Thiotricha curtisacca, Lee & Li, 2024

Lee, Ga-Eun & Li, Houhun, 2024, A taxonomic review of Thiotricha Meyrick, 1886 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of 84 new species, Zootaxa 5449 (1), pp. 1-222 : 39-41

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5449.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CAC513A2-D2B4-4E6E-BAB6-CCE6E054680F
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CC3667-981D-1D57-FF05-8CD0DBF1E14D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Thiotricha curtisacca
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Thiotricha curtisacca sp. nov.

( Figs 8F View FIGURE 8 , 24A View FIGURE 24 , 32C View FIGURE 32 , 49E View FIGURE 49 )

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Xizang Autonomous Region , Motuo County, 80K (29.66°N, 95.49°E), 2059 m, 7.viii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang, genitalia slide no. LGE18119 GoogleMaps . Paratypes. CHINA: Xizang Autonomous Region: 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as holotype except 2059−2089 m, 7−19.viii.2017 GoogleMaps , genitalia slide nos. LGE18120f, LGE18345f, LGE18382f; 1 ♂, Dexing Village (29.32°N, 95.30°E), 833 m, Motuo County, 18.viii.2017 GoogleMaps ,

leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang (deposited in NHMUK); 2 ♀♀, 80 K (29.66°N, 95.49°E), 2076 m, Motuo County, 9.viii.2018 GoogleMaps , leg. Mujie Qi; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Pailong Town (30.01°N, 95.00°E), 2031 m, Linzhi County, 17.viii.2018 GoogleMaps , leg. Mujie Qi (one female is deposited in NHMUK) .

Diagnosis. The species can be distinguished from T. spatulativalva and T. uncaticula by the darker forewing with a pink streak running from the lower angle of discal cell toward apex. Other species have two dark fuscous streaks running from fold and those are much longer than the pink streak of T. curtisacca . The male genitalia of T. curtisacca are easily distinguished from the two species by the shorter anellus lobe and saccus. Also, the male sternum VIII of T. curtisacca is slightly concave on the posterior apex whereas other two species are not. In the female genitalia, the base of ductus bursae is narrower and the anterior margin of sternum VIII is less concave compared to those of T. spatulativalva and T. uncaticula .

Description. Adult ( Fig. 8F View FIGURE 8 ). Wingspan 9.0−11.0 mm. Head fuscous in male, light ochre to fuscous in female. Labial palpus with segment I and II light ochre, apex of segment II dark fuscous; segment III slightly shorter than II, dark fuscous. Antenna with scape light ochre, dark fuscous on posterior margin; flagellum dark fuscous, female usually with basal 1/5 of dorsal surface light ochre, male cilia slightly longer than diameter. Thorax brown to dark fuscous. Tegula brown, with anterior margin black. Forewing dark brown, anterior 1/3 strongly mixed with light brown or brown, anterior edge of costa black, apical spot small and surrounded by pink scales, termen pink, markings black or pink: two black, outwardly oblique costal streaks from distal 1/3 and 1/4 respectively, running toward apical spot, between two streaks filled with pink scales; beyond second costal streak a dark brown triangular patch; beyond the patch a slender costal streak mixed with white and pink, running obliquely inward, reaching posterior end of second costal streak, sometimes indistinct; a pink (sometimes strongly mixed with cream) streak running from lower angle of discal cell toward apex, meeting second costal streak before apex, bordered anteriorly by a black streak; a black spot at middle of termen; fringe on costa cream with basal, subterminal and terminal dark fuscous bands, on termen dark fuscous with base pink, on dorsum dark fuscous. Hindwing dark fuscous, fringe dark fuscous except apical area tinged with pink and white. Legs ochre, sometimes mixed with fuscous; fore femur, tibia and tarsus dark fuscous on outer surface; mid and hind tarsi dark fuscous except apex.

Male sternum VIII ( Fig. 24A View FIGURE 24 ). Approximately 1/6 length of abdomen, broad, gradually narrowing toward posterior apex; posterior apex slightly concave medially.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 32C View FIGURE 32 ). Uncus spatulate, setose along apical margin. Gnathos hook moderately long, simple. Tegumen approximately 3 times as long as uncus. Valva curved inward, slender in basal 2/3, distally spatulate and setose, rounded at apex. Anellus lobe very slender, approximately 1/4 length of valva, slightly dilated apically; apical bristle 1/2 length of anellus lobe, curved inward. Juxta with a hummock-like broad process, sparsely setose. Vinculum produced at middle of posterior margin in triangle shape. Saccus very short, blunt. Aedeagus short, with basal 1/2 globular, narrow after base; distal 1/4 abruptly constricted, with a short, slender extension arising from distal 1/4.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 49E View FIGURE 49 ). Papillae anales heavily sclerotized, sharply pointed and hooked apically.Apophyses anteriores slightly shorter than apophyses posteriores. Tergum VIII very short. Sternum VIII broad, anterior margin broadly concave. Ostium bursae U-shaped. Ductus bursae slender at base, gradually broadening toward corpus bursae, twisted in anterior 1/3; colliculum near base, ductus seminalis arising from posterior 1/4. Corpus bursae obovate, 1/3 length of ductus bursae; signum situated at posterior 1/3, with basal plate rounded, consisting of tongue- and cone-shaped thin projections arising from the plate.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin, curtus (short) and saccus (saccus), referring to the short saccus.

The pontifera -group

Diagnostic characters. The members of this group usually have white to ochreous forewings marked with dark longitudinal bands and oblique streaks. The labial palpi are not sexually dimorphic and the male antennal cilia are typically shorter than the diameter of the flagellum, similar to those of Polyhymno species. In the male abdomen, the tergum often has a linear sclerotization between segment II and III. Valvae are usually narrow and somewhat simple, but some species have a wrinkled basal half and projections of various length on the costal margin. The anellus lobes are often greatly reduced. The female genitalia of this group are characterized by having an oblong or elliptical sclerotization on the sternum VIII. The signum is often absent; but if present, it bears a thorn- or horn-like process as in the related genus Palumbina , or it is round with minute denticles as in the pancratiastis -group.

Key to Chinese species of the pontifera View in CoL -group

(The female of T. brevissima is unknown)

1. Forewing with a broad band or line from base to near apex along costa or near costa................................ 2

- Forewing without a broad band or line from base to near apex................................................. 11

2. Forewing with a longitudinal line below costa from base to basal 2/3 or 3/4....................................... 3

- Forewing without a longitudinal line below costa............................................................ 4

3. The longitudinal line near costa narrow, running from base to basal 2/3; valva with a digitate projection at base of costa, without long setae on inner margin; signum and appendix bursae absent.............................. T. digitiprojecta sp. nov.

- The longitudinal line near costa broad, running from base to basal 3/4; valva without a projection on costa, with long setae on inner margin; signum and appendix bursae present............................................ T. truncata sp. nov.

4. Forewing span usually 9.5–13 mm; ground color white or dirty white, sometimes mixed with yellow; male sternum VIII with posterior apex not concave or branched off; signum small and round, with minute denticles.......................... 5

- Forewing span usually 7.0– 9.5 mm, sometimes 10.0 mm; ground color usually light yellow to golden ochre, sometimes cream; male sternum VIII with posterior apex deeply concave or branched off; signum absent or if present with a thorn- or horn-like process............................................................................................. 6

5. Labial palpus mixed with fuscous; valva broad, with a spine-like projection at middle of costa; anellus lobe with basal 1/4 narrowed; female sternum VIII with somewhat indistinct, narrow oblong sclerotization above ostium bursae..... T. pontifera View in CoL

- Labial palpus white; valva narrow, without a projection on costa; anellus lobe with basal 1/2 constricted; female sternum VIII with broad oblong sclerotization above ostium bursae...................................... T. candidipalpa sp. nov.

6. Forewing with a costal band interrupted by a short costal streak at middle; valva strongly wrinkled; appendix bursae present. ................................................................................................... 7

- Forewing with a costal band or costal line not interrupted by a short costal streak at middle; valva slightly or not wrinkled; appendix bursae absent................................................................................. 9

7. Thorax light yellow to golden ochre, with a fuscous median line; tegula broadly mixed with fuscous anteriorly; signum large, situated near entrance of ductus bursae..................................................... T. cornuata sp. nov.

- Thorax dark fuscous with lateral margins light yellow; tegula slightly mixed with fuscous anteriorly; signum small, situated at middle or posterior 1/3 of corpus bursae................................................................... 8

8. An oblique streak arising from dorsum often reaching costal band; valva slightly constricted apically; signum without a linear line................................................................................ T. spinesigna sp. nov.

- An oblique streak arising from dorsum not reaching costal band; valva not constricted apically; signum with a linear line extended to entrance of corpus bursae................................................ T. angusteproducta sp. nov.

9. Male sternum VIII irregularly trifid; valva wrinkled; signum present........................... T. minorirugata sp. nov.

- Male sternum VIII bifid or regularly trifid; valva not wrinkled; signum absent.................................... 10

10. Male flagellum slightly thicker than that of female; forewing ground color golden ochre; male sternum VIII bifid posteriorly; gnathos long; valva uniformly elongate; ductus bursae with a very small, teardrop-shaped sclerotization near base......................................................................................... T. crassiflagella sp. nov.

- Male flagellum not thicker than that of female; forewing ground color cream to light yellow; male sternum VIII regularly trifid posteriorly; gnathos greatly reduced; valva expanded in basal 1/2; ductus bursae without sclerotization near base............................................................................................. T. tridentata sp. nov.

11. Forewing ground color dark fuscous marked with white and light ochre; valva with a minute projection on costa.............................................................................................. T. brevissima sp. nov.

- Forewing ground color light yellow marked with fuscous; valva without a projection............. T. peniticoncava sp. nov.