Meleonoma cuneata, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species (II), Zootaxa 4881 (2), pp. 257-289 : 266-267

Meleonoma cuneata sp. nov.

( Figs 9 , 31 , 48 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E7CA86C9-E3D8-4822-8FAE-A2E7AB50762F

Type material. CHINA, Guizhou: Holotype ♂, Kuankuoshui (28.24°N, 107.02°E), Suiyang County , 1500 m, 4. VI .2010, leg. LL Yang, slide No. YAH12151 ( NKU) . Paratypes: 1♂ 2♀, 3–4. VI .2010 , other same data as holotype, slide No. YAH12303 ♀ ( NKU).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. rostriformis (Wang, 2006) in the forewing pattern, but can be distinguished in the male genitalia by the valva distinctly projected at about distal 1/4 ventrally, the sacculus with dorsoapical process reaching distal 1/4 of the valva, the aedeagus with a cuneiform sclerite distally, and the absence of a cornutus. In M. rostriformis , the valva is obtusely smooth ventrally, the dorsoapical process of the sacculus extends to before middle of the valva, the aedeagus lacks a cuneiform sclerite, but has a spine-shaped cornutus distally ( Wang 2006a: 14, fig. 6).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 9 ). Forewing length 8.0‾ 8.5 mm.

Head yellow. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with a blackish-brown line on ventral surface, with a blackish-brown ring apically; third segment about 2/3 length of second segment, with a blackish-brown spot at basal 1/3 on ventral surface. Antenna yellow except flagellum blackish brown on dorsal surface.

Thorax and tegula blackish brown, tinged with yellow scales apically. Forewing broad lanceolate, costal margin arched, apex rounded; ground colour blackish brown, with sparse yellow scales and three almost equally sized yellow spots; costal margin with inner yellow spot before middle, outer yellow spot at distal 1/4; dorsal spot at end of fold; termen with ill-defined yellow dots interrupted by blackish-brown scales; fringe blackish brown except yellow around apex and on extension of yellow dots on termen. Hindwing and fringe pale greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg blackish brown except tarsus yellow at basal two tarsomeres, femora of mid- and hindlegs with blackish-brown scales, tibiae of mid- and hindlegs blackish brown except yellow apically, mid tarsus with a blackish-brown dot at basal tarsomere, blackish brown on third and fourth tarsomeres, hind tarsus with basal four tarsomeres blackish brown except yellow at apices.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 31 ). Uncus elongate, straight, slightly wide at base, concave laterally near base, narrowed to pointed apex; dorsal surface with a lengthwise process. Gnathos sclerotized laterally, extending slightly inward, reaching anterior margin of tegumen, joined anteriorly by membrane. Tegumen widened medially, inverted Vshaped on anterior margin; lateral arm uniformly wide, rounded at apex. Valva narrow, parallel from base to before basal 3/4, distinctly projected at distal 1/4 ventrally, then narrowed to rounded apex; ventral margin narrow, sclerotized to distal 1/4; costa reaching before apex of valva, narrow; transtilla narrowly banded, slightly inflated distally, joined by membrane medially. Sacculus large and broad, wide at base, more than twice width of valva, slightly narrowed distally, sclerotized and with dense fine setae in distal 1/5; apex obtusely rounded, with an elongate digitate dorsal process reaching distal 1/4 of valva; ventral margin folded. Saccus inverted triangular, narrowly rounded at apex, nearly same length as uncus. Juxta broadly U-shaped; lateral arm excurved apically. Aedeagus 1.5 times as long as valva, straight, tubular, uniform, with two sclerites distally: one from beyond middle to basal 4/5, narrowed distally, with fine rumples, the other from basal 2/3 to before apex, cuneiform, gradually inflated along distal 1/3, densely verrucous, rounded apically.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 48 ). Papillae anales triangular, with dense short setae on dorsal surface. Apophyses posteriores approximately twice as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth tergite straight on posterior margin, slightly concave on anterior margin. Eighth sternal plate spiculate, posterior margin lined with long setae, deeply concave medially. Lamella antevaginalis with dorsal surface concave in U-shape medially, laterally bearing two large ovate lobes extending obliquely outward; ventral surface narrowly banded, laterally extended backward, meeting dorsal surface, densely verrucous, anterolaterally produced triangularly. Ductus bursae with basal 2/3 sclerotized, uniform, slightly produced and narrowed posterolaterally, distal 1/3 membranous; ductus seminalis from near corpus bursae, dilated basally. Corpus bursae ovate; signum absent.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin cuneatus, referring to the cuneiform sclerite of the aedeagus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 9–14. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 9, M. cuneata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 10, M. flavilineata, ♀; 11, M. forcipata sp. nov., paratype, ♂; 12, M. ledongensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 13, M. longihamata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 14, M. mecobursoides sp. nov., holotype, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm, except 9 = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 31–36. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 31, M. cuneata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH12151; 32, M. flavilineata, slide No. YAH15501; 33, M. forcipata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15011; 34, M. ledongensis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15510; 35, M. longihamata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15103; 36, M. mecobursoides sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15104. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 47–51. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 47, M. acutata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15315, 47a, enlarged view of signum; 48, M. cuneata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH12303; 49, M. flavilineata, slide No. ZXJ19137; 50, M. forcipata sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15518; 51, M. mecobursoides sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19157. Scales = 0.5 mm, except 47a = 0.1 mm.