Transtilliana biloba Brown 2024, new species

Transtilliana biloba Brown, new species LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F579EA57-A235-41AC-B9A5-9F4EF49F852C (Figs. 3, 4, 22, 41) Diagnosis. Transtilliana is described as monotypic. Hence, the species T. biloba can be distinguished from other species by details given in the diagnosis of the genus above. The combination of a somewhat narrow valva with a concave outer margin, and a bilobed transtilla are unique to this species. Description. Head: Vertex and frons scaling uniformly pale gray-brown; antenna with dorsal scales cream; scales of labial palpus pale gray brown with white tips on outer surface, cream on inner surface. Thorax: Dorsum scaling pale gray-brown, tegula slightly darker brown. Legs tan mixed with white, with conspicuous cream annulations at junctions of segments. Forewing length 7.5‒8.5 mm (n = 5) in male, 9.0 mm (n = 1) in female; forewing ground color pale tan with scattered small brown specks nearly throughout; distinct brown dot at apex of discal cell bordered basally by isolated spot of ground color; costal 0.4 of wing variably overscaled with darker brown except for small, oblique, subrectangular patch of ground color just before mid-wing and similar, smaller, less defined patch ca. 0.6 distance from wing base; termen with row of small, faint brown dots, sometimes forming contiguous narrow band; costa with four small, weak, white strigulae evenly distributed from mid-wing to apex; fringe mostly cream with small, evenly spaced patches of pale tan. Forewing underside nearly uniformly brown, with small, cream, costal strigulae of upperside. Hindwing dark grayish brown, darker in outer 0.4, slightly mottled; fringe white. Underside grayish cream, strongly mottled with gray brown. Abdomen: Gray-brown, with variably developed transverse patch of cream scales at junction of each segment. Male genitalia (Fig. 22) as described for genus. Female genitalia (Fig. 41) as described for genus. Types. Holotype ♂, Argentina, Neuquén Province, 41: Lago Lacar, Pucará, 650 m, 26‒27 Dec 1981, Nielsen & Karsholt (NHMD). Paratypes (12♂, 1♀). Argentina: Neuquén Province: 9: Lago Lacar, Pucará, 750 m, 26 Dec 1978 (6♂, 1♀), Mision Cientifica Danesa (NHMD), 41: 650 m, 26‒27 Dec 1981 (4♂), 28‒29 Nov 1981 (1♂), Nielsen & Karsholt (NHMD). Ruca Malen, 40˚37'S, 71˚43'W, 29 Dec 1993 (1♂), C. & O. Flint (USNM). Distribution and biology. This species is recorded only from Neuquén Province, Argentina, at elevations of 650‒ 750 m. All specimens were captured in December. Nothing is known of the life history. Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the bilobed median process of the transtilla.