Melinopteryx bilobata, Imada, Yume & Kato, Makoto, 2018

Imada, Yume & Kato, Makoto, 2018, Descriptions of new species of Issikiomartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) and a new genus Melinopteryx gen. n. with two new species from Japan, Zoosystematics and Evolution 94 (2), pp. 1-25 : 5

Melinopteryx bilobata sp. n. Figs 1b, 2a, b, 6, 7

Material examined.

Holotype: JAPAN [HONSHU] 1♂ collected by YI on 3.VII.2016 at Ikawa-touge (1559m), Tatsuno-cho, Shizuoka Pref (Fig. 19: 3), NMNS.

Paratypes: JAPAN [HONSHU] 5♂1♀ collected by T. Kato on 10.VII.2016 at same locality as holotype, NMNS.

Additional materials: JAPAN [HONSHU] 1♂ emerged on 15.VI.2015 from larva collected by MK on 10.V.2015 at same locality as holotype, NMNS; 10♂ collected by YI on 3.VII.2016 at same locality, KUHE.

Type locality.

Japan, Shizuoka Pref: Ushikubi-touge (Honshu).

Diagnosis.

Aedeagus with a short ventral fin in male genitalia; female segment X with two reduced lobes of dorsal sclerite.

Description.

Head dark brown, naked and glossy on both sides, sparsely covered with brownish yellow piliform scales with dark yellow scales on vertex. Antenna slightly longer than forewing in male; with 67 (64-73) flagellomeres in males (n=8). Labial palp 2-segmented. Thorax grayish brown, sparsely covered with purple and brownish gold scales on prothorax with blue metallic scales, with dark yellow piliform scales on tegula. Legs covered with glossy fuscous scales. Forewing with brownish purple luster tinged with coppery, densely covered with golden luster over basal half of dorsum; cilia grayish brown, pale yellow on apex; ventral surface glossy grayish purple. Forewing length 4.9 mm (4.6-5.0, n=10) in male. Hindwing glossy brownish purple scattered with piliform scales on basal half; cilia grayish brown; ventral surface same as forewing. Abdomen sparsely covered with grayish brown piliform scales.

Male abdomen and genitalia (Fig. 6). Mid-dorsal length of segment IX ring about 1/5 of ventral length. Valva with a small proximo-ventral ridge; inner ventral margin broad without concavity; apical end obtuse. Aedeagus with a ventral protrusion at base; with three pairs of short dorsal fins; with a pair of small, lateral triangular fins extending horizontally. Tergum X with squarish medial part, with a pair of spines disto-dorsally.

Female abdomen and genitalia (Fig. 7). Segment IX ring strongly sclerotized, shallowly concave dorso-laterally; mid-dorsal length about 1/2 of mid-ventral length, without lateral protrusion. Segment X consisting of a pair of lateral sclerites and two dorsal sclerotized plates; dorsal plates small, well sclerotized, being behind dorsal side of segment IX. Corpus bursae membranous, bulbous, possessing four semicircular signa. Genital chamber armed with a large sclerite with four plate-shaped accessory sclerites.

Remarks.

Melinopteryx bilobata sp. n. is distinguished from M. coruscans sp. n. based on the following characteristics: aedeagus with a ventral protrusion at base; female segment X with a pair of small dorsal sclerites.

Etymology.

The specific name is a compound adjective in the nominative singular from the Latin words, “bi-” (two) and “lobatus” (having diminutive lobes), referring to a pair of small dorsal sclerites of the female genitalia (Fig. 7).

Distribution.

The Eastern mountain range of the Akaishi Mountain Range of Japan (Honshu: Shizuoka Pref.).

Bionomics.

The larvae feed on the thalli of Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dum. The habitat is a forest path along the mountain ridge of sub-alpine or cool-temperate for ests at approximately 1500 m of the Akaishi Mountain Range of Japan, where Fagus crenata Blume ( Fagaceae ) and Abies firma (Sieb. & Zucc.) ( Pinaceae ) dominate.