Promalactis arcilineata 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 : 9

Promalactis arcilineata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 7 , 40 )

Type material. Kenya: Holotype ♂, Nairobi, 6000 m (collecting date uncertain), leg. H.L. Andrewes, slide No. NHMUK010317186 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. anisibilineata sp. nov. in the forewing with a large white line arched in a V-shaped pattern. It can be distinguished by the absence of a white basal line in the forewing; in the male genitalia by the valva narrowly rounded at the apex, the juxta with the lateral arm not reaching the base of the uncus, and the phallus having two cornuti. In P. anisibilineata , the forewing has a white basal line; the valva is obtusely broad at the apex, the lateral arm of the juxta reaches the base of the uncus, and the phallus has one cornutus.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ). Forewing length 4.5 mm.

Head. Vertex white (eroded), occiput yellowish brown. Labial palpus and antenna missing.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula damaged. Forewing yellowish brown; markings white edged with sparse black scales: costal spot white, enlarged elliptically, extending from distal 1/4 downward and crossing anterior angle of cell; arched white line from near base above fold oblique out-downward to middle of dorsum, then along dorsum to near end of fold, finally extending obliquely out-upward to meet costal spot, forming a V-shaped pattern; fringe yellowish brown. Hindwing and fringe pale brown. Fore- and midlegs black except femur pale yellow on dorsal side, tibiae and tarsi with white rings; hindleg earth yellow (partially descaled).

Male genitalia ( Fig. 40 ). Uncus wide at base, gradually narrowed to basal 2/3, distal 1/3 sharply narrowed to pointed apex. Gnathos shorter than uncus; medial plate rectangular, swollen and with dense fine teeth distally. Tegumen widened anteriorly. Valva subparallel from base to basal 3/5, thereafter narrowed to rounded apex; costa concave near base; sacculus uniformly wide from base to middle, then uniformly narrow to free distal process, distal process curved dorsad. Saccus shorter than uncus, slightly narrowed to apex. Juxta bifurcate; lateral lobe widened to before apex, with several apical spines varied in size; basal lobe very short, clavate. Phallus slightly shorter than valva, tubular; with two cornuti, longer one slightly shorter than phallus, twice as long as short one.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Kenya.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin arcus and lineatus, referring to the arched white line of the forewing.

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 40–45. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 40. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 41. P. curvilineata sp. nov.; 42. P. inaequilonga sp. nov.; 43. P. pallidistriata sp. nov.; 44. P. auriculata sp. nov.; 45. P. furciuncata sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 40–44 = 0.2 mm; 45 = 0.25 mm.