Helcystogramma neuroplecta ( 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 : 196-197

Helcystogramma neuroplecta ( Meyrick, 1938) , comb. nov.

( Figs 6a–c )

Brachmia neuroplecta Meyrick, 1938 — Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo belge, 14, 17, pl. 2, fig. 3.

Type material. Holotype ♀, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Burunga (2000), W. Kamatembe, 9-20.iii.1934, de Witte, Parc Nat. Albert | Type, Br. neuroplecta M. | R. Det. 4080 L | Congo belge: Kivu, Burunga (Mokoto), 2000 m, 9-20.iii.1934, G.F. de Witte: 283 | E. Meyrick det., 1937: Brachmia neuroplecta Meyr. | gen. slide 214/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Brachmia neuroplecta was described based on the female holotype. The female genitalia with a reverse V-shaped sclerite on tergum VIII and funnel-shaped sclerotized antrum are similar to the species of Helcystogramma Zeller, 1877 , and we herewith transfer this species to the latter genus. This species externally is close to H. delograpta Janse, 1960 in having brown forewing with irregular elongated spots in the cell. However, in H. delograpta these spots are more distinct and mottled with light brown (uniformly dark grey in H. neuroplecta comb. nov.). Additionally, in H. delograpta segment 2 of the labial palpus is thickened with appressed scales (smooth scaled in H. neuroplecta comb. nov.). The female genitalia clearly differ from those of H. delograpta in the modified rather than evenly sclerotized sternum and tergum VIII.

Female genitalia (described here for the first time, Fig. 6c ). Papillae anales broadly ovate, sparsely covered with short setae; apophyses posteriores twice as long as papillae anales, straight; segment VIII subrectagular, approximately 1.5 times wider than long, tergum VIII with reverse V-shaped sclerite, sternum VIII plainly sclerotized, densely covered with microspines anteriorly, ostium V-shaped with strongly sclerotized margins; apophyses anteriores 1/2 length of sternum VIII, straight; ductus bursae slightly shorter than corpus bursae, narrow at middle, antrum weakly broadened and strongly sclerotized, anterior part strongly widening towards corpus bursae, equipped with tiny needle-shaped spines; corpus bursae large, ovate, with distinct irregular sclerite at the entrance of ductus bursae; no signum.

Distribution. DR Congo: North Kivu Province.

Figures

FIGURES 4–7. 4. Brachmia infixa Meyrick, 1938, holotype. 4a, adult. 4b, labels. 5. Helcystogramma leucopla (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 5a, adult. 5b, labels. 5c, male genitalia. 5d, phallus. 6. Helcystogramma neuroplecta (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, female. 6a, adult. 6b, labels. 6c, female genitalia. 7. Helcystogramma synclepta (Meyrick, 1938), holotype, male. 7a, adult. 7b, labels. 7c, male genitalia. 7d, phallus.