Mesophleps tephrastis (Meyrick, 1904) Li & Sattler, 2012

Li, Houhun & Sattler, Klaus, 2012, A taxonomic revision of the genus Mesophleps Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) 3373, Zootaxa 3373, pp. 1-82 : 50-51

Mesophleps tephrastis -group

Labial palpus recurved, segment 2 with large, sub-triangular, anteriorly-directed tuft, 3 long, recurved. Fore wing ochreous yellow, fuscous or grey, with or without indistinct markings. Pregenital abdomen with transverse bands of microtrichia on anterior margins of TIV–VII ( Fig. 22); segments VIII (♂) and VII (♀) usually unremarkable.

Genitalia ♂ ( Figs 84–86). Uncus variable, long, tapered or sub-rectangular; gnathos arms connate or fused to one; tegumen unremarkable, sometimes long, anterior margin concave, pedunculi simple, curved; valva simple; vinculum distally broad, posterior margin more strongly sclerotized medially, notched or extended to pair of bumps or processes; phallus typical of genus.

Genitalia ♀ ( Figs 10, 112–117, 143–149). Papillae anales specialized, long, narrow, well sclerotized, moderately set with relatively short sensory setae; apophyses posteriores and anteriores long; antrum variable, sometimes with long, narrow sclerotization; ductus bursae narrow, at most length of apophyses anteriores, corpus bursae large, oval to elongate, ductus seminalis from cervix bursae near entrance of ductus bursae, surface of cervix bursae set with microtrichia.

Remarks. Most of the fifteen Australian species placed in Xerometra Meyrick, 1904 , in the Australian checklist ( Edwards 1996: 108) are closely related and constitute a distinct species-group within Mesophleps . However, the type-species X. crocina Meyrick, 1904 , is not part of this group but is referable to the M. palpigera -group. One species, X. mesophracta ( Turner 1919) , has to be removed to Gelechiidae , Anomologinae , although no suitable genus can currently be suggested. X. acromelas ( Turner 1919) is here transferred to Pycnobathra Lower, 1901 , whilst Ypsolophus argonota Lower, 1901 , is transferred from Pycnobathra (in the Australian list incorrectly placed as a junior synonym of Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839 ) to Mesophleps . The genus Megacraspedus is restricted to the Palaearctic Region and is not represented in the Australian fauna. The generic position of M. calamogonus Meyrick, 1886 , from New Zealand and M. serica Meyrick, 1909 , from South Africa is uncertain, but neither belongs to Megacraspedus .

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 24). Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia).