Pararrhaptica huihui, Austin Daniel Rubinoff & nov, 2024

Pararrhaptica huihui , sp. nov.

Figs. 2E, F View Figure 2 ; 6A View Figure 6 ; 8B View Figure 8 , 9C View Figure 9 Diagnosis. Pararrhaptica huihui (Kauaʻi) is very similar to P. falerniana (Walsingham) from Molokaʻi, but tends to have more extensive, slightly paler blue-purple scales more diffusely scattered across the entire forewing, whereas P. falerniana tends to have darker blue-gray scaling more neatly and densely arranged in rows overlaid across the antemedian and postmedian interfascia and costal strigulae. Male genitalia can be distinguished from P. falerniana by the broader uncus of P. huihui . We have been unable to find characters in the female genitalia to readily distinguish the two species.

Type material. Holotype: Kauaʻi: ♂, Nā Pali-Kona F [orest] R[eserve], Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve , S of Wai [a]koali Bog 1; 22.1292, -159.5782; 1260 m; 12–14 vii 2023; K. A. Austin et al.; UVLED light sheet / DNA extraction KA0855 / KAA diss. #1080 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . Paratypes (13♂♂, 1♀): Kauaʻi: 2♂♂, same data as holotype / KA0856 / KAA diss. #1081 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 6♂♂, Nā Pali-Kona F[orest] R[eserve], Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, NE of Wai [a]koali Bog 1; 22.1300, -159.5774; 1260 m; 12–13 vii 2023; K. A. Austin; [UV] bucket trap ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 2♂♂, Nā Pali-Kona F[orest] R[eserve], Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve, N of Wai [a] koali Bog 1; 22.1300, -159.5780; 1265 m; 12–13 vii 2023; K. A. Austin; [UV] bucket trap ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 1♂, Nā Pali-Kona For [est] Res [erve], Alakaʻi Wild [erness] Pres [erve], forest b[e]tw[ee]n Waiakoali Bogs 1&2; 22.1288, -159.5774; 1260 m; 9–10 ii 2022; K. A. Austin; [UV] bucket trap / DNA extraction KA0438 / KAA diss. #0695 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 1♂, Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve , Mohihi Plateau; 22.1218, -159.5634; 1290 m; 11 v 2021; Melissa Simon; LED light sheet / DNA extraction KA0202 /KAA diss. #0498 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 1♂, Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve , Waiakoali Headwaters; 22.1291, -159.5780; 1260 m; 20 v 2021; Melissa Simon, Kurt Ongman; LED light sheet / DNA extraction KA0231 / KAA diss. #0529 ( UHIM) GoogleMaps . 1♀, Alakaʻi Swamp , Kelekua Hut [Geo Bog]; 4520 ft [1378 m]; 19 ix 1973; K. and E. Sattler / KAA diss. #1223 ( NHMUK) .

Description. Male (n=14). Head. Scales on frons short, tightly appressed, dark gray to black, occasionally with white or pale gray scaling on ventral half, scattered pinkish scales present laterally; scales on vertex long, dark gray to black, with scattered pale orange scales; labial palpus slender, approximately 2× width of compound eye, distinctly curved with basal half upswept, apical half porrect; lateral surface with intermixed brick red and black scales, iridescent purple when viewed at an angle under magnification; medial surface with scales pale yellow. Ocellus separated from compound eye by approximately width of ocellus. Scape with scaling black and brick red; sensillae well-developed, approximately 1× width of flagellomere; dorsal scales of flagellum with alternating rows of black and brick red for basal ~10 flagellomeres, entirely black beyond. Thorax. Dorsum with scaling dark brown to black; tegulae concolorous. Lateral surface of foreleg dark brown to black, small patch of red-orange scales occasionally present at junction of femur-tibia, tarsal segments ringed with pale yellow scales; midlegs similar to foreleg except without red scaling, pale yellow rings on tarsal segments more conspicuous; hindlegs with scaling pale brown to gray, scaling on tarsalsegmentssimilartomidlegs.Dorsal surface of FW ( Fig. 2E View Figure 2 ; FWL: 7.6–8.7 mm) with ground color dark brown to black, heavily suffused with mahogany to brick red scaling along costa, pale brown along inner margin; antemedian interfascia present as a distinct, nearly straight pale brown running from 0.25× costa to0.5× inner margin;entire forewing covered with scattered pale blue-purple or blue-gray scales, these scales forming distinct strigulae along distal half of costa and giving the entire moth a strongly iridescent purple color when viewed under light; fringe gray and pale orange; costal fold absent. Ventral surface of FW brown, lighter in patches along costa corresponding to strigulae on dorsal surface, iridescent purple when viewed at an angle under light. Ventral surface of HW concolorous with dorsal surface. Abdomen. Vestiture of abdomen gray to pale yellow. Genitalia ( Fig. 6A View Figure 6 ) with uncus broad, quadrate, with long apicoventral hair-like setae; socii obsolete; tegumen moderate, without significant modifications; arms of gnathos well developed, apically fused, acute, but slightly rounded at apex; transtilla complete, thin, membranous, with small, minutely spined labides on lateral margin; valvae elongate, rounded apically, highly membranous, slightly upcurved, weakly plicate on ventral half, medial surface with long, hair-like setae; sacculus moderately wide, to approximately 0.25× length of valva, unmodified; juxta small, hexagonal, with broad dorsal notch; phallus pistol-shaped, acute at apex, produced; caulis minute; vesica with two extremely long, thin, basally fused cornuti in one specimen (the longer of the two cornuti approximately 0.5× length of phallus).

Female (n=1) Similar to male except larger ( Fig. 2F View Figure 2 ; FWL: 10.4 mm), scaling on forewing and hindwing paler, more subdued, without distinct pale antemedian interfascia; strigulae along costa less well-defined; pale blue-purple scaling on forewing more evenly distributed. Genitalia ( Fig. 8B View Figure 8 ) with papillae anales large, distally convex, evenly roughened on ventral surface; apophyses posteriores thin, straight, approximately 0.5× length of S7; apophyses anteriores similarly shaped, approximately same length as S7; sterigma thin, weakly developed; ostium U-shaped, slightly inflated, membranous; ductus bursae long, slender, widening slightlytowardscorpusbursae;colliculum present as a pair of weakly-sclerotized barlike processes; ductus seminalis arising at approximately 0.1× length of ductus bursae; corpus bursae globose; signum absent.

Biology. Unknown, but presumed to feed as a leaf-tier or shoot borer on kōlea ( Myrsine spp. ) like its close relatives. Possible hosts from the type locality include M. kauaiensis , M. lessertiana , and M. wawrae .

Distribution. Pararrhaptica huihui is endemic to Kauaʻi, where it is known from a few remote locations in the Alakaʻi Swamp at elevations of approximately 1260–1380 meters.

Etymology. From Hawaiian “huihui ,” meaning “constellation.” The pattern of scattered blue-purple scales on the otherwise dark forewing reminds us of constellations in the night sky. Polynesian navigators used wayfinding techniques, including use of constellations and individual stars, to find their way on long voyages back and forth across the Pacific Ocean.

Conservation Status. Pararrhaptica huihui is likely secure. Pararrhaptica huihui appears to be a fairly common species in the Alakaʻi Swamp and has been recorded from multiple locations in recent years.