Lecithocera wolframmeyi Park & Kim, 2020

Park, Kyu-Tek & Kim, Sora, 2020, Two new genera, Halista Park, gen. nov. and Mireana Park, gen. nov. and six new species of the family Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) from the Philippines, Zootaxa 4803 (2), pp. 316-328 : 321

Lecithocera wolframmeyi Park & Kim , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 A–H)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Philippines, Luzon, Naga, Mt. Isarog , 22 iii 2000, eg. Mey & Ebert, gen. slide no. CIS-7414, in MfN.

Paratypes: 2♂, Luzon , Mt. Makilig 400 m, 14–16 iii 2000, LF, leg. W Mey, K Ebert, gen. slide no. CIS-7415, in MfN .

Diagnosis. The new species is superficially similar to L. luzonica Park & Mey, 2016 , with two distinct discal spots on the forewing, but it is much smaller (wingspan 10–10.5 mm in L. luzonica ) and can be distinguished by the male genitalia: the cucullus slender, nearly parallel sided and the aedeagus with cornuti consisting of a large, heavily sclerotized bar bearing a triangular process medially and several large conic spines.

Description. Male. ( Fig. 3 A–C). Forewing length 4.0 mm.

Head: vertex shiny, yellowish white, mixing with pale orange-gray scales. Antenna long, about 1.2 times of forewing; basal segment elongated, yellowish white dorsally, dark brown ventrally; flagellum yellowish white, with dark-brown annulations sparsely. Second segment of labial palpus long, thickened, arched, yellowish white in basal and apical area; dark-brown scales broadly dispersed in median part; 3rd segment shorter than 2 nd segment, yellowish white on outer surface, dark brown apically.

Thorax: Tegula with shiny lustre, yellowish white to orange white. Hind tibia yellowish white, scattered irregularly with dark-brown scales on outer surface. Forewing ground color yellowish white, densely covered with darkbrown scales throughout; a pair of dark-brown discal spots at middle and end of cell; costa slightly arched around basal 1/3, then nearly straight; apex produced; fringe same as forewing ground color, often mixed with brownish scales.

Abdomen: No spinous zones on upper surface.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 3 D–H): Basal lobes of uncus ovate, directed outwardly, emarginated in V-shape on caudal margin. Gnathos rather short, strongly bent medially, sharply acute apically. Costal bar connecting tegumen and valva banded, not angled medially. Valva broad basally; cucullus elongate, shorter than basal part of valva, nearly parallel sided, with round apex; sacculus long, broad, extended to lower corner of cucullus. Juxta deeply concave on caudal margin. Aedeagus stout, as long as valva + cucullus, gently bent; cornuti consisting of a large, heavily sclerotized rod bearing a triangular process medially and several large conic spines.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Distribution. The Philippines (Luzon).

Etymology. The species name is honored for Dr. Wolfram Mey who has contributed for the fauna of microlepidoptera in the Philippines and provided valuable specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lecithocera wolframeyi Park & Kim, sp. nov. A, adult; B, labial palpus; C, head, dorsal view; D, male genitalia, prep. No. CIS-7414; E, aedeagus; F, gnathos; G, saccus; H, Cornuti. Scale bar: 0.5 mm