in CoL sp. nov.

( Fig. 3a–b View FIGURES 1–7 , 9c–d, 10c View FIGURES 9–10 , 15c View FIGURE 15 , 16c, 17c View FIGURES 16–17 , 18e View FIGURE 18 , 19c View FIGURE 19 )

Type material. Holotype. ♀ /Pal. Salier, Somarisi [Tanete district, Bontomatene, Selayar Islands Regency , Indonesia], 500 m, xii, 1938/ JRG dissection F312 / A. verdiceae Grehan & C. Mielke 2024 des.; RMNH.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by distal palpomere almost as long as second palpomere in contrast to being less than half the length in other eastern Indonesian species ( Fig. 10c View FIGURES 9–10 ).

Description. Female ( Fig. 3a–b View FIGURES 1–7 , 9c–d, 10c View FIGURES 9–10 , 15c View FIGURE 15 , 16c, 17c View FIGURES 16–17 , 18e View FIGURE 18 , 19c View FIGURE 19 ). Wingspan ~ 73 mm; forewing length: 37 mm, width: 18 mm; hindwing length: 30 mm, width: 16 mm.

Head. Covered with yellowish-brown scales. Eyes prominent, at least ¾ head width in dorsal view ( Figs 9c–d View FIGURES 9–10 ). Antenna filiform, pale yellowish brown, distal portion broken off. Labial palp ( Fig. 10c View FIGURES 9–10 ) three segmented, subequal length, curved towards midline. Von Rath’s organ present in terminal segment.

Thorax. Pro and mesothorax covered with yellowish brown scales, scutum III pale reddish brown, anteriorly free of scales, dorsal metathoracic scales pale yellowish brown; Wing venation as for A. porlovi sp. nov. Forewing triangular, costal margin linear to convex near apex; outer margin straight, tornus merging with posterior margin as a shallow curve. Forewing pale yellowish brown, markings indistinct due to worn condition. Three to four brown spots comprising a broken postdiscal line visible between M 1 -Rs3, large brown spot near margin between A and CuA 2. Ventral ground colour similar to dorsal, slightly darker. Hindwing, dorsally dark yellowish/reddish-brown, ventrally yellowish-red brown with yellowish brown along veins. Legs pale yellowish brown, not dissected.

Pre-genital abdomen ( Figs 16c, 17c View FIGURES 16–17 ). Covered with yellowish brown scales. Tergites and sternites weakly sclerotized; tergum II and sternum II with lateral ridge. Sternum II damaged antero-medially, lateral ridge straight, postero-medially narrowing and merging with lightly sclerotized central area ( Fig. 16c View FIGURES 16–17 ). Tergosternal sclerite ( Fig. 15c View FIGURE 15 ) with elongate triangular tergosternal bar with ventral portion narrowing to acute apex at lateral arm of sternum II, not strongly fused with triangular intermediate zone; tergum VII subsquare, narrowing posteriorly, tergum VIII rectangular, about one fourth length of tergum VII; sternum VII and sternum VIII fused, rectangular, posterior margin convex ( Fig. 17c View FIGURES 16–17 ).

Genitalia ( Fig. 18e View FIGURE 18 , 19c View FIGURE 19 ): Dorsal plate posterior margin without distinct anal papillae, wider basally, setose throughout; subanal sclerite narrow (distorted in dissection) ( Fig. 18e View FIGURE 18 ). Medial lobe of lamella antevaginalis with broad dorsal projection, shallow medial notch, setose; Lateral lobe dorsal surface expanded distally with shallow inner and outer terminal knobs ( Fig. 19c View FIGURE 19 ). Bursa copulatrix not recovered.

Male. Unknown.

Geographical distribution. Known from the type locality only, Tanete district , Bontomatene , Selayar Islands Regency, Indonesia ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ).

Host plants. Unknown.

Etymology. Named for Vanessa Verdicea who has supported this and other projects in Hepialidae by providing quality photographic images (courtesy of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History). A noun in the genitive case.

Remark. Specimen faded.