Paniculata mulanjensis 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 : 2907-2908

Paniculata mulanjensis Park and Kim , sp. nov.

( Figure 6 (a–g))

Diagnosis

The new species differs from its congeners in some superficial characters: the hind wing with distinct black fascia around apical area and the venation with M 2 absent,M 3 and CuA 1 stalked, while in other Paniculata species , M 2 is present, and M 3 is merged with CuA 1. However, this new species is tentatively placed in the genus Paniculata Park , by virtue of sharing the following characters: a spatulate scale-tuft at the basal segment of antenna ventrally, labial palpus with rough hair-like scale-tuft on 2nd segment, and the similarity of the male genitalia. For the certain assignment of its genus, a further molecular study is needed, based on fresh materials.

Description

Adult ( Figure 6 (a–b)). Male. Wingspan 19 mm. Head: Vertex orange white, with greyishorange, erect scale-tuft laterally, arising from upper margin of compound eye. Basal segment of antenna orange white,dilated distally,with a long and prominenet scale-tuft at 2/3,black on inner surface and covered with orange-white scales on outer surface, Paniculata mulanjensis Park and Kim , sp. nov. about 1.3 times longer than the diameter of the compound eye; flagellum filiform, entirely orange-white, without annulations. First segment of labial palpus slender, shorter than 1/2 the length of 2nd segment; 2nd segment thickened, strongly upturned, with long, hair-like scales appressed dorsally, nearly smooth on ventral surface; 3rd segment slender,slightly shorter than 2nd,strongly recurved,orange white. Thorax:Thorax and tegula pale greyish orange. Hind tibia with orange-white hair-like scales above and beneath.Fore wing ground colour orange white, densely but irregularly scattered with yellowish-brown scales;a pair of brownish discal stigmata at middle and at end; costa arched in basal 1/3, then nearly straight, and oblique from beyond 3/4; apex obtuse; termen oblique, nearly straight; fringe concolorous with ground colour; venation with R 3 free; R 4 and R 5 stalked beyond 2/3; CuA 1 and CuA 2 with short stalks. Hind wing as broad as fore wing, greyish white; scattered with dark brown scales along costa, extending to middle of termen, more broadly scattered around apex; apex slightly produced; termen oblique; venation with M 2 absent; M 3 and CuA 1 stalked beyond 2/3. Abdomen: Abdominal segments lacking spinous zones dorsally; segment VIII broadly concave on anterior margin.

Male genitalia ( Figure 6 (c–g)). Basal lobes of uncus semi-ovate, directed outwardly, with nearly straight caudal margin medially. Gnathos with heavily sclerotised basal plate; median process slender, shorter than basal plate, curved downward beyond middle. Costal bar banded, slightly curved before middle. Valva extremely broad basally, then narrowed; costa deeply concave medially; cucullus elongate, more or less thumb-like with round apex, forming a neck between basal part and cucullus; cucullus broadly dilated beyond basal 1/3, densely setose, with long, broad scales along apical margin; sacculus broad, weakly sclerotised, parallel sided, shorter than 1/2 length of basal part of valva. Juxta weakly sclerotised, shield-shaped; latero-caudal process short, directed caudally; anterior margin broadly convex. Vinculum broad bearing round apices; anterior margin broadened, as wide as tegumen. Aedeagus thick, as long as valva, curved medially, with a small triangular process near apex on dorsal margin.

Female unknown.

Holotype

Male, Malawi, Southern region, Mulanje District, Ruo Gorge 915 m (near 16°03ʹ09.12ʹʹN 35° 36ʹ30.16ʹʹE), 7 February 2004, leg. Leif Aarvik, gen. slide no. CIS-7151/ Park, deposited in NHMO.

Distribution

Afrotropical: Malawi (southern).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Mulanje, in Malawi .

Figures

Figure 6. Paniculata mulanjensis Park and Kim, sp. nov. (a) Scale-tuft of an antenna; (b) adult; (c) male genitalia; (d) uncus and gnathos; (e) juxta and vinculum; (f) aedeagus; (g) apical part of aedeagus