Thiotricha rhodomicta Meyrick, 1918

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 : 67-72

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5449.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CAC513A2-D2B4-4E6E-BAB6-CCE6E054680F

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https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CC3667-9879-1D38-FF05-8C11DBF1E5F5

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scientific name

Thiotricha rhodomicta Meyrick, 1918
status

 

Thiotricha rhodomicta Meyrick, 1918 View in CoL

( Figs 11E View FIGURE 11 , 52E View FIGURE 52 , 64A, B View FIGURE 64 , 70C View FIGURE 70 )

Thiotricha rhodomicta Meyrick, 1918: 126 View in CoL ; 1925: 103; Gaede, 1937: 306; Clarke, 1969: 468; Ivinskis et al., 1984: 39. TL: Assam, India. TD: NHMUK.

Type material ( Figs 64A, B View FIGURE 64 , 70C View FIGURE 70 ). Lectotype ♂, INDIA, Assam, Khasi Hills , vii.1906, genitalia slide no. J. F.G.C. 8377 ( NHMUK); paralectotype: 1 ♀, same original data as lectotype except for September (genitalia not dissected) ( NHMUK).

Additional material examined. CHINA: Yunnan Province: 1 ♀, Nankang Forest Station (24.82°N, 98.78°E), 2009 m, Baoshan City, 16–18.vii.2015, leg. Kaijian Teng and Xia Bai, genitalia slide no. LGE18236 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Adult ( Fig. 11E View FIGURE 11 ). Wingspan 12.0−16.0 mm. The species can be characterized by the forewing with a small fuscous spot at basal 1/3 of costa and the dark base of dorsum. In the male genitalia ( Fig. 70C View FIGURE 70 ), the simple valva almost uniformly elongated, the small and narrow anellus lobe and the narrowly elongate apex of the aedeagus are diagnostic. The shape of signum ( Fig. 52E View FIGURE 52 ) is very similar to that of T. microrrhoda , but ductus bursae is narrower and colliculum is present in T. rhodomicta .

Distribution. China (Yunnan), India.

Remarks. This species is recorded from China for the first time.

The pancratiastis -group

Diagnostic characters. Most of the species in this group show sexual dimorphism in the labial palpi: in males usually stouter than those of females, segment I as long or longer than segment II ( Figs 1B View FIGURE 1 , 2C, D View FIGURE 2 ), segment II bearing long expansible hair pencil dorsally ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 ); in females very slender and often longer than those of males, with segment I very short. The male antennal ciliation is usually longer than the diameter of a flagellum. The dorsum of thorax often has one or two median streaks. This species group sometimes shows intraspecific variation in the forewing color and markings. The forewing is usually marked with longitudinal bands and streaks, or sometimes with large spots. The apical area of the forewing is often divided by the costal and tornal streaks, forming a triangular patch usually darker than the ground color. The costal strigulae are usually present and followed by a black round apical spot. The apex is typically falcate, strongly elongate or slightly produced downward ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ). The posterior apex of the male sternum VIII is usually bifurcate, but sometimes rounded, truncate or slightly emarginate. The male genitalia are variable in shape, but the valvae are usually narrow and the anellus lobes are often ovate or digitate. In the female genitalia, many species have a spinous segment VIII and a round signum.

Remarks. Thiotricha poecilopa ( Meyrick, 1918) and three other related species ( T. scatebrosa ( Meyrick, 1918) , T. asymmetricosta and T. aurea ) are included in this group based on the molecular and the morphological results of Lee et al. (2021), although they do not show modification on the male labial palpi. Both sexes of the species have the labial palpi with very short segment I and segment II without hair pencil. Instead, some of them ( T. poecilopa and T. scatebrosa ) bear a tuft on segment II ( Fig. 2E, F View FIGURE 2 ), which is unusual in the genus, and thus Meyrick originally placed them into a separate genus Semnostoma Meyrick, 1918 mainly based on such characteristics. In the maximum-likelihood tree of Lee et al. (2021), T. poecilopa was deeply nested in a clade including seven species of the pancratiastis -group, and it was found to be sister to T. celata Omelko, 1993 . Three other species T. scatebrosa , T. asymmetricosta and T. aurea were not analyzed in their study, but they are closely related to T. poecilopa and share some morphological characteristics such as the unmodified male labial palpi ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ) and similar forewing markings especially with a white spot at distal 1/4 interrupted by a short black longitudinal line. Except for the labial palpi, other morphological characteristics of the four species are typical to the pancratiastis -group: the long antennal ciliation in male, one or two median streaks on the thorax, a small black apical spot, metallic fringe scales on termen and the falcate apex.

Two species T. fusca Omelko, 1993 and T. indistincta Omelko, 1993 have been recorded from China (Park & Ponomarenko 2007), but the specimens were not examined in this study. They can also be included in the pancratiastis -group as the external appearance and genital structures are closely related to those of T. celata , T. corylella Omelko, 1993 and T. fuscobasis Omelko, 1993 described from the same region (Primorsk Territory of Russia).

Key to Chinese species of the pancratiastis View in CoL -group based on males

(Males of T. disciformis , T. magnalata , T. ferruginea and T. rosebasis are unknown.)

1. Forewing apex falcate.................................................................................. 2

- Forewing apex not falcate........................................................... T. nigrimaculata sp. nov.

2. Segment II of labial palpus with scale tuft ( Fig. 1E, F View FIGURE 1 )........................................................ 3

- Segment II of labial palpus without distinct scale tuft......................................................... 4

3. Segment III of labial palpus white banded ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ); forewing ground color brassy-yellow with white streaks and spots............................................................................................... T. poecilopa View in CoL

- Segment III of labial palpus without white bands ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ); forewing ground color dark brown, without white streaks or spots.......................................................................................... T. scatebrosa View in CoL

4. Forewing ground color almost entirely dark fuscous to black, basal 1/2 without markings............................ 5

- Forewing ground color not dark fuscous to black, or if dark fuscous to black with markings in basal 1/2................. 8

5. Labial palpus with hair pencil ( Fig. 1A, B View FIGURE 1 )................................................................. 6

- Labial palpus without hair pencil........................................................... T. simplex sp. nov.

6. Color and forewing pattern sexually dimorphic; head, thorax and forewing dark fuscous in male, forewing markings white....................................................................................... T. bicolor sp. nov.

- Color and forewing pattern sexually not dimorphic; head, thorax and forewing dark brown to dark fuscous in male, markings pink................................................................................................ 7

7. Wingspan 10.0−12.0 mm, markings somewhat vivid; sternum VIII with posterior 1/3 bifid; apex of valva narrowed........................................................................................... T. globularis sp. nov.

- Wingspan 8.5−9.0 mm, markings not vivid; sternum VIII with posterior 1/8 bifid; apex of valva rounded................................................................................................... T. xizangensis sp. nov.

8. Forewing apex with costal strigulae....................................................................... 9

- Forewing apex without costal strigulae................................................................... 35

9. Labial palpus with hair pencil.......................................................................... 10

- Labial palpus without hair pencil........................................................................ 38

10. Antennal ciliation extremely short.................................................................. T. celata View in CoL

- Antennal ciliation at least as long or 2–3 times longer than the diameter of flagellum............................... 11

11. Forewing with a large, black subtriangular patch at base of dorsum, gradually narrowed toward middle of costa but not reaching costa or costal streak........................................................................... T. trichoma View in CoL

- Forewing without a large subtriangular patch at base of dorsum................................................ 12

12. Middle of forewing broadly dark fuscous to black, somewhat forming a large trapezoidal patch; apical bristle of anellus lobe strongly angled, inverted V-shaped...................................................... T. setangulata sp. nov.

- Middle of forewing not broadly dark fuscous to black, or if so, not forming a large patch; apical bristle of anellus lobe not strongly angled...................................................................................... 13

13. Forewing with a large creamy white patch in basal 1/3, somewhat elliptical, this patch clearly separated from costa and dorsum after base............................................................................... T. vivida sp. nov.

- Forewing without a large creamy white patch in basal 1/3 separated from costa and dorsum......................... 14

14. Forewing with a dark transverse streak contrasting with light ground, obliquely and uninterruptedly running across wing.. 15

- Forewing without a dark transverse streak contrasting with light ground, if a dark transverse streak present, indistinct or broadly interrupted by ground color............................................................................ 18

15. A broad streak present from base to near apex along costa.................................................... 16

- A broad streak absent along costa....................................................................... 17

16. Wingspan 15.0–16.0 mm; a broad, oblique streak present on dorsum near tornus, running toward apex; apex of sternum VIII very narrowed and bifid in V-shape, leaving two slender tines..................................... T. semota sp. nov.

- Wingspan 11.0–12.0 mm; a broad oblique streak absent near tornus; apex of sternum VIII not strongly narrowed, shortly bifid in U-shape.......................................................................... T. anthracina sp. nov.

17. Forewing base black on costa; apex of sternum VIII deeply bifid, two tines very slender; apex of valva bluntly pointed........................................................................................ T. cultriformis sp. nov.

- Forewing base not black on costa; apex of sternum VIII not deeply bifid, two tines stout; apex of valva round................................................................................................ T. longisigna sp. nov.

18. Forewing marking extremely variable; aedeagus almost as long as valva, strongly narrowed in distal 1/2....... T. tylephora View in CoL

- Forewing marking without variation or slightly variable; aedeagus much shorter than valva, not strongly narrowed in distal 1/2................................................................................................ 19

19. Forewing almost uniformly colored with light brown, basal 2/3 without distinct markings.......... T. guizhouensis sp. nov.

- Forewing not uniformly colored with light brown, basal 2/3 with streaks or spots.................................. 20

20. Scape with black and white streaks alternated on dorsal surface...................................... T. pancratiastis View in CoL

- Scape without black and white streaks alternated........................................................... 21

21. Sternum VIII with lateral margins projected at middle....................................................... 22

- Sternum VIII with lateral margins not projected at middle.................................................... 23

22. Forewing with a brown trapezoidal basal patch on dorsum; lateral margins of sternum VIII projected at middle then gradually narrowed to apex, serrate after middle............................................................. T. polyaula View in CoL

- Forewing without a brown trapezoidal basal patch on dorsum; lateral margins of sternum VIII projected at middle then abruptly narrowed, not serrate after middle........................................................... duristria sp. nov.

23. Forewing ground color white to creamy white, with fuscous markings.......................................... 24

- Forewing ground color brown or fuscous................................................................. 28

24. Forewing subcosta with a spot at basal 2/5................................................. T. macularis sp. nov.

- Forewing subcosta without a spot at basal 2/5.............................................................. 25

25. Wingspan 12.0− 14.5 mm; sternum VIII bifid apically................................................. T. corylella View in CoL

- Wingspan 5.5–9.5 mm; sternum VIII truncate or slightly concave apically....................................... 26

26. Forewing costa with a broad band from base to near apex, attenuated beyond middle; segment III of labial palpus strongly upcurved........................................................................... T. vittaticosta sp. nov.

- Forewing costa with a slender line, broadened at middle of wing or disconnected; segment III of labial palpus not strongly upcurved........................................................................................... 27

27. Sternum VIII with lateral margins concave; valva with basal 1/3 more slender than distal part, ventral margin not densely setose................................................................................. T. lineata sp. nov.

- Sternum VIII with lateral margins nearly straight; valva with basal 1/3 of as broad as distal part, between basal 1/3 and 2/3 of ventral margin densely setose.............................................................. T. albalata sp. nov.

28. Sternum VIII with posterior apex round or nearly straight, serrate.............................................. 29

- Sternum VIII with posterior apex bifid, not serrate.......................................................... 30

29. Forewing with contrasting light base and dark distal 2/3; sternum VIII with posterior apex nearly straight; valva uniformly elongate; anellus lobe with a robust bristle at subapex....................................... T. robustiseta sp. nov.

- Forewing without contrasting light base and dark distal 2/3; sternum VIII with posterior apex round; valva narrow at base; anellus lobe with a bristle at apex, not robust............................................... T. nullisigna sp. nov.

30. Forewing with a white or cream streak obliquely running from middle of dorsum to costa........................... 31

- Forewing without a white or cream streak running across wing................................................ 32

31. A distinct oblique streak from middle of dorsum present; subapex of valva narrower than width of uncus; anellus lobe without a long hooked apical bristle.................................................................... T. fuscobasis View in CoL

- An oblique streak from dorsum usually indistinct; subapex of valva broader than width of uncus; anellus lobe with a long hooked apical bristle................................................................... T. rotundata sp. nov.

32. Segment II of labial palpus entirely creamy white............................................ T. latistriata sp. nov.

- Segment II of labial palpus fuscous to black in basal 1/2 or 2/3 of outer surface................................... 33

33. Sternum VIII with posterior apex deeply bifid; valva with ventral margin angled near base.................. T. scioplecta View in CoL

- Sternum VIII with posterior apex shortly bifid; valva with ventral margin not angled near base....................... 34

34. Sternum VIII with posterior apex strongly narrowed; valval apex round, without a short projection...... T. contracta sp. nov.

- Sternum VIII with posterior apex not strongly narrowed; valval apex with a short projection on costa..... T. projecta sp. nov.

35. Forewing ground white to creamy white, with a dark transverse streak at middle of wing............................ 36

- Forewing mixed with fuscous and golden ocher, without a dark transverse streak at middle of wing................... 37

36. Labial palpus with hair pencil; sternum VIII not bifid posteriorly; basal 1/2 of valva strongly curved inward............................................................................................... T. wufengensis sp. nov.

- Labial palpus without hair pencil; sternum VIII bifid posteriorly; basal 1/2 of valva not strongly curved inward........................................................................................... T. angustifasciata sp. nov.

37. Forewing distal 1/4 with a white spot interrupted by a black line; valva with basal 1/3 of ventral margin not angled; anellus lobe with apical bristle......................................................................... T. aurea sp. nov.

- Forewing distal 1/4 with a white spot not interrupted by a black line; valva with basal 1/3 of ventral margin angled; anellus lobe without apical bristle.............................................................. T. asymmetricosta sp. nov.

38. Males darker than females in forewing color; sternum VIII with posterior 1/4 bifid, between two tines V-shaped, blunt at apex; valva narrowed in distal 1/3; anellus lobe stout........................................... T. rhombiformis sp. nov.

- Males same with females in forewing color; sternum VIII with posterior 1/5 bifid, between two tines U-shaped, pointed at apex; valva almost same width from base to apex; anellus lobe narrow................................. T. karsholti sp. nov.

Key to Chinese species of the pancratiastis View in CoL -group based on females

(Females of T. robustiseta , T. lineata and T. albalata are unknown.)

1. Forewing apex falcate.................................................................................. 2

- Forewing apex not falcate........................................................... T. nigrimaculata sp. nov.

2. Segment II of labial palpus with scale tuft ( Fig. 1E, F View FIGURE 1 )........................................................ 3

- Segment II of labial palpus without distinct scale tuft......................................................... 4

3. Segment III of labial palpus white banded ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ); forewing ground color brassy-yellow with white streaks and spots............................................................................................... T. poecilopa View in CoL

- Segment III of labial palpus without white bands ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ); forewing ground color dark brown, without white streaks or spots.......................................................................................... T. scatebrosa View in CoL

4. Forewing ground color dark fuscous except base pink, with an oblique pink streak running from middle of dorsum............................................................................................. T. rosebasis sp. nov.

- Forewing ground color not dark fuscous or if dark fuscous, without a pink streak running from middle of dorsum......... 5

5. Forewing ground color reddish-brown, with a large fuscous spot at middle of wing above fold........ T. ferruginea sp. nov.

- Forewing ground color not reddish-brown, without a distinct large spot at middle of wing............................ 6

6. Forewing ground color almost entirely dark fuscous to black, basal 1/2 without markings............................ 7

- Forewing ground color not dark fuscous to black, or if dark fuscous to black with markings in basal 1/2................ 10

7. Color and wing pattern sexually dimorphic; female with white head and thorax, a distinct oblique white streak present on forewing dorsum........................................................................ T. bicolor sp. nov.

- Color and wing pattern sexually not dimorphic; female with dark brown to fuscous head and thorax, forewing dorsum without an oblique white streak................................................................................. 8

8. Forewing costal streaks cream............................................................. T. simplex sp. nov.

- Forewing costal streaks pink............................................................................ 9

9. Wingspan 10.0−12.0 mm, markings somewhat vivid; corpus bursae obovate or round, 1/2 or 2/3 length of ductus bursae....................................................................................... T. globularis sp. nov.

- Wingspan 8.5−9.0 mm, markings not vivid; corpus bursae round, slightly shorter than 1/2 length of ductus bursae........................................................................................... T. xizangensis sp. nov.

10. Forewing apex with costal strigulae...................................................................... 11

- Forewing apex without costal strigulae................................................................... 35

11. Appendix bursae present....................................................................... T. polyaula View in CoL

- Appendix bursae absent............................................................................... 12

12. A long linear sclerite present in posterior 1/2 or 1/3 of ductus bursae............................................ 13

- A long linear sclerite absent in posterior 1/2 or 1/3 of ductus bursae............................................ 14

13. Forewing markings without distinct variation, base with somewhat indistinct longitudinal streaks, an oblique streak present from middle of dorsum to costa; colliculum present............................................. duristria sp. nov.

- Forewing marking extremely variable, forewing base rarely with longitudinal streaks, an oblique streak from dorsum absent; colliculum absent............................................................................ T. tylephora View in CoL

14. Forewing with both a broad costal band and a large subtriangular or rectangular patch at base of dorsum, contrasting with light forewing ground, dorsal patch not reaching costal band...................................................... 15

- Forewing without both costal band and dorsal patch, if dorsal patch present, it reaches costa......................... 16

15. Base of dorsum with a subtriangular patch, broad on dorsum and gradually narrowed to fold; sternum VIII with lateral margins not concave; corpus bursae spinulate.............................................................. T. trichoma View in CoL

- Base of dorsum with a rectangular patch, not narrowed toward fold; sternum VIII with lateral margins abruptly concave at middle; corpus bursae not spinulate...................................................... T. disciformis sp. nov.

16. Colliculum present; ductus bursae without a short sclerite at base, not twisted or coiled anteriorly..................... 17

- Colliculum absent; ductus bursae with a short sclerite at base, slightly twisted or strongly coiled anteriorly............. 20

17. Scape with black and white streaks alternated on dorsal surface...................................... T. pancratiastis View in CoL

- Scape without black and white streaks alternated........................................................... 18

18. forewing with a broad basal streak near costa; colliculum slightly remote from base of ductus bursae... T. latistriata sp. nov.

- forewing with a narrow basal streak near costa; colliculum close to base of ductus bursae........................... 19

19. Sternum VIII and tergum VIII broadly covered with minute spines............................... T. contracta sp. nov.

- Sternum VIII and tergum VIII covered with minute spines in posterior 1/3.......................... T. projecta sp. nov.

20. Signum present...................................................................................... 21

- Signum absent...................................................................................... 38

21. Signum round or elliptical............................................................................. 22

- Signum not round or elliptical.......................................................................... 39

22. Wingspan usually larger than 16 mm, forewing ground color dark fuscous except basal 1/3 dirty-white, markings indistinct except costal and tornal streaks.......................................................... T. magnalata sp. nov.

- Wingspan smaller than 16 mm or if larger than that, basal 1/3 not dirty-white and markings distinct................... 23

23. Forewing almost uniformly colored with light brown, basal 2/3 without distinct markings.......... T. guizhouensis sp. nov.

- Forewing not uniformly colored with light brown, basal 2/3 with streaks or spots.................................. 24

24. Forewing markings vivid, dorsum broadly dark brown from base to near tornus....................... T. vivida sp. nov.

- Forewing markings not vivid, or if vivid, dorsum not broadly dark brown from base to near tornus.................... 25

25. Forewing with a dark transverse streak contrasting with light ground, obliquely and uninterruptedly running across wing.. 26

- Forewing without a dark transverse streak contrasting with light ground, if a dark transverse streak present, indistinct or broadly interrupted by ground color............................................................................ 29

26. A broad streak present from base to near apex along costa.................................................... 27

- A broad streak absent along costa....................................................... T. cultriformis sp. nov.

27. Wingspan 11.0–12.0 mm; ductus bursae with anterior 1/2 twisted.............................. T. anthracina sp. nov.

- Wingspan larger than 14.5 mm; ductus bursae with anterior 1/2 not twisted...................................... 28

28. Forewing with a narrow transverse streak at middle; corpus bursae shorter than ductus bursae, with a small signum.............................................................................................. T. semota sp. nov.

- Forewing with a broad transverse streak at middle; corpus bursae slightly longer than ductus bursae, with a large signum........................................................................................ T. karsholti sp. nov.

29. Forewing ground white to cream, sometimes yellow, a fuscous streak present from or from near base of dorsum, contrasting with light ground.................................................................................... 30

- Forewing ground brown to dark fuscous, without a fuscous streak.............................................. 33

30. Forewing subcosta with a spot at basal 2/5................................................. T. macularis sp. nov.

- Forewing subcosta without a spot at basal 2/5.............................................................. 31

31. Forewing costa with a broad streak from base to near apex.................................................... 32

- Forewing costa without a broad streak from base to near apex.......................................... T. corylella View in CoL

32. Forewing ground white, ductus bursae strongly coiled in anterior 1/2........................... T. vittaticosta sp. nov.

- Forewing ground creamy white to yellow, ductus bursae not coiled........................................ T. celata View in CoL

33. Forewing with a white or creamy streak obliquely running from middle of dorsum to costa; ductus bursae twisted near corpus bursae............................................................................................. 34

- Forewing without a white or creamy streak running across wing; ductus bursae strongly coiled in anterior 1/2... T. scioplecta View in CoL

34. A distinct oblique streak from middle of dorsum; signum small........................................ T. fuscobasis View in CoL

- An oblique streak from dorsum usually indistinct; signum large................................. T. rotundata sp. nov.

35. Forewing ground white to creamy white, with a dark transverse streak at middle of wing; signum round, consisting of minute denticles........................................................................................... 36

- Forewing mixed with fuscous and golden ocher, without a dark transverse streak at middle of wing; signum semielliptical or sub-rectangular with a central ridge...................................................................... 37

36. Ductus bursae very narrow, antrum weakly developed.................................... T. angustifasciata sp. nov.

- Ductus bursae broad, antrum absent..................................................... T. wufengensis sp. nov.

37. Forewing distal 1/4 with a white spot interrupted by a black line; corpus bursae pyriform, signum sub-rectangular................................................................................................ T. aurea sp. nov.

- Forewing distal 1/4 with a white spot not interrupted by a black line; corpus bursae narrow and constricted, signum semielliptical..................................................................... T. asymmetricosta sp. nov.

38. Scape and flagellum entirely black on dorsal surface; middle of forewing broadly dark fuscous to black, somewhat forming a large trapezoidal patch; corpus bursae obovate............................................. T. setangulata sp. nov.

- Scape and flagellum different in color on dorsal surface; middle of forewing not broadly fuscous to black; corpus bursae round............................................................................... T. nullisigna sp. nov.

39. Tergum VIII with a linear sclerite lying along posterior margin; signum rhombiform, placed in posterior 1/3 of corpus bursae................................................................................ T. rhombiformis sp. nov.

- Tergum VIII without a linear sclerite on posterior margin; signum long, not rhombiformis, placed near posterior margin of corpus bursae........................................................................ T. longisigna sp. nov.

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Lepidoptera

Family

Gelechiidae

Genus

Thiotricha

Loc

Thiotricha rhodomicta Meyrick, 1918

Lee, Ga-Eun & Li, Houhun 2024
2024
Loc

Thiotricha rhodomicta

Ivinskis, P. P. & Piskunov, V. I. & Emeliyanov, I. M. 1984: 39
Clarke, J. F. G. 1969: 468
Gaede, M. 1937: 306
Meyrick, E. 1925: 103
Meyrick, E. 1918: 126
1918
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