Thubdora tanzaniana 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 : 405-407

Thubdora tanzaniana Park & Cho , sp. nov.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4C3D7168-4B84-4FE1-9714-C0CED3AF24BF

( Figs. 5A–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-7280, in NHMO.

Diagnosis. The male genitalia of the new species are more or less similar to those of Torodora lichanosa Park & De Prins or T. trilova Park & De Prins by having a similar shape of the caudal processes of the juxta, but it is no doubt that this new species belongs to Thubdora by having the forewing venation with M 3, CuA 1, and CuA 2 on a common stalk.

Description. Adult ( Figs. 5A–C ). Wingspan ca. 12.5 mm.

Head: Purplish dark brown dorsally, with light-orange erect scales laterally. Antenna as long as forewing; basal segment elongated, pale orange; flagellum serrate, with fine cilia ventrally, pale orange, shiny, with dark-brown annulations. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, with dark brown rough scales on outer surface, with light orange scales apically, paler on inner surface; 3 rd segment slender, as long as 2 nd segment, orange white on dorsal and lateral surfaces, dark brown on ventral surface. Thorax: Tegula and notum purplish dark brown dorsally. Hind tibia dark brown, with broad yellowish-white bands in basal 1/3 and a narrower one beyond middle. Forewing ground color yellowish brown densely covered with dark fuscous scales; costa gently arched beyond basal 1/3, with a small, yellowish-white costal patch beyond 3/4; two or three blackish spots on antemedian fascia; more fuscous scales densely scattered beyond 2/3; apex obtuse; termen oblique; fringe concolorous with ground color. Hindwing broader than forewing, uniformly brownish gray; apex produced; termen oblique; fringe concolorous. Abdomen ( Fig. 5F ): Spinose zones broadly developed; tergite VIII with heavily sclerotized anterior margin.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 5D, E ): Uncus broad at base, gradually narrowed to 2/3, with clavate distal part rounded apically. Basal plate of gnathos with nearly straight caudal margin; median process gradually narrowed to basal 2/3, then strongly bent downward, with sharply pointed apically. Valva elongated, broad in basal 1/4; costa abruptly bent downward near base, then deeply concave; cucullus nearly parallel-sided, upturned, with round apex; sacculus weakly developed. Juxta bowl-shaped, concave on caudal margin; lateral process triangular, sharply pointed apically; median process large, triangular, with sharply pointed apically, slightly longer than the length of juxta. Vinculum narrow, banded. Aedeagus stout, about 2/3 the length of valva, broad at base and slightly narrower toward apex, rounded apically; cornuti consisting of a bundle of short, strong spines located before apex ventrally; and a narrow plate with linear spines internally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Tanzania (Kilombero Dist.).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the type locality, Tanzania.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Thubdora tanzaniana Park & Cho, sp. nov.: A, adult, holotype; B, head and labial palpus in lateral view; C, label; D, male genitalia, gen. slide no. CIS-7480; E, ditto, aedeagus; F, abdomen. Scale bar for the genitalia and the aedeagus: 1.0 mm.