Prays rectangula Li

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Prays Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 201-227 : 210-211

Prays rectangula Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 10 , 26 )

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Sichuan Province: Wolong , 2008 m, 26.VII.2005, coll. Haili Yu, genitalia slide No. JQ 08151.

Diagnosis. This species is recognizable from other Prays by the socius with a short hook-shaped apical thorn and the sub-rectangular valva in the male genitalia.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 10 ): Wingspan 12.0 mm. Head with vertex blackish brown mixed with white; frons dark brown. Labial palpus blackish brown except first segment white on ventral surface. Antenna blackish brown except scape white on ventral surface. Thorax blackish brown. Tegula blackish brown, white at apex. Forewing greyish brown in basal 2/3, blackish brown in distal 1/3; basal 2/3 with ill-defined blackish brown spots or strigulae along costal margin and dorsum as well as in cell, white along basal half of fold; costal margin with a white spot before distal 1/3; dorsum creamy white in basal 1/6, with two creamy white strigulae at basal 1/3 and a large black spot before middle extending to fold; white transverse stripe extending from before lower angle of cell to before tornus; apex and termen scattered with snowy white dots; cilia blackish brown. Hindwing and cilia blackish brown. Foreleg with coxa dark brown, white at apex on ventral surface, femur with dorsal surface white, ventral surface dark brown mixed with white, tibia and tarsus dark brown; midleg with coxa white, femur with dorsal surface white, ventral surface dark brown mixed with white, tibia and tarsus dark brown; hindleg with coxa white, femur, tibia and tarsus yellowish brown on outer surface, white mixed with pale brown scales on inner surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 26 ): Socius slender, bearing sparse long setae, widened at base, slightly narrowed distally, with a short hooked apical thorn. Tegumen medially extended for 2/3 length of lateral band, anterior margin concave medially; lateral band slightly arched outwards. Gnathos protruded semicircularly at middle; lateral band relatively narrow. Valva sub-rectangular, widened from before apex, apex shallowly concave medially; transtilla narrowly banded; sacculus as long as valva, with long setae on ventral margin, produced to a free sub-triangular process distally; large membranous triangular area between sacculus from basal 1/3 to before apex and valva, gradually widened, covered with long setae. Vinculum U-shaped; saccus slender, about 3/4 length of socius, parallel laterally. Juxta broad U-shaped; anellus lobe short thumb-shaped, arising from inner margin of juxta anteriorly. Aedeagus about two times length of valva, thick basally, gradually thinned distally; cornuti being a slender thorn and a cluster of spines, extending from middle to apex of aedeagus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin rectangulus, referring to the rectangular valva in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 10. Adults of Prays spp. 5, P. orthacantha sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 6, P. spiniprocessa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, P. erromera sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, P. cingulata, ♂; 9, P. kalligraphos, ♀; 10, P. rectangula sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 23 – 28. Male genitalia of Prays spp. 23, P. orthacantha sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15149); 24, P. spiniprocessa sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15159); 25, P. erromera sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15164); 26, P. rectangula sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. JQ 08151); 27, P. bisechinata sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15195); 28, P. tauricornis sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15162). (Scales = 0.2 mm).