Meleonoma artivalva, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species (II), Zootaxa 4881 (2), pp. 257-289 : 280-281

Meleonoma artivalva sp. nov.

( Figs 22 , 44 , 55 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:01CCE229-58F5-443D-AAB2-CFD78A1C58D3

Type material. CHINA, Fujian: Holotype ♂, Sangang (27.75°N, 117.68°E), Mt. Wuyi , 740 m, 24. V .2004, leg. HL Yu, slide No. YAH15295 ( NKU) . Paratypes (2♂ 2♀): 1♀, 27. V .2004 , other same data as holotype, slide No. YAH15296; Zhejiang: 1♂, Shunxiwu, Qingliangfeng , 390 m, 20. V .2012, leg. LL Yang & ZG Zhang, slide No. YAH15299; 1♂ 1♀, Mt. Longtang, Qingliangfeng , 500 m, 22. V .2012, leg. LL Yang & ZG Zhang ( NKU).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. bifoliolata (Wang, 2006) in the forewing pattern. It can be distinguished by the gnathos with a large elliptical ventral plate, the crescent valva sinuate on the ventral margin, and the sacculus produced to a thumb-shaped dorsoapical process in the male genitalia; and the antrum weakly sclerotized in the female genitalia. In M. bifoliolata , the gnathos lacks a ventral plate, the triangular valva is not sinuate but projected on the ventral margin, and the sacculus has a sub-rounded process dorsoapically; and the antrum is heavily sclerotized ( Wang 2006a: 16, figs 8, 24).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 9.0 mm.

Head yellow. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with dense blackish-grey scales on outer surface, with scattered blackish-grey scales on inner surface; third segment about 2/3 length of second segment, with a blackish-grey ring at distal 1/3. Antenna black, scape yellow distally; flagellum alternated with yellow on basal several flagellomeres, with deep grey on remaining flagellomeres.

Thorax and tegula greyish black. Forewing greyish black; costal margin with a small yellowish-brown spot at middle and near apex respectively, indistinct in some individuals; dorsum with a sub-rectangular yellow spot at end of fold, extending upward to posterior margin of cell; fringe concolourous with wing. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg blackish brown, coxa and tibia yellow apically, midleg with femur blackish brown, tibia yellow apically, tarsi of fore- and midlegs yellow at apex of each tarsomere, hind tibia greyish brown, hind tarsus with basal four tarsomeres greyish black except yellow at apices.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Uncus wide at base, narrowed to before apex, bifurcate apically, forming two apical spines; with an elongately banded process on dorsal surface. Gnathos nearly as long as uncus; ventral plate large, elliptical; lateral arm slender, more than twice length of ventral plate. Tegumen widened medially, concave in broad U-shape on anterior margin; lateral arm elongate, evenly narrow. Valva elongately narrow, crescent, gently arched medially; ventral margin sinuate; costa wide, occupying half width of valva, apically rounded and exceeding apex of valva, with a banded process from basal 1/6 extending obliquely downward and roundly joined by membrane medially. Sacculus broad, sub-quadrate; apex deeply concave at middle, forming two apically setose processes: dorsal process stout, thumb-shaped, obtuse at apex; ventral process sub-triangular, narrowly rounded at apex. Saccus wide at base, narrowed to rounded apex; about same length as uncus. Aedeagus slightly longer than valva, evenly slender, curved near base, with several denticles apically; cornutus short, spine-shaped, placed at distal 1/5.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 55 ). Papillae anales sub-rectangular, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately 3.0 times as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate with posterior margin deeply and narrowly concave at middle, forming two sub-ovate plates with dense long setae; anterior margin almost straight. Lamella antevaginalis narrowly banded medially, produced posterolaterally to a long, digitate process. Antrum weakly sclerotized. Ductus bursae narrower than antrum, membranous, wrinkled, with a curved sclerite medially; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae, dilated basally. Corpus bursae rounded, spiculate at centre.

Distribution. China (Fujian, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin artus and valvatus, referring to the shape of the valva.

Figures

FIGURES 21–24. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 21. M. annulignatha sp. nov., ♂; 22. M. artivalva sp. nov., ♂; 23. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., ♂; 24. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., ♂. All holotypes. Scales = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 43–46. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 43. M. annulignatha sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19134; 44. M. artivalva sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15299; 45. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15285; 46. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. MNHU-NK110. Scales = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 52–56. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 52, M. segregnatha sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19163, 52a, enlarged view of signum; 53, M. taeniophylla sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19223; 54. M. annulignatha sp. nov., slide No. YAH12313; 55. M. artivalva sp. nov., slide No. YAH15296; 56. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., slide No. MNHU-NK111. All paratypes. Scales = 0.5 mm, except 52a = 0.1 mm.