Promalactis apicitriangula Wang, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Liu, Chen, 2020, Taxonomic study of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) IX. The maculosa species-group, with descriptions of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4890 (1), pp. 38-66 : 53

Promalactis apicitriangula Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 15 , 32 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype ♂, Damenkou (22.62°E, 101.13°N), Taiyanghe Reserves, 7.VI.2015, leg. ZG Zhang, slide No. JYY17715 . Paratypes: 1♂, 9.VI.2015, other data same as holotype, slide No. JYY17714 ; 1♂, Taiyanghe National Forest Park, Pu’er City , 1450 m, 3.VII.2015, leg. KJ Teng, slide No. JYY17709 .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the costa of the valva with very small papillary lobes distally and the cornutus of the aedeagus with several differently sized spines distally. It is similar to P. medimacularis sp. nov., but can be distinguished in the male genitalia by the sacculus with distal 1/3 produced into a free process, and the slender and shorter juxta reaching the tegumen; in the latter species, the distal 2/5 of the sacculus is produced into a free process, and the longer and stronger juxta reaches half the length of the uncus.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 15 ). Wingspan 7.5–9.0 mm. Head with frons snowy white, vertex and occiput dark brown, with cream white scales laterally. Labial palpus with second segment black on outer surface, greyish black on inner surface; third segment black except white at base and apex. Antenna with scape white on dorsal surface, pale grey on ventral surface; flagellum black alternated with white on dorsal surface, brownish black on ventral surface. Thorax and tegula blackish brown. Forewing yellowish brown; costal spot black, sub-triangular, placed at middle, with a white spot on outside; distal spot black, placed before apex; other markings white edged with black scales: cell with a spot at basal 1/3, an elliptical spot at outer margin, and a smaller spot at posterior angle; fold with a spot at base, at basal 2/5 and at distal 1/4 respectively; dorsum with three white stripes: first stripe at base, second stripe from basal 1/4 and third stripe from middle extending obliquely outward to fold; apical spot ovate; terminal spot smaller; tornal spot white, margined with black scales; cilia yellowish brown. Hindwing and cilia grey. Fore- and midlegs with femora brown, tibiae black, with a white spot at base and middle, with a tuft of white scales apically, tarsi black except white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; hindleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Uncus wide at base, narrowed to middle, distal half distinctly slender, hooked, pointed at apex, with sparse setae lateromedially. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate lingulate, slightly narrowed distally, with scale-like protuberances on distal 1/4, with a narrow triangular apical process; basal arm shorter than mesial plate. Tegumen divided from posterior 2/5; lateral arm slightly narrowed to pointed apex. Valva sub-rectangular, slightly narrowed to rounded apex; costa narrow, with small papillary processes distally; sacculus almost uniformly wide from base to distal 1/5, distal 1/3 setose, produced into a free process bearing a short apical spine. Saccus shorter than uncus, almost parallel to rounded apex. Juxta with slender lateral arms, left arm slightly shorter than right arm, reaching before middle of tegumen; basal lobe about 3/5 length of lateral arm. Aedeagus longer than valva, straight; cornutus a stout shaft basally, consisting of several fine spines distally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet of the new species is derived from the Latin apex and triangulus, referring to the shape of the apical process of the gnathos.

Figures

FIGURES 13‒18. Adults of Promalactis spp. 13, P. ramivalvata, holotype, ♂; 14, P. aculeiformis, holotype, ♂; 15, P. apicitriangula, paratype, ♂; 16, P. curvispinosa, paratype, ♂; 17, P. medimacularis, holotype, ♂; 18, P. serraticostalis, holotype, ♂. Scales = 2 mm, except 15 scale = 1 mm.

FIGURES 31‒35. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 31, P. aculeiformis, holotype, slide No. DZH11036; 32, P. apicitriangula, holotype, slide No. JYY17715, 32a, enlarged cornutus, slide No. JYY17714; 33, P. curvispinosa, holotype, slide No. DZH11035; 34, P. medimacularis, holotype, slide No. JYY17800; 35, P. serraticostalis, holotype, slide No. DZH12115, 35a, enlarged cornutus. Scales = 0.2 mm.