Torodora silvestris 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 : 159-161

4. Torodora silvestris Park & Koo , sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EA90379F-2CB8-485F-BDD1-206A0FEC4536

Type specimen. Holotype: Male , East Madagascar, Marojejy massif (Integral Natural Reserve no. 12), alt. 2,050 m, 25–30 xi 1972, leg. A. Peyrieras; gen. slide no. CIS-7362 (in MNHN) . Paratype: 1♀, Central Madagascar, eastern Andringitra, Anjavidilava forest, alt. 1,975 m, 26–30 xii 1970, leg. P. Griveaud; gen. slide no. CIS-7363 (in MNHN) .

Diagnosis. The new species differs from any known species of the genus by its forewing, which has a broad pale orange patch beyond the dark-brown basal area. The male genitalia are similar to those of T. hana sp. nov., but they can be distinguished by the uncus with shorter arms, the juxta with small, triangular latero-caudal processes, and the cucullus more narrowly elongated. The female genitalia differ from those of T. hana by having a widened signum.

Description. Male and female ( Figs. 6A, B ). Wingspan, 18.0 mm. Head: pale orange, with yellowish-white erect scales laterally.Antenna (distal part broken away); scape pale orange, speckled with brownish scales; flagellum pale orange, without distinct annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened with rough scales ventrally, very long, slightly arched, yellowish brown on outer surface, pale orange on inner surface; 3 rd segment slender, as long as 2 nd segment, strongly upturned. Thorax: tegula and thorax pale orange dorsally. Hind tibia pale orange with brownish orange rough scales dorsally. Forewing dilated distally; ground color bronze yellowish brown with a large, somewhat trapezoidal, pale orange patch, which is proximally delimited by the nearly straight, oblique, antemedian line; postmedian fascia broadly developed, bronze yellowish brown, followed by a yellowish-white costal streak along costa before apex; costa slightly arched beyond proximal 2/3; apex angulate; termen concave at end of vein M 1; fringe pale orange in proximal half and yellowish brown beyond; venation with R 4 and R 5 stalked for basal half; R 5 to termen; M 2 close to M 3 at base; CuA 1 and CuA 2 stalked for basal 1/3. Hind wing grayish white, with one vein absent, M 3 and CuA 1 being coincident; M 2 and M 3 +CuA 1 stalked for basal half. Abdomen ( Fig. 6E ): bronze yellowish brown dorsally from base to pregenital segments; sterna VII-VIII pale orange dorsally; spinose zones on terga broad; caudal margin of sternum VIII in zigzags.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 6C, D ): Uncus bifurcate, Y-shaped, with latero-caudal processes as long as basal stalk; apex rounded. Basal plate of gnathos fan-shaped, with rounded caudal margin; median process small, about as long as process of uncus. Tegumen broad, with inverted V-shaped anterior margin. Valva broad at base; a narrow expansion along costa in basal 1/4, then costa abruptly oblique, gently concave medially; ventral margin nearly straight, arched on outer margin; sacculus weakly sclerotized, capitate at apex; cucullus narrowed in basal half, slightly upturned distally, densely setose, with rounded apex; Juxta broad, jar-shaped, with short, triangular latero-caudal processes. Aedeagus stout, broadened medially; cornuti consisting of two narrow plates with minute spinules.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 6F ): Apophyses anteriores about 2/3 the length of apophyses posteriores. Abdominal sternum VIII deeply emarginated with produced latero-caudal lobes. Ostium bursae bowl-shaped. Antrum weakly developed, membranous, narrowed anteriorly. Ductus bursae extremely broadened medially; ductus seminalis arising from middle. Corpus bursae ovate, large; signum plate broadened (its larger “diameter” being about 2.5 times its shorter diameter), bearing strong conical spines.

Distribution. Madagascar (central and eastern regions).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin substantive, silva, -ae (= a forest), referring to the habitat of the moths.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Torodora silvestris Park & Koo, sp. nov.: A, adult, male (holotype); B, head with labial palpus, lateral view; C, male genitalia (slide no. CIS-7362); D, ditto, aedeagus; E, abdomen; F, female genitalia (slide no. CIS-7363).