Promalactis spinivalvaris Wang, 2019

Wang, Shuxia & Liu, Chen, 2019, Taxonomic study of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera Oecophoridae) V. The unistriatella species group, with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 4668 (4), pp. 588-598 : 595-596

Promalactis spinivalvaris Wang , sp. nov.

(Figs 6, 13)

Type material. CHINA, Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region : Holotype ³, Jinxiu County, 600 m, 24.IV.2008, coll. Hui Zhen and Li Zhang, slide No. DZH11078.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to P. heppneri Kim et Park, 2010 in the bilobed uncus with each lobe extended inward and crossing each other distally, but it can be distinguished in the male genitalia by having a costal process, the valva not bifurcate and with more than five short spines on ventral margin of the distal half. In P. heppneri , the costal process is absent, the bifurcate valva has a few small denticles and a larger apical spine on ventral margin near apex.

Description. Adult (Fig. 6). Wingspan 9.0 mm. Head with vertex snowy white, frons yellowish brown, occiput dark ochreous brown. Labial palpus with second segment dark brown on outer surface, yellow on inner surface; third segment white except black distally. Antenna with scape white; flagellum dorsally white on basal several flagellomeres, white annulated with black on remaining flagellomeres, ventrally dark brown. Thorax and tegula dark ochreous brown. Forewing with basal 2/3 dark ochreous brown, distal 1/3 dark grey; antemedian fascia white, extending from beyond basal 1/3 of costal margin obliquely to basal 3/5 of dorsum, slightly widened anteriorly, edged with black scales; cilia yellow around apex, dark grey along distal part of costal and ventral margins. Hindwing and cilia deep grey. Foreleg black, tarsus with white dorsoapically; midleg grey ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of long white scales apically, tarsus white at apex of each tarsomere dorsally; hindleg yellowish white ventrally, grey dorsally, tarsus white at apex of each tarsomere dorsally.

Male genitalia (Fig. 13). Uncus bilobed; each lobe wide at base, slightly narrowed to middle where it is curved inward, then sharply narrowed to pointed apex, crossing each other distally. Tegumen short, with a sclerotized triangular area medially, with large, round process posterolateraly. Valva broad triangular, with two small triangular processes apically, with spines of varied size on ventral margin of distal half; costa with a clavate process from base, bearing dense setae. Sacculus very narrow, about half length of valva; with overlapped band from beyond end of sacculus widened to distal 1/3 of costa. Saccus triangular, rounded anteriorly, almost as long as uncus. Juxta slender, rod-shaped, reaching middle of saccus anteriorly. Aedeagus slightly curved, shorter than valva; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin prefix spin - and the Latin word valvaris, referring to the valva with spines on ventral margin of distal half.