Nemophora conjugata, Liao & Hirowatari & Yagi & Wang & Wang & Huang, 2023

Liao, Cheng-Qing, Hirowatari, Toshiya, Yagi, Sadahisa, Wang, Min, Wang, Xing & Huang, Guo-Hua, 2023, The fauna of the family Adelidae (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Adeloidea) from China, Zootaxa 5348 (1), pp. 1-152 : 45

(44) Nemophora assamensis Kozlov, 1997

(Plates V-5, XI-1, XVI-1, XXXI-2, 8)

Nemophora assamensis Kozlov, 1997e: 140 , figs. 2, 6, 13–17 (TL: India, Assam, Margherita; BMNH); Kozlov 2023c: 19, figs. 16, 78 ( India).

Diagnosis. This species can be characterized by the incomplete central fascia of the forewing forming two large triangular yellow spots. In the male genitalia, this species can also be characterized by the short and near trapezoid valva with a narrowly pointed apex; the wide and rounded anterior part of the vinculum; and the wide and short arrow-head of juxta.

Description of female. Forewing 7.9–8.2 mm, wing expanse 16.0–17.0 mm. Antennae 8.5–9.0 mm, ca. 1.1–1.2 × as long as forewing; basal half stout, densely covered with black thick scales; apical half slender and white.

Female genitalia: Ovipositor pointed with straight ventral margin. Apophyses posteriores and anteriores long and slender, almost equal in length. Vestibulum membranous, dorsally with trapezoid sclerotized lamella. Bursa copulatrix slender, membranous.

Specimens examined. [Hunan] 1♁, Shuangjiangkou, Jintongshan National Nature Reserve, Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, Shaoyang City, 2021.V.28–29, C.Q. Liao leg.; 1♀, Shuangjiangkou, Jintongshan National Nature Reserve, Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, Shaoyang City , 2021.V.20, C.Q. Liao leg. ; 2♁, Shuangjiangkou, Jintongshan National Nature Reserve, Chengbu Miao Autonomous County, Shaoyang City , 2020.V.7, C.Q. Liao leg. ; [Guangdong] 1♁ 1♀, Yunkaishan Nature Reserve, Xinyi City , 2021.V.1–4, Z.H. Ye, J.J. Liu & Z.Z. Wang leg. ; 1♁, Nankunshan National Forest Park, Longmen County, Huizhou City, 2006.III.28, M. Wang leg. ; [Guangxi] 1♀, Maoershan National Nature Reserve, Guilin City , 2007.V.1–5, L.S. Chen leg. ; [Hainan] 1♁ 1♀, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve , Ledong Li Autonomous County, 2007.III.27, M. Wang & L.S. Chen leg. ( HUNAU) .

Distribution. China (Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan); India.

Remarks. This species was described only by the male characters in the original paper by Kozlov (1997e). The female adults of this species are reported for the first time in this study. Recently, Kozlov (2023c) recorded it from Yunnan based on a series of photographs online. This species has a wide distribution range, from Assam in the west, Guangdong in the east and Hainan in the south. On Mt. Jintongshan, we observed the flower-visiting behavior of this species and collected some adult specimens by netting daytime and light trapping at night (Plates XIX-2, 8). In addition, we can also collect this species by insect net in the day time (Plate XXXI-8) and by light trap at midnight (Plate XXXI-2).

DNA barcode of one N. assamensis specimen is generated, and this sequence is closest to N. conjugata sp. nov. (pairwise distances: 0.046).