Meleonoma proapicalis Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia, Zhu, Xiaoju & Tao, Zhulin, 2021, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China (III), with descriptions of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 303-333 : 310-311

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4995.2.5
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F060FBC-3CD8-4329-8B2A-F26FEFB16A5D
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5057129
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1D0E87CF-560A-FFCE-FF3F-FDCF2899769C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Meleonoma proapicalis Wang
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Meleonoma proapicalis Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 6 View FIGURES 3−8 , 24 View FIGURES 21‒26 , 42 View FIGURES 39‒43 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype • ♂, Jingdong (24.45°N, 100.83°E), 1140 m, 20.VI.2013, leg. Z.G. Zhang, slide No. YAH15400. GoogleMaps

Paratypes (2♂ 5♀): • 2♂ 4♀, 2–20. VI.2013, other same data as holotype, slide No. ZXJ19241 GoogleMaps ♂; • 1♀, Jingdong County, 1244 m, 5.VII.2013, leg. S. R. Liu et al., slide No. ZXJ19250 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. menglana (Wang, 2006) in the forewing pattern. It can be distinguished by the valva with a preapical spine on the ventral margin, the broad saccus as long as the uncus and the aedeagus 1.5 times the length of the valva in the male genitalia; the corpus bursae distinctly shorter than the ductus bursae and with one signum in the female genitalia. In M. menglana , the valva has an apical spine on the ventral margin, the elongate saccus is distinctly longer than the uncus and the aedeagus is about twice the length of the valva ( Wang 2006a: 135, fig. 224); the corpus bursae is longer than the ductus bursae and has two signa ( Wang 2006a: 135, fig. 225).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 3−8 ). Forewing length 5.5‒7.2 mm.

Head yellow except vertex mixed with greyish brown. Labial palpus yellow; first segment greyish black on outer surface; second segment with greyish-black scales on outer surface, with a greyish-black apical ring; third segment approximately 2/3 length of second segment, with scattered greyish-black scales, denser on ventral surface.Antenna: scape greyish black on dorsal surface except yellow at apex, yellow on ventral surface; flagellum greyish black on dorsal surface, yellow in basal 2/3 and greyish black alternated with yellow in distal 1/3 on ventral surface.

Thorax and tegula greyish black, tinged with yellow apically. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex rounded; greyish black; costal margin with a small rounded yellow spot at base; median fascia yellow, from middle of costal margin obliquely outward to beyond middle on dorsum, almost uniformly wide, with dense greyish-black scales; distal spot at distal 1/5, yellow, inverted triangular, with a greyish-black dot in middle anteriorly; plical spot black, at distal 2/5, touching inner margin of median fascia; discal and discocellular spots black, placed at inner and outer margins of median fascia respectively; fringe greyish black, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe greyish black. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, coxa of foreleg with sparse greyish-brown scales, femur greyish brown, tibiae of fore- and midlegs greyish black except yellow at middle and at apex, tarsus of foreleg greyish black except yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg with basal four tarsomeres greyish black except yellow at apices, hindleg with scattered greyish-black scales, denser on basal tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 21‒26 ). Uncus with basal 1/4 uniformly narrow, widened from basal 1/4 to middle, then slightly narrowed to apex, with dense setae; apex slightly concave medially. Tegumen broadly U-shaped, narrowed medially, obtusely rounded posterolaterally, heavily sclerotized along outer and anterior margins; lateral arm short, widened medially, narrowed anteriorly, blunt at apex. Valva narrow at base, widened to about middle, thereafter almost evenly wide to obtuse apex, with large setae from near base to before middle, with dense long hairs distally, ventral margin with a preapical spine; costa widened medially, narrowed from middle toward base and apex; transtilla slender, straight. Sacculus triangular, with a setose pad near dorsobasal corner, with dense short setae distally; dorsal margin with a fusiform sclerite on basal half. Saccus broad, inverted triangular, narrowed to rounded apex, as long as uncus. Juxta U-shaped. Aedeagus 1.5 times length of valva, slender, tubular, with fine spines running from 3/4 to distal 4/5 ( Fig. 24a View FIGURES 21‒26 ).

Female genitalia ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 39‒43 ). Papillae anales sub-quadrate, with dense short setae. Apophyses anteriores approximately 1/2 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternal plate medially concave to a narrow groove, laterally forming a symmetrical spiculate fusiform plate narrowed outward to lateral margin, with long stout setae on posterior margin. Lamella antevaginalis banded. Ductus bursae with posterior half heavily sclerotized, slightly wider posteriorly; anterior half membranous, inflated toward corpus bursae; ductus seminalis arising from junction between ductus bursae and corpus bursae. Corpus bursae distinctly shorter than ductus bursae, ovate; signum narrowly elongate, with several small teeth and one short spine.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin pro- and apicalis, referring to the preapical spine on the ventral margin of the valva.