Spinovalva, Bidzilya, 2022

Bidzilya, Oleksiy, 2022, Spinovalva gen. nov., a new genus for Gelechia delodectis Meyrick, 1938 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), Zootaxa 5209 (4), pp. 490-496 : 491-492

Spinovalva gen. nov.

Type species: Gelechia delodectis Meyrick, 1938: 3 [in Caradja & Meyrick (1938)], by present designation.

Diagnosis. The new genus can be recognized superficially by the very long labial palpus far recurved over the head with smooth-scaled and slender palpomere 2 ( Figs 4, 5 ). A membranous uncus, reduced gnathos, apically setaceous valva, short sacculus, very long juxta lobes in combination with phallic tube bearing ring-shaped apical cornuti, and very long bulbus ejaculatorius are characteristic for the male genitalia ( Figs 12, 13 ). The female genitalia are identifiable by sternum VIII with a medial zone of mictrotrichia and paired drop-shaped sclerites on both sides slightly above the cape-shaped antrum, and a serrated signum with a broad medial zone ( Fig. 11 ).

Comparative remarks. External and genital characters of the new genus suggest a possible relationship with Gladiovalva . Both genera share a slender smooth-scaled palpomere 2 of the labial palps, a weakly sclerotized uncus, reduced gnathos, broad tegumen with a deep anterior emargination, a slender valva densely covered with setae, short sacculus, and long bulbus ejaculatorius. The female genitalia of Gladiovalva are similar in all aspects to those of Spinovalva gen. nov. Despite this similarity, long lobes of the juxta and very short, unmodified vinculum distinguish Spinovalva from Gladiovalva . In the latter, the vinculum is comparatively broad, covered with short setae, is deeply emarginated posteromedially and fused with transtilla lobes in a ring-shaped structure around the phallic tube ( Bidzilya & Šumpich 2022).

Description. Head ( Figs 4, 6 ). Labial palpus strongly recurved, nearly 5 times as long as eye diameter, palpomere 2 smooth-scaled, 1.5–2 times as broad and only slightly longer than palpomere 3. Forewing elongate, ratio length/width at middle 4.5–4.6, apex weakly rounded; hindwing at middle as broad as forewing at middle, ratio length/width 3.4–3.6, termen weakly sinuated, apex comparatively obtuse. Abdomen. Male. Tergum VIII and sternum VIII ( Fig. 7 ) merged in basal half, tergum VIII tongue-shaped, slightly longer than broad, sternum VIII twice as wide as long, unmodified; coremata a paired tuft of long hair-like scales; sternum I+II ( Fig. 8 ) with pair of venulae, postero-medially with group of sensory setae (sensilla trichodea), apodemes well developed. In male genitalia ( Figs 12, 13 ) uncus trapezoid, weakly sclerotized; gnathos absent; tegumen at base broader than long, as long as uncus, anteromedial emargination deep, rounded; valva densely covered with long setae in distal 1/4; sacculus 1/6–1/5 length of valva, digitate, covered with setae; juxta lobes as long and 1/3–2/3 as broad as valva, apex weakly inflated, covered with setae, top pointed; saccus tapered, far extending beyond top of pedunculus; phallic tube with ringshaped apical sclerite, caecum rounded, distinctly inflated, bulbus ejaculatorius very long, anterior part of ductus ejaculatorius with long coiled ribbon-shaped sclerotisation. Female. Tergum and sternum VII unmodified ( Fig. 9 ), 1.5–2 times as broad as long; sternum I ( Fig. 10 ) with pair of venulae, postero-medially with group of sensory setae (sensilla trichodea), apodemes well developed. In female genitalia ( Fig. 11 ) tergum VIII evenly sclerotized, anterior margin broadly emarginated, sternum VIII with slender posteromedial incision to almost anterior margin, unmodified except for medial zone of mictrotrichia and paired drop-shaped sclerites on both sides above antrum; antrum cup-shaped; signum shaped as elongate plate with strongly sclerotized and toothed anterior and posterior margins, medial zone broad.

Biology. Host plant and immature stages unknown.

Distribution. China: Yunnan Province.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Latin spinosus meaning spiny, thorny and refers to the valva densely covered with setae that is characteristic for the new genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Spinovalva delodectis, adult. 1, 2. Lectotype, female. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Labels. 3, 4. Female, gen. slide 10/22, O. Bidzilya. 3. Adult, dorsal view. 4. Head, lateral view. 5, 6. Male, gen. slide 9/22, O. Bidzilya. 5. Adult, dorsal view. 6. Head and thorax, ventral view.

FIGURES 12, 13. Spinovalva delodectis, male genitalia. 12. Ventral view, gen. slide 70/22, O. Bidzilya. 13. Unrolling, gen. slide 9/22, O. Bidzilya (right process of juxta is broken).

FIGURES 7–11. Spinovalva delodectis. 7–10. Abdominal segments. 7. Male segment VIII, tergum (left), sternum (right). 8. Male segments I-II, tergum I-II (left), sternum I+II (right). 9. Female segment VII, tergum (left). Sternum (right). 10. Female segments I–II, sternum I+II (left), tergum I–II (right). 11. Female genitalia, gen. slide 10/22, O. Bidzilya.