Lecithocera lusingensis Park, 2023

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 : 362-364

4. Lecithocera lusingensis Park , sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:60A71BAE-C0F8-4B81-8640-6E447C99053B

Type specimen. Holotype: Male , “Congo Belge: P.N.U. / [ DR Congo] Lusinga [in Prov. Haut-Katanga] (1.760 m.) / 17-III-1947 / Mis. G. F. de Witte. 55a // gen. slide no. CIS-7161”, deposited in RMCA.

Diagnosis. This new species is one of the largest species (wingspan 19 mm) of the genus in Africa. It is nearly of the same size as L. corythaeola Meyrick, 1931 which was described from Uganda, but it can be distinguished by the 3 rd segment of the labial palpus which is as long as the 2 nd segment (much longer in L. corythaeola ; see Meyrick 1931: 80); the forewing with slightly convex termen (straight in L. corythaeola ; see Meyrick 1931: 80); the hind wing ground color much paler than forewing, orangish-grey (concolorous with forewing, bronze), with M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal 1/3 (M 3 free from CuA 1 in L. corythaeola ; see Meyrick 1931: 80). The male genitalia differ from those of all known species in the Afrotropical region by the following: the costal bar of valva bears a triangle median angle (see arrow no. 1 in Fig. 5C ); the basal plate of gnathos elongates (length about twice its width), with a convex caudal margin (see arrow no. 2 in Fig. 5C ); the aedeagus is slender, about 0.1 times slenderer than its length.

Description. Male ( Figs 5A, B ). Wingspan 19.0 mm. Head: golden yellow, with light orange, erect scales laterally. Antenna broadened, only with basal part. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, yellow brown on outer surface; 3 rd segment strongly upturned, as long as 2 nd segment, dark fuscous. Thorax: tegula and thorax dark brown. Forewing ground color fuscous, evenly dark brown, without any markings; apex angulate; termen oblique, gently convex; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with R 5 to apex; M 2 well developed; base of M 3 arising from between base of M 2 and CuA 1+2; CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hind wing ground color paler than forewing, orangish-grey; apex angulate; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with M 2 present; M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for basal 1/3. Abdomen: tergum VII and sternum VIII shown in Fig. 5E .

Male genitalia ( Figs 5C, D ): basal lobes of uncus directed outwardly, with rounded apices; caudal margin slightly concave. Basal plate of gnathos elongated, length about twice its width, distally with convex caudal margin (see arrow no. 2 in Fig. 5C ); median process tapering towards apex, strongly bent from beyond 2/3. Valva broad basally; costal bar with triangular median angle (see arrow no. 1 in Fig. 5C ); cucullus elongated, as long as basal part of valva, slightly convex on both margins; sacculus broadly developed, followed by a crescent, linear plate before cucullus. Juxta jar-shape. Vinculum a broad band. Aedeagus rather slender (width about 0.1 times its length), broadened in basal 1/3; cornuti consisting of 3–4 horn-shaped spines.

Female unknown.

Distribution. DR Congo (South-East: Prov. Haut-Katanga).

Etymology. This species name is derived from the type locality, Lusinga, Prov. Haut-Katanga, DR Congo. An adjective in the nominative singular.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Lecithocera lusingensis Park, sp. nov., male holotype:A, adult with label; B, head with labial palpus; C, genitalia, slide no. CIS-7161 (with arrows nos. 1 and 2 pointing to the costal bar of valva and elongated basal plate of gnathos, respectively); D, aedeagus; E, abdominal segments VII–VIII (superimposed terga and sterna).