Promalactis magnicornuta Wang, 2024

Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 1-58 : 7-8

Promalactis magnicornuta Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 38 )

Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, Yala, SE of Sala, Khao Beu Yaw , 340 m, 2.XII.1991, leg. I.J. Kitching & A.M. Cotton, slide No. NHMUK 010316959 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. hainanensis Du, Li et Wang, 2011 . It can be distinguished by the forewing with the basal fascia pale ochreous brown, in the male genitalia by the valva with a stronger basal process as long as the valva and a phallus one-half the length of the valva. In P. hainanensis , the basal fascia is dark ochreous brown, the basal process of the valva is shorter than the valva, and the phallus is almost as long as the valva.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 5 ). Forewing length 5.5 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons shining white; occiput rust brown. Labial palpus with second segment pale ochreous brown on outer surface, basal 1/2 white and distal 1/2 pale ochreous brown on inner surface; third segment with basal 1/2 white, distal 1/2 black. Antennal scape white; flagellum with basal two flagellomeres white, remaining flagellomeres white and brown on dorsal surface, dark brown on ventral surface.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula ochreous brown. Forewing ochreous yellow; basal fascia pale ochreous brown, white line edged with black scales along its inner and outer margins; costal spot white, rounded, placed beyond basal 2/3, with black scales on ventral and inner margins; tornal spot grey with dark brown scales; apical patch black, diffused along termen to tornus; fringe yellow except grey around apex. Hindwing and fringe grey. Fore- and midlegs black, femora white on dorsal side, tibia with three white dots on inner side, tarsus white on inner side of tarsomeres 2–3, mid tibia with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus with basal three tarsomeres white except first tarsomere black distally on inner side; hindleg greyish white, tibia brown on dorsal side.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 38 ). Uncus short and broad, bifid distally, forming two short lobes narrowed to rounded apex. Gnathos narrowly sclerotized. Tegumen furcate from posterior 1/3; lateral arm slightly narrowed to anterior end. Valva elongately narrowed, club-shaped, slightly widened before rounded apex, with long setae throughout; large, heavily sclerotized process arising from near base, as long as valva, curved outward, with a short apical spine. Saccus broadly semicircular, with a papillary anterior process. Phallus straight, slender, shorter than valva; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin magni- and cornutus, referring to the long, slender basal process of the valva.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Adults of Promalactis spp. 1. P. robinsoni sp. nov.; 2. P. kathmanduensis sp. nov.; 3. P. asymmetrica sp. nov.; 4. P. latissima sp. nov.; 5. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 6. P. subflagellaris sp. nov.; 7. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 8. P. curvilineata sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 34–39.Male genitalia of Promalactisspp.34. P.robinsoni sp.nov.; 35.P.kathmanduensis sp.nov.; 36.P.asymmetrica sp. nov.; 37. P. latissima sp. nov.; 38. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 39. P. subflagellaris sp. nov. 34–35, 37–39: holotypes; 36: paratype. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.