Lecithocera trifera Meyrick, 1938

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo, Jeong, Su-Yeon, Prins, Jurate De & Prins, Willy De, 2023, Review of the genus Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) in DR Congo, with description of four new species, Zootaxa 5339 (4), pp. 355-368 : 366

8. Lecithocera trifera Meyrick, 1938

( Figs 6H, I )

Lecithocera trifera Meyrick, 1938: 14 (Pl. 2, Fig. 2 for adult); Ghesquière 1940: 58; Park et al. 2021: 360. Type locality: DR Congo, Lac Magera; Type depository: lectotype with missing abdomen (designated here) in RMCA.

Type material examined. Lectotype: “TYPE [orange label] // MUSÉE DU CONGO / Lac Magera (2000), 259 / 26/II – 7-III-1934 [26 ii−7 iii 1934] / G. F. de Witte / PARC NAT. ALBERT // Congo belge: P.N.A / Lac Magera / 2000m. 26-ii/ 7-iii-1934 [26 ii−7 iii 1934] / G. F. de Witte: 259 // E. Meyrick det., 1937: / Lecithocera [handwritten] / trifera Meyr. [handwritten] // R. DÉT. 4080 / C”, deposited in RMCA.

Distribution. DR Congo ( Meyrick 1938, Ghesquière 1940).

Remarks. Meyrick (1938) described the species based on a type series comprising four specimens. Of them, two syntypes (one from Lac Magera, 2,000 m, 26 ii–7 iii 1934, and the other, for which the label information could not be clearly identified, but an orange-colored label marked 'type' is visible) are deposited in RMCA, but we couldn't examine the genitalia because their abdomens are missing. The remaining two syntypes are probably deposited in NHMUK, but we couldn't directly confirm them. However, the forewing pattern of this species ( Figs 6H (after Meyrick 1938: Pl. 2, Fig. 2 ) and 6I (one of two syntypes deposited in RMCA)) differs from that of its congeners by the broad blackish basal zone in basal 1/3. Therefore, its systematic position should be verified within Lecithocera , likely not congeneric.

Based on the ICZN (1999;International Code of Zoological Nomenclature), in accordance with Recommendation 74B, when designating a lectotype from the four syntypes, the one that Meyrick (1938) illustrated in the original publication should be designated as the lectotype. However, among the four syntypes collected from three different locations (Lac Magera, 2,000 m, 26 ii−7 iii 1934; Burunga (Mokoto), 2,000 m, 9−20 iii 1934; and R. Bishakishaki (Kamatembe), 2,100 m, 11−22 iv 1934), only one specimen, examined by us, fully represents the characters of this species and meets all the requirements of the ICZN Art. 74.7. It is designated here as the lectotype. The lectotype is designated as part of our taxonomic work to enhance the stability of nomenclature (Declaration 44 – Amendment of Art. 74.7.3) with the purpose to delineate the species-group taxon Lecithocera trifera Meyrick, 1938 .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lecithocera katangaica Park, sp. nov., female paratype: A, adult with label; B, head with antenna and labial palpi; C, genitalia, slide no. CIS-7315 (with arrow no. 1 pointing to the concave ostium bursae).

FIGURE 6. Lecithocera spp. Lecithocera ideologa: A, male with label; B, head with antenna; C, male genitalia, slide no. CIS-7296; D, ditto, aedeagus; E, male genitalia, slide no. CIS-7299; F, ditto, aedeagus; G, abdominal segments VII–VIII (superimposed terga and sterna), slide no. CIS-7296. Lecithocera trifera: H, syntype illustrated by Meyrick (1938); I, lectotype (designated herein) with labels, deposited in RMCA.