Epicephala domina Li

Li, Houhun, Wang, Zhibo & Hu, Bingbing, 2015, Four new species of Epicephala Meyrick, 1880 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) associated with two species of Glochidion (Phyllanthaceae) from Hainan Island in China, ZooKeys 508, pp. 53-67 : 55

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Gracillariidae

Epicephala domina Li sp. n. Figs 5, 9, 11, 15

Description.

Adult (Fig. 5). Forewing expanse 7.5−11.0 mm. Head creamy white tinged with pale yellow, lateral sides with long brown scales. Labial palpus white or grayish white, distal half of second and third palpomeres dark brown on outer surface, inner surface of third palpomere white to gray. Antenna grayish brown. Thorax white. Tegula yellowish brown. Forewing grayish brown to deep brown; three pairs white striae from both costal and dorsal margins at 2/5, 3/5 and 4/5 extending obliquely outward to middle as well as to end and outside of cell, third dorsal striae broader and more distinct; dorsal margin with a broad white band extending from base to tornal area; a narrow silvery-white fascia with metallic reflection from costal 6/7 to dorsal margin; distal 1/7 yellowish brown, with a central black dot, with a triangular white dot near costa and a white streak along dorsal margin; cilia basally black, medially grayish white, distally black from distal 1/7 of costal margin along termen to tornus, gray along dorsal margin. Hindwing grayish brown; cilia brown along costal margin and grayish or yellowish brown along dorsal margin.

Male genitalia (Fig. 11). Tegumen broadly triangular, narrowed and sclerotized laterally. Tuba analis elongate, gradually narrowed toward apex, exceeding caudal margin of tegumen apically. Costa sub-rectangular, longer than tegumen, distal 1/3 more or less broadened, apex obliquely rounded; dorsal margin straight; ventral margin with basal 3/4 slightly arched inward, with a rounded process at 3/4, with dense long setae on distal half. Sacculus elongate oval, about 4/5 length of costa, acute-angled apically, dorsal margin more arched, distal part of dorsal and ventral margins heavily sclerotized. Transtilla broad at base, long triangular. Vinculum broad V-shaped, rounded on posterior margin; saccus club-shaped, shorter than vinculum, acute at apex. Phallus thin and straight, as long as valva; cornutus in a shape of a rolled plate, with minute spines.

Female genitalia (Fig. 15). Ovipositor small, bilobed apically, dentate laterally. Apophysis posterioris slightly longer than apophysis anterioris. Lamella postvaginalis large, as long as 8th abdominal segment, heavily sclerotized, deeply concave at middle on caudal margin to half length, forming two triangles with acute apex. Antrum cylindrical, strongly sclerotized, as long as ductus bursae. Ductus bursae about half length of apophysis anterioris, membranous, with broad longitudinal sclerotized parallel folds, extending from base to corpus bursae; ductus seminalis membranous, arising anterior of antrum. Corpus bursae oval, as long as ductus bursae, with reticulate patches medially; signum a stout tooth, placed at middle.

Diagnosis.

This new species is similar to the majority of Epicephala species in forewing pattern by having a white dorsal margin, but can be separated from other species by its genitalia. The new species is more similar to Epicephala ancylopa Meyrick, 1918, but can be distinguished from the latter in the male genitalia by the ventral margin of the costa with a rounded process at 3/4, the sacculus about 4/5 length of the costa and the acute apex; and in the female genitalia by the lamella postvaginalis as long as the 8th abdominal segment and the presence of signum. In Epicephala ancylopa (Lectotype ♂, BMNH, examined; Syntypes: ♂, BMNH, examined, genitalia slide No. 32324, ♀, BMNH, examined, genitalia slide No. 32330, both dissected by Houhun Li), in the male genitalia the ventral margin of the costa has a rounded process at 2/3, the sacculus is about 3/4 length of the costa and bluntly rounded at apex; in the female genitalia the lamella postvaginalis is shorter than the 8th abdominal segment and the signum is absent.

Type material.

244♂, 430♀, with genitalia preparations of 244♂ and 93♀.

Holotype ♂ − CHINA: Hainan Province: Yinggeling Mountain Nature Reserves (19°01'N, 109°33'E), 450 m, 07.ii.2014, reared from host-plant Glochidion sphaerogynum by Zhibo Wang, genitalia slide no. WZB14337.

Paratypes − CHINA: Hainan Province: 4♀, Yinggeling Mountain Nature Reserves (19°01'N, 109°33'E), 450 m, 25.xii.2009-25.i.2010, leg. Bingbing Hu; 243♂, 426♀, same locality as holotype, 19.xii.2012-22.i.2013, 12.i.-19.ii.2014, reared or collected from Glochidion sphaerogynum by Zhibo Wang (2♂, 2♀, deposited in BMNH).

Distribution.

China (Hainan).

Biology.

Larvae feed on seeds in the fruits of Glochidion sphaerogynum ( Müll.Arg.) Kurz ( Phyllanthaceae ).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin dominus (master, lord), in reference to its status as the dominant Epicephala species associated with Glochidion sphaerogynum .