Meleonoma projecta Yin

Yin, Aihui & Cai, Yanpeng, 2019, Two new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick from China (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Xyloryctidae), ZooKeys 871, pp. 79-87 : 79

Meleonoma projecta Yin sp. nov. Figs 2 , 4 , 6

Material examined.

Holotype: China • ♂, Fujian Province, Wuyi Mountain; alt. 1200 m, 10 May 2018; coll. Yuping Li leg.; YAH18125. Paratype: 1 ♂, same collection data as for preceding; YAH19002.

Diagnosis.

This new species can be distinguished from its congeners easily by the unique character in the male genitalia. In M. projecta , the distal portion of the sacculus with a heavily sclerotized process. It is also slightly similar to M. malacobyrsa externally. They can be distinguished by the fascia in the forewings: M. projecta with the fascia indistinct, whereas it is clearly outlined in M. malacobyrsa . In M. projecta the valva has no odontoid process on the ventral margin, sacculus with apex produced and phallus with tiny teeth near apex; M. malacobyrsa has the valva with an odontoid process on the ventral margin, sacculus concave and without a tooth on the phallus.

Description.

Head: vertex with grayish brown scales at middle, front yellow; labial palpus long and recurved, extending well beyond vertex, with smooth scales, outer surface of labial palpus with segment 1 and segment 2 dark brown, inner surface yellow, apex of segment 2 with blackish brown dots; segment 3 yellow, scattered with blackish brown dots, about 1/2 of second segment; antenna with scape earthy yellow on ventral surface and blackish brown on dorsal surface, with flagellum ringed, alternately blackish brown and earthy yellow; ocelli absent; scales of proboscis yellow.

Thorax: Tegula and mesonotum blackish brown mixed with yellow; legs light yellow, grayish brown on ventral surface, with grayish brown speckles on outside surface of tibiae and tarsi. Forewing ( Fig. 2 ): Length 7.0-8.0 mm (N = 2), about 3.0 X longer than wide, blackish brown mixed with yellow scales; costa with a large diffused yellow blotch at about distal 1/5. Ventral surface dark brown; an oblique dark brown fascia running from basal 2/3 of costa to tornus; cell with 2 blackish brown markings, set at middle and end of cell respectively; cilia dark brown except yellow basally. Hindwing ( Fig. 2 ): grayish brown; cilia grayish brown. Ventral surface of forewing and hindwing dark brown.

Abdomen ( Figs 4 , 6 ): Male genitalia ( Fig. 6 ): Uncus with basal 1/4 triangular in shape, distal 3/4 long and hooked, pointed at apex; gnathos weakly sclerotized at base forming two elliptic sclerites, other parts membranous; tegumen inverted V-shaped, lateral arms gradually narrowed to apex, posterior margin straight, anterior margin deeply concave, onion-shaped; valva somewhat knife-shaped, gradually widening to basal 2/5 from a narrow base, distal 3/5 gradually tapered to rounded apex, ventral surface densely covered with long hairs; costa slightly arched inwardly; transtilla greatly protruded forward medially, distal portion curving downward and in contact with each other; sacculus jointed with valva dorsally; distal portion with a long heavily sclerotized process, bladelike, pointed at apex; saccus funnel-shaped, narrowly rounded at apex; phallus with basal 2/3 elongately ovate, distal 1/3 irregularly shaped, bearing three small teeth at distal 1/4 and end. Female genitalia: unknown.

Biology.

The host plant of the larva stage is unknown. The adults were collected using lamp attraction in May.

Distribution.

China (Fujian Province).

Etymology.

The specific name, the Latin adjective projectus, refers to the heavily sclerotized process of the sacculus.

Figures

Figures 1 - 6. Meleonoma species, morphology 1 adult of Meleonoma foliiformis Yin, sp. nov., holotype, male (gen. slide no. YAH 18108) 2 adult of M. projecta Yin, sp. nov., holotype, male (gen. slide no. YAH 18125) 3 abdomen of M. foliiformis Yin, sp. nov., holotype, male (gen. slide no. YAH 18108) 4 abdomen of M. projecta Yin, sp. nov., holotype, male (gen. slide no. YAH 18125) 5 male genitalia of M. foliiformis Yin, sp. nov., paratype, phallus illustrated separately (gen. slide no. YAH 19001) 6 male genitalia of M. projecta Yin, sp. nov., holotype, phallus illustrated separately (gen. slide no. YAH 18125). Scale bar: 2.00 mm (1, 2); 0.25 mm (3 − 6).