Meleonoma tenuiuncata, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4838 (3), pp. 331-357 : 339

Meleonoma tenuiuncata sp. nov.

( Figs. 8 , 24 )

Type material. CHINA, Guangxi: Holotype ♂, Hekou (24.14°N, 110.09°E), Mt. Dayao , Jinxiu, 823 m, 20.VII.2015, leg. MJ Qi & SN Zhao, slide No. YAH15410.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. polychaeta Li, 2004 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the valva with distal 1/4 equally narrow, the saccus elongate triangular, and the stout aedeagus wider than the valva in the male genitalia. In M. polychaeta , the valva is gradually narrowed to apex, the saccus short broad triangular, and the slender aedeagus is narrower than the valva ( Li & Wang 2004: 35, Fig. 4 ).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 8 ). Forewing length 4.3 mm.

Head yellowish white. Labial palpus yellowish white; second segment with a greyish brown ring apically; third segment with a greyish brown spot at middle dorsally, shorter than second segment. Antenna yellowish white, flagellum annulated with greyish brown on dorsal surface except basal several flagellomeres yellow.

Thorax yellowish white (worn); tegula greyish brown, yellowish white distally. Forewing with costal margin arched, apex rounded; ground color yellow, costal margin with more black scales in basal 2/5, forming an ill-defined narrow stripe; costal spot greyish brown, inverted triangular, situated beyond middle; apical patch greyish black, large; tornal spot greyish black, smaller, narrowly diffused to apical patch along termen; discal and plical spots black, almost equally sized; discocellular spots blackish grey, small; dorsum with a black spot at base, consisting of a few black scales; fringe greyish black, with a yellow basal line interrupted by greyish black scales. Hindwing and fringe greyish black. Legs yellow (worn); on ventral surface, mid femur as well as tibiae of fore- and midlegs marked with greyish brown scales.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Uncus slender, slightly narrowed to pointed apex. Tegumen inverted V shaped; lateral arm rounded anteriorly. Valva sub-rectangular, with dense setae basally, slightly curved at distal 1/4 on dorsal margin, equally narrow from distal 1/4 to apex, forming a rounded distal process with tufted dense long setae and numerous short spines; ventral margin heavily sclerotized, forming a narrow band, linked with dorsoapex of sacculus; costa slightly convex beyond middle; transtilla band shaped, almost meeting medially. Sacculus sub-triangular; apex obliquely inward, bearing dense short setae; ventral margin short. Saccus wide basally, narrowed distally, rounded at apex; shorter than uncus. Juxta circular.Aedeagus 1.5 times as long as valva; distal 4/5 with a slender bar ventrally, with a large, sclerotized, tubular process dorsally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin tenu - and uncatus, referring to the slender uncus.

Figures

FIGURES 3‒8. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 3, M. catenata sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 4, M. dilativalva sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 5, M. dorsibacilliformis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 6, M. longiprocessa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, M. parvissima sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, M. tenuiuncata sp. nov., holotype, ♂. Scales = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 19‒24. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 19, M. catenata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15172; 20, M. dilativalva sp. nov., slide No. YAH15361; 21, M. dorsibacilliformis sp. nov., slide No. YAH15415; 22, M. longiprocessa sp. nov., slide No. YAH15420; 23, M. parvissima sp. nov., slide No. YAH15390; 24, M. tenuiuncata sp. nov., slide No. YAH15410.All holotypes. Scales = 0.2 mm.