Lobesia acicula Phewphanh and Pinkaew, 2017

Pinkaew, Nantasak & Phewphanh, Phonepadith, 2017, First report on the Olethreutini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae) of Lao PDR with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 4358 (1), pp. 125-141 : 134-136

Lobesia acicula Phewphanh and Pinkaew , n.sp.

( Figs. 15 , 36, 38, 45−47)

Diagnosis. The forewing shape and pattern of this species is similar to those of most other Lobesia species with characteristic of forewing markings consisting roughly of transverse fascia in the basal half, a large circular blotch centered on the tornus, three pairs of costal strigulae before the apex, and a small round apical spot. The male genitalia of Lobesia acicula has a distinct gnathos that has a pair of pointed processes as in L. physophora (Lower, 1901) from Australia, L. genialis (Meyrick, 1912) from Sri Lanka, and L. fetialis (Meyrick, 1920) from India. In L. acicula , the processes are very long, narrow, needle-shaped, and have a smooth surface. In contrast, in other species the processes are much shorter with a surface of numerous aggregated sclerotized teeth.

Description. Head: Upper frons and lower frons white, vertex pale brown mixed with white, labial palpus porrect (Fig. 36), first segment white mixed with brown, second segment slightly expanded, brown to dark brown except white scales apically, third segment short and stout, white. Antenna long, reaching to beyond middle of wing length, scape white, pedicel and each flagellomere with basal half brown and apical half dark brown. Thorax: Pronotal collar, tegulae, and mesonotum pale brown, tegulae with transverse, dark brown band on basal third, mesonotum with narrow transverse band basally and medially, posterior crest pale brown to brown, hindtibia with long, yellowish white hair pencils on inner margin dorsally (Fig. 38). Forewing ( Fig. 15 ) length 6.4−7.0 mm (n = 4) in male; costal margin nearly straight in basal half, convex in apical one-third, with well-developed system of strigulae, apex rounded, termen strongly oblique and slightly curved; ground color yellowish white; basal patch with irregular transverse fascia, brown mixed with dark brown, with dark brown, subtriangular dorsum patch; median patch with large, transverse fascia extending from costa to inner margin, outer edge pointing towards wing apex, dorsal half dark brown, basal half brown, with dark brown circular mark surrounded by narrow, curved line, dark brown, with a narrow, blackish line from base of R 5 to CuA 1; tornus with subtriangular patch, brown mixed with dark brown, apical one-third with light brown to brown subcircular patch between R 4 and M 3, edged with dark brown distally, with small, dark brown spots margined with brown on wing apex, with a curved, narrow line from costa to termen near wing apex. Underside pale brown, with yellowish white spots along costa. Hindwing pale brown, becoming darker on wing apex. Underside light brown. Abdomen: Sternum II of male with a pair of large, lateral, elliptical pockets filled with modified scales (Fig. 47). Male genitalia (Fig. 44) with tegumen elongateovate, rather weakly sclerotized, with prominent apodemes for muscle M4, moderately large, curved lobes, pointed hook; uncus reduced to low bipartite projection on top of tegumen, sparsely setose; socii indistinct, forming lateral membranous lobes, sparsely setose; gnathos moderately sclerotized at base, with very long, narrow, slightly curved, sclerotized, needle-like process (Fig. 45); vinculum a weakly sclerotized band; juxta subtriangular; caulis long; anellus surrounding base of phallus; phallus long and slender, slightly curved medially, slightly tapered to apex, dorsomedially with group of spiniform setae (Fig. 46); valva long and narrow, ventral edge with a wide excavation, with group of spines; sacculus with moderately dense setae basally to medially; cucullus long and slender, dilated apically, with a row of moderately dense spines along ventral margin, except distal one-third with moderately dense setae.

Holotype. ♂, LAOS, Xaisomboun Prov. , Phar Saed, Phou Khao Khouay N.P., 18 ̊30′15″N, 102 ̊57′92″E, ca. 628 m, 3 Jan 2017, P. Phewphanh, pp0056 (genitalia slide PP00026).

Paratypes. 7♂, LAOS: Xiengkwang Prov., Phu Khun , 19 ̊23′18″N, 102 ̊25′33″E, ca. 1,325 m, 14 May 2010, N. Pinkaew, np4232 (♂ genitalia slide NP2794) . THAILAND: Chiangmai Prov. , Doi Suthep-Pui N.P., 18 ̊48'41"N, 98 ̊53'03"E, ca. 1,264 m, 30 Mar 2014, N. Patibhakyothin, np6296 (♂ genitalia slide NP2218), 18 ̊48'54"N, 98 ̊55'38"E, ca. 697 m, 1 Apr 2014, N. Patibhakyothin, np6383 (♂ genitalia slide NP2252). Nakhon Ratchasima Prov., Khao Yai N.P., 14 ̊25'55"N, 101 ̊24'05"E, ca. 700 m, 5 May 2016, N. Pinkaew, np8367 (♂ genitalia slide NP3313), N. Pinkaew, np8390 (♂ genitalia slide NP3314), N. Pinkaew, np8436 (♂ genitalia slide NP3315). Nakhon Nayok Prov., Khao Yai N.P., 14 ̊17'13"N, 101 ̊23'37"E, ca. 400 m, 2 May 2016, N. Pinkaew, np8528 (♂ genitalia slide NP3316) .

Distribution. Laos and Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet acicula refers to the long, narrow, needle-shaped socii.

Figures

FIGURES 7–16. Wing patterns. 7. Diakonoffiana laosensis, n.sp. (holotype male) 8. Do. n.sp. (paratype female) 9. Dicephalarcha herbosa (Meyrick, 1909) 10. Dudua aprobola (Meyrick, 1886) 11. Dudua charadraea (Meyrick, 1909) 12. Dudua tetanota Meyrick, 1909 13. Gatesclarkeana idia Diakonoff, 1973 14. Hedya iophaea Meyrick, 1912 15. Lobesia acicula, n.sp. (holotype male) 16. Lobesia aeolopa Meyrick, 1907.