Promalactis latissima 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 : 6-7

Promalactis latissima Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 4 , 37 )

Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Chiang Mai, 1460 m, 26.IV.–10.V.1989, leg. A.M. Cotton, slide No. NHMUK010317045 .

Diagnosis. The new species can be easily distinguished from other described species of the group by two features of the male genitalia: the uncus with distal 1/2 conspicuously broadened into rectangle, and the distally dilated costal process of the valva with a large thumb-shaped process arising from its base.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing length 4.0 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons yellowish white, occiput yellow. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous brown mixed with black scales on outer surface, yellowish white on inner surface; third segment pale yellow except black apically. Antennal scape yellowish white dorsally, brown ventrally; flagellum black, with white annulations dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula pale ochreous brown. Forewing orange to ochreous yellow; basal fascia rust brown, inner margin edged with a white streak extending from dorsum to base of fold, bordered by black scales, outer margin edged with a whitish streak expanded anteriorly; costal margin with a large, ill-defined greyish black spot at middle, widened anteriorly, narrowly diffused to before posterior angle of cell, then extending outward and curved to tornus, large rounded whitish yellow costal spot beyond this greyish black costal spot; apical spot black, diffused along termen to tornus; fringe yellow except black on extension of apical spot on costal margin. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur grey ventrally, tibia with white dot at base and middle, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg greyish white ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal three tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; hindleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apex of each tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 37 ). Uncus large, basal 1/2 narrow, distal 1/2 conspicuously widened into rectangle, wider than long; apex with a notch at middle, with dense spine-like setae. Gnathos triangular, with a spine apically. Tegumen furcate from near posterior margin, with a spine near lateral margin posteriorly; lateral arm narrowed to pointed end. Valva with basal 2/5 wide and parallel-sided, distal 3/5 almost uniformly narrow, with sparse denticles and setae; short and strong process arising from before basal 2/5 of costal margin, dilated and with dense setae distally; large thumb-shaped process arising from base of preceding process. Saccus as long as uncus, wide at base, slightly narrowed to apex. Juxta small. Phallus slightly shorter than valva, wide at base, tapered to pointed apex; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin latissimus, referring to the distally widened uncus of the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Adults of Promalactis spp. 1. P. robinsoni sp. nov.; 2. P. kathmanduensis sp. nov.; 3. P. asymmetrica sp. nov.; 4. P. latissima sp. nov.; 5. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 6. P. subflagellaris sp. nov.; 7. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 8. P. curvilineata sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 34–39.Male genitalia of Promalactisspp.34. P.robinsoni sp.nov.; 35.P.kathmanduensis sp.nov.; 36.P.asymmetrica sp. nov.; 37. P. latissima sp. nov.; 38. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 39. P. subflagellaris sp. nov. 34–35, 37–39: holotypes; 36: paratype. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.