Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta (2009) Vol. 2 : 67-75
Description of a new psychid moth, Stichobasis postmeridianus sp. n. from Malta (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) Michael ZERAFA1 & Paul SAMMUT2
ABSTRACT. A previously unrecorded psychid from the Maltese Islands, Stichobasis postmeridianus sp. n. is described. Ovum, larva, larval case, pupa, male and female genitalia and biology of the species are described and illustrated. Data on its life cycle and larval host plants are also included. KEY WORDS. Lepidoptera, Psychidae, Stichobasis postmeridianus sp. n., Maltese Islands INTRODUCTION The genus Stichobasis Kirby, 1892 is represented by two described species. Stichobasis helicinoides Heylaerts, 1879, known from Mt. Parnassus, Greece (type locality), (Heylaerts, 1879), Slovenia (Sauter & HÄttenschwiler, 1996) and doubtfully from southern Russia (Arnscheid, 2004) and the subspecies minimus Rutjan, 1998 is known from Crimea in the Ukraine (Kara-Dagh nature reserve (type locality) (Rutjan, 1998). The second species, Stichobasis mima Bourgogne, 1939, is known from Ghazir (type locality) in Syria (Bourgogne, 1939). The species of the genus Stichobasis are small, dark in colour without any markings. Quite similar in size and general appearance are also species of the genus Reisseronia Sieder, 1956. The two genera can be distinguished by subtle differences. The last 4 - 5 abdominal, dorsal, intersegmental skins of Stichobasis males bear thorn-fields, while Reisseronia species have no such thorn-fields. In the male genitalia the valvae of Stichobasis have a brush-like field of thorns facing towards each other whereas no such brushes are present in Reisseronia species. The new species described here under extends the distribution range of the genus further to the west and for the first time a detailed life-history is provided which was never known for any other Stichobasis spp. MATERIAL AND METHODS The entire life-cycle of the new species was followed in captivity. Photos were taken using a digital camera (Optikam USB) and line drawings were done using both dissecting microscope (Optica Lab 2) and compound microscope (Zeiss Axioscop 2 plus) with drawing tube attachments. The holotype is deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Mdina, Malta. The paratypes have been deposited in the private collections of the authors and in the private collections of Mr Peter Hättenschwiler (Switzerland); Mr Aldo Catania of Zebbug, Malta; Mr 1 2
16, ‘Agape’, Triq l-Imgħażel, Naxxar. NXR 3660. E-mail: family_zerafa@hotmail.com 137, ‘Fawkner/2’, Dingli Road Rabat RBT 9023, Malta. E-mail: farfett@onvol.net
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Anthony Seguna of Naxxar, Malta; Dr Erwin Hauser of Wolfern, Austria; Profs. Dr Willi Sauter of Illnau, Switzerland; Mr Thomas Sobczyk of Hoyerswerda, Germany and Profs. Evgeniy V.Rutjan of Kiev, Ukraine. Paratypes have also been deposited in the following institutions, the Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, USA; INRA, Orleans Forestry Unit, Olivet, France; Naturhistorischen Museum Wien, Austria; the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark and The Natural History Museum, London, UK.
Stichobasis postmeridianus sp. n. Material examined: MALTA: Holotype: Naxxar (35º 54’ 49” N; 14º 26’ 37” E), ex-ova, 13.v.2008, 1 ♂, 114 m., leg. M. Zerafa; Paratypes 102 ♂♂, 59 ♀♀: Naxxar (35º 54’ 49” N; 14º 26’ 37” E,), 6.v.1988, 1 ♂, 114 m., leg. A. Zerafa, same locality, ex-ova, 23.iv - 23.v.2008, 6 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, same data but 3.iv-11.vi.2009, 63 ♂♂, 37 ♀♀, leg. M. Zerafa; Baħrija, Fomm ir-Riħ (35º 54’ 11” N; 14º 21’ 10” E), 31.iv.2001, 1 ♂, 120 m., leg. M. Zerafa; Birguma (35º 55’ 18” N; 14º 26’ 50” E), 3.v.2006, 1 ♂, 91 m., leg. M. Zerafa; Għajn Tuffieħa, Fawwara (35º 51’ 37” N; 14º 22’ 53” E), 4.v.2006, 1 ♂, 214 m., leg. M. Zerafa; Buskett (35º 51’ 33” N; 14º 23’ 59” E), 2-15.v.2007, 9 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 213 m., same data but 8-22.v.2009, 10 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀, leg. M. Zerafa; Mosta, Wied il-Għasel (35º 54’ 33” N; 14º 25’ 32” E), 1-14.v.2007, 8 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 61 m., same data but 10.v.2008, 1 ♂, leg. M. Zerafa; Dingli (35º 51’ 37” N; 14º 22’ 53” E), 9-18.v.2008, 2 ♀♀, 214 m., leg. M. Zerafa; Qrendi, Maqluba area (35º 50’ 5” N; 14º 27’ 30” E), 14.iv.2001, 1 ♂, 99 m [genitalia preperation by Peter Hättenschwiler No. 2559], leg. D. Magro; Besides the above type-series, bags which were either empty or failed to eclose were collected from Wied Anġlu in Għargħur (35º 55’ 27” N; 14º 27’ 7” E, 114 m.)
Figure 1 - Stichobasis postmeridianus sp. n. adult male.