Promalactis similidierli 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 : 29

Promalactis similidierli Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 29 , 62 , 79 )

Type material. Nepal: Holotype ♂, Godawari , Kathmandu Dist., 5600 m, 24.V.–6.VI.1983, leg. Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317068 .

Paratypes. Nepal: 1♂, Kakani , Kathmandu Dist., 6800 m, 1–2.VI.1983, leg. Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317067 ; 3♂, mixed Schima-Castanopsis for., Phulchoki, 1750–1950 m, 27.V.1984, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317071 ; 1♀, mixed Schima-Castanopsis for., Phulchoki, 1750–1950 m, 19.VI.1984, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317069 ; 1♂, oak-laurel forest, Phulchoki , 2000–2500 m, 3.VII.1984, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317066 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. dierli Lvovsky, 2000 in male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the costal part of the left valva produced into a distal process that is 1/6 length of the costal part and the costal part of the right valva with a hollow structure bearing a hairy ovate process before rounded apex. In the latter species, the distal process of the left costal part is 2/5 of its length, the distal process of the right costal part is digitate and longitudinally bears a wide line of dense setae distally.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 29 ). Forewing length 5.5–7.5 mm.

Head. Vertex snowy white, frons pale greyish brown, occiput ochreous brown. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous yellow on outer surface, yellow on inner surface; third segment black, white apically. Antennal scape white; flagellum black, with white annuli dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula pale ochreous brown. Forewing ochreous yellow; markings white, edged with dark brown to black scales: costal spot black, diffused, a white stripe from below it extending to above posterior angle of cell; basal streak from dorsum oblique inward to base of fold, slender; antemedian streak from before middle of dorsum extending to basal 1/3 of anterior margin of cell, slightly curved medially, dense black scales between basal and antemedian streaks along dorsum; dorsal streak from distal 1/4 of dorsum oblique outward to posterior margin of cell, silvery grey scales from its outer margin anteriorly diffused to costal spot; tornal spot silvery grey, diffused to posterior angle of cell; apical spot ill-defined, with dense dark brown scales; fringe orange yellow, except dark grey around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black dorsally, pale grey ventrally, tibia with white spot at base and middle respectively, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with white spot at base and middle respectively, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus with basal two tarsomeres white apically, apical tarsomere white entirely; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal three tarsomeres and on entire distal two tarsomeres.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 62 ). Uncus with basal 1/3 wide and parallel sided, suddenly narrowed from basal 1/3 to pointed apex; large elongate process arising from middle ventrally, slightly widened to obtuse apex. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate narrow; basal arm longer than mesial plate. Tegumen furcate from posterior 1/3; lateral arm narrowed to pointed anterior end. Valva with costal part narrowed at base, widened distally, asymmetrical: Left valva with costal part produced into a distal process bearing a tuft of setae apically, curved downward, 1/6 length of costal part; sacculus widened medially, apex obtuse, not reaching apex of costal part. Right valva with costal part having an elliptical hollow structure bearing a large hairy ovate process before obtusely rounded apex; sacculus narrowed from wide base to apex, exceeding apex of costal part. Saccus longer than uncus, slightly narrowed to narrowly rounded apex. Juxta reaching posterior 1/3 of tegumen, triangularly produced mediolaterally, strong thumb-shaped distally; basal lobe slender, shorter. Phallus as long as left valva, straight, pointed at apex, serrate laterodistally; cornutus being a spine, 1/7 length of phallus, placed near apex.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 79 ). Apophyses anteriores about 1/4 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum semicircular, posterior margin serrate, concave at middle, with sparse setae; eighth tergum fan-shaped. Antrum slightly narrowed anteriorly. Ductus bursae weakly sclerotized and with short spines in posterior 1/3, membranous and uniformly wide anteriorly. Corpus bursae rounded, slightly shorter than ductus bursae; signum being a narrow plate with a row of denticles.

Distribution. Nepal.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin similis and the specific name of another species dierli , referring to the similarities between the two species.

Figures

FIGURES 24–29. Adults of Promalactis spp. 24. P. magnisaccata sp. nov.; 25. P. minuticornuta sp. nov.; 26. P. parvissima sp. nov. (female and paratype); 27. P. polyptycha sp. nov.; 28. P. indica sp. nov.; 29. P. similidierli sp. nov. 24–25, 27–29: Males and holotypes; 26: Male and paratype. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 58–63. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 58. P. minuticornuta sp. nov.; 59. P. parvissima sp. nov.; 60. P. polyptycha sp. nov.; 61. P. indica sp. nov.; 62. P. similidierli sp. nov.; 63. P. spinellosa sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 58, 60, 62–63 = 0.2 mm; 59, 61 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 79–84. Female genitalia of Promalactis spp. 79. P. similidierli sp. nov.; 80. P. latignatha; 81. P. vulvida; 82. P. circulignatha; 83. P. clinometra; 84. P. thiasitis. Scale bar: 79 = 0.25 mm; 80–84 = 0.2 mm.