Torodora larseni Park & Koo, 2023

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo, Minet, Joël & Razafindranaivo, Victor, 2023, Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) of Madagascar: I. Descriptions of eighteen new species of Torodora Meyrick, 1894, Zootaxa 5264 (2), pp. 151-184 : 156

2. Torodora larseni Park & Koo , sp. nov.

( Fig. 4 )

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:14046C2A-EDBD-49D6-81B6-41E9DFD05679

Type specimen. Holotype: Male , [East] Madagascar, Andasibe, 950 m, 18°57′S, 48°25′E, 15–19 iv 2018, leg. D. Agassiz & K. Larsen; gen. slide no. CIS-7478 (in NHMUK).

Diagnosis. The forewing ground color of the new species is golden yellow. The male genitalia of this new species are characterized by the uncus, which is extremely broadened distally, forming a heart; and the juxta with unique, large, hat-shaped median plate and asymmetrical, heavily sclerotized lateral processes, which are narrowed distally, arising from lateral corners of juxta, and extend to about basal 1/3 of tegumen.

Description. Male ( Figs. 4A–C ). Wingspan, 18.0 mm. Head: golden yellow on vertex (which has lost most scales), pale orange on frons, with yellowish-white erect scales laterally. Antenna longer than forewing; scape elongated, yellowish brown dorsally and ventrally, yellowish white anteriorly and posteriorly; flagellum yellowish white, without annulations. 2 nd segment of labial palpus thickened, slightly arched, with dark-brown, rough scales dorsally in proximal 2/3; yellowish brown on outer surface, paler on inner surface; 3 rd segment slender, longer than 2 nd segment, strongly upturned, dark brown ventrally. Thorax: tegula and thorax golden yellow. Hind tibia with golden-yellow rough scales dorsally. Forewing slightly dilated distally, golden yellow, sparsely sprinkled with brownish scales, with a pair of blackish stigmata near end of discal cell; costa with blackish streak along margin in basal 1/4; ante- and postmedian bands absent; apex angulate; termen oblique, concave below apex, with dark-brown spots along margin; fringe concolorous with forewing; venation with R 5 to apex; M 1 nearly parallel to M 2 and M 3; M 2 remote from M 3 at base; base of M 3 remote from CuA 1+2; CuA 1 and CuA 2 stalked for basal half. Hind wing ground color paler than that of the forewing; venation complete; M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal half. Abdomen ( Fig. 4F ): spines on terga strong, dense.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 4D, E ): Uncus extremely broadened distally, somewhat heart-shape. Basal plate of gnathos rectangular, with nearly straight caudal margin; median process broad basally, with sharply pointed sclerotized apical part. Valva broad at base, narrowed towards middle; costa slightly concave; ventral margin slightly emarginated before lower corner of cucullus; cucullus elongated, expanded in basal half of ventral margin, narrowed toward apex; apex rounded. Juxta with hat-shaped median plate arising from below caudal margin; latero-caudal processes extended to middle of tegumen, large, asymmetrical, sharply pointed apically. Vinculum: a very narrow band. Aedeagus very stout, as wide as basal part of valva, strongly bent at basal 1/ 4 in ventral margin; cornuti consisting of rows of plates of different lengths.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar (eastern region).

Etymology. The species name is in honour of Mr. Knud Larsen who is one of the collectors of the type specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Torodora larseni Park & Koo, sp. nov.: A, adult, male (holotype); B, head with labial palpus, lateral view; C, head, dorsal view; D, male genitalia (slide no. CIS-7478); E, ditto, aedeagus; F, abdomen.