Dichelopa argosphena Meyrick 1935

Dichelopa argosphena Meyrick

Dichelopa argosphena Meyrick, 1934c:343.—Clarke, 1955 [1955–1970]:54.

Male genitalia slide USNM 24613. Harpe very broad basally, costa strongly arched; inner face of harpe clothed with long setae; sacculus moderately sclerotized; cucullus digitate. Gnathos lateral arms forming a “U” terminating in a median point where they meet. Socius elongate, profusely clothed with long setae. Uncus strongly curved ventrad, divided into two long lateral elements, each armed with tiny teeth on inner side. Transtillar lobe elongate, terminating in a cluster of small setae. Vinulum rounded. Tegumen about as long as harpe. Anellus a reniform, sclerotized plate. Aedeagus moderately stout basally, curved gradually, tapering to a slender point; vescia unarmed.

Female genitalia slides USNM 24315, 24333. Ostium very small, round. Sterigma lightly and evenly sclerotized. Antrum slightly sclerotized. Ductus seminalis left lateral, well before antrum. Ductus bursae slender, membranous. Bursa copulatrix membranous. Signum absent.

TYPE.—In the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.

TYPE-LOCALITY.—Hiva Oa, Kaava Ridge, 2460 ft (750 m).

DISTRIBUTION.—Hiva Oa.

Despite the type-locality cited above, the type is labeled “Hivaoa, Marquesas. Kakahopuanui, alt. 2460 feet.” Adamson (1936:44) clearly shows Kaava Ridge, but there is no locality “Kakahopuanui” on it. All other data agree.

We have a male, an exact match for the type, from Mt. Feani, 3400 ft (1036 m), 1 Mar 1968, an extension of Kaava Ridge. In addition, I associate with this male the following specimens: Hiva Oa: Mt. Feani, 3800 ft (1158 m), 20 Feb 1968, 5 and 3400 ft (1036 m), 1 Mar 1968, 2.

The females (15–16 mm) average larger than the males and the costal white spot of fore wing, conspicuous in the males, is mostly obscured by scattered fuscous scales. The series of tiny white spots around apex and termen, so conspicuous in the males, is well preserved in the females. In the females there is a conspicuous pale spot on costa of hindwing absent in the males. The undersides of the wings in both sexes are mottled.

Because of the divided uncus it is obvious that argosphena is most closely related to fulvistrigata of Tahiti and Dichelopa iochorda Meyrick (1926:273) of Rapa.

Dichelopa argosphena is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found on the Marquesas Archipelago in French Polynesia.