Mesophleps nairobiensis Li & Zheng, 1995

Li, Houhun & Sattler, Klaus, 2012, A taxonomic revision of the genus Mesophleps Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) 3373, Zootaxa 3373, pp. 1-82 : 43-44

Mesophleps nairobiensis Li & Zheng, 1995

( Figs 50, 77, 106, 136)

Mesophleps nairobiensis Li & Zheng, 1995 , J. Northwest For. Coll. 10(4): 31, 34, figs 10, 11. Holotype ď, KENYA: Nairobi , 2.v–30.vi.1991 (Li) (slide no. L93049 ; NKUM, Tianjin).

♂, ♀. Wingspan 8.5–17.0 mm. Head white to yellowish white, frons greyish brown, laterally black. Haustellum dark. Labial palpus segment 2 black, distally with white ring, mesial surface greyish white, 3 yellowish white, sometimes extreme apex with some black scales. Antennae yellowish white. Thorax, tegula and forewing light yellow to ochre, base of tegula black. Forewing towards apex off-white with small group of black scales, costal margin delicately edged dark blackish brown, at distal three-fifth dark area expanded, interrupted at distal threequarters by oblique white line running towards termen; discocellular spot small; cilia greyish yellow to ochre. Hind wing dark grey, cilia grey.

Genitalia ♂ ( Fig. 77). Uncus ovate, basally constricted, widest in middle; gnathos hooks very short, strongly approximated at base; posterior margin of vinculum V-shaped, terminating in pair of large outwardly-directed spines; phallus tapering from bulbous base to short, distinctly thinner distal part.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 106, 136). Dorso-posterior margin of segment VIII broadly triangular, with moderate field of microtrichia; apophyses posteriores about 1.5 times length of apophyses anteriores; area around ostium bursae with sparse, predominantly longitudinal wrinkles, sclerotized antrum short, only about one-third length of apophyses anteriores, evenly tubular to weakly tapered anteriorly; corpus bursae oval, length about two to three times greatest width; ductus seminalis thin, laterally from posterior part of corpus bursae.

Remarks. In M. nairobiensis the uncus is narrower than in albilinella and distally more rounded, semi-oval rather than sub-triangular; in coffeae it is almost circular. In the female nairobiensis differs from albilinella in the longer apophyses, shorter antrum, less wrinkled area around the ostium bursae and shape of the corpus bursae.

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya.

Material examined (4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, including 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ genitalia preparations)

Ivory Coast: 1 ♂ [abdomen missing], Dimbroke, 1915 (LeMoult). Sierra Leone : 1 ♀, Njala , xi.1931 (Hargreaves) . Mozambique: 1 ♀, Baía de Maputo (‘ Delagoa Bay’ ), 1884 (Druce) (paralectotype of G. palpigera Walsingham ) . Uganda: 2 ♂♂, Kampala, 5.vii.1923 (Hargreaves) . Kenya: 1 ♂, holotype (as above) ; 1 ♀, Nairobi , 15.xii.1990 – 1.v.1991 (Houhun Li) (allotype) ( NKUM) ; 1 ♀, 15.xii.1990 – 1.v.1991 (Houhun Li) (paratype) ( NKUM) .