Manatha prolixa Beaver, 2025

Manatha prolixa Beaver View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figs 4A–B, D–F View FIGURE 4 )

Type data. Holotype. ♂ ‘ Iron Range, Q. 13 Apr 1964, I.F.B. Common, & M.S. Upton’, ‘ Manatha prolixa , Genitalia prep. no. EPB-239, ANIC NULS752877 ’, ‘ ANIC Database no. 31-084642’. In ANIC.

Type locality: Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park , Queensland, Australia .

Diagnosis. Manatha prolixa sp. nov. is unique among Manatha species in that the genitalia are overall very long, with a distinctly narrow, drawn-out saccus and with the general shape and size of the genitalia almost twice that of the other Manatha species (see Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 for comparison with M. conglacia ( Fig. 4C, G View FIGURE 4 )). Both M. albipes and M. taiwana ( Poorani et al. 2021: fig. 7, Sugimoto & Saigusa 2001: figs. 23–29) have the saccus significantly broader and shorter. The phallus of M. prolixa sp. nov. is roughly the same length as the genitalia complex, while in M. albipes and M. taiwana it is shorter than the overall length of the genitalia. The male genitalia of M. prolixa sp. nov. are more distinctive in this way than that of M. albipes , M. conglacia and M. taiwana , the three of which appear more similar to each other.

Compared with the number of differences in the genitalia, there are fewer wing-pattern element differences, with the exception that M. albipes has a chevron of dark brown scales at the forewing discal cell, which M. prolixa sp. nov. lacks, with the forewing being overall concolorous in this species. The forewing of M. taiwana is concolorous, however in that species it is distinctly black, and unlike M. prolixa sp. nov., that has lighter mid cinnamon-brown scales with a semi-reflective quality. In wing morphology, M. prolixa sp. nov. is very similar to M. conglacia , though that species is a darker brown with a lessened reflective quality. A clearer difference between these two similar species exists in the morphology of the dorsal forewing ground cover scales. In M. prolixa sp. nov. these are almost diamond shaped, with a tapering apex, whereas in M. conglacia they are broad with a weakly tri-lobed or trifurcate apex.

Although the genitalia of the north-eastern Indian species M. scotopepla was unavailable for direct comparison, it is apparent that this species is more similar to M. albipes than to either M. conglacia or M. prolixa sp. nov. (i.e., see Sugimoto & Saigusa 2001). From what can be understood of the recorded wing morphology, the hindwing of M. scotopepla is distinctly smaller, and the forewing of that species more rounded than in M. prolixa sp. nov., as determined via the illustration provided by Dierl (1972). Furthermore, a non-invasive examination of the type specimen of M. scotopepla in the NHMUK revealed that the species is smaller, with a forewing length of 6.5 mm compared with the larger 10 mm forewing of M. prolixa sp. nov., and that the antennae of the two species differ by rami length, which in M. scotopepla are 12x the length of the flagellum whereas in M. prolixa sp. nov. the rami are shorter, only 8x the width. From these differences we can be confident that the two species are not similar.

Description. Male. ( Figs 4A–B, D–F View FIGURE 4 ). Eye index: 1.03. Forewing length: 10 mm, expanse 20 mm.

Head.Antennae short, approx. 1/6 th length of forewing, brown, bipectinate, 18 flagellomeres, apical flagellomere filiform, rami with single row of light brown scales dorsally, rami 8x width of flagellomere at widest point. Frons naked, and vertex with brown piliform scales.

Thorax. Vestiture comprised of mid brown piliform scales on dorsal and ventral aspect. Scales with distinct reflective golden quality, with dark purple lustre apparent when viewed at lateral angle under direct bright white light. Legs with femur and tibia dark brown, tarsi bright white. Dorsal surface of all tibiae and tarsi with elongate tuft of piliform scales. Foreleg with elongate epiphysis on proximal 1/3 rd of tibia; tarsi with apical spurs on tarsomeres. Forewing broad, strongly triangular; costa nearly straight, convex toward blunt apex; termen straight, inner margin straight. Hindwing costa convex; apex blunt, termen subtly convex, margin convex. Wing venation unremarkable, similar to M. conglacia . Fore- and hindwing dorsal and ventral colour mid cinnamon brown, hindwing basal area and inner margin lighter brown. Wings with faint reflective golden quality under direct bright light, with faint purple lustre when viewed at lateral angle, particularly ventral surface. Wing ground scales diamond-shaped with pointed apex, interspersed with piliform scales over much of hindwing, particularly in basal and inner margin areas. Fringe scales broad with three points at apex.

Abdomen dorsally and ventrally dark brown, pleura membranous, covered with piliform scales, tergites and sternites naked.

Genitalia. (Fig. Figs 4D–F View FIGURE 4 ). Saccus elongate, narrow, finely drawn to a point at apex, approx. just less than ½ total length of genitalia complex, remainder of vinculum and tegumen fused, laterally sclerotised.Tegumen elongate, laterally weakly convex towards pointed, bifurcate apex, setose on dorsal aspect. Valva elongate; apex bifurcate to two lobes, ventral lobe shorter than dorsal, recurved, with two short spines at apex; dorsal lobe broader, longer, rounded, setose dorsally; lateral valva margins weakly convex, setose dorsally; basal costal lobe pronounced, sub-ovoid, flattened, with many spinules. Phallus very long, equal to entire length of genitalia; weakly sinuate, ductus ejaculatorius smooth, and vesica sub-triangular at phallus apex.

Etymology. The term prolixa, Latin , meaning elongate or extensive, is used in reference to the proportions of the genitalia which are unique to this species. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Biology. The holotype was collected in mid-April, probably at light, though the details and timing of this are unknown, as are all other aspects of the species’ life history and biology.

Habitat. Tropical lowland rainforest is the predominant environment present at the type locality.

Distribution. Known only from Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range), on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.

Remarks. Some uncertainty always exists in certain diagnostic differences between species when only a single specimen is available for taxonomic study. However, given the number of differences presented by the new species and the degree by which it differs from the others in the genus, including by DNA sequence data, there is no doubt as to the determination of this specimen as a representative of a distinctive new species. More work is required to determine the extent of distribution of Manatha prolixa sp. nov. in northern Australia, and to elucidate all aspects of their life history. The bags of Manatha species are distinctive by their small size and weak foliage adornment or lateral ribs, and so targeting and rearing small Psychidae larvae in the tropics that match this description would be a key way to systematically obtain more data for this and similar sized taxa that are poorly understood. If the larval life history of this species is similar to others in this genus, one would expect the larvae to be multivoltine, and broadly polyphagous. Despite extensive collecting of moths in Kutini-Payamu and nearby areas by entomologists, particularly over the past fifty years, it is curious that only a single specimen of this species has been collected. Part of the reason for this could be that the species is usually crepuscular or has a highly specific vespertine or matutinal flight time, or that they usually experience negative phototaxis and so are rarely or never collected at lights. Despite recent life history research on Manatha , diel activity of the adult males has never been recorded.