Torodora melanonota Park & Cho, 2021

Park, Kyu-Tek & Cho, Soowon, 2021, Four new species of Thubdora Park, 2018 and one new species of Torodora Meyrick 1894 (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae, Torodorinae) from Tanzania, Zootaxa 5068 (3), pp. 399-409 : 407-408

Torodora melanonota Park & Cho , sp. nov.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6139E895-37E3-4621-8143-968898A03320

( Figs. 6A–F )

Type specimen. Holotype: male, Tanzania, Morogoro Reg., Kilombero Distr., Udzungwa Mts. Nat. Park, Mang’ula 550 m, 20–21 xi 2005, leg. L. Aarvik, M. Fibiger, A. Kingston, gen slide no. CIS-7281, in NHMO.

Diagnosis. This new species can be distinguished from its allies by the forewing with a small yellowish-white costal patch beyond 2/3 of the costa, the abdomen with a large black spot on each segment laterally, and the male genital character as described in the following description.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 6A–D ). Wingspan ca. 14.5 mm.

Head: Yellowish brown mixing with yellowish-white scales dorsally. Antenna shorter than forewing; scape elongated, yellowish white with yellowish-brown longitudinal stripe medially; flagellum filiform, not ciliate, yellowish white, shiny, without annulations throughout. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, slightly arched, dark brown on outer surface, with yellowish-white scales at apex, yellowish white on inner surface; 3 rd segment slightly longer than 2 nd segment, yellowish white laterally, dark brown dorsally. Thorax: Tegula and notum yellowish brown. Forewing ground color yellowish brown, without distinct markings; a small yellowish-white costal patch present beyond 2/3 of costa; apex obtuse; termen concave medially; fringe concolorous with ground color. Hind wing ground color pale brownish gray, broader than forewing; apex produced; termen oblique, slightly concave medially; fringe concolorous with ground color. Abdomen ( Fig. 6C ): Abdomen with a black spot on each segment laterally; dorsal surface yellowish brown and ventral surface yellowish white.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 6E, F ): Uncus elongated, narrow. Median process of gnathos about the same length of uncus. Valva broad expansion basally, deeply concave medially; cucullus as long as basal part of valva; with arched outer margin. Juxta large, shield-shaped, as long as the width of basal part of valva, lacking latero-caudal processes. Vinculum narrow, heavily sclerotized. Aedeagus rather small, shorter than valva, dorsal surface narrowly produced with acute apex; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Tanzania (Kilombero Dist.).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek, - melano (= black) and notus (= back), referring to the blackish marks on the dorsal surface of abdomen.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Torodora melanonota Park & Cho, sp. nov.: A, adult, holotype; B, labial palpi in lateral view; C, dorsal view of body; D, label; E, male genitalia, gen. slide no. CIS-7481; F, ditto, aedeagus. Scale bar for the genitalia and the aedeagus: 1.0 mm.