Ptilothyris galbiplatella Park, 2021

Park, Kyu-Tek & Aarvik, Leif, 2021, Two new species of the genus Thubdora Park and a new species of Ptilothyris Walsingham (Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea, Lecithoceridae) from Uganda, Zootaxa 4926 (4), pp. 590-596 : 594-595

Ptilothyris galbiplatella Park , sp. nov.

ASID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C1235447-7795-4059-B912-263445D12B48

( Figs. 3 A–H)

Type specimen. Holotype: male, Uganda, SW, Kabale Distr., Ruhija 2,330 m, 01°03.08′S 29°46.70′E, 4–7 xi 2014, leg. L. Aarvik & M. Fibiger; gen. slide no. CIS-7114 ; Paratype: 1³, W Kabarole Dist., Ruwenzori Mt. , Nyakalengija, 00°20.99′N 30°01.82′E, 1,700 m, 10–11 xi 2007, L. Aarvik & M. Fibiger; gen. slide no. CIS-7113, CO1 barcode CBNU078 , in NHMO.

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to P. nausicaa Meyrick, 1926 in the forewing pattern with pale-orange to lightyellow blotch, but it can be distinguished from the latter by the forewing being more elongated, and having a larger, elongate-quadrate yellowish patch, whereas the patch in the forewing is much shorter and more or less ovate in P. nausicaa .

Description. Male ( Figs. 3 A–C). Wingspan 18.0–19.0 mm.

Head: Dark purplish brown dorsal surface; yellowish orange on face. Antenna ( Fig. 3B ) slightly shorter than forewing; basal segment rather short, slightly dilated toward apex, dark purplish brown dorsally, pale orange ventrally; flagellum weakly bipectinate, with fine whitish cilia, dark purplish brown in basal 1/5 and pale orange in distal 4/5. Second segment of labial palpus ( Fig. 3C ) thickened, pale orange all around with dark-brown scales at base; 3 rd segment slender, strongly upturned, as long as 2 nd segment, pale orange on lateral surfaces, blackish ventrally.

Thorax: Thorax and tegula dark purplish brown ventrally. Forewing ground color purplish brown, irregularly scattered with dark-brown scales in distal part; antemedian fascia dark brown, broad, banded, from 1/3 of costa to 1/3 of inner margin; large, quadrate light yellow patch well-developed beyond antemedian fascia; costa nearly straight; apex obtuse; termen slightly oblique; fringe purplish brown; venation with R 3 and R 4 stalked, R 5 absent; M 1 remote from R 3+4 at base; M 2 present; M 3, CuA 1 and CuA 2 on a common stalk. Hind wing purplish brown, with long, more or less crescent yellowish white streak from base to 3/5 along costa; venation with M 2 absent; M 3 and CuA 1 short stalked. Fore tibia pale orange ventrally; mid tibia dark brown ventrally, tarsi pale orange; hind tibia purplish brown on outer surface with pale orange median band and apex, pale orange on inner surface; tarsi pale orange throughout.

Abdomen ( Fig. 3H ): abdominal segment VIII with heavily sclerotized, C-shaped sclerite dorso-posteriorly.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 3 D–G): Uncus bifurcated, with broad latero-caudal lobes which are rounded apically, deeply emarginated in U-shape on caudal margin medially. Basal plate of gnathos broad, with semi-ovate expansion in middle on caudal margin; median process rather small, strongly bent from beyond 2/3. Valva elongated, nearly parallel-sided from base to distal end, with rounded apical margin; costal margin slightly concave, with weakly sclerotized marginal band; cucullus not defined from the basal part of valva, slightly upturned, densely setose. Tegumen narrowed distally, with converted V-shaped incision on anterior margin. Juxta broad, with large, membranous median plate, narrowly terminated, with pointed apex. Vinculum weakly sclerotized, banded. Aedeagus slender, bent near basal 1/3, as long as valva; cornuti consisting of a long, sclerotized bar, about 1/3 to 1/2 the length of aedeagus; the bar is located in a long sac of which the distal part is sclerotized into a triangular sclerite near apex.

Distribution. Uganda (Kabale and Kabarole Districts).

Etymology. This species’ name is derived from Greek, galbus (= yellow) and plat (= flat), referring to the yellowish orange patch on the forewing.

Remarks. The flagellum in the antenna of the paratype is differently dark purplish brown in its basal 2/3. It is considered that the different color on dorsal surface probably is caused by lost scales, or it may be due to dimorphism in the species. P. nausicaa Meyrick was described based on a single male and the holotype is deposited in the Natural History Museum in London, but the genitalia have not been examined.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ptilothyris galbiplatella Park, sp. nov.: A, adult, holotype; B, antenna; C, labial palpi, lateral view; D, male genitalia, gen. slide no. CIS-7114; E, ditto, aedeagus; F, aedeagus of the paratype; G, close-up juxta of the paratype, CIS-7113; H, abdominal segments VI–VIII.