Micrerethista eustena Diakonoff 1955

Micrerethista eustena Diakonoff

Micrerethista eustena Diakonoff, 1955:133.

MALE (Figure 135).—Forewing length 7–15 mm.

Head: As described for subfamily; scales 2–4 dentate. Antenna 54–60-segmented, 0.4 the length of forewing; dorsum of basal white, lightly irrorated with fuscous; apical brown; slightly bifasciculate over basal ; sensilla trichodea elongate, 1.0–1.5× the diameter of flagellomere in length.

Thorax: Variably marked, usually white irrorated with fuscous, sometimes heavily suffused with dark brown. Forewing slender, usually with largely white to light gray costal area with up to five costal spots on distal fourth; caudal of wing including discal cell darker gray with scattered, small, often transverse spots of fuscous, frequently imparting a barred pattern; a small to large, sometimes diffused, fuscous spot usually evident at apex of discal cell; termen sometimes bordered with fuscous but less so than in M. nigrapex; fringe often suffused with dark brown to fuscous. Hindwing light gray, usually with pale golden brown luster. Legs as described for subfamily.

Abdomen: As described for subfamily except coremata absent on A8; pale grayish white dorsally, white ventrally.

FEMALE.—Forewing length 7–15.5 mm.

Head: Similar to male in color. Antenna similar to male in color and segmentation but with flagellomeres filiform and with sensilla trichodea short, less than diameter of flagellomere in length.

MAP 5.—Distribution of Micrerethista eustena.

Thorax: Similar to male in color pattern. Frenulum consisting of three bristles.

Abdomen: As described for genus; similar to male in color.

MALE GENITALIA (Figures 191–193, 205–210).—Anterior margin of vinculum concave before tapering to short saccus, the latter ~0.14 the length of valva. Valva with dorsal lobe elongate and slender, ~0.6 the length of valva; greatest width of lobe at base ~0.25 its length; ventral lobe ~0.61 the length of dorsal lobe. Aedoeagus with 6–8 elongate subapical spines arising laterally and curving ventrad (Figures 192, 209); basal midventral keel well-developed, ~0.29 the length of aedoeagus; base of aedoeagus cylindrical; ejaculatory duct spiraled, with 6–14 tight coils.

FEMALE GENITALIA (Figures 327, 328).—Caudal margin of ostium nearly truncate. Antrum subquadrate, nearly as broad as long, tapering slightly anteriorly, then truncate, very short, length less than 0.04 the length of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae with a dense lining of spicules from caudal into corpus bursae; spicules restricted to one side of ductus from midlength to corpus.

HOLOTYPE.—; INDONESIA: Sigi Camp, 1500 m, Irian Jaya, (RNHL).

FLIGHT PERIOD.—Adults have been collected in every month of the year except November, indicating that this species flies throughout the year, at least at some localities.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 5).—Known only from New Guinea, at elevations from ~365 to nearly 2600 m.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—INDONESIA: Irian Jaya: Camp 1, 1200 ft [365 m], Sabron, Cyclops Mts: 1, 1, 15 May 1936, L. Cheesman, slide BM 2680; Camp 2, 2000 ft [600 m]: 2, Jun 1936, slide BM 2225; 5, 5, Jul 1936, L. Cheesman, slides BM 2220, 2221, 2238, 2662, 2681, 2683, (BMNH). Sigi Camp, 1500 m: 1, (holotype), 1, (allotype), 19 Feb 1939, L. Toxopeus, slides 1148, 1149, (RNHL). Waigeu Camp Nok, 2500 ft [760 m]: 3, 1, Apr 1938, at light, (BMNH). PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Central District: Mt. Tafa, 8°38′S, 147°11′E, 8500 ft [2590 m]: 1 ( [sic] syntype of M. mochlacma), Mar 1934, L. Cheesman, slide BMNH 2529, (BMNH). Eastern Highlands District: Daulo Pass, 8000 ft [2440 m]: 1, 22 Jul 1974, E. Classey, (BMNH). Mt. Michael, Frigano, 7000 ft [2130 m]: 1, 26–29 Jun 1974, slides USNM 31185, 31186, (USNM). Madang District: Gabumi, 2000 ft [610 m], Finisterre Range: 1, 1, 23 Jun-21 Jul 1958, W. Brandt, slide DRD 3856, (ANIC). Morobe District: Morobe, Biaro Road, 2000 m: 6, 1, 25 Sep 1992, V. Becker, PNG 2332, (VOB, USNM). Wau, 1200 m: 1, 1–10 Aug 1983, S. & P. Miller, montane forest, (USNM); 1, 8–14 Dec 1976, Hevel & Dietz, Mer. vapor light, slide USNM 29890, (USNM); 1, 5 Jun 1962, J, Sedlaek, Mer. vapor trap, (BPBM); 1000 m: 2, 1, 17–30 Sep 1992, V. Becker, PNG 1014, (VOB, USNM); 6 km NE Wau Airport, S slope Mt. Missim, 1050 m: 1, 22 Feb 1990, Orsak & Somp, at black light, slide DRD 3803, (BPBM). Northern District: Augobunga [?Augabunga] River, affl, of St. Joseph River, 8°50′S, 146°34′E, 6000 ft [1830 m] upwards: 1, Nov 1904-Feb 1905, (BMNH). Biagi, Mambre [Mambare] River, 8°05′S, 146°34′E, 5000 ft [1520 m]: 1, 1 Apr 1906, A.S. Meek, (BMNH). Hydrographer Mts., 8°55′S, 148°20′E: 2, Feb 1918, Eichhorn Bros., slide BMNH 2222, (BMNH); 2500 ft [760 m]: 2, Jan-May 1918, Eichhorn Bros., slides DRD 3870, 3999, (CU). Southern Highlands District: Ambus Lodge, 6700 ft [2040 m], near Tari: 2, 2–11 Jan 1986, D. Agassiz, slide BM 27593, (BMNH). Bosavi, 2300 ft [700 m]: 1, 6 Jan 1986, D. Agassiz, (BMNH). Lake Kutubu, 2800 ft [850 m]: 1, 15 Jan 1986, D. Agassiz, slide USNM 30830, (USNM). Tari, 5300 ft [1620 m]: 1, 17 Jan 1986, D. Agassiz, (BMNH). Tari, near: 1, 11 Jan 1986, D. Agassiz, (BMNH). West Sepik District: Telefomin (Feramin), 5°8′S, 141°31′E, 4700 ft [1430 m]: 1, 2 May-18 Jun 1959, W. Brandt, slide DRD 3859, (ANIC). Western Highlands District: Jimi River, 4700 ft [1430 m]: 1, 2, 16 Jul-21 Sep 1961, W. Brandt, slides DRD 3795, 3796, 3868, (ANIC). Kandep, 8000–8500 ft [2440–2590 m]: 3, 23 Dec 1961–14 Feb 1962, W. Brandt, slide DRD 3857, (ANIC).