Epichostis proximitympanias Wang, 2009

Yuan, G. X. & Wang, S. X., 2009, Checklist of the genus Epichostis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) of the world, with descriptions of 11 new species from China, Journal of Natural History 43 (35 - 36), pp. 2141-2165 : 2151-2152

Epichostis proximitympanias Wang , sp. nov.

( Figures 2D , 3D )

Holotype

Male, Simao City (22°48′ N, 100°58′ E), Yunnan Province, 1500 m, 22 October 2000, leg. Wenjun Bu, genitalia slide No. YGX07098.

Paratypes

2 males, Mengla County (21°29′ N, 101°33′ E), Yunnan Province, 570 m, 13 August 2005, leg. Yingdang Ren.

Description

Adult ( Figure 2D ). Wing expanse 18.0–19.0 mm. Head yellow-white, grey-brown behind vertex. Antenna with scape deep grey on dorsal surface, yellow-white on ventral surface; flagellum pale grey-yellow, with fuscous annuli on dorsal surface. Labial palpus white; second segment with basal three-quarters brown on outside; third segment with a brown ring at base, pale yellow with scattered brown scales distally. Thorax and tegula yellow-grey, yellow-white posteriorly. Fore wing ground colour greybrown; costal margin gently arched, basal one-third fuscous, distal two-thirds deep yellow; termen truncate, black, bordered by yellow-white along inner side; longitudinal inconspicuous pale yellow fascia along subcosta; two large black ventral patches edged with yellow-white: first one irregularly triangular, from between base and onethird upward exceeding slightly one-half width, outer margin arched; second one irregularly trapezoidal, extending from between ventral one-third and three-quarters upward exceeding three-quarters width, outer margin protrudent dorsoapically; cilia grey-white. Hind wing and cilia grey tinged with pale yellow. Fore leg grey-white, tibia with outer surface dark brown, tarsus with outer surface dark brown at base, scattered with brown scales distally; mid leg grey-white, outer surface dark brown; hind leg grey-white to pale yellow, tibia clothed with dark brown on outer surface.

Male genitalia

( Figure 3D ). Uncus with basal two-fifths thick, distal three-fifths slender and pointed. Gnathos protruding forward at middle anteriorly, with a pair of long slender processes. Valva subtriangular, broad basally, narrowed distally to rounded apex; costa arched; dorsoproximal process somewhat ring-like, with bristles. Sacculus longer than costa slightly, broad and sclerotized, concave at about dorsal three-fifths, distal one-third narrowed and roundly pointed, with more heavily sclerotized edge. Juxta more or less heart-shaped, gently concave at middle on posterior margin, lateral lobe narrow. Aedeagus stout, obliquely truncate at apex, with a pointed apical process; cornutus long, made up of a bunch of spines.

Female

Unknown.

Diagnosis

The species is similar to E. tympanias (Meyrick) , but can be separated from it by the basal black patch not reaching two-thirds wing width dorsoapically, the valva narrower and the sacculus narrowed distally. In E. tympanias (Meyrick) , the basal black patch exceeding two-thirds wing width dorsoapically, the valva broader and the sacculus about the same width.

Etymology

The specific name comes from the Latin prefix proxim - (= approximate) and the species name tympanias , indicating the similarities of the two species.

Figures

Figure 2. Adults of Epichostis spp. (A) E. wufengensis, sp. nov.; (B) E. magnimacularis, sp. nov.; (C) E. tympanias (Meyrick); (D) E. proximitympanias, sp. nov.; (E) E. termitruncatula, sp. nov.; (F) E. termiprotrusa, sp. nov.

Figure 3. Male genitalia of Epichostis spp. (A) E. wufengensis, sp. nov.; (B) E. magnimacularis, sp. nov.; (C) E. tympanias (Meyrick); (D) E. proximitympanias, sp. nov.; (E) E. termitruncatula, sp. nov.; (F) E. termiprotrusa, sp. nov.