Argentiliana basipallida Brown 2024, new species

Argentiliana basipallida Brown, new species LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8B49DCCB-DB87-47B8-91AD-3FB627547236 (Figs. 1, 39) Diagnosis. Argentiliana basipallida can be distinguished from other Euliina by the features listed above in the diagnosis of the genus. The forewing pattern in particular is distinct among all Euliina (Fig. 1). Description. Male. Unknown. Female. Head: Vertex scales mostly white mixed with some pale tan and gray with a pair of mostly white scale patches posteriorly; frons scales mostly pale tan, with white scales laterally; antenna with scales on pedicel and scape mostly white, scaling on flagellomeres mostly pale tan; labial palpus with scales on outer surface bronzy gray, with some white near base, inner surface mostly white. Thorax: Dorsum scales from anterior to posterior as follows: a narrow lateral band of dark brown scales, a narrow lateral band of white scales, a broad lateral band of pale tan scales mixed with white, metathoracic tuft scales pale orange, white-tipped; venter mostly white, with darker scales on legs. Forewing length 9.0‒ 9.5 mm (n = 3); forewing pattern with patches of gray and brown scaling, with irregular, faint, narrow, dark brown to black transverse lines; median fascia and apical region slightly darker gray brown, a pair of narrow, dark brown lines bordering median fascia; conspicuous white region in the basal 0.33, with contrasting, dark brown, linear dash along costa; brown thumb-shaped patch from hind margin (Fig. 1); fringe scales dense in basal 0.5, brown, sparser in outer 0.5, pale brown. Underside brown, paler basally, with faint trace of upperside markings. Hindwing scaling pale brown, slightly darker along outer margin, paler in costal region; fringe with dense, short brown scales in basal 0.4, longer scales sparser, pale brown in outer 0.6. Underside nearly uniform pale brown. Abdomen: Dorsum and venter with pale tan scaling. Genitalia (Fig. 39) as described for genus. Types. Holotype ♀, Argentina, Neuquén, Chapelco-Techos, 1400 m, 28 Jan 1982, M. Gentili, USNM slide 145,520 (USNM). Paratypes (2♀). Argentina: Neuquén, Lago Escondido, 950 m, 5 Mar 1986 (1♀), M. Gentili, USNM slide 154,800 (USNM). Chile: Osorno, P.N. Puyehue, Lago El Toro, [24 m], 7‒8 Feb 1978 (1♀), C. M. & O. S. Flint (USNM). Distribution and biology. Argentiliana basipallida is known from females only. It has been recorded from Neuquén Province (northwestern Patagonia) in Argentina and Osorno Province in Chile, from near sea level to 1400 m elevation. Adults have been collected in January (n = 1), February (n = 1), and March (n = 1). Nothing is known of the life history. Etymology. The specific epithet “basipallida ” refers to the white area at the base of the forewing.