Vulcaniella pontica

Vulcaniella pontica is a butterfly (moth ) from the family of the splendor butterfly ( Cosmopterigidae ). The species name is derived from Pontus, the ancient, Latinized name of the Black Sea.

Features

The moths reach a wingspan of 11 mm. The head is white. The first segment of labial palps is ocher brown. The second segment has a white Subapikalfleck on the outside. The third segment is white and has a broken, dark side line. The apex is white.

The sensors shine dark brown and curled white in the first two thirds. In the last third, there are five dark brown segments, each consisting of three segments. They are separated by a white segment or white and brown rings. The sensor base member shines dorsally dark brown and has a white line at the front and a white spot. Ventral it is white.

The thorax and tegulae shining dark golden brown and are lined rear wide white. The thorax is front opening with some white scales. The legs shining dark brown, the tibiae of the front legs have two white Basalflecke and white medial and Apikalringe. The tibiae of the middle and hind legs have white basal, medial and Apikalringe. The tarsi of the front legs have two medial bands, the tarsi of the middle and hind legs have white Apikalringe. The Spurs are ocher white.

The forewing shining dark golden brown. A slanting outward, raised, silvery binding is located at 1 /6 of the forewing length. It runs from the Costa loader to above the anal fold out. It is white on the Costa loader and is interrupted by the anal fold. To subscribe to the forewings are also six silver, raised spots. Two are located on the Costa loaders, the first is before the half wing length, the second at 3/ 4 of the forewing length. The latter ranges with a white line from the Costa loader to the Frans shed. On the wing inner edge there are three spots. The first is 1 /3 of the forewing length of the anal fold. The second is equidistant from the two Costalflecken. The third is located on the interior angles outside the third Costalflecks. At the apex there is a white spot, the fringe scales are grayish brown. The hind wings shine light gray and are brownish towards apex.

The abdomen shines light gray dorsally and is tinted ocher. The first segment is almost white. The last segment is the back narrow banded white, ventrally it is dark gray and rear wide white banded. The after tuft is white.

In the males the right brachium broad, towards apex rounded and hook-shaped. The left brachium tapering apically and has a sharp point. The Valven are long, relatively wide at the base and widest. The right Valvella is shorter than the distal portion of aedeagus, narrow at the base and widest in the middle. Dorsoventral it is wide and flat, the apex is rounded. The left Valvella is small and triangular, the apex is pointed. The aedeagus is large and bulbous. The distal portion is tapered and has a sharp point.

The genital armature of females has not been described.

Similar Species

Vulcaniella pontica similar Vulcaniella anatolica, differs from this species but by the coloration of the last third of the sensors and the wide white hem at the posterior margin of the thorax. Vulcaniella kabulensis similar Vulcaniella pontica, but differs by the dark brown head and dark brown neck tufts.

Dissemination

Vulcaniella pontica is native to Asia Minor (Turkey).

Biology

The biology of the species is unknown. Moths were collected in early July.

Documents

• Cosmopterigidae
• Splendor falter