Pseudopostega apoclina Davis & Stonis 2007

Pseudopostega latifurcata apoclina

ADULT. Figure 224. Length of forewing 2.5–2.8 mm. Small white moth with forewings marked by a dark fuscous, oblique fascia from basal fourth of dorsal margin to middle of costa, and 3, fuscous, subapical costal strigulae. Gnathos of male genitalia broadly furcate as in P. latifurcata latifurcata. Female similar to P. latifurcata latifurcata.

Head: Vestiture white. Scape white; flagellum pale golden brown, ~58–61-segmented. Maxillary palpus white; labial palpus white, with fuscous suffusion laterally.

Thorax: White; anterior margin of tegula with brownish suffusion. Forewing white, with a dark fuscous, oblique fascia from basal fourth of dorsal margin to middle

Map 17. Distribution of New World Pseudopostega latifurcata species group.

of costa; fascia broadest along dorsal margin, sometimes not reaching costa; 3 subapical, fuscous costal strigulae present; strigula 1 short, nearly parallel to costa; second strigula reaching minute black apical spot and continuing past spot as a short tornal strigula; strigula 3 extending distally around apical spot; terminal cilia mostly dull white, with small streak of white scales distad to apical spot; dorsal fringe brown; venter of forewing brown, except for large patch of white over basal half of discal cell. Hindwing and cilia pale brown to gray both dorsally and ventrally. Legs mostly white to cream; foreleg with lateral margins of tibia and tarsus suffused with dark brown; midleg with apices of tarsomeres 1–3 fuscous.

Abdomen: Light golden brown dorsally, white to cream laterally and ventrally.

Male Genitalia: Similar to P. latifurcata latifurcata.

Female Genitalia: Believed similar to P. latifurcata latifurcata (identity of female examined uncertain).

LARVA AND PUPA. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE. ♂; COSTA RICA: GUANACASTE: Estación Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m: Aug 1992, P. Rios, slide DRD 4245 (INBIO).

PARATYPES. COSTA RICA: CARTAGO: Parque Nacional Tapanti, 1650 m: 1 ♂, 27 Apr 2005, K. Nishida, light sheet, slide USNM 33213 (USNM). GUANACASTE: Estación Pitilla, 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 700 m: 1 ♂, 31 Mar–15 Apr 1992, P. Rios, slide USNM 33023 (USNM).

MATERIAL EXAMINED. COSTA RICA: Estación Maritza, Lado O Volcán Orosí, 600 m: 1 ♀, Jul 1990, I curso Microlepidopterologia, slide DRD 4329 (INBIO).

HOST. Unknown.

FLIGHT PERIOD. Adults have been collected in January, March, April, July, and August.

DISTRIBUTION. (Map 17) Known only from Costa Rica at elevations from 50 to 1650 m.

ETYMOLOGY. The subspecific name is derived from the Greek apoklines (leaning, sloping) in reference to the dark brown fascia extending obliquely across the forewing.

DISCUSSION. As discussed under the nominate subspecies, P. latifurcata apoclina is morphologically identical to latifurcata latifurcata except in forewing pattern. The nominate subspecies possesses a large dorsal spot over much of the forewing and is restricted to the West Indies, in contrast to the obliquely fasciate pattern in the Costa Rican latifurcata apoclina.This subspecies is represented by only three male specimens and one female, which has not been included within the type series because its identity remains somewhat questionable.

Because of low sequence recovery of the CO1 gene, resolution of the genetic relationship of P. latifurcata apoclina (only 397 bp sequenced) and latifurcata latifurcata (504 bp) was inconclusive.

The brachybasis group

This group is similar to the divaricata group in the variable development of a bifurcate apex of the gnathos. The base of the gnathos within the brachybasis group, however, is broader and more quadrate in outline with usually lobiform lateral expansions. In some species (e.g., P. protomochla), the lateral lobe is clearly separated from the gnathos, but morphologically may be derived from that tergite. A basal fold may be either absent or poorly to moderately developed. The length of the sacculus ranges from 0.45× to nearly 0.7× the length of the genital capsule. The vinculum varies from V- to broadly U-shaped and usually extends far forward of the base of the valvae. The juxta is either present or absent. Although sequence data (>500 base pairs for CO1) was obtained for only three members of this group (P. beckeri, protomochla, and venticola), these data grouped the three species together as a well-defined clade, with beckeri and protomochla more closely allied to each other than to venticola.