The discovery of megalota in the neotropics, with a revision of the new world species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutini)

Abstract

Megalota Diakonoff, previously known from the Indoaustralian Region (India, Sri Lanka, New Guinea, and Australia), Madagascar, and Africa, is reported from the Neotropics for the first time. Three previously described New World species (i.e., Megalota submicans (Walsingham), n. comb.; M. delphinosema (Walsingham), n. comb.; and M. plenana (Walker), n. comb.) were concealed within incorrect generic assignments or as "unplaced" species (i.e., lacking contemporary generic assignments). Twenty-one new species are described and illustrated: M. synchysis (TL: Venezuela), M. peruviana (Peru), M. aquilonaris (Mexico), M. vulgaris (Costa Rica), M. cacaulana (Brazil), M. macrosocia (Ecuador), M. ochreoapex (Costa Rica), M. spinulosa (Costa Rica), M. simpliciana (Costa Rica), M. jamaicana (Jamaica), M. ricana (Costa Rica), M. ceratovalva (Venezuela), M. bicolorana (Costa Rica), M. longisetana (Costa Rica), M. deceptana (Costa Rica), M. crassana (Costa Rica), M. gutierrezi (Costa Rica), M. chamelana (Mexico), M. beckeri (Brazil), M. flintana (Brazil), and M. pastranai (Argentina). Males of the genus are characterized by three distinctive features of the genitalia: the uncus consists of a pair of greatly expanded, flattened, variably round or square lobes, densely covered with spines and setae; the valvae are narrow with an elongate, apically spined process arising from the base of the costa; and the juxta is membranous with a narrowly sclerotized U- or J-shaped posterior edge. Five species have been reared from Croton spp. (Euphorbiaceae) in Costa Rica, and this is consistent with a single record of this host for an Australian species of Megalota.