Abstract
Alasea, new genus, is described and illustrated. As currently defined, Alasea is monotypic with the single species A. corniculata, n. sp., from Heredia, Limón, and Puntarenas provinces in Costa Rica. The new genus is assigned to the subfamily Choreutinae based on morphological and molecular data. As in other choreutines, Alasea has a bluntly pointed forewing and hindwing (in Brenthiinae the wings are obtuse); the basal segment of the labial palpus is parallel-sided (in Brenthiinae it is narrowed basally); and the basal flagellomeres of the antenna are heavily scaled (in Brenthiinae such scaling is never present). The immature stages and the biology of A. corniculata are unknown. Additionally, the terminology and homology of genitalic characters used in descriptions of Choreutidae are reviewed, and suggestions for more consistent usage are provided.References
Arita, Y. (1987) Taxonomic studies of the Glyphipterygidae and Choreutidae (Lepidoptera) of Japan. Transactions of Shikoku Entomological Society, 18, 1–244.
Brown, J.W. and Nishida, K. (2003) First record of larval endophagy in Euliini (Tortricidae: Euliini): A new species of Seticosta from Costa Rica. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 56, 113–120.
Colwell, R. and Longino, J. 2008. Project ALAS, Arthropods of La Selva. Website: http://viceroy.eeb.uconn.edu/ALAS/ALAS.html. Accessed 27 October 2008.
Common, I.F.B. (1990) Moths of Australia. E.J. Brill and Melbourne University Press, 535 pp., 32 pls.
Danilevsky, A.S. & Kuznetsov, V.I. (1989) Family Choreutidae. In: Medvedev, G.S. (Ed.), Keys to the insects of the European part of the USSR, vol. IV, Lepidoptera, part II. Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp. 137-181.
Diakonoff, A. (1986) Glyphipterygidae auctorum sensu lato: (Glyphiterygidae sensu Meyrick, 1913); Tortricidae: Hilarographini, Choreutidae, Brachodidae (partim), Immidae and Glyphipterygidae. Microlepidoptera Palaearctica 7. G. Braun, Druckerei und Verlage, Karlsruhe, 436 pp. + Plates Volume (175 pls.).
Erwin, T.L. (2004) The beetle family Carabidae of Costa Rica and Panamá: Descriptions of four new genera and six new species with notes on their way of life (Insecta: Coleoptera). Zootaxa 537, 1–18.
Heppner, J.B. (1991a) Tortyra metalmark moths of Florida (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). Tropical Lepidoptera, 2, 73–78.
Heppner, J.B. (1991b) Hemerophila metalmark moths of Florida (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). Tropical Lepidoptera, 2, 79–84.
Heppner, J.B. & Duckworth, W.D. (1981) Classification of the superfamily Sesioidea (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 314, 1–144.
Janzen, D. and Hallwachs, W. 2008. Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) northwestern Costa Rica. website: http://janzen.sas.upenn.edu/. Accessed: 27 October 2008.
Klots, A.B. (1970) Lepidoptera. In: Tuxen, S. L. (Ed.), Taxonomist’s Glossary of Genitalia in Insects. Munksgaard, Cophenhagen, pp. 115–130.
Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.) (1998) Handbook of Zoology IV (35). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 491 pp.
Rota, J. (2003) Choreutidae (Lepidoptera) of La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica): Taxonomy, Ultrastructure of Immature Stages, and Life History. Master’s Thesis, University of Connecticut.
Zimmerman, E.C. (1978) Insects of Hawaii. Volume 9. Microlepidoptera. Part 1. Monotrysia, Tineoidea, Tortricoidea, Gracillarioidea, Yponomeutoidea, and Alucitoidea. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, 881 pp.