Promalactis abortiva Wang, 2024

Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 1-58 : 23-24

Promalactis abortiva Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 23 , 56 )

Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Khao Yai NP , 800 m, 22–25.II.1988, leg. J.D. & D.J. Bradley H. Kuroko, A. Lewvanich, slide No. NHMUK010317014 .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished by the absence of the gnathos, the medially convex costa with densely clustered setae, and the inverted sub-triangular juxta.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 23 ). Forewing length 4.5 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons brown (worn). Labial palpus with second segment black on outer surface, dark brown on inner surface; third segment black except white at apex. Antenna missing.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula dark brown. Forewing brownish yellow; markings white edged with black scales: costal spot sub-rectangular, extending from distal 1/3 to above posterior angle of cell; basal streak from dorsum oblique inward to base of fold; antemedian streak from basal 3/5 of dorsum to basal 2/5 of anterior margin of cell, evenly wide, parallel with basal streak; tornal spot rectangular, extending to posterior angle of cell, right below costal spot; apical spot small. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur brown ventrally, tibia with a tuft of white scales apically; midleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; hindleg lost.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 56 ). Uncus and gnathos reduced. Tegumen slightly widened posteriorly, concave at middle on posterior margin. Valva wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex; costa convex and with densely clustered setae medially; sacculus band-like, densely setose. Vinculum greatly extended, sclerotized; saccus slightly narrowed to pointed apex, shorter than valva. Juxta inverted triangular, V-shaped posteriorly, narrowed anteriorly to pointed end. Phallus long, approx. 3 times length of valva, with weak pleats running from middle to distal 1/4; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin abortivus, referring to the reduced uncus and gnathos of the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 17–23. Adults of Promalactis spp. 17. P. vulgaris sp. nov.; 18. P. apicibilobata sp. nov.; 19. P. apiciserrulata sp. nov.; 20. P. bacilliforma sp. nov.; 21. campanimorpha sp. nov.; 22. P. ciliavalva sp. nov.; 23. P. abortiva sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 52–57. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 52. P. apiciserrulata sp. nov.; 53. P. bacilliforma sp. nov.; 54. P. campanimorpha sp. nov.; 55. P. ciliavalva sp. nov.; 56. P. abortiva sp. nov.; 57. P. magnisaccata sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 52–53, 55–57 = 0.2 mm; 54 = 0.5 mm.