Paroxyplax fusca, Wu & Han, 2023

Wu, Jun & Han, Hui-Lin, 2023, New species and records of Paroxyplax Cai, 1984 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) and its allies from China, with a checklist of the treated genera, Zootaxa 5254 (3), pp. 383-397 : 387

Paroxyplax fusca sp. nov.

Figures 3, 4, 9, 10

Type material. Holotype: male, CHINA, Yunnan Province, Lincang City, Zhenkang County, Fengwei Town , 26.V.2022, leg. J. Wu & B. Gao, genit. prep. WuJ-839-1, coll. NEFU.

Paratypes: 1 male, CHINA, Yunnan Province, Lincang City, Zhenkang County, Mengdui Township , genit. prep. WuJ-788-1, coll. NEFU .

Diagnosis. Paroxyplax fusca sp. nov. (Figs 3, 4, 9, 10) is allied to P. lineata (Figs 6, 12) because they share similarity in the features of body coloration and male genitalia, however, P. fusca sp. nov. has a smaller body size in adults than the latter, with the forewing length only 9-10 mm and wingspan 19-22 mm in male (11-12 mm and 24-26 mm in P. lineata ), and the forewing is not elongated as in P. lineata .

The male genitalia are diagnostic: 1) in P. fusca sp. nov., the uncus is reduced, just showing in a disk-shaped process, whereas in P. lineata the uncus is distinct, rounded apically; 2) the upper part of gnathos is coronoid, lower part slender, claw-shaped, whereas the same structures in P. lineata are a row of fine teeth with a very small coronoid process, and stout and foot-shaped; 3) the cucullus of valva is narrow, but rounded in P. lineata ; 4) the base process of costa is tapering to a point with a small apical process, however, the same structure is swollen in the basal half and thin in the distal half, with a long, claw-shaped apical process; 5) the base of sacculus distinctly projected, which is smoothly curved in P. lineata ; 6) the phallus is tapering to a point with a sclerotized, leaf-shaped apical process, whereas in P. lineata , the phallus is tube-shaped, with an angled incision apically.

Description. Adult (Figs 3, 4). Forewing length 9-10 mm, wingspan 19-22 mm in male.

Head and labial palpus dark brown; male antennae dark, broad bipectinate till to tip, with longest rami in the middle.

Thorax dark brown. Costal margin of forewing slightly concave; ground color dark brown, posterior area slightly paler than ground color; postmedial line burred, straight, runs from costal margin near apex to inner margin at ca. 2/3 distance from wing base; fringe dark brown. Hindwing ground color dark brown; fringe dark brown. Scales on legs pale brown.

Abdomen dark brown.

Male genitalia (Figs 9, 10). Uncus reduced, just showing in a disk-shaped process. Gnathos divided into two parts: upper part coronoid, strongly sclerotized; basal part slender, long, claw-shaped, strongly sclerotized apically. Tegumen broad. Valva elongated, narrow at subbase but widening at middle; cucullus narrow, somewhat pointed; base of sacculus distinctly projected; basal process of costa large, horn-shaped, which ca. 4/5 the length of valva, with a small, sclerotized, triangular plate apically. Juxta broad, with a single, triangular medium process and two short lateral processes. Phallus nearly conical in shape, tapering to a point from caecum; terminal part with a sclerotized, leaf-shaped apical process.

Bionomics. The specimens were collected with a light trap at altitudes of 877 m a.s.l. in western Yunnan, the collecting site is close to a broad-leaved forest, agricultural fields, and tea plantations.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin “fuscus”, meaning “dark-colored, somber, and dusky” and refers to the dark brown ground color of the body.