Platphalonidia aenigmana Brown, 2024

Platphalonidia aenigmana Brown , new species

Fig. 1–9 View Figures 1–6 View Figures 7–11

Diagnosis. Platphalonidia aenigmana is easily distinguished from its putative congeners by facies alone. Superficially, it is more similar to poorly marked individuals of Henricus umbrabasana (Kearfott) or H. cognata (Walsingham) from the western U.S.A. than to other species of Platphalonidia ( Fig. 1–4 View Figures 1–6 ). The forewing has a nearly uniform pale tan-yellow ground color, with a faint brown pretornal spot and a similar dash from the hind margin halfway between the pretornal spot and the wing base. In contrast, most other Platphalonidia have at least a partial median fascia. The female frenulum in P. aenigmana is three-spined, the condition found in nearly all females of Platphalonidia ( Monsalve et al. 2011) . The male hindwing lacks the costal roll of sex scales that is present in most Platphalonidia ( Pérez Santa-Rita et al. 2022) .

The male genitalia of P. aenigmana are similar to those of P. felix (Walsingham) , P.dangi Razowski , and P. chlaenites Razowski and Becker , among others, with a weakly developed sacculus, represented by a short, convexly curved region along the venter of the base of the valva; and a long slender median process of the transtilla bearing a small emargination distally. As in other species of Platphalonidia , the phallus is pointed apically, with one large cornutus in the vesica. Many features of the male genitalia are also shared with species of Phalonidia Le Marchand , which Razowski (2011) synonymized with Platphalonidia , with the latter as the junior synonym. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis ( Brown et al. 2020) recognized the two genera as distinct and in different generic groups. The circle of spines in the corpus bursae, a feature considered a putative synapomorphy for Phalonidia and Gynnidomorpha Turner , is absent in all Platphalonidia . For further details on the generic assignment of the new species, see the Discussion section below.

Description. Head: Vertex with white to pale tan, forward-projecting scales medially, with a pair of fan-shaped clusters of scales at dorso-posterior margin of compound eye; frons with short white scales, some appressed to surface; ocellus well developed, located in unscaled region posterior to base of antenna; antenna ca. 0.5× length of forewing, sensory setae ca. 0.75× width of flagellomere in male, much shorter and sparser in female; scaling on antenna white to cream in conspicuous bands, one per flagellomere; labial palpus porrect, scaling expanded distally on segment II, segment III smooth scaled, projecting beyond scaling of segment II; scaling pale tan with a few brown scales on outer margin, white on inner margin; length of all segments combined 1.8–2.0× diameter of compound eye; haustellum present, presumably functional.

Thorax: Dorsum smooth scaled, tegula conspicuous, metathoracic tuft not developed; legs unmodified, without secondary sex scales in male. Forewing length 6.0– 7.5 mm (mea n = 7.0 mm; n = 10), females slightly larger than males; forewing maculation somewhat variable ( Fig. 1–4 View Figures 1–6 ); ground color uniformly cream to pale tan, sometimes faintly speckled or reticulated with darker brown ( Fig. 3 View Figures 1–6 ); a small, variably-developed, brown, semicircular, pretornal spot; a similarly colored, hook-shaped dash from hind margin ca. 0.33× distance from base (present in ca. 50% of individuals); frequently with a linear band of scales along hind margin between pretornal spot and dash; basal 0.5× of costa usually with narrow band of brown scales. Hindwing white with variable pale grayish brown overscaling, pale tan-brown in some specimens; male lacking costal roll of secondary sex scales; frenulum with one bristle in male, usually three in female.

Abdomen: Without modified sex scales. Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 View Figures 1–6 ) with tegumen broad; uncus absent; socius large, rounded, hairy, projecting dorsoposteriorly, fused in basal 0.75; transtilla broad with long, slender median process with tiny emargination distally; vinculum unmodified, arms separate basally; valva comparatively narrow, broadest at base, attenuate distally, upcurved, rounded at narrow apex; sacculus with ventral margin sclerotized, slightly rugose; juxta broad, shield-like; phallus robust, long, mostly straight, with large, pointed apical process ventrally; vesica with a single slender cornutus 0.50–0.75× length of phallus. Female genitalia ( Fig. 7, 8 View Figures 7–11 ) compact, ovipositor not telescopic; papillae anales slipper-shaped; apophyses long and slender, ca. as long as papillae anales; sterigma membranous with ostium inconspicuous; ductus bursae represented by extremely short constriction of corpus bursae, antrum a large, rounded, sclerotized plate from which accessory bursae arises as a slender membranous ductus; corpus bursae somewhat bilobed (not obvious in illustrations), posterior lobe ca. 0.3× length of anterior lobe, latter oblong-ovate, densely spined in posterior 0.4, signum represented by sclerotized band extending nearly entire length of corpus, curved at anterior end.

Types. Holotype ♂. USA: OREGON: Lane Co.: 3 mi SW Dunes City, 24 Jun 1975, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 75F28, em: 29 Jul–10 Aug 1975, J. Powell & P. Opler ( EME).

Paratypes (52♂, 66♀). USA: CALIFORNIA: Alameda Co.: Strawberry Canyon, 17 Apr 1973, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 73D4, em: 5 Jun–31 Aug 1973 (11♂, 8♀), J. Powell (EME). Marin Co.: Mill Valley, 12 Jul 1965 (1♀), P. Arnaud (CAS). Inverness, Kehoe Rd, 75 m, 24–31 Oct 2001 (1♀), J. Powell (EME). Inglenook Fen, 30 Apr 1973, JAP 73D46, larva on Garrya elliptica , em: 29 May 1973 (1♀), 15 Jun 1973 (1♂), E. Schlinger (EME). Hills N Alpine Lake, 1100’, 17 Apr 1970 (1♀), larva on Garrya elliptica, JAP 70D43, J. Powell (EME). Mendocino Co.: MacKerricher Beach, 5 mi W Fort Bragg, 1–2 May 1977, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 77E6, em: 11–25 Jul 1977 (4♂, 1♀), J. Powell (EME). Monterrey Co.: Big Creek Reserve (UCNRS), 11–13 Apr 1985, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 85D21, em: 6 Jun–10 Aug 1985 (7♂, 3♀), J. Powell & J. De Benedictis (EME). Big Creek, 26–28 May 1987, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 87E12, em: 13 Jun 1987 (2♀), J. Powell (EME). Big Creek Reserve, Devil’s Creek, 7–8 Jul 1986 (1♂), J. Brown & D. Wagner (EME). Big Creek Reserve, Brunette Creek, 3–5 May 1991, larva on Garrya elliptica, JAP 91E49, em: 3 Jul 1991 (1♀), Y. Hsu & J. Powell (EME). Nevada Co.: Wolf Mtns., 5 mi SW Grass Valley, 2200–2500’, 5 May 1980, larvae on Garrya, JAP 80E16, em: 20 Jul–20 Aug 1980 (4♀), J. Powell (EME). Plumas Co.: Plumas-Eureka State Park, 27 Jul 1968 (14♂, 21♀), at light, J. Powell, USNM slides 154,758, 154,759, EME slides 2740, 2741 (EME). Johnsville, 28 Jul 1965 (1♀), J. Buckett (EME). San Benito Co.: Clear Creek, 3 airline mi SW New Idria, 24 Apr 1964, larvae on Garrya fremontii, JAP 64D7, em: Jun–Jul 1964 (4♂, 5♀), J. Powell (EME). OREGON: Lane Co.: 3 mi SW Dunes City, 24 Jun 1975, larvae on Garrya elliptica, JAP 75F28, em: 29 Jul–10 Aug 1975 (8♂, 10♀), J. Powell & P. Opler (EME). 9 mi S Florence, 5 Jun 1942, r.f. terminal leaves of Garrya elliptica, Lot No 42-3577, [no emergence date] (1♂, 6♀), “thru J. Schuh” (USNM).

Additional material examined. COLOMBIA: Valle de Medellin, Jan 1942 (4♂, 4♀), Lot No 42-7298, F. Gallego M., on leaves of Comphrena [sic.] globosa, USNM slides 95,298, 95,297, 154,760 (USNM). USA: ARIZONA: Cochise Co., Paradise, 8–15 Jul [no year] (1♀) (USNM). Mohave Co. [no locality data], 8–15 Aug [no year] (1♂) (USNM). CALIFORNIA: Del Norte Co.: Grassy Flat Campground, E of Gasquet, 20 Aug 1975 (1♂), J. Powell (EME). Los Angeles Co.: Ranch, 2.5 mi SSW Valyermo, 4800′, 2 Aug 1959 (1♀), 14 Aug 1964 (1♂), N. McFarland (LACM). [San Bernardino Co.], Cajon Valley, bred from manzanita Arctostaphylos , 24 Jul 1933 (2♀), 17 Aug 1933 (1♀), C. Dammers (LACM). Santa Barbara Co.: 2 mi S White Oaks Stat., 4 May 1969, larva on Garrya sp. , JAP 69E25, em: 18 Jun 1969 (1♂, 1♀), J. Doyen (EME). Figaroa Mtns., 6 Jul 1945 (1♀), C. Kirkwood (EME). Santa Clara Co.: Saratoga, larva on Garrya elliptica , 1 Sep 1963 (2♀), J. Powell (EME).

Distribution and biology. Platphalonidia aenigmana has been recorded from Arizona, California, and Oregon in the U.S.A., and Colombia in South America. In California, it ranges from near sea level to about 750 m elevation, with a single outlier at 1500 m. It has been reared on numerous occasions from Garrya elliptica Dougl. ex Lindl. and less frequently on G. fremontii Torr. ( Garryaceae ) in California and Oregon; there is a series (n = 7) from Colombia reared from Gomphrena globosa L. ( Amaranthaceae ); and three specimens from southern California were reared from Arctostaphylos sp. ( Ericaceae ). In California, larvae have been collected primarily in April and May. Adult capture records and emergence dates extend from June through August, with a very few outliers in October and September, probably representing a single annual generation. Reared specimens from Colombia emerged in January. Most specimens examined were collected as larvae rather than adults, suggesting that the species may not be avidly attracted to light. However, in conflict with this hypothesis, a series of both sexes was collected entirely by light in Plumas County, California.

The pupal exuvium ( Fig. 9 View Figures 7–11 ; n = 6) is typically tortricine, with two bands of spines on the dorsum of abdominal segments 2–8. In most tortricines the anterior band is shorter in length than the posterior band, i.e., it is nearly restricted to the dorsum of each segment, and does not extend much laterally. It is also composed of conspicuously larger spines than the posterior band. In P. aenigmana , and most other Cochylina , the anterior band is as long or longer than the posterior band, extending laterally across the dorsum from spiracle to spiracle on segments 4–7. Both bands (i.e., anterior and posterior) are typically represented by a single linear row of spines in most tortricids; however, in P. aenigmana the anterior band is composed of two rows of spines—a typical row of larger spines and a second irregular row of tiny spines near the intersegmental membrane. Segment 10 is blunt, lacking a cremaster, as in most olethreutines and cochylines, and bears 15 small hook-tipped setae.

Etymology. The specific epithet, aenigmana , is from the Latin aenigma (a puzzle or riddle), and refers to the dif-