Trichembola oreia Ghesquière, 1940

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 : 203

Trichembola oreia Ghesquière, 1940

( Figs 17a–f )

Trichembola oreia Ghesquière, 1940 — Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines, 34 (1), 102.

Type material. Holotype ♂, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Rutshuru, ii.1937, J. Ghesquière | Holotype, T. oreia ♂ | R. Det. 4410 F | Trichembola oreia Ghesquière, 1940 , Holotype | gen. slide 236/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Trichembola oreia and Trichembola palynata Ghesquière, 1940 are similar to Trichembola segnis Meyrick, 1918 (type species of the genus Trichembola Meyrick, 1918 ) in having a straight, long (5–6 times as long as segment 3) segment 2 of the labial palpus with a dense brush of hairs on its dorsal surface. However, T. segnis differs from both these species in a reduced uncus, long gnathos and other details of the male genitalia (see Clarke 1969: 495, pl. 247, figs 1–1d). Additionally, males of both T. oreia and T. palynata have abdominal terga IV–VII with anterior bands of microtrichia directed posteriorly ( Figs 17f, 18f ) that are not observed in T. segnis . Hence, the current generic assignment of T. oreia and T. palynata is incorrect, but we provisionally keep them in Trichembola until these and related Afrotropical species with similar genitalia and modified abdominal segments are revised.

Trichembola oreia was described based on the male holotype (not a female as stated in the original description) from Rutshuru. The species is distinct superficially by the long straight segment 2 of the labial palpus and dark grey hindwing, but it is inseparable from T. palynata . The male genitalia are also very similar to those of T. palynata , but in the latter species the anteromedial emargination of the tegumen is narrower, the sacculus is broadened at the middle (of uniform width in T. oreia ), and the saccus is longer. Despite the minor differences between T. oreia and T. palynata , we treat them as separate species for the time being.

Male genitalia (described here for the first time, Figs 17d–e ). Uncus subtriangular, basally as broad as long, apex weakly rounded; gnathos short, gently curved; tegumen broad at base, tapered to 2/3, then parallel-sided, anterior margin with rounded emargination extending to 1/3; cucullus digitate, weakly narrowed apically, extending beyond tip of uncus; sacculus weakly bent, of uniform width, slightly shorter than cucullus; valvella weakly sclerotized, 1/4 length of sacculus, narrow at base, then moderately broadened; juxta lobe membranous, short and broad; vinculum approximately 4 times wider than long; saccus short, broadly triangular; phallus of same length as cucullus, weakly curved at base, slightly narrowed at apex.

Distribution. DR Congo: Équateur Province.

Figures

FIGURES 17–20. 17. Trichembola oreia Ghesquière, 1940, holotype, male. 17a, adult. 17b, labels. 17c, head, lateral view. 17d, male genitalia. 17e, phallus. 17f, abdominal terga V–VIII with anterior bands of microtrichia. 18. Trichembola palynata Ghesquière, 1940, holotype, male. 18a, adult. 18b, labels. 18c, head, lateral view.18d, male genitalia. 18e, phallus. 18f, abdomen; terga IV–VII with anterior bands of microtrichia. 19. Leuronoma allomima (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 19a, adult. 19b, labels. 19c, male genitalia. 19d, phallus. 20. Metzneria sanguinea Meyrick, 1934, holotype, female. 20a, adult. 20b, labels. 20c, female genitalia.