Ypsolopha helva Sohn et Wu

Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Ponomarenko, Margarita G., Wu, Chun-Sheng, Han, Hui-Lin & Wang, Xin-Li, 2010, Descriptions of three new species of Ypsolopha Latreille (Lepidoptera: Ypsolophidae) from East Asia, redescription of Y. contractella (Caradja) and a checklist of East Asian Ypsolopha, Zootaxa 2511, pp. 22-38 : 25-26

Ypsolopha helva Sohn et Wu , n. sp. [ Figs 1 and 7 ]

Diagnosis: This new species is unique in having the male valva armed with a zone of stout spines. It is superficially similar to three Ypsolopha from mideastern Asia and Asia Minor, Y. albiramella ( Mann) , Y. indecorella (Rebel) and Y. sculpturella (Herrich-Schäffer) , but its forewing pattern is distinctive by the presence of a slender sinuate streak above the dorsal area and the lack of white longitudinal streaks.

Description: Head – Vertex with rough vestiture of pale yellowish-gray piliform scales, lateral scales fuscous subterminally; frons vestiture smooth, pale gray. Antenna filiform, 3/5 as long as forewing; scape pale yellowish gray, slightly tinged with brown dorsally; each flagellomere dark brown on basal half, white on distal half. Labial palpus slightly upcurved, almost 2x longer than horizontal eye diameter, terminally acute, pale yellowish gray dorsally, intermixed with dark brown ventrally; 3rd segment as long as 2nd; dense scale tufts on 2nd segment extending posteroventrad.

Thorax and abdomen – Tegula and mesonotum pale yellowish gray, intermixed with dark gray. Fore- and midleg dark brown dorsally, pale yellowish gray ventrally, distal end of each segment suffused with pale yellowish gray. Hindleg pale yellowish gray with luster, distal four tarsomeres tinged with dark brown; tibial tufts present ventrally. Forewing length 6.7mm (n = 1), elongate, narrow, with constant width throughout, narrowly rounded apex and oblique termen, pale yellowish gray, intermixed with pale brown densely on distal 1/5 and sparsely on other areas; costa with five fuscous dots from base to 2/3 and with four dark brown strigulae on terminal 1/5; medial elliptical dark brown spot connected with base through a transverse, dark brown streak; postmedian and submarginal line straight, oblique, dark brown; fringe brownish white-tipped with pale reddish brown. Hindwing dark gray, paler near base, with luster; fringe yellowish gray. Abdomen yellowish gray dorsally, orange-white ventrally.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 7 ) – Uncus rectangular, convex posteromedially; socii falcate, terminally acute, longsetose, as long as saccus; tegumen parellel-sided, 1.5x longer than width; gnathos 2x longer than saccus, with liguiform medial plate. Valva subelliptical, slightly sinuate near middle of costal margin, centrally with a zone of short, stout spines arising from deep sockets; dorsal and ventral margins narrowly sclerotized. Vinculum as wide as tegumen, rectangular; saccus stick-like, as long as socius; anellus minutely setose in distal half. Aedeagus very slender, straight, spinulated distally, with two extremely slender, rod-like cornuti.

Female genitalia – Unknown.

Type: Holotype 3, Tuomurji, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, 4 VII 1977 (CJ Li), [ GSN: IOZ- 09012], IZCAS.

Distribution: China (Northwest).

Etymology: The species name, helva , is derived from the Latin adjective ‘ helvus ’, meaning “pale yellow” and refers to the yellowish white forewing of the new species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Adults. 1. Y. helva n. sp., holotype, China; 2. Y. pseudoparallela n. sp., holotype, Japan; 3, Y. sordida n. sp., holotype, China; 4, Y. contractella, lectotype, Russia (photo by Mr. George Nazareanu, MGAB); 5, Y. dentella, holotype of Y. affinitella, Russia (photo by Dr. Wolfram Mey, MNHU); 6, Cerostoma xenicopis, China (BMNH).

FIGURES 7 – 10. Male genitalia (ventral view) and aedeagus (each below) of Ypsolopha spp.: 7, Y. helva n. sp., holotype, China; 8, Y. pseudoparallela n. sp., paratype, Japan; 9, Y. sordida n. sp., holotype, China; 10, Y. contractella, China.