Meleonoma longiprocessa, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4838 (3), pp. 331-357 : 337-338

Meleonoma longiprocessa sp. nov.

( Figs. 6 , 22 )

Type material. CHINA, Guizhou: Holotype ♂, Dongdai (25.68°N, 107.80°E), Shuizu Town , Limingguan , Libo County, 720 m, 19.VII.2015, leg. MQ Yang & GE Lee, slide No. YAH15420 . Paratype: Guangxi: 1♂, Mt. Daming, Nanning , 1200 m, 7.VIII.2011, leg. SL Hao & YH Sun.

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the aedeagus with an extremely long, curved process that extends from middle far exceeding its apex in the male genitalia. It is similar to M. tianmushana sp. nov. in the forewing pattern, but can be distinguished by the valva with a hooked process near the base of the ventral margin, and the sacculus not bilobed; in M. tianmushana , the valva has a papillary process near the base of the ventral margin, and the sacculus is bilobed.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 6 ). Forewing length 4.0– 4.3 mm.

Head with frons yellowish white, vertex greyish white mixed with blackish brown scales. Labial palpus yellowish white; first and second segments with greyish brown scales on outer surface, forming a greyish brown ring apically; third segment with a blackish grey spot at middle dorsally, 2/3 as long as second segment. Antenna yellow; scape with scattered greyish black scales dorsally; flagellum annulated with blackish brown.

Thorax yellow; tegula greyish black, mixed with yellow scales. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex pointed; ground color yellow, mixed with greyish black scales, with a wide rectangular greyish black stripe on basal 1/3 of costal margin; costal spot greyish black, semicircular, situated beyond middle; apical patch greyish black, extending from distal part of costal margin along termen to tornal spot; tornal spot greyish black, relatively small, narrowly joined with apical patch on termen; discal, plical and discocellular spots black; dorsum with a greyish black spot at base; fringe blackish grey. Hindwing and fringe blackish brown. Legs pale yellow; on ventral surface, femora of fore- and midlegs blackish brown apically, fore tarsus blackish brown except pale yellow at apices of basal two tarsomeres, tarsi of mid- and hindlegs blackish brown, pale yellow at apex of each tarsomere, all tibiae blackish brown except pale yellow at apex.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 22 ). Uncus wide at base, narrowed to basal 1/3; distal 2/3 straight, slender, narrowed to apex. Tegumen semicircular, narrowed medially; lateral arm same width, obtuse anteriorly. Valva elongate subovate, evenly narrow basally, widened medially, rounded at apex; ventral margin heavily sclerotized basally, with long setae distally, with a hooked process near base curving ventrad; costa concave and with long setae basally; transtilla short, triangular, narrowed to pointed apex. Sacculus wide at base, slightly narrowed to basal 3/4; distal 1/4 narrowed triangularly, heavily sclerotized, densely setose, obliquely truncate and serrate dorsally, sub-rounded apically. Saccus wide at base, narrowed to middle, distal half parallel to before rounded apex; as long as uncus. Juxta slender, arched. Aedeagus sclerotized in basal half, membranous in distal half; very long, curved process arising from middle and far exceeding its apex, narrowed from base to apex, with short irregular sclerites basally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Guangxi, Guizhou).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin longi- and processus, referring to the large elongate process of the aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURES 3‒8. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 3, M. catenata sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 4, M. dilativalva sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 5, M. dorsibacilliformis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 6, M. longiprocessa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, M. parvissima sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, M. tenuiuncata sp. nov., holotype, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 19‒24. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 19, M. catenata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15172; 20, M. dilativalva sp. nov., slide No. YAH15361; 21, M. dorsibacilliformis sp. nov., slide No. YAH15415; 22, M. longiprocessa sp. nov., slide No. YAH15420; 23, M. parvissima sp. nov., slide No. YAH15390; 24, M. tenuiuncata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15410.All holotypes. Scales = 0.2 mm.