Dichomeris craspedotis ( Meyrick, 1937 ) 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 : 197-198

Dichomeris craspedotis ( Meyrick, 1937) , comb. nov.

( Figs 8a–e )

Trichotaphe craspedotis Meyrick, 1937 — Exotic Microlepidoptera, 5 (3–5), 95.

Type material. Holotype ♂, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Eala, iii.1936, J. Ghesquière | Holotype, T. craspedotis | R. Det. 3256 L | M 5080 | Trichotaphe craspedotis | gen. slide 238/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Trichotaphe craspedotis was described based on the male holotype, which in all details of external and genitalia morphology match the type species of the genus Dichomeris Hübner, 1818 ( Dichomeris ligulella Hübner, 1818 ), therefore we herewith transfer this species to Dichomeris . The species is externally characterized by a uniformly brown forewing with weakly sinuate costal margin suffused with yellowish brown. It resembles D. phaeothina Ghesquière, 1940 , but in the latter, the costal margin of the forewing is not convex at the base (distinctly convex in D. craspedotis comb. nov.), the apex of the forewing is spotted with black (uniformly brown in D. craspedotis comb. nov.), and the presence of a black spot at 3/4 of the costal margin (absent in D. craspedotis comb. nov.). The male genitalia are distinguished by the sacculus and juxta process which are of almost equal length and width, and the phallus which is armed with four cornuti.

Male genitalia (described here for the first time, Figs 8d–e ). Uncus trapezoidal, narrowing towards rounded apex in distal 2/3; gnathos stout, broad, gradually curved, as long as uncus; tegumen subovate, anterior margin with shallow triangular emargination; cucullus weakly broadened through 1/2 length, then slightly tapered, apex rounded, extending well beyond tip of uncus; valvella digitate, approximately 1/4 length of cucullus, apex with long setae; sacculus approximately 1/2 length of valva and twice longer than valvella, digitate, inner margin weakly toothed, apex pointed, slightly asymmetrical: left one slightly shorter than right one; juxta processes approximately as broad and slightly longer than valvella, weakly bent, apex pointed; saccus short, triangular; phallus twice as long as tegumen and uncus, basal 1/3 narrow, distal part nearly uniform in width throughout, vesica with four cornuti: left one slender, uniform in width; first medial cornutus elongate, triangular; second medial cornutus the longest, twice longer and broader than second medial cornutus; right cornutus slender, uniform in width, weakly pointed, extending to 4/5 length of second medial cornutus.

Distribution. DR Congo: Équateur Province.

Figures

FIGURES 8–11. 8. Dichomeris craspedotis (Meyrick, 1937), holotype, male. 8a. Adult. 8b, labels. 8c. head, lateral view. 8d, male genitalia. 8e, phallus. 9, 10. Dichomeris leontovitchi (Ghesquière, 1940). 9. Paratype, male. 9a, adult. 9b, labels. 9c, head, lateral view. 9d, male genitalia. 9e, phallus. 10. Holotype, female. 10a, adult. 10b, labels. 10c. female genitalia. 11. Dichomeris loxonoma Meyrick, 1937, holotype, male. 11a, adult. 11b, labels. 11c, head, lateral view.