Nemophora sumbana, Kozlov, 2024, Kozlov, 2024

Kozlov, Mikhail V., 2024, Description of six new species forming the sumbana species group of the genus Nemophora Hoffmannsegg (Lepidoptera, Adelidae) from the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, Zootaxa 5543 (1), pp. 111-122 : 112-113

Diagnosis of the sumbana species group

The sumbana species group is identified by the following combination of characters:

1. The distal part of the forewing features a Λ-shaped yellow marking linking the costa with the dorsum; the dorsal section of the distal leg of this marking extends along the outer wing margin. This forewing pattern element has not been observed in any Nemophora species outside the sumbana species group.

2. The base of the proboscis with a characteristic tuft of dark coppery brown semi-erect elongated scales (not observed in N. wegneri ). In this feature, the sumbana species group is similar to the kalshoveni species group, which is distributed across the islands of the Oriental and Australian regions, including Sumatra, Java, Sangir, and New Guinea.

3. In males, the compound eyes are enlarged (interocular index 1.1‒1.6), with the eyes closely approaching but not touching each other dorsally (occipital distance 0.05‒0.15).

4. In male genitalia, the juxta with an exceptionally wide arrow head ( WLR 1.1‒1.3), which is triangular or anchor-shaped.

List of the species

Nemophora sumbana Kozlov , sp. nov.

Nemophora timorella Kozlov , sp. nov.

Nemophora umbronitidella Kozlov , sp. nov.

Nemophora wegneri Kozlov , sp. nov.

Nemophora longipeniculella Kozlov , sp. nov.

Nemophora brevipeniculella Kozlov , sp. nov.

Key to the species

1. Forewing base with 2‒3 longitudinal glossy stripes........................................................... 2

-. Forewing base without longitudinal glossy stripes........................................................... 5

2. Larger ( FWL 6.6‒7.5 mm); forewing base with 3 longitudinal glossy stripes............................... N. sumbana

-. Smaller ( FWL 4.3‒6.0 mm); forewing base with 2 longitudinal glossy stripes...................................... 3

3. Smaller ( FWL 4.3‒5.0 mm); external border of basal field of forewing at costa slightly closer to wing base than at dorsum.............................................................................................. N. timorella

-. Larger ( FWL 5.2‒6.0 mm); external border of basal field of forewing at dorsum significantly closer to wing base than at costa................................................................................................... 4

4. Forewing bronze; male antenna longer (3.7‒4.1 × FWL), its scape yellow; base of proboscis with a tuft of dark coppery brown semi-erect elongated scales. In male genitalia, phallus relatively short (0.95 × vinculum); juxta anchor-shaped.................................................................................................. N. umbronitidella

-. Forewing bright yellow; male antenna shorter (2.9‒3.5 × FWL), its scape dark brown; base of proboscis with bronze to coppery bronze scales which do not form a tuft. In male genitalia, phallus relatively long (1.1 × vinculum); juxta arrow-shaped................................................................................................. N. wegneri

5. Bronze band of forewing fascia suffused with ochreous yellow scales; forewing apex suffused with ochreous scales; epiphysis articulated at 0.25 of the total length of tibia, unusually long, and reaches apex of tibia; female antenna thickened by dark brown scales up to forewing length............................................................... N. longipeniculella

-. Bronze band of forewing fascia suffused with dark brown scales; forewing apex suffused with brown scales; epiphysis articulated at 0.5 of the total length of tibia, of typical length, and does not reach apex of tibia; female antenna thickened by dark brown scales up to 0.8 × forewing length.......................................................... N. brevipeniculella