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| Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees, in Sterling, Cadet, Beasley et Lees, 2024 DOI: 10.3897/nl.47.130138 |
Abstract
A new species of Sesiidae, Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees, 2024 is described from adult specimens, pupal exuviae and larval borings which were accidentally transported to South Wales, United Kingdom. DNA barcoding and morphological evidence shows that this species is native to the Neotropics, where it feeds in the seedpods of the leguminous tree, Mora excelsa Benth. (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) and that it is related to a group of seed-feeding species of clearwing moths within the genus Carmenta Edwards, 1881, naturally occurring in the Neotropics and southern Nearctic, although C. mimosa Eichlin & Passoa, 1984 has been introduced in Australia and elsewhere as a biological agent.
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| Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov.; 11. Holotype ♀ dorsal; 12. Holotype ♀ ventral; 13. External diagnostic characters of C. brachyclados; 14. External diagnostic characters of C. whitelyi; 15. Paratype of C. brachyclados ♀ genitalia slide number NHMUK014332461; 16. Paratype of C. brachyclados pre-genital abdomen. Scale bars: 10 mm (11, 12, 16); 1 mm (15). |
Carmenta brachyclados Sterling & Lees, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Hindwing with branch of M3 and CuA1 very short (1/10th of distance between edge of discal cell and termen), forewing with discal spot narrow and tapering below M3 towards dorsum, exterior transparent area elongate, with moderately convex outer margin, apical area predominantly black, reaching close to branch of R4 and R5, entire area between stalks of R4 and R5 scaled black (Figs 11–13). Similar to C. whitelyi (See Similar species) but differs in length of branch of M3 and CuA1 in hindwing and in shape of discal spot and exterior transparent area (Figs 13, 14). Female genitalia with sclerotised section of ductus bursae long and thin, ductus seminalis arising at juncture of sclerotised and membranous section of ductus bursae (Fig. 15).
Etymology: The specific name is derived from brachys (gr.) short; klados (gr.) a branch. The species is named after the characteristic short branch of M3 and CuA1 in the hindwing.
Mark J. Sterling, Daisy T. Cadet, Jordan Beasley and David C. Lees. 2024. A Success for Community Science: Carmenta brachyclados sp. nov. (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae, Synanthedonini), A Clearwing Moth from Guyana discovered with its hostplant indoors in Wales (United Kingdom). Nota Lepidopterologica. 47: 201-218. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/nl.47.130138
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2024/october/new-species-of-tropical-moth-from-guyana-discovered-in-port-talbot.html
