Synechodes polias, Kallies, Axel, 2013

Kallies, Axel, 2013, New and little known Brachodidae from tropical Asia and Papua New Guinea (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea), Zootaxa 3641 (3), pp. 241-259 : 242

Synechodes polias sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 9 )

Holotype: 3, “ Indonesia, Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N.P., February 1985 / site 3, 200m, Toraut alluv. For., J.D. Holloway, 1.–2.ii.1985 / R. Ent. Soc. Lond., Project Wallacea, B.M. 1985-10” (BMNH).

Etymology. This species is named after Athena Polias , the Greek goddess.

Description (holotype, male, Fig. 1 ). Alar expanse 19.5 mm, body 8.5 mm. Head: dark grey-brown, antenna serrate. Thorax: dark grey-brown. Forewings: dark grey-brown, scales with a pale tip; fringe lighter grey, darker distally. Hindwings: dark brownish grey. Abdomen: dark brown to grey, all segments with light grey posterior margins.

Genitalia. Male (Gen. prep. AK593 / BMNH31614, Fig. 9 ). Typical for the genus; valva simple, uncus pointed, gnathos fish-hook-like and saccus triangular ( Fig. 9 a); juxta with two short lateral processes ( Fig. 9 b); phallus simple, straight, with a low ridge subapically ( Fig. 9 c). Apical abdominal tergite with two short lateral processes ( Fig. 9 d).

Diagnosis. Its uniform greyish wing coloration distinguishes this species from all congeners and all other Brachodidae of tropical Asia.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Brachodinae. Adults. 1. Synechodes polias sp. nov., male, holotype, Sulawesi (Indonesia), alar expanse 19.5 mm (BMNH). 2. Synechodes tamila sp. nov., male, holotype, India, alar expanse 23.5 mm (BMNH). Fig. 3. Synechodes andamanensis Kallies, 2004, male, Andaman Isl (India), alar expanse 15.5 mm (BMNH). 4. Saccocera orpheus (Kallies, 2004), holotype, male, Java (Indonesia), alar expanse 16.5 mm (RMNH). 5. S. orpheus, paratype, female, Java (Indonesia), alar expanse 24.0 mm (RMNH). 6. Saccocera panaras sp. nov., female, holotype, Papua New Guinea, alar expanse 22.5 mm (BMNH). 7. Saccocera miangkabau sp. nov., female, Sumatra (Indonesia), alar expanse 27.0 mm (CAK). 8. Miscera minahasa sp. nov., female, holotype, Sulawesi (Indonesia), alar expanse 13.8 mm (ANIC).

FIGURES 9 – 10. Brachodinae. Male genitalia. a. ventral view, phallus removed; b. juxta; c. phallus; d. terminal segments of abdomen. 9. Synechodes polias sp. nov., holotype, Gen. prep. AK 593 / BMNH 3161 (BMNH). 10. Synechodes tamila sp. nov., holotype, Gen. prep. AK 602 / BMNH 31615 (BMNH).