Lecithocera afrotella Park, 2018

Park, Kyu-Tek, 2018, Three new genera and ten new species of the subfamily Lecithocerinae (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from Cameroon, Africa, based on material collected in 1913 - 18, Zootaxa 4415 (3), pp. 561-579 : 564-565

Lecithocera afrotella Park , sp. nov.

( Figs. 9 , 15, 15a–b )

Type. Holotype: Ƌ, Cameroon, Efulen, H.L. Weber, Carn Mus. Acc 5781, Feb. 5 1916, gen. slide no. CIS-6864.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to L. ideologa Meyrick in facies and characters of the male genitalia, but it can be distinguished by its smaller size (11 mm vs. 15 mm); the features of the phallus which is much stouter with nearly same width to 3/4 length, then produced into a sclerotized triangular plate apically, and with a distinct conical spine on dorsal surface preapically. In contrast, the phallus in L. ideologa is tapered beyond the middle, without a dorsal spine apically and with different shaped cornuti (see Janse, 1954, Pl CXLI, Fig. 2 & CLI, Fig. 4 ).

Description. Male ( Fig 9 ): Wingspan 11 mm. Head covered with pale brownish rough scales dorsally. Basal segment of antenna elongate, creamy white dorsally, dark brown ventrally; flagellum creamy white throughout, without distinct annulations. Second segment of labial palpus normally thickened, gently recurved, pale greyish orange on outer surface, paler on inner surface; 3rd segment slender, slightly shorter than 2nd, strongly recurved, dark fuscous on ventral surface. Tegula and thorax densely covered with brown scales. Hind tibia with hairs above, and brown scales at base, middle, and near apex. Forewing ground color pale orange evenly and irregularly scattered with brown scales throughout; a small discal stigma at middle and a pair of larger ones at end of cell; dark brown basal streak extended to 1/4 of costa; costa nearly straight, slightly downward beyond 1/6; apex more or less acute; termen oblique, not sinuate; fringe grey; venation with R3 and R4 short-stalked, R5 absent, M1 close to R3+4 at base; CuA1 stalked with CuA2 near base. Hindwing as broad as forewing, greyish white; apex produced; termen oblique; venation with M2 absent. Female unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 15, 15a ): Basal lobes of uncus elongate-ovate, directed latero-caudally, deeply emarginated on caudal margin. Gnathos with more or less short median process, bent apically with acute apex. Costal bar connecting tegumen and valva slightly angled at middle. Valva broad in basal half with numerous setae on dorsal surface; cucullus slightly shorter than basal part of valva, parallel sided, densely covered with long hairs on inner surface, costal margin slightly concave medially, distal part tapered from at 2/3 of ventral margin, apex round; sacculus broadly developed in basal half of valva, connected to crescent ridge extending to lower corner of cucullus. Vinculum broad, with round apex. Juxta shield-shaped, slightly emarginated at middle, with half-moonshaped caudal lobes laterally. Phallus stout, about twice width of cucullus, with nearly same width to 3/4 length, then produced into triangularly sclerotized apical part, with a distinct conical spine on dorsal surface preapically; cornuti consisting of sclerotized plates in middle and distal part, and a large, long patch with numerous minute, short spines beyond half and smaller two short patches near base. Abdominal sternite VIII slightly concave on caudal margin ( Fig. 15b ).

Distribution. Cameroon.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the word Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 8–13. Adults, venation, and female genitalia of Lecithocera: 8, L. binotata Meyrick; 9, L. afrotella sp. nov., holotype, with its label; 10, L. dysmica sp. nov., holotype, with its label; 11, L. cyclisca sp. nov., holotype, with its label; 12, forewing venation of L. cyclisca, paratype; 12a: ditto, hindwing venation, paratype; 13, female genitalia of L. cyclisca, 13a, close-up of signum.

FIGURES 14–17. Male genitalia of Lecithocera: 14, L. binotata Meyrick; 14a, ditto, phallus; 14b, ditto, abdomen with hairpencil; 15, L. afrotella sp. nov.; 15a, ditto, phallus; 15b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII; 16, L. dysmica sp. nov.; 16a, ditto, phallus; 16b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII; 17, L. cyclisca sp. nov.; 17a, ditto, phallus; 17b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII.

FIGURES 1–4. Adults and venation of Homaloxestis: 1, H.cholopis (Meyrick), with its label; 2, H. subpallida Meyrick, with its label; 3, H. rawlinsi sp. nov., holotype, with its label; 4, venation of H.rawlinsi, paratype.