Photodotis modulatrix ( Meyrick, 1938 ) Bidzilya & Rajaei, 2024

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Rajaei, Hossein, 2024, An illustrated and annotated catalogue of type specimens of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren, Belgium), with taxonomic changes, Zootaxa 5496 (2), pp. 191-213 : 206

Photodotis modulatrix ( Meyrick, 1938) , comb. nov.

( Figs 21a–c )

Aristotelia modulatrix Meyrick, 1938 — Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo belge, 14, 11–12.

Type material. Holotype ♂, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Rutschuru (1285), 25.xi–15.xii.1933, G. F. de Witte, Park Nat. Albert | Holotype, A. modulatrix M. | Type | Congo Belge: Kivu, Rutshuru, 1285 m, 25.xi–15.xii.1933, G.F.de Witte: 117 | R. 4079 HH | E. Meyrick det., 1937: Aristotelia modulatrix Meyr. | gen. slide 233/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Aristotelia modulatrix was described based on the male holotype, whose genitalia match those of type species of the genus Photodotis Meyrick, 1911 (type species: Photodotis prochalina Meyrick, 1911 ); therefore, we herewith transfer this species to the latter genus. Photodotis modulatrix can be differentiated from other Afrotropical species of Photodotis by a blackish brown forewing with diffuse, transverse, narrow, apically angulated black line edged with ochreous brown at 1/3, and an ochreous spot at 2/3. The male genitalia can unmistakably be recognized by the very narrow right sacculus and the very large, broad vincular processes.

Male genitalia (described here for the first time, Fig. 21c ). Uncus spatulate, apically wide, basally narrowed; gnathos strongly curved, distal part straight, apex pointed; tegumen parallel-sided, asymmetrical: left side with a narrow curved process before middle, right anterolateral projection of tegumen longer than left one; right cucullus of uniform width to 3/4, apical quarter broadened with dorsally extended apical process, left cucullus digitate, weakly broadened to rounded apex, densely covered with hairs; right sacculus slender, narrower than right cucullus, curved, with pointed apex; left sacculus broader than left cucullus, apically tapered; right process of vinculum basally as wide as tegumen, distal half weakly narrowed apically, extending to tip of right sacculus, left vincular process strongly inflated at base, distal part subtriangular, extending tip of left sacculus; vinculum 3 times as wide as long, saccus very short, broadly rounded; phallus weakly inflated at base, ventral margin straight, dorsal margin with basal extension, apex rounded.

Distribution. DR Congo: North Kivu Province.

Figures

FIGURES 21–24. 21. Photodotis modulatrix (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 21a, adult. 21b, labels. 21c, male genitalia. 22. Armatophallus exoenota (Meyrick, 1918), holotype, male. 22a, adult. 22b, labels. 22c, male genitalia. 22d, phallus. 23. Scrobipalpa ergasima (Meyrick, 1916), holotype, male. 23a, adult. 23b, labels. 24. Scrobipalpa subroseata (Meyrick, 1932), holotype, male. 24a, adult. 24b, labels. 24c, male genitalia. 24d, phallus.