Torodora triloba Park & De Prins, 2019

Park, Kyu-Tek & Prins, Willy De, 2019, Re-examination of the type specimens of Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera), deposited in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), Belgium, with descriptions of ten new species from DR Congo belonging to Thubdora Park and Torodora Meyrick, Zootaxa 4571 (4), pp. 451-476 : 467

Torodora triloba Park & De Prins , sp. nov.

( Figs. 10 E–H)

Type. Holotype: male, Musée du Congo Belge, P.N.G. [Parc National Garamba, Oriental Province], Miss. H. De Saeger, Pidigala , 24.iv.1952, H. De Saeger, 2325; à la lumière, gen. slide no. CIS-7234/ Park, in RMCA.

Diagnosis. This new species can be distinguished from the preceding new species of the genus Torodora by the head with yellowish-white scales dorsally and the forewing lacking a costal patch. The male genitalia of this new species are similar to those of T. lichanosa sp. nov., but it can be distinguished by the slenderer uncus; the cucullus shorter, less elongated, with nearly straight costa; the median lobe of juxta much shorter, elongate-triangular, and the aedeagus shorter and stouter.

Description. Male ( Figs. 10E, F ). Wingspan 19 mm.

Head: Vertex with yellowish-white appressed scales dorsally. Antenna as long as forewing; basal segment elongated, orange white all around; flagellum serrate, yellowish white all around from base to apex, with a darkbrown ring at base of first segment, finely ciliate ventrally. Labial palpus upturned; second segment thickened, yellowish white on inner surface, dark brown with yellowish white in apical 1/4 on outer surface; 3 rd segment as long as 2 nd segment, yellowish white dorsally, dark brown ventrally, sharply pointed apically.

Thorax: Tegula and thorax yellowish brown. Hind tibia dark brown in basal 2/3, then creamy white beyond; tarsi with yellowish white 1 st segment, remains brownish dorsally. Forewing slightly broadened distally; ground color yellowish brown evenly; costal patch not developed; costa slightly arched before middle, then nearly straight; apex obtuse; termen oblique, slightly spiral, slightly concave near apex; fringe concolorous with ground color, basal line indistinct; venation with R 4 and R 5 stalked near middle; R 4 reaching termen. Hindwing broader than forewing, much paler than forewing; apex acute; termen slightly concave medially; venation with M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal 1/4.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 10G, H ). Uncus elongated, strongly bent downward; apex rounded. Gnathos broad at base, strongly bent beyond 2/3. Valva broad at base; costa abruptly bent from near base, then deeply concave; ventral margin nearly straight in basal 2/3; cucullus relatively short, more or less triangular, densely haired on surface with nearly straight costal margin and strongly arched outer margin; apex narrowly produced. Juxta with a relatively short digitate median process and shorter triangular lateral lobes on caudal margin. Vinculum narrow, banded. Aedeagus stout, slightly bent near basal 1/3, shorter than valva, slightly narrowed towad apex; cornuti consisting of a row of short spines, about 1/2 length of aedeagus, located near middle.

Distribution. DR Congo (Oriental).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin, tris (= three) and lobus (= an elongated projection), referring to the trifurcated caudal lobes of the juxta in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Torodora lichanosa sp. nov. and Torodora triloba sp. nov.: A, adult of T. lichanosa n. sp., holotype; B, male genitalia, holotype, gen. slide no. CIS-7231/Park; C, ditto, lateral view; D, ditto, aedeagus; E, adult of T. triloba n. sp., holotype; F, dorsal view of head with labial palpus; G, male genitalia, holotype, gen. slide no. CIS-7234/Park; H, ditto, aedeagus.