Lecithocera dysmica 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 : 565-567

Lecithocera dysmica Park , sp. nov.

( Figs. 10 , 16, 16a–b )

Type. Holotype: Ƌ, Cameroon, Efulen, H.L. Weber, Carn Mus. Acc 5251, March 16 1914, gen. slide no. CIS-6865 . Paratype: 1 Ƌ, same locality, Acc 4794, Sept. 20 1912, gen. slide no. CIS-6875.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from its allies, L. aenicta (Janse) , L. ideologa Meyrick , and L. afrotella sp. nov. by the distinct black stigmata before middle and at end of discal cell of the forewing, venation with M2 and M3 stalked in the forewing as Amaloxestis Gozmány , and Neocorodes Meyrick , differing from that of Lecithocera . The male genitalia are characterized by the nearly flattened caudal margin of the basal lobes of the uncus, the cucullus shortly tapered from beyond 2/3, the juxta deeply emarginated into a V-shape on the caudal margin, and the phallus with a pair of distinct conical spines preapically.

Description. Male ( Fig. 10 ). Wingspan 15 mm. Head brown on dorsal surface, with orange-white erect scales laterally. Basal segment of antenna elongate, slender, broadened in distal half, creamy white dorsally with brown scales anteriorly; flagellum slightly broadened in about basal 10 segments, with distinct brown annulations. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, gently recurved, pale greyish orange speckling with brown scales on outer surface; 3rd segment slender, as long as 2nd, with similar color pattern as 2nd segment. Tegula and thorax densely covered with brown scales. Hind tibia with hairs above and with brown scales at base, middle, and near apex. Forewing slightly broader distally; ground color pale orange, irregularly scattered with brown scales throughout; a distinct black discal stigma at middle and a larger, rounded one at end of cell; costa nearly straight, slightly bent downward beyond 1/5; apex more or less rounded; termen oblique, with black line along margin; fringe greyish brown, with yellow narrow basal line; venation with R1 arising from before middle; distance between origins of R1 and R2 about 1.5 times that between R2 and R3, R3 stalked with R4+ 5 in basal 1/3, R4 and R5 stalked to beyond 2/3 length, R5 to apex, M1 remote from R3+4 at base; M2 and M3 stalked in basal 1/5, CuA1 arising from between M3 and CuA2 at base; cell closed. Hindwing as broad as forewing, greyish white; apex produced; termen oblique; venation with M2 absent, M3 and CuA1 stalked. Female unknown.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 16, 16a ): Basal lobes of uncus elongate-ovate, narrow, directed laterally, caudal margin nearly straight. Gnathos with short median process, bent apically with acute apex. Costal bar connecting tegumen and valva not angled at middle. Valva broad in basal half, with numerous hairs in rows from upper corner of cucullus to termination of sacculus on dorsal surface; cucullus shorter than basal part of valva, with bundle of long stiff hairs basally, parallel sided, with dense hairs in lower half on inner surface, costal margin slightly concave beyond middle, distal part short, tapering from at 2/3 of ventral margin with round apex; apex tufted with curved hairs; sacculus broadly developed, terminating near middle of basal part of valva, then with rows of stiff hairs from termination of costal bar to termination of sacculus on ventral margin. Vinculum broad, with round apex. Juxta shield-shaped, deeply concave on caudal margin medially, with digitate latero-caudal lobes bearing short setae at apex. Phallus stout, as wide as base of valva basally, tapered distally; with a pair of strong conical spines preapically; cornuti consisting of three patches of spines; long patch beyond middle and two shorter ones with longer spines before middle. Abdominal sternite VIII slightly concave on caudal margin ( Fig. 16b ).

Distribution. Cameroon.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek, dysmikos (=western), referring to the western part of Central 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.