Asymphorodes mediostriatus Clarke 1986

Asymphorodes mediostriatus

Alar expanse 11–12 mm.

Labial palpus light buff; third segment fuscous anteriorly. Antenna scape light buff; flagellum brown basally shading to fuscous distally. Head light buff, side tufts light orange yellow. Thorax light orange yellow; tegula fuscous; thorax of male with thornlike processes from metascutum. Forewing ground color light orange yellow; from base to apex a blackish fuscous longitudinal stripe; on base of costa a blackish fuscous mark, and similarly colored marks on midcosta and on costa before apex; in some specimens the basal mark and the one on midcosta are joined and confluent with the median longitudinal line; on dorsum a few blackish fuscous scales in some specimens; in middle of cell a discal spot is sometimes indicated by a ring of light buff scales around a blackish fuscous spot; underside of forewing blackish fuscous; cilia light grayish fuscous at tornus, light orange yellow toward apex. Hindwing grayish fuscous; cilia slightly lighter. Foreleg light buff; femur with blackish fuscous dash on outer side; tibia and tarsal segments blackish fuscous on outer side; midleg and hindleg light buff; hind femur with grayish suffusion distally on outer side. Abdomen fuscous dorsally, buff ventrally; 6th tergum, 7th tergum and sternum, and 8th sternum of male strongly modified (Figure 194c–e).

Male genitalia slide USNM 24797. Harpe broad basally, abruptly narrowed at neck; neck very short; remainder of harpe sickle-shaped; cucullus slightly expanded. Brachia broad basally, abruptly narrowed and very weak, terminating in a small hook; right brachium slightly longer than left. Tegumen shorter than broad. Aedeagus relatively short, slightly longer than tegumen; manica with a long, curved dorsal process clothed with setae distally.

Female genitalia slide USNM 24798. Ostium small, round, at the base of a peculiar cavity on the left side of the 7th sternum. Inception of ductus seminalis from posterior end of bursa copulatrix. Ductus bursae slender, about half the length of bursa copulatrix, sclerotized on posterior half. Bursa copulatrix membranous. Signa two rugose, narrow plates.

HOLOTYPE.—USNM 100819.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Nuku Hiva, Tunoa Ridge, 2900 ft (884 m).

DISTRIBUTION.—Nuku Hiva.

FOOD PLANT.—Unknown.

Described from the holotype (23 Jan 1968), 5 and 5 paratypes as follows: Nuku Hiva, Tunoa Ridge, 2900 ft (884 m), 23 Jan 1968, 5, 3; Tapuaooa, 2500 ft (762 m), 30 Jan 1968, 2.

This is one of the few species in the genus that have signa, an unusual feature. It is similar in coloring to semiluteus, new species, but is a larger moth and easily distinguishable on genitalia.

Asymphorodes mediostriatus is a moth of the family Agonoxenidae. It was described by John Frederick Gates Clarke in 1986. It is found in French Polynesia.