Glaucocharis nussi, Li, Wei-Chun, 2018

Li, Wei-Chun, 2018, Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species, ZooKeys 807, pp. 149-158 : 149

Glaucocharis nussi sp. n. Figs 3, 4, 8

Type material.

Holotype ♂: CHINA: Mabian Dafengding National Nature Reserve, Mabian (28°51'N, 103°31'E), Sichuan Province, 1100 m, 11.viii.2012, coll. Wei-Chun Li (JXAUM).

Paratype, 1 ♂, with same locality as holotype and collected on 10.viii.2012, prep. gen. WD16100 (JXAUM).

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the unique characters in the male genitalia. The costal projection is absent and the phallus has a single strong spine-like cornutus (Fig. 8).

Description.

Male adult (Figs 3, 4): Forewing length 5.5-6.0 mm. Frons and vertex pale brown mixed with yellowish white. Labial palpus basal half and distal one-fourth blackish brown on outer side, otherwise yellowish white. Maxillary palpus pale brown, yellowish white distally. Antenna yellowish white. Tegula and thorax pale brown. Forewing covered with pale brown scales; costa and dorsum with blackish spot near middle; antemedian line unrecognized; reniform stigma blackish brown, small and round; postmedian line brown, arched outward; apex orange, with white apical stripe; termen orange mixed with pale brown, with four black marginal spots; fringe pale brown. Hindwing pale brown; fringe white mixed with grey. Abdomen blackish brown and white in alternance on dorsal surface. Legs pale brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 8): Uncus curved downward, tapering to pointed apex. Gnathos nearly narrowly triangular, pointed distally. Tegumen approximately twice as long as gnathos. Valva broadened slightly at base, apex round; costa concave near middle. Saccus short and broad, convex distally. Juxta crescent-shaped. Phallus nearly as long as valva, basal one-third conspicuously thicker than distal two-thirds; single cornutus well-developed and spine-like.

Female unknown.

Distribution.

China (Sichuan).

Natural history.

See above under this heading for Glaucocharis sperlingi sp. nov.

Etymology.

In honour of Dr Matthias Nuss, who contributed profoundly to systematic research on pyraloid moths, and who maintains and expands the most important tool for taxonomic information on the world pyraloid species: GlobIZ (www.pyraloidea.org).

Remarks.

The generic assignment of G. nussi is primarily based on the external characters. However, its male genitalia are atypical for Glaucocharis . Characters of both sexes and molecular data would have to be analysed phylogenetically to provide a more insightful hypothesis concerning its classification.