Torodora haploista Park & Koo, 2023

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo, Minet, Joël & Razafindranaivo, Victor, 2023, Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) of Madagascar: I. Descriptions of eighteen new species of Torodora Meyrick, 1894, Zootaxa 5264 (2), pp. 151-184 : 164

7. Torodora haploista Park & Koo , sp. nov.

( Fig. 9 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:948AA65F-E850-45C4-93C4-C8FEDE3346BB

Type specimen. Holotype: Male, [East Madagascar], [Integral] Natural Reserve no. 3 [Zahamena National Park], Andranomalaza, Ampangalambolosy, ix [19]57, leg. P. Soga; gen slide no. CIS-7386 (in MNHN).

Diagnosis. Wingspan, 22.5 mm. This species is superficially very similar to Torodora lecithocerella ( Viette, 1956) , being hardly distinguishable from it in the forewing pattern. However, it has a much larger wingspan (22 mm while only 16–17 mm in the latter) and a totally different shape of the male genitalia.

Description. Male ( Figs. 9A, B ). Wingspan, 22.0 mm. Head: pale brownish orange centrally, with creamy white erect scales laterally. Antenna longer than forewing; scape elongated, slightly dilated distally, brownish on dorsal and ventral surfaces, yellowish white on anterior and posterior surfaces; flagellum yellowish white, without distinct annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened, long, slightly arched ventrally, pale brownish orange on outer surface, paler on inner surface; 3 rd segment as long as 2 nd segment, yellowish white laterally, brownish ventrally. Thorax: tegula and thorax brownish orange dorsally. Forewing slightly dilated distally; basal third brownish orange, distally delimited by a narrow, yellowish-white antemedian band; postmedian band weakly developed, oblique; discal stigma dark brown at end of cell; costa nearly straight medially, oblique from beyond 2/3; apex somewhat sharply produced; termen very oblique; fringe with narrow yellowish-white basal line; venation with M 2 remote from M 3 at base; CUA 1 and CuA 2 stalked for basal 2/5. Hind wing pale orange gray, with one vein absent; M 2 and M 3 +CuA 1 nearly connate (M 3 and CuA 1 being coincident). Abdomen ( Fig. 9E ): yellowish brown dorsally; spinose zones broadly developed; tergum VIII concave medially on caudal margin.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 9C, D ): Uncus extremely broadened distally, nearly bifurcated with concave caudal margin; lateral lobes directed outwardly. Basal plate of gnathos broad, fan-shaped; median process small. Tegumen weakly sclerotized, triangularly concave on anterior margin. Valva broad in basal 1/4; costa gently concave; ventral margin nearly straight; cucullus spoon-like, narrowed medially, dilated distally with rounded apex; sacculus broadened distally. Juxta with digitate latero-caudal processes, directed inwardly; its caudal margin convex. Vinculum a narrow band. Aedeagus broad basally, arched, as long as valva; cornuti consisting of two short, arched, linear plates (each measuring about 1/5 the length of aedeagus).

Female unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar (eastern region)

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek haploos (= single, simple), with a Greek superlative ending, - ista, referring to the hind wing venation with M 3 and CuA 1 being coincident.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Torodora haploista Park & Koo, sp. nov. A, adult, male (holotype); B, head with labial palpus; C, male genitalia (slide no. CIS-7386); D, ditto, aedeagus; E, abdomen.