Lecithocera seydeliella 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 : 359

2. Lecithocera seydeliella Park , sp. nov.

( Fig. 3 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:04897287-C334-4DB0-AE8D-2C71D450DB47

Type specimens. Holotype: Male , “COLL MUS CONGO / [DR Congo] Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi, Prov. Haut-Katanga] / 12 XII 1949 / Ch. Seydel // gen. slide no. CIS-7309”, deposited in RMCA . Paratypes: 1♀, “MUSÉE DU CONGO / [DR Congo] Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi, Prov. Haut-Katanga] / 20-3-1935 / Ch. Seydel // R. DÉT. / A / 4409 // gen. slide no. CIS-7537” ; 1♀, “MUSÉE DU CONGO / [DR Congo] Eala [in Prov. Équateur, Northwestern part of DR Congo] / IX-1936 / Mme [strikethrough] J. Ghesquière // gen. slide no. CIS-7294”; 1♁, “MUSÉE DU CONGO / [DR Congo] Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi, Prov. Haut-Katanga] / V-1930 / Ch. Seydel // gen. slide no. CIS-7311”, all paratypes deposited in RMCA .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to L. chloroscia , which was described from DR Congo, in male genitalia. However, they differ in the following characteristics: the forewing lacks discal stigmata (present in L. chloroscia ); in the male genitalia, the basal lobes of the uncus have a heart-shaped appearance (shield-shaped in L. chloroscia ; see Park & De Prins 2019a: Fig. 13D); the costal bar is not angled medially (sharply angled at middle in L. chloroscia ; see Park & De Prins 2019a: Fig. 13D); the cucullus is less slender, and broad at base (nearly parallel-sided in L. chloroscia ; see Park & De Prins 2019a: Fig. 13D); the juxta bears a broader median protrusion with an obtuse apex on anterior margin (median protrusion with an acute apex in L. chloroscia ; see Park & De Prins 2019a: Fig. 13D), and is less deeply emarginated on caudal margin (relatively more emarginated in L. chloroscia ; see Park & De Prins 2019a: Fig. 13D).

Description. Male and female ( Figs 3A, B for female). Wingspan 13.0−14.0 mm. Head: light yellow, with concolorous erect scales laterally. Antenna longer than forewing; scape dilated distally, golden yellow throughout. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, golden yellow all around; 3 rd segment shorter than 2 nd segment. Thorax: tegula and thorax light yellow. Forewing ground color evenly yellowish-brown, without any markings; apex somewhat rounded; termen oblique, slightly concave medially; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with R 3 and R 4+5 stalked for basal 1/3; R 5 to termen; M 2 well developed; base of M 3 remote from CuA 1+2; CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hind wing ground color paler than forewing; apex angulate; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with M 2 present; M 3 and CuA 1 short-stalked. Abdomen ( Fig. 3E ): sternum VIII of male concave medially on caudal margin (see arrow no. 1 in Fig. 3E ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 3C, D ): basal lobes of uncus heart-shaped, emarginated medially on caudal margin, with ovate lateral lobes. Basal plate of gnathos slightly produced on caudal margin. Valva broad basally; costal bar not angled medially; cucullus elongated (as long as basal part of valva), nearly parallel-sided with broad base and numerous minute spines along ventro-distal half margin; apex rounded; sacculus broadly developed. Juxta jar-shaped, with leaf-like latero-caudal processes; lateral margins concave above middle. Vinculum broadened. Aedeagus stout, as long as valva; cornuti consisting of a cluster of numerous setae (narrowing towards apex) and a row of long needle-like spines.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 3F ): apophyses anteriores somewhat thick, dilated apically, about 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Sternum VIII weakly sclerotized, slightly convex on caudal margin. Antrum cup-shaped, weakly sclerotized. Ductus bursae very short, about 1.5 times length of antrum. Corpus bursae extremely large (length about 1.5 times longer than length from posterior end of papillae analis to anterior end of ductus bursae; width 0.4 times of length of corpus bursae), pear-shaped, wrinkled longitudinally; signum a weakly developed elliptical plate.

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

Etymology. This species name is in honor of Mr. C. Seydel who collected an extensive material of Lepidoptera in DR Congo since 1919. A noun in the nominative singular case.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lecithocera seydeliella Park, sp. nov., paratypes: A, female with label; B, head with labial palpus (gen. slide no. CIS-7537); C, male genitalia, slide no. CIS-7311; D, ditto, aedeagus; E, abdominal segments VII–VIII of male (superimposed terga and sterna, with arrow no. 1 pointing to the medially concave caudal margin of sternum VIII); F, female genitalia, slide no. CIS-7537.