Thiotricha contracta, 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 : 76-78

Thiotricha contracta sp. nov.

( Figs 11H , 25F , 36D , 53B )

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA, Hainan Province, Wuzhishan Nature Reserves (18.91°N, 109.68°E), 710 m, 21.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu, genitalia slide no. LGE18130 . Paratypes. CHINA: Hainan Province: 11 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, same data as holotype except 20 , 21.iv.2014 (one male and one female are deposited in NHMUK); 1 ♂, Shuiman Town (18.89°N, 109.67°E), 650 m , Wuzhishan City, 15.v.2007, leg. Zhiwei Zhang and Weichun Li; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Jianfengling (18.73°N, 108.91°E), 940 m , 6, 7.vi.2007, leg. Zhiwei Zhang and Weichun Li, genitalia slide no. LGE 18140m; 2 ♀♀, Nanchahe (19.22°N, 109.43°E), 600 m , Bawangling, 10.vi.2007, leg. Zhiwei Zhang and Weichun Li; 1 ♀, Bawangling , 1000 m , 9.iv.2008, leg. Bingbing Hu and Haiyan Bai; 1 ♀, Mt. Limu , 700 m , 13.iv.2008, leg. Bingbing Hu and Haiyan Bai; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Wuzhishan Nature Reserves (18.90°N, 109.67°E), 740 m , 14.iv.2009, leg. Qing Jin and Bingbing Hu; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Shuiman Town (18.88°N, 109.67°E), 630 m , Wuzhishan City , 16, 17.iv.2009, leg. Qing Jin and Bingbing Hu, genitalia slide no. LGE 18142m ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Maoyang Town (18.94°N, 109.51°E), 225 m , Wuzhishan City, 19, 20.iv.2009, leg. Qing Jin and Bingbing Hu; 1 ♂, Forestry Bureau , 137 m , Bawangling, 24.iv.2009, leg. Qing Jin and Bingbing Hu; 1 ♀, Jianfengling (18.73°N, 108.91°E), 800−900 m , 4.xii.2009, leg. Zhaohui Du and Linlin Yang; 1 ♂, Bawangling (19.09°N, 109.11°E), 245 m , Changjiang County, 7.v.2013, leg. Yinghui Sun, Wei Guan and Tengteng Liu; 1 ♀, Bawangling , 25.vii.2013, leg. Haili Yu and Jiuyang Luo; 1 ♂, Bawangling , 26.vii.2013, leg. Haili Yu and Zhe Fan; 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Hongxin Village (19.08°N, 109.52°E) 430 m , Yuanmen Town , Baisha County, 16, 17.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu, genitalia slide nos. LGE 15022m , LGE15026f (one male is deposited in NHMUK); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Shuiman Town (18.88°N, 109.67°E), 620 m , Wuzhishan City, 19.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu (one female is deposited in NHMUK); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Fanye Village (18.87°N, 109.67°E), 430 m , Shuiman Town, Wuzhishan City, 22.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Dialuoshan Nature Reserves (18.73°N, 109.87°E), 980 m , Lingshui County, 24.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu; 1 ♂, Jianfengling Nature Reserves (18.74°N, 108.84°E), 1050 m , Ledong County, 27.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu; 1 ♀, Tropical Arboretum (18.70°N, 108.79°E), 40 m , Jianfeng Town , Ledong County, 29.iv.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu; 7 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Limushan Nature Reserves (19.17°N, 109.74°E), 640−700 m , 1−4.v.2014, leg. Tengteng Liu, Wei Guan and Xuemei Hu, genitalia slide no. LGE 18144m; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Limushan Forest Park (19.17°N, 109.73°E), 607 m , 24, 25.vii.2014, leg. Peixin Cong, Linjie Liu and Sha Hu; 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Limushan Forest Park (19.17°N, 109.74°E), 607 m , 12−17.v.2015, leg. Peixin Cong, Wei Guan and Sha Hu, genitalia slide no. LGE15025f; 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Wuzhishan Nature Reserves (18.88°N, 109.65°E), 742 m , 18−21.v.2015, leg. Peixin Cong, Wei Guan and Sha Hu, genitalia slide nos. LGE 15003m, LGE18145f; 3 ♀♀, Jianfengling Nature Reserves (18.74°N, 108.87°E), 770 m , Ledong County, 28.v−5.vi.2015, leg. Peixin Cong, Wei Guan and Sha Hu; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Yaxing Village (19.02°N, 109.40°E), 321 m , Nankai Town , Baisha County, 21.vi.2015, leg. Peixin Cong, Wei Guan and Sha Hu; 1 ♂, Limushan Nature Reserves (19.17°N, 109.73°E), 632 m , 1.vii.2015, leg. Qingyun Wang, Suran Li and Mengting Chen; 1 ♀, Wuzhishan City , 6.vii.2015, leg. Qingyun Wang, Suran Li and Mengting Chen; 2 ♂♂, Hongkan (19.08°N, 109.50°E), 540 m , Yinggeling, 24, 26.vii.2015, leg. Qingyun Wang, Suran Li and Mengting Chen; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Wuzhishan Nature Reserves (18.90°N, 109.67°E), 738 m , 27.vii−2.xi.2016, leg. Xia Bai, Shuonan Qian and Wanding Qi; 1 ♀, Limushan Forest Park (19.17°N, 109.73°E), 610 m , 4.v.2017, leg. Xiaofei Yang; 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Yinggezui (19.05°N, 109.56°E), 599 m , Yinggeling, 27−30.vii.2017, leg. Xia Bai, Ping Liu and Shuai Yu; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Mt. Wuzhi (18.91°N, 109.70°E), 732 m , 4, 5.viii.2017, leg. Xia Bai, Ping Liu and Shuai Yu; 1 ♂, Mingfenggu (18.74°N, 108.84°E), 954 m , Jianfengling, 10.viii.2017, leg. Xia Bai, Ping Liu and Shuai Yu; 1 ♂, Jianfengling (18.75°N, 108.87°E), 745 m , Ledong County, 11.viii.2017, leg. Xia Bai, Ping Liu and Shuai Yu; 1 ♂, Bawangling (19.11°N, 109.09°E), 135 m , Changjiang County, 9.i.2018, leg. Mujie Qi and Shuai Yu; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Jianfengling (18.75°N, 108.87°E), 810 m , Ledong County, 13, 15.vi.2018, leg. Ping Liu, Xia Bai and Shuai Yu, genitalia slide no. LGE 18632m ; Fujian Province: 1 ♀, Pikeng , 600 m , Mt. Wuyi, 27.v.2004, leg. Haili Yu, slide no. ZJL05251f; 1 ♀, Hexi Town (24.5°N, 117.35°E), 295 m , Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City , 28.v.2011, leg. Jing Zhang, genitalia slide no. LGE18123 ; Hubei Province: 1 ♂, Shayuan , 1260 m , Hefeng County, 15.vii.1999, leg. Houhun Li et al., genitalia slide no. LGE18151 ; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: 1 ♂, Shaoping Forest (22.06°N, 106.98°E), 190 m , Pingxiang, 27.vii.2011, leg. Bingbing Hu et.al.; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Shaoping Forest (22.06°N, 106.98°E), 280 m , Pingxiang , 18.v.−3.vi.2012, leg. Xiaofei Yang, genitalia slide no. LGE 18138m ; 1 ♂, Shaoping Forest (22.06°N, 106.98°E), 280 m , Pingxiang, 2.iv.2013, leg. Xiaofei Yang; 1 ♀, Dayaoshan Nature Reserves (24.15°N, 110.21°E), 1364 m , Jinxiu , 21.vii.2015, leg. Mujie Qi and Shengnan Zhao ; Guizhou Province: 1 ♀, Suoluo (28.43°N, 106.02°E), 390 m , Chishui, 29.v.2000, leg. Yanli Du, genitalia slide no. ZJL05358; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, Suoluo (28.43°N, 106.02°E), 240 m , Chishui, 22, 23.ix.2000, leg. Haili Yu; 1 ♂, Linjiang , 500 m , Xishou County, 24.ix.2000, leg. Haili Yu; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Xiannudong , 600 m , Daozhen County, 17.viii.2004, leg. Yunli Xiao; 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Guocun Village , 1300 m , Daozhen County, 20, 21.viii.2004, leg. Yunli Xiao, genitalia slide no. ZJL05156f; 2 ♂♂, Fangxiang Town (26.44°N, 108.27°E), 910 m , Leishan County, 2.viii.2018, leg. Meiling Zheng, Jiaqi Deng and Xiaoju Zhu; 2 ♀♀, Heiwanhe (27.82°N, 108.78°E), 528 m , Mt. Fanjing , 16, 18.viii.2018, leg. Meiling Zheng, Jiaqi Deng and Xiaoju Zhu ; Hongkong: 1 ♂, Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre (22.44°N, 114.13°E), 210 m , 17.ix.2009, leg. Houhun Li et al., genitalia slide no. LGE18137; Sichuan Province: 4 ♀♀, Wannian Temple (29.59°N, 103.38°E), 830 m , Emeishan City , 13, 14.vii.2014, leg. Kaijian Teng, Wei Guan, Xiuchun Wang and Shurong Liu, genitalia slide nos. LGE18139, LGE18169 ; Taiwan Province: 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, Chingshan , 1100 m , Taichung County, 31.viii−4.ix.1988, leg. J. Heppner and H. Wang, genitalia slide nos. MGCL-NK07m, MGCL-NK08f, MGCL-NK09m ( MGCL); 1 ♂, Bishan Hot Springs , 720 m , Taitung County, 26−29.x.1984, leg. J. Heppner and H. Wang, genitalia slide no. MGCL-NK11 ( MGCL); 1 ♂, Hueisun Exp. Forest , 650 m , Nantou, 24−29.x.1998, leg. Mey and Speidel, genitalia slide no. MNHU-NK180 ( MNHU); 1 ♂, Mt. Fu , 420 m , Yilan, Taibei, 31.vii.2006, leg. Houhun Li and Xicui Du, genitalia slide no. LGE18395; Xizang Autonomous Region: 1 ♂, Beibeng Town (29.25°N, 95.18°E), 810 m , Motuo County, 13.viii.2017, leg. Mujie Qi and Xiaofei Yang, genitalia slide no. LGE17144 ; Yunnan Province: 1 ♂, Qinlangdang Conservation Station (27.69°N, 98.27°E), 380 m , Gaoligongshan Nature Reserves, Nujiang , 31.v.2017, leg. Kaijian Teng et al., genitalia slide no. LGE18155 ; Zhejiang Province: 7 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, Wuyanling (27.35°N, 119.92°E), 400−930 m , Taishun County, 28.vii−2.viii.2005, leg. Haili Yu, genitalia slide no. LGE 18143m ; 1 ♀, Mt. Jiulong , 400 m , 5.viii.2011, leg. Linlin Yang and Na Chen, genitalia slide no. LLJ14093; 1 ♂, Xiguan (30.36°N, 119.48°E), 566 m , Mt. Tianmu, 19.vii.2014, leg. Aihui Yin, Xuemei Hu and Qingyun Wang; 1 ♂, Baishanzu Nature Reserves (27.73°N, 119.17°E), 1149 m , Qingyuan County, 15.viii.2016, leg. Qingyun Wang, Meiqing Yang and Ping Liu, genitalia slide no. LGE 18136m ; 3 ♀♀, Linkeng Village (28.53°N, 120.7°E), 387 m , Yongjia County, 23−26.viii.2016, leg. Qingyun Wang, Meiqing Yang and Ping Liu, genitalia slide nos. LGE18133, LGE18135; 1 ♀, Huangshayao Town (28.42°N, 118.82°E), 360 m , Mt. Jiulong , Suichang County, 22.v.2017, leg. Shuonan Qian and Ga-Eun Lee, genitalia slide no. LGE18154; 1 ♀, Laofoyan Village (28.37°N, 118.67°E), 400 m , Shuangxi Town, Xianxialing, Jiangshan City , 27.v.2017, leg. Shuonan Qian and Ga-Eun Lee, genitalia slide no. LGE18153; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Longwantan (28.22°N, 120.52°E), 127 m , Yongjia County, 21.viii.2018, leg. Shuai Yu, Mengran Xing and Chen Liu. CAMBODIA: 1 ♂, Bokor, Alt. 906 m (N 10°39'30.88" E 104°03'03.7") , 10.ii.2015, leg. Y. S. Bae, B. S. Park, S. M. Na, J. W. Kim and D. J. Lee, genitalia slide no. INU-NK23 ( INU); 1 ♀, Bokor , 19.viii.2013, leg. Y. S. Bae, Y. D. Ju, B. S. Park, S. M. Na and J. W. Kim ( INU) . VIETNAM: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Tam Dao National Park , 750 m , 15.viii.2005, leg. K. T. Park, M. Y. Kim & M. Y. Chae, genitalia slide nos. LGE 22102m, LGE22103f ( KNA).

Diagnosis. This species is closely related to T. pancratiastis , T. latistriata and T. projecta . Thiotricha contracta shows a wide range of variation in forewing color, but it is usually darker than T. latistriata and lighter than T. projecta . The male antennal ciliation is slightly longer than those of T. pancratiastis and T. latistriata . The male sternum VIII of T. contracta is somewhat similar to those of T. latistriata and T. projecta , but the posterior apex is more strongly narrowed compared to the latter two species. The male genitalia of T. contracta are diagnosed by the narrow uncus, the valva widest at middle and the vinculum with a pointed medial projection. The anellus lobe of T. contracta is slightly smaller than those of other related species. The female genitalia are similar to those of T. latistriata in having a densely spinous intersegmental membrane and segment VIII broadly covered with minute and round patches. The species can be separated from the latter by the ductus bursae broader and with the colliculum situated very close to the base of ductus bursae.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 11H ). Wingspan 7.0−12.0 mm. Head creamy white, often mixed with grey to fuscous. Labial palpus as in T. latistriata except male with segment II fuscous in basal half of outer surface and segment III often darker than that of T. latistriata . Antenna with scape creamy white, posterior margin fuscous; flagellum fuscous to black except basal half of dorsal surface creamy white, male cilia approximately three times as long as diameter. Thorax cream often mixed with grey, medially with two rows of fuscous or black longitudinal streaks. Tegula cream to grey, often broadly mixed with fuscous or black anteriorly and along inner margin. Forewing ground color dark brown to fuscous, apical area brown, apical spot small and round, apex falcate; markings cream, often strongly mixed with brown to fuscous, marking patterns as in T. latistriata except basal streak near costa more slender. Hindwing and legs as in T. latistriata .

Male sternum VIII ( Fig. 25F ). Subtriangular, posterior apex strongly narrowed and shortly bifid.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 36D ). Uncus narrowly tongue-shaped. Gnathos hook simple, moderately long. Tegumen approximately 4 times as long as uncus, anterior margin deeply concave. Valva with costa nearly straight after base, ventral margin gradually widening from base to middle, then slightly constricted after middle; distal half with dense hairs, rounded at apex.Anellus lobe small, elongate-ovate, about 1/7 length of valva; apical bristle slightly longer than anellus lobe, strongly hooked. Juxta with long hairs, slightly convex basally. Vinculum broad, middle of posterior margin narrowly produced and pointed. Saccus very short, subtrapezoidal, not exceeding tegumen pedunculus. Aedeagus with basal 2/5 slightly dilated, then almost uniformly elongate to subapex, broadened apically; a narrow, sinuous interior sclerite arising from distal 1/4, its apex rounded, exceeding apex of aedeagus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 53B ). Papillae anales weakly sclerotized, setose. Apophyses anteriores slightly longer than 1/2 length of apophyses posteriores. Segment VIII with numerous round patches, each patch consisting of minute spines; tergum VIII with deep indentation at middle of posterior margin; sternum VIII longer than tergum VIII, broadly concave posteriorly, broadly convex on anterior margin, anterior half covered with a spinous intersegmental membrane, lateral margins with a linear sclerotization near ostium bursae. Ostium bursae large, rounded. Ductus bursae broad at base, narrow from colliculum to middle, anterior half granular and gradually widening toward corpus bursae; colliculum situated near base of ductus bursae; ductus seminalis arising from posterior 1/4. Corpus bursae about 1/2 length of ductus bursae, ovate or round, granular; signum round, situated at middle, bulged inward, with minute denticles.

Variations. The species shows a wide range of variation in forewing color, and minor variations in the length and the width of forewing streaks.

Distribution. China (Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hongkong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Cambodia, Vietnam.

Etymology. The species name is from Latin, contractus (narrowed), referring to the sternum VIII strongly narrowed posteriorly.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Adults of Thiotricha spp. A, T. roseapicalis sp. nov., ♂, holotype; B, T. jianfengensis sp. nov., ♂, paratype; C, T. grandimacula sp. nov., ♂, holotype; D, T. microrrhoda Meyrick, ♀; E, T. rhodomicta Meyrick, ♀; F, T. pancratiastis Meyrick, ♂; G, T. latistriata sp. nov., ♂, holotype; H, T. contracta sp. nov., ♂, holotype.

FIGURE 25. Male sternum VIII of Thiotricha spp. A, T. jianfengensis sp. nov.; B, T. grandimacula sp. nov.; C, T. microrrhoda Meyrick; D, T. pancratiastis Meyrick; E, T. latistriata sp. nov.; F, T. contracta sp. nov.; G, T. projecta sp. nov.; H, T. scioplecta Meyrick; I, T. polyaula Meyrick; J, T. duristria sp. nov.; K, T. robustiseta sp. nov.; L, T. setangulata sp. nov.; M, T. macularis sp. nov.; N, T. vittaticosta sp. nov.; O, T. lineata sp. nov.; P, T. albalata sp. nov.; Q, T. celata Omelko; R, T. corylella Omelko; S, T. fuscobasis Omelko; T, T. trichoma (Caradja).

FIGURE 36. Male genitalia of Thiotricha spp. A, T. microrrhoda Meyrick, slide no. MGCL20; B, T. pancratiastis Meyrick, slide no. LGE16169; C, T. latistriata sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LGE18129; D, T. contracta sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18137; E, T. projecta sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18147; F, T. scioplecta Meyrick, slide no. LGE18161 (Scale bars = 0.2 mm).

FIGURE 53. Female genitalia of Thiotricha spp. A, T. latistriata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18150; B, T. contracta sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18133; C, T. projecta sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18148; D, T. scioplecta Meyrick, slide no. NHMUK010317545 (collected from India); E, T. polyaula Meyrick, slide no. LGE18384; F, T. duristria sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LGE18297 (Scale bars = 0.4 mm).