Dichomeris opalina (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 : 200

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

( Figs 12a–b )

Prasodryas opalina Ghesquière, 1940 — Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines, 34 (1), 106.

Material examined. 1 ex (abdomen missing), [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Eala, vii.1937, J. Ghesquière | R. Det. L 4408 | Prasodryas opalescens Ghesq. 1940 ( RMCA) .

Remarks. Prasodryas opalina was described based on the female holotype collected in “Eala, vii.1938 ” (Ghesquière 1940). The type specimen was not traced in the collection of RMCA. However, a specimen without abdomen labelled “Eala, vii.1937 ” “ Prasodryas opalescens Ghesq. 1940 ” (nomen nudum) was found in a separate unit with the bottom label “ Dichomeris opalina (Ghesquière, 1940) ”. This specimen matches the original description of P. opalina , and may represent a type of this species. The external characters (segment 2 of the labial palpus with a brush of long scales beneath) justify the assignment of P. opalina to the genus Dichomeris , and herewith we transfer this species to the latter genus. The species can be recognized by the produced apex of the forewing that is unique among species of Dichomeris .

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.