Mesophleps tabellata ( Meyrick, 1913 ) 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 : 31-32

Mesophleps tabellata ( Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov.

( Figs 33, 65)

Paraspistes tabellata Meyrick, 1913 , J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 22: 170. Holotype ♂, INDIA: Karnataka, N Kodagu (‘ N Coorg’), Dibidi, 3500 ft, 10.viii.1906 (Newcome) (slide no. 8544, Clarke ; BMNH) [examined].

Brachyacma tabellata (Meyrick) ; Clarke 1969a: 378, pl. 188, figs 3, 3a.

♂. Wingspan 13.5 mm. Head greyish brown. Labial palpus segment 2 black, dorsally with scale tuft, distally white, 3 about one-half length of 2, white, distally mixed with black scales. Antenna brown with greyish white rings. Thorax and tegula brown, mixed with a few greyish white scales. Forewing relatively narrow, greyish white, with scattered black scales denser in apical portion; distal three-quarters of costa with wide blackish brown stripe; discocellular, discal and plical spots indistinct.

Genitalia ♂ ( Figs 65). Uncus long, basal two-fifths constricted, distal three-fifths wide, rhomboid, caudal margin rounded; gnathos hooks shorter than uncus, with large bulbous base, distally slender, apex blunt; valva narrow, distal half wider than basal half; downturned distal part of vinculum about one-fifth its total length, sclerotized posterior margin partly destroyed; phallus with basal three-quarters bulbous, evenly tapered towards short distal portion with apex pointed.

Genitalia ♀. Unknown.

Remarks. P.tabellata is only known from the holotype male. The forewing lacks the oblique white line that in some species runs from the costa towards the termen. In the male genitalia the uncus and the vinculum are relatively long. The holotype was initially dissected by Clarke and embedded on a slide in a lateral position. They were later remounted in a dorso-ventral position to permit better access to the taxonomically important uncus; however, in this process some damage occurred to the vinculum. There is no doubt that tabellata is a valid species distinguished from its closest relatives by the long oval uncus. The male genitalia were illustrated by Clarke (1969a).

Biology. Host-plant unknown.

Distribution. India (Karnataka).

Material examined (1 ♂, including 1 ♂ genitalia preparation)

India: 1 ♂, holotype (as above) .