Torodora sphenosa 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 : 178-180

17. Torodora sphenosa Park & Minet , sp. nov.

( Fig. 19 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2037DC80-3EAA-482E-A17F-45006C529A50

Type specimen. Holotype: Female , East Madagascar, Italaviana, alt. 730 m, 6 km north-west of Fanovana, T.C.E., 5 vi [19]56, leg. P. Griveaud; gen. slide no. CIS-7360 (in MNHN).

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by its forewing whose subtriangular antemedian fascia is broadly expanded towards the costa and which processes a well-developed, yellowish-white, wedge-shaped costal patch beyond 3/4 of costa.

Description. Female ( Figs. 19A–D ). Wingspan 18.0 mm. Head: golden yellow on the frons, with long brownish erect scales laterally; pale orange on vertex, with golden-yellow erect scales laterally. Antenna longer than forewing (broken away in distal 2/3 after description, see Fig. 19C ); scape elongated, golden yellow with dark-brown scales medially; flagellum golden yellow with dark-brown annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened, arched, yellowish brown on outer surface in basal 3/4; 3 rd segment slender, as long as 2 nd segment, strongly upturned, dark brown ventrally. Thorax: tegula and thorax dark brown dorsally. Hind tibia with dark brown, rough scales dorsally. Forewing ground color dark brown; a well-developed, yellowish, subtriangular antemedian fascia that is expanded towards costa; costa slightly arched around basal 1/3, with a yellowish-white, wedge-shaped costal patch beyond 3/4; apex rather acute; termen concave medially; fringe with narrow, yellowish white basal line and with brownish scales medially; venation with R 3 and R 4 stalked for basal 1/3; R 4 and R 5 stalked for basal 2/3; R 5 to termen; M 2 and M 3 free; CuA 1 and CuA 2 stalked for basal 2/5. Hind wing yellowish gray; apex angulate; termen concave medially; venation complete, M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal 1/4. Abdomen: spinose zone on terga well-developed, somewhat triangular.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 19E ): Apophyses anteriores about 2/3 the length of apophyses posteriores. Abdominal sternum VIII with deep V-shaped notch at middle. Antrum weakly developed. Ductus bursae very narrow in distal 1/3, broadened medially, then slightly narrowed in anterior 1/3. Corpus bursae ovate, large, longer than ductus bursae; signum consisting of a Y-shaped long plate with dense minute spines (measuring about 4/5 the length of corpus bursae) and a small, pentagonal plate with hat-shaped sclerotized upper part.

Male unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar (eastern region)

Etymology. The species name is derived from the ancient Greek sphen, sphenos (= a wedge), referring to the wedge-shaped costal patch in the proximal region of the forewing.

Figures

FIGURE 19. Torodora sphenosa Park & Minet, sp. nov.: A, adult, female (holotype); B, right wings: C, antenna; D, head with labial palpus, lateral view; E, female genitalia (slide no. CIS-7360).