Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940) 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 : 202

Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940) , comb. nov.

( Figs 14a–d; 15a–b )

Trichotaphe phaeothina Ghesquière, 1940 — Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines, 34 (1), 106–107.

Type material. Holotype ♀, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Eala, ix.1938, G. Couteaux, 37 | R. Det. I 4408 | Holotype, T. phaeocosta | Trichotaphe phaeocosta n. sp., Ghesquière, 1940 | Trichotaphe phaeocosta sp. n. | gen. slide 239/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA). Paraypes: 2 ♀, same data as for holotype but R. Det. J 4408 ( RMCA).

Remarks. Trichotaphe phaeothina was described based on three female specimens (holotype and two paratypes) collected in Eala. Despite all these specimens labelled as “ Trichotaphe phaeocosta ” (nomen nudum), they match the description of Trichotaphe phaeothina and bear the labels that correspond to the collection data of type specimens of T. phaeothina mentioned in the original description. Since no other specimens labelled as Trichotaphe phaeothina were traced in the collection, we conclude that the three above specimens represent the type series of Trichotaphe phaeothina . The external characters (segment 2 of labial palpus with triangular dorsal tuft of hairs) and female genitalia (distinct sclerotization of ductus bursae that extends to corpus bursae, and presence of accessory bursa) justify the assignment of the species to Dichomeris . Therefore, we herewith transfer this species to the latter genus. The species is distinct in having a brown forewing with black spots along the apex and the costal margin is suffused with yellow. It slightly resembles D. craspedotis , but in the latter the costal margin of the forewing is strongly convex at base (not convex in D. phaeothina ), the apex of the forewing is brown (spotted with black in D. phaeothina ), and black spot at 3/4 of costal margin is absent (present in D. phaeothina ). The female genitalia with short apophyses anteriores in combination with entirely sclerotized ductus bursae are characteristic. Dichomeris dysnotata ( Janse, 1954) from South Africa remotely resembles D. phaeothina , but differs from it by the broader ductus bursae and the rounded rather than ovate corpus bursae.

Female genitalia (described here for the first time, Fig. 14d ). Papillae anales subtriangular, sparsely equipped with long setae; apophyses posteriores thin, slightly longer than papillae anales; sternum VIII subrectangular, twice as wide as long, weakly produced anteriorly, nearly uniform in width, 1/2 length of corpus bursae, clearly differentiated from corpus bursae, with narrow irregular sclerotization extending into corpus bursae; corpus bursae ovate, equipped with fine microspines in posterolateral part, accessory bursae slender at base, then broadened and terminated into rounded bag.

Distribution. DR Congo: Équateur Province.

Figures

FIGURES 12–16. 12. Dichomeris opalina (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, male. 12a, adult. 12b, labels. 13. Dichomeris pammiges (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, male. 13a, adult. 13b, labels. 13c, head, lateral view. 13d, male genitalia. 13e, phallus. 14. Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940), holotype, female. 14a, adult. 14b, labels. 14c, head, lateral view. 14d, female genitalia. 15. Dichomeris phaeothina (Ghesquière, 1940), paratype, female. 15a, adult. 15b, labels. 16. Dichomeris symbolistis (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 16a, adult. 16b, labels. 16c, male genitalia. 16d, phallus.