Torodora griveaudi Park & Minet, 2023

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo, Minet, Joël & Razafindranaivo, Victor, 2023, Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) of Madagascar: I. Descriptions of eighteen new species of Torodora Meyrick, 1894, Zootaxa 5264 (2), pp. 151-184 : 181-183

19. Torodora griveaudi Park & Minet , sp. nov.

( Fig. 21 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0B85426C-FEA0-44E4-95EE-AE3845CADE37

Type specimen. Holotype: Male, [East Madagascar], Sainte-Marie Island, Kalalao forest , x [19]60, leg. P. Griveaud; gen. slide no. CIS-7364 (in MNHN).

Diagnosis. The genitalia of this new species are very characteristic with an extremely large, conspicuously bifurcated uncus, which is unique in the genus. However, the venation of both pairs of wings and other morphological characters (including the shape of the labial palpus) match rather well those of the other species of the genus. Accordingly, this new species is tentatively placed in Torodora , although its generic position may be revised when further material becomes available.

Description. Male ( Figs. 21A–C ). Wingspan, 19.5 mm. Head: golden yellow to brownish orange (although vertex has lost many scales), golden yellow on frons, with golden-yellow erect scales laterally. Antenna broken away in distal part; scape elongated, yellowish brown dorsally; flagellum golden yellow, without annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened, long, soot brown on outer surface, yellowish on inner surface; 3 rd segment slender, as long as 2 nd segment, gently upturned. Thorax: tegula and thorax soot brown. Hind tibia with soot brown scales dorsally in proximal 4/5, golden yellow in apical 1/5. Forewing slightly broadened distally; ground color soot brown; antemedian band absent; postmedian line oblique, narrow, zigzagging medially; apex angulate; termen oblique, slightly sinuate; fringe concolorous with forewing ground color, with a narrow, yellowish-white proximal line; venation with R 3 stalked with R 4 for basal 2/5; R 4 stalked with R 5 for basal 2/3; R 5 to apex; base of M 2 remote from M 3 and nearly parallel to it; base of M 3 remote from CuA 1+2; CuA 1 and CuA 2 stalked for basal 1/3. Hind wing ground color similar to that of the forewing; venation complete; M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal half. Abdomen ( Figs. 21F, G ): yellowish brown dorsally; spinose zones narrow, lying along posterior edges of terga; abdominal sternum VIII ( Fig. 21G ) nearly pentagonal, slightly emarginate on meson.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 21D, E ): Uncus extremely large, bifurcated with heavily sclerotized lateral processes (apical tooth of each process similar to a rake hook). Basal plate of gnathos hat-shaped, with rounded apex; median process narrow, strongly bent medially. Tegumen sclerotized laterally; anterior margin deeply concave, V-shaped. Valva narrowed towards middle; costa concave medially; cucullus slightly dilated distally, with a small triangular process at the apex of the costa; sacculus broad at base, narrowly elongated to lower corner of cucullus. Juxta large, narrowed distally, forming a modified, characteristic plate. Aedeagus broad in proximal half, narrowed beyond middle; distal part broadened, with a triangular process before end of dorsal margin; cornuti absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar (eastern region).

Etymology. The species is named after the entomologist Paul Griveaud (1907-1980), who collected many Lepidoptera in Madagascar (including several species of Torodora ).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Torodora griveaudi Park & Minet, sp. nov.: A, adult, male (holotype); B, lateral view of adult; C, left wings; D, male genitalia (slide no. CIS-7364); E, ditto, aedeagus; F, posterior part (abdominal segments V–VII) of abdomen; G, abdominal sternum VIII.