Panaphelix nalowale, Austin Daniel Rubinoff & nov, 2024

Panaphelix nalowale , sp. nov.

Figs. 2A View Figure 2 ; 5A View Figure 5

Diagnosis. Panapehlix nalowale (Oʻahu) is most similar to P. kikokea (Maui) but can be distinguished by its smaller size, pale brown forewing color and wide, conspicuous antemedian interfascia.

Type material. Holotype: Oʻahu: ♂, Mokulēʻia, Pahole; xii [19]74; S. L. Montgomery / KAAdiss.#0420 ( BPBM).

Description. Male (n=1). Head. Scales on frons long, erect, pale brown, with scattered pale yellow scales; scales on vertex pale yellow; labial palpus approximately 2× width of compound eye, scales on lateral surface entirely pale brown, second segment with scaling greatly expanded dorsally; medial surface with scaling pale yellow at base, pale brown apically. Ocellus moderate, separated from compound eye by approximately width of ocellus. Scape with scaling pale brown; flagellum strongly bipectinate; ramus approximately 3× width of flagellomere, unscaled; sensillae short, approximately 0.1× length of ramus; dorsal scales of flagellum alternating between rows of pale brown and pale yellow for flagellomeres 1–5,entirely pale brown beyond (antennae broken beyond flagellomere 13 and 15 in left and right antenna, respectively). Thorax. Dorsum with scaling pale yellow, dorsal tuft pale brown; tegulae pale yellow at base, pale brown apically. Lateral surface of foreleg and midleg with scaling pale brown, tarsal segments ringed with pale yellow at apices; hindleg scaling entirely pale yellow except for a small patch of pale brown scales present on apical half of tibia. Dorsal surface of FW ( Fig. 2A View Figure 2 ; FWL: 8.4 mm) with ground color brown; pale brown scales present at extreme base and distal half of costa; antemedian interfascia broad, well-defined, widened into a near-perfect circle medially, bordered with black scales, filled with pale brown scales at costa and inner margin; white scales present medially; a small black dot present at end of cell and a small black-ringed scale present just beyond, filled with pale brown scales; fringe pale brown, slightly darker at apex; costal fold absent. Ventral surface of FW brown, patches of pale brown scaling present along costa, mirroring pale scaling on dorsal surface. Dorsal surface of HW dirty white at base, pale brown apically, heavily suffused with brown strigulae. Ventral surface of HW concolorous with dorsal surface of HW, but slightly paler. Abdomen. Vestiture of abdomen entirely brown. Genitalia ( Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ) with uncus slender, apically swollen, shallowly cleft, nearly heart-shaped, with moderate, hair-like setae on apicoventral surface; socii absent; arms of gnathos moderate, fused beyond 0.5×, distinctly forked at apex; tegumen high, somewhat slender, without significant modifications; transtilla broad, ribbon-like; valva broad, subcircular, membranous; sacculus well-developed, highly sclerotized, with broad, somewhat rounded, extension beyond apex; juxta large, broad, plate-like, with distinct medial groove; phallus short, squat, slightly downcurved; caulis obsolete; vesica without observed cornuti or sockets.

Female (n=0). Female unknown.

Biology. This species is possibly a leaf-tier on Melicope spp. The only known host for Panaphelix is alani ( Melicope clusiifolia ; Rutaceae ) for the Maui species P. marmorata Walsingham.

Distribution. Panaphelix nalowale is knownfromasinglespecimencollectedin what is now Pahole Natural Area Reserve in the northern Waiʻanae Mountains. If still extant, it should be sought in similar native-dominated mesic forest elsewhere in the Waiʻanae Mountains wherever its likely host plant, Melicope , occurs.

Etymology. From Hawaiian “nalowale ,” meaning “vanished” or “extinct,” referring to the likely extinct status of this new species.

Conservation Status. Panaphelix nalowale is likely critically endangered or extinct. It is only known from a single specimen collected 50 years ago and has not been seen since, despite Pahole Natural Area Reserve being one of the most well-surveyed sites for moths in the Waiʻanae Mountains. However, two possible host plants of this species, Melicope sandwicensis and M. oahuensis are still extant in the area, but very rare (DLNR-DOFAW2017, OANRP2018).We have not surveyed in their vicinity, giving some hope that if these plants are located, this species may still be found to persist.