Paniculata biaensis Park and Kim, 2021

Park, Kyu-Tek & Kim, Sora, 2021, Four new species of Paniculata Park, 2018 (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from the Afrotropical Region, Journal of Natural History 54 (45 - 46), pp. 2897-2908 : 2901-2902

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2021.1877839
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4E1AA265-C154-2923-E6AA-FAAEFE7DF916
treatment provided by	Marcus
scientific name	Paniculata biaensis Park and Kim
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Paniculata biaensis Park and Kim View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figure 2 View Figure 2 (a–i))

Diagnosis

This new species differs from P. weberi Park,2018 , which was described from Cameroon, by its larger size (vs 14 mm in P. weberi ) and the 2nd segment of labial palpus with rather shorter scales,whereas the 2nd segment of P. weberi is respectively longer.The male genitalia are very similar, but some considerable differences are found in the new species, as follows: distal incision of tegumen with broad lateral plates, instead of triangular ones; cucullus dilated apically, nearly no peg-like scales on apex; sacculus narrowed distally; and aedeagus much broader.

Description

Adult ( Figure 6 View Figure 6 (a–d)). Male. Wingspan 16 mm. Head: Vertex orange white, with long, pale orange erect scales laterally; frons orange white. Antenna long, more than 1.3 times the length of fore wing; basal segment orange white, dilated distally, with a long, black, prominent scale-tuft mixing with orange-white scales at apex ventrally; flagellum filiform, entirely orange white. First segment of labial palpus about 1/2 length of 2nd segment, dilated distally; 2nd segment strongly upturned, with nearly right angle, with yellowish white, long, hair-like scales above; 3rd segment about 2/5 the length of 2nd segment, pale orange, pointed apically. Thorax: Thorax and tegula orange white. Hind tibia orange white on outer surface, with dark brown scale-tufts at middle and at end dorsally; tarsi orange white ( Figure 2 View Figure 2 (d)). Fore wing elongate, ground colour orange white, scattered with pale yellowish-brown scales irregularly; discal spot at middle of cell weakly developed but large, rounded; costa slightly arched in basal 1/3, slightly concave medially, oblique beyond 3/4; apex more or less acute; termen oblique; fringe on termen concolorous with ground colour; venation with R 3 connate with R 4+5, arising near upper corner of cell; R 4 and R 5 stalked from beyond 2/3; R 5 to termen; M 1 remote from R 4+5, nearly parallel to M 2; M 3 closer to CuA 1 at base; CuA 1 free. Hind wing yellowish white, covered with pale yellowish-brown scales in lower 1/3; apex acute; fringe concolorous; venation with M 2 present, M 3 and CuA 1 coincident. Abdomen: Abdomen with zones of deciduous minute spines on tergites; segments VI and VII with a pair of heavily sclerotised, slender sclerites; segment VII with long hair-pencils laterally.

Male genitalia ( Figure 2 View Figure 2 (e–i)). Basal lobes of uncus broad, combined together, forming fan shapes, with dense setae. Gnathos small; median process weakly developed, shorter than basal lobe of uncus. Tegumen broad, rectangular; dorsal surface deeply incised at middle, both plates rounded on caudal margin. Costal bar connecting tegumen and valva narrow, band-shaped, without median angle. Valva extremely broad basally, ventral margin abruptly oblique beyond near end of sacculus; cucullus elongate, as long as basal part of valva, dilated distally, densely setose; apex rounded, with long scales but no peg-like scales along apical margin; sacculus broad at base, sclerotised, narrowed distally. Vinculum broadly developed, with round apices. Juxta weakly sclerotised, narrowed distally. Aedeagus very stout, as long as valva, with numerous minute spinules.

Female unknown.

Holotype

Male , Ghana, Bia National Park, 170–640 m, Camp No. 15 (6°33ʹ34.84”N, 3°5ʹ56.73”W), 21 January, leg. U. Dall’Asta, gen. slide no. CIS-7135/ Park, deposited in RMCA. GoogleMaps

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Bia , Ghana .

Distribution

Afrotropical: Ghana.