Meleonoma tenuiclavata Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia, Zhu, Xiaoju & Tao, Zhulin, 2021, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China (III), with descriptions of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4995 (2), pp. 303-333 : 325

Meleonoma tenuiclavata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 18 , 36 )

Type material. CHINA, Yunnan: Holotype • ♂, National Forest Park (24.83°N, 98.77°E), Mt. Gaoligong , Baoshan City , 2157 m, 24.VII.2015, leg. K.J. Teng & X. Bai, slide No. YAH15388.

Paratype: • 1♂, 21.VII.2015, other same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. falsitorophanes (Wang, 2006) in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the oblique apex of the valva not concave below the dorsoapical corner and the aedeagus without a cornutus; in M. falsitorophanes , the apex of the valva is concave below dorsoapical corner and the aedeagus has a clavate cornutus ( Wang 2006b: 10, fig. 3). It is also similar to M. sinuaclavata sp. nov., and the differences between them can be found in the diagnosis of the preceding species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 18 ). Forewing length 5.8 mm.

Head: frons whitish yellow, vertex and occiput blackish grey, scales at lateral side yellow basally. Labial palpus yellow; first segment black on outer surface; second segment black on outer surface in distal half, with a black apical annulation; third segment 2/3 length of second segment, black except yellow at base and apex. Antenna black except scape yellow at apex; flagellum yellow in distal 1/5 on dorsal surface, alternated with yellow on ventral surface.

Thorax and tegula greyish black. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex pointed; ground color greyish black; median fascia yellow, from before middle of costal margin extending to before tornus, slightly narrower anteriorly; distal spot at distal 1/3, yellow, inverted triangular, extending to upper angle of cell, with a small black dot in middle anteriorly; plical spot black, at distal 1/3 of fold; discal and discocellular spots black, placed at middle and at outer margin of cell respectively; fringe blackish grey, with a yellow basal line. Hindwing and fringe deep grey. Legs yellow on ventral surface, black on dorsal surface except tarsus of foreleg yellow at apices of basal two and apical one tarsomeres, tarsus of midleg yellow at apices, tarsus of hindleg yellow at apices of basal four tarsomeres, all tibiae yellow at middle and at apex.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 36 ). Uncus sub-rectangular, obtusely rounded at apex, with dense short setae. Tegumen inverted V-shaped, uniformly wide except slightly narrowed medially. Valva triangular, narrow at base, widened to apex, setose distally, apex obtusely oblique, rounded dorsoapically; costa narrow, reaching middle of costal margin, with sparse setae before middle; transtilla uniformly slender, clubbed. Sacculus sub-quadrate, separated from valva, with a clavate process arising from base of dorsal margin extending upward to before apex of valva, wider in basal 2/5, pointed at apex; dorsal margin concave, dorsoapically produced to a large band-shaped process longer than basal width of sacculus, curved near base, extending ventrad distally, abruptly narrowed to a distal spine curving dorsad, with dense setae along dorsal margin; ventral margin widely folded. Saccus slightly longer than uncus, wide at base, slightly narrowed to rounded apex. Juxta U-shaped; lateral arm gradually narrowed from base to narrowly rounded apex, wider in basal half. Aedeagus 1.5 times length of valva, basal 3/4 slender, with a strong spine-like process dorsally at basal 3/4; distal 1/4 membranous, with a sinuate belt curved toward base distally; cornutus absent.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin tenui- and clavatus, referring to the slender clavate process from base of the dorsal margin of the sacculus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 15‒20. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 15, M. grandivalvula sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 16, M. medispinea sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 17, M. sinuaclavata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 18, M. tenuiclavata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 19, M. tetrodonta sp. nov. holotype, ♂; 20, M. ventrisinuata sp. nov., paratype, ♀. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 33‒38. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 33, M. grandivalvula sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH12218, 33a, enlarged cornuti; 34, M. medispinea sp. nov., paratype, slide No. ZXJ19336, 34a, enlarged cornuti; 35, M. sinuaclavata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15396, 35a, enlarged cornutus; 36, M. tenuiclavata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15388; 37, M. tetrodonta sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15261, 37a, enlarged cornuti; 38, M. ventrisinuata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15385. Scales = 0.2 mm, except 33a, 35a, 37a = 0.1 mm.