Nemophora nigripunctella Kozlov, 2024

Kozlov, Mikhail V., 2024, Fairy moths of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Adelidae) from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, Zootaxa 5423 (1), pp. 1-66 : 30

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5423.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:622D5264-DBE2-463B-9A8C-AD1C77C90254
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10806139
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0AE4875A-4462-4FB0-8585-1D95F84626D9
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:0AE4875A-4462-4FB0-8585-1D95F84626D9
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Nemophora nigripunctella Kozlov
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Nemophora nigripunctella Kozlov , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0AE4875A-4462-4FB0-8585-1D95F84626D9

( Figs. 30 View FIGURES 25–32 , 76 View FIGURES 63–88 )

Holotype ♀: Laos , Hous Phan Province (approx. 20° 13' N, 104° 00' E); labelled: 5.5 × 14 mm, print ‘LAOS-NE, Houa Phan prov. , │ 20 o 12–13.5' N, 103 o 59.5– 104 o 01' E, │ Ban Saleuy Ɨ Phou Pane Mt., │ 1340–1870 m, 2.– 22.vi.2011, │ Vít. Kubáň & Lao coll. leg.’; 5.5 × 14 mm, print ‘ Primary mountain forest, │ at light + individual collecting │ Laos 2011 Expedition │ National Museum Prague │ Czech Republic. ’; 4 × 6 mm, pencil ‘ Laos │ 2011’; 8 × 16 mm, print + black ink ‘ M. Kozlov 15 │ Barcoded 2015’; 6.5 × 20 mm, print GoogleMaps ‘ HOLOTYPE ♀ │ Nemophora nigripu - │ nctella Kozlov, 2023 ’ ( NMPC) [examined] .

Diagnosis. Nemophora nigripunctella is most similar to N. punctifasciella ( Figs. 24 View FIGURES 17–24 , 25 View FIGURES 25–32 ) and N. thailandensis ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 25–32 ), from which it differs by the brown forewing with bronze (basally) to coppery (apically) tint, dark brown to black spot at the outer side of fascia, absence of large yellow spot at the costal margin of hindwing and absence of silver-grey band at the inner side of fascia. This species also resembles N. chalcoptera ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 25–32 ), from which it differs by the smaller size, narrow yellow band of fascia and absence of transverse yellow spot in hindwing.

Description. Male unknown.

Female ( Fig. 30 View FIGURES 25–32 ). FWL 4.9 mm, WLR 0.38. Vertex ochreous brown; frons marginally ochreous brown, medially naked. PLB short, brown. Proboscis brown. Scape and base of flagellum ochreous brown. Tegulae coppery brown; thorax glossy golden. Forewing brown with bronze (basally) to coppery (apically) tint; indigo blue iridescence is limited to basal part of costal margin. Fascia consists of narrow (0.10 × FWL) pale yellow band bordered by diffuse lines of dark brown scales externally (but not internally) followed by glossy silver to glossy golden band with diffuse dark brown external margin. Internal margin of ochreous medial band reaches costa at 0.33 × FWL. Distal part of forewing scattered with dark brown scales, with small dark brown to black spot adjacent to external margin of fascia at 0.35–0.38 × forewing width. Fringe bronze. Hindwing grey basally to bronze apically; costal area light grey, without transverse yellow spot; fringe grey at wing base to brown at apex. Legs bronze. Epiphysis at 0.6, not reaching apex of tibia. Abdomen brown.

Distribution. Laos (this study).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from nigrum (Latin: black) and punctum (Latin: point) and refers to the diagnostic trait in forewing pattern.