Thubdora afropyralidis Park, 2020

Park, Kyu-Tek, Mey, Wolfram, Koo, Jun-Mo, Prins, Jurate De, Akite, Perpetra & Cho, Soowon, 2020, Fourteen new species of the genus Thubdora Park, 2018 (Lepidoptera Gelechioidea: Lecithoceridae) from Uganda, and three new combinations in Ptilothyris Walsingham, 1897 from DR Congo, Zootaxa 4759 (4), pp. 451-487 : 454-455

1. Thubdora afropyralidis Park , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 A–E)

Type specimen. Holotype: female, Uganda, Kabarole District., Kibale National Park , 36N TF 0582 6208, 1500 m, 19–24 x 2014, leg. Leif Aarvik & Knud Larsen; gen. slide no. CIS-7251, COI barcode CBNU080, deposited in NHMO . Paratypes: 1♀, Western, Kibale Forest, Kanyawara 1520 m, 0°33’39’’N 30°21’27’’E, 23 x 2014, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz; gen. slide no. CIS-7094, COI barcode CBNU076, in NHMUK . Paratypes: 2♀, Uganda, Kibale National Park, Biol. Field Station , 19–24 xi 2014, LF, leg. W. Mey; gen. slide no. CIS-7001, COI barcode CBNU053; gen. slide no. CIS-7038, COI barcode CBNU054, in MfN .

Diagnosis. The new species is described only from females, and its status as a new species was confirmed by the comparison of COI sequences among allied species. The female genitalia can be distinguished from those of T. fruticosa, Park , sp. nov., by the narrower, longer ductus bursae and the hood-shaped plate of the signum.

Description. Female ( Figs. 2 A–D). Forewing length 10.5 mm. Head: Vertex dark purplish brown, with light orange erect scales laterally. Antenna ( Fig. 2B ) serrate, shorter than forewing; basal segment elongated, dilated distally, pale orange, speckled with dark-brown scales dorsally; flagellum light orange with dark-brown annulations in basal 1/4, dark brown medially, orange white in distal 1/3. Second segment of labial palpus thickened, saber-shaped, dark brown dorsally light orange ventrally; 3 rd segment slender, strongly upturned, as long as 2 nd segment, light orange dorsally, dark brown ventrally.

Thorax: Notum and tegula dark purplish brown. Hind tibia dark brown on outer surface with orange-white band beyond middle and apex; orange white on inner surface; first tarsus dark brown, other tarsi orange white. Forewing ground color yellowish brown to dark brown, with purplish iridescence; antemedian fascia inconspicuous; costa slightly arched, lacking costal patch; apex obtuse; termen oblique; fringe concolorous with ground color, with narrow, orange-white basal line, usually inconspicuous; venation ( Fig. 2D ) with R 1 strongly bent outwardly near base, R 3 and R 4 stalked for basal 2/5, R 4 reaching before apex; R 5 absent; M 1 close to R 3+4 at base; M 2 arising from lower corner of cell; M 3 parallel to M 2; M 3, CuA 1 and CuA 2 on a common stalk. Hind wing yellowish brown.

Abdomen ( Fig. 2C ): Purplish brown to brown, lighter posteriorly. Female genitalia ( Fig. 2E ):Abdominal sternite VII deeply concave in U-shape medially, as deep as nearly half the length of segment VII. Ostium bursae slightly concave with acute latero-caudal processes. Antrum elongated, connecting membranous swollen posterior part of ductus bursae. Ductus bursae narrow, gradually broadened posteriorly, broadened in anterior half; ductus seminalis arising from near middle of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae ovate; signum large, hood-shaped, with broad, transverse groove medially; posterior margin forming a long, bell-shaped expansion; anterior margin shortly produced, convex medially.

Male unknown.

Distribution. Uganda (Kabarole Distr.).

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Latin, afer (= Africa) + pyralis (= moth).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Thubdora afropyralidis Park, sp. nov.: A, adult, holotype; B, head and antenna; C, dorsal view of adult; D, forewing venation; E, female genitalia, paratype, gen. slide no. CIS-7001 (with a close-up of antrum and signum). Scale bar for genitalia and aedeagus: 1.0 mm.