Meleonoma elongata Wang

Yin, Aihui & Wang, Shuxia, 2016, Taxonomic study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick from Thailand (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea), ZooKeys 571, pp. 133-141 : 137

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Cosmopterigidae

Meleonoma elongata Wang sp. n. Figs 3, 8

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Thailand: Chieng Mai Province, Doi Inthanon Nat. Park, Siriphum, 21-24.X.1984. ca. 1200-1300 m, leg. Karsholt, Lomholdt & Nielsen, genitalia slide No. ZMUC-NK053.

Diagnosis.

This new species can be distinguished from its congeners in the male genitalia by having a narrowly elongate triangular sacculus and a broad saccus with an apical mastoid process.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 3). Wing expanse 10.0 mm. Head pale yellow, tinged with brown. Labial palpus pale yellow, with brown scales at middle and at apex of second segment, as well as at 2/3 of third segment. Antenna with dorsal surface black on scape, ringed with brown on flagellum. Thorax and tegula greyish brown, tinged with yellow. Forewing yellow, with brown scales throughout, denser along costal margin, forming large diffused spot at base and at middle; apex blackish brown; cell with small black spot at middle and at end; fold with small black spot at middle; cilia whitish yellow, tinged with brown at tornus. Hindwing and cilia pale grey. Legs pale yellow, with brown scales.

Male genitalia (Fig. 8). Uncus nearly as long as saccus, slightly wide at base, straight, stick-like. Valva somewhat knifelike in shape, widened medially, narrowed to base and apex; apex narrowly rounded, costa straight, ventral margin protruding outward medially. Sacculus less than half length of valva, elongate triangular; basal half broad, sclerotized dorsally and ventrally; distal half distinctly narrowed, apex narrowly rounded. Saccus broad, triangular, apically produced to a small process. Juxta a small ring. Aedeagus shorter than valva, slender, produced to a club-shaped process distally, with two slender, sclerotized, curved clubs distally.

Female unknown.

Distribution.

Thailand.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective elongatus (elongate), referring to the shape of the sacculus.