Meganola phuana Cha & Bae, 2021

Cha, Yeong-Bin, László, Gyula M., Bayarsaikhan, Ulziijargal, Ko, Jae-Ho, Lee, Tak-Gi, Jang, Chang-Moon, Kim, Hanul, Kim, Jeong-Nam & Bae, Yang-Seop, 2021, Two new species and a new record of the genus Meganola Dyar, 1898 (Lepidoptera, Nolidae, Nolinae) from Laos, Zootaxa 5032 (3), pp. 423-430 : 424-425

Meganola phuana Cha & Bae , sp. n.

( Figures 1, 2 , 6, 7 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Laos, Xiengkhouang Province , Ban Tha (N19°43'28.92'', E103°35'26.02'', Alt.: 1,245m), 01. IX. 2018 (Bae Y.S., Na S.M., Lee D.J., Ko J.H., Lee T.G., Cha Y.B., Jang C.M.), genitalia slide No. INU-9479 (INU).

Paratype. 1♂, with the same data as in the holotype, genitalia slide No. INU-9478 (INU) .

Diagnosis. Though belongs to the M. flexuosa species group, Meganola phuana sp. n. is very similar externally to the members of the M. strigivena species group but can be distinguished by the more broadly arched costal and straight dorsal section of the postmedial line. Based on the configuration of the male genitalia, namely the robust, finger-like, distally serrate harpe and the narrow, triangular basal lobe of the valva, the new species’ closest kin is M. nanlinga Hu, László, Ronkay & Wang, 2013 described from the Nanling Mountains in Guangdong Province, China. However, the two species are easily distinguishable by the following characters: Meganola phuana sp. n. has somewhat narrower, apically slightly more pointed and noticeably darker forewing and considerably less excessively zigzagged dorsal section of the medial line compared to those of M. nanlinga . In the male genitalia, the new species compared to M. nanlinga has slightly shorter and narrower uncus, somewhat thicker subscaphium arms, markedly narrower valva without dilated apical part, slightly shorter harpe, narrower basal lobe of valva, and broader saccus; in addition, the ventral margin of the sacculus is obtuse-angled in Meganola phuana sp. n., while it is rounded right-angled in its congener. The aedeagus of the new species is noticeably slimmer than that of the allied species, with its vesica bearing somewhat smaller spine-like cornutus, situated more distally than in M. nanlinga . The female is unknown.

Description. Adult ( Figures 1, 2 ). Length of forewing 8–9 mm in males. Antenna bipectinate in male. Frons and vertex pale gray, mixed with brownish-gray scales. Patagium ( Figures 1b, 2b ) with a black line basally. Ground color of forewing pale brownish gray; basal area dark grayish brown, the upper side of cell brownish-green until medial line; antemedial line angled medially; costal half of medial line diffuse, dorsal half sharply defined, zigzagged; postmedial line curved in costal half, almost straight in dorsal half; postmedial area with indistinct grayishbrown fascia gradually widening in the medial part of terminal area until the outer forewing margin; subterminal line interrupted; terminal line continuous, pale ivory. Ground color of hindwing pale grayish brown, with a dark discal spot. Male genitalia ( Figures 6a, 7a ). Uncus short, tapered, apically rounded, subscaphium process relatively thick, apically rounded, densely setose. Tegumen relatively short and narrow. Valva narrow, apically rounded, costal margin sclerotized, dilated basally, slightly concave; ventral half of valva membranous, ventral margin almost straight, very slightly concave in basal third; basal lobe short, narrow, triangular; harpe stout, finger-like, posterior margin serrate, basally bifurcate, postero-medial branch expanding to costal margin of valva, lateral one connected to sacculus. Juxta V-shaped, antero-laterally pointed. Sacculus sclerotized, ventral margin obtuse-angled. Saccus robust, elongate V-shaped. Aedeagus constricted medially, main tube thinner than coecum penis, vesica armed with a small, acute, spine-like cornutus. Eighth tergite ( Figures 6b, 7b ) with quadrangular medial plate with gently arched margins, anteriorly with two very short, straight, apically rounded processes, erecting near the corners of the medial plate; 8 th sternite ( Figures 6b, 7b ) with a wide trapezoidal medial plate. Female unknown.

Distribution. Laos (Xiengkhouang Province).

Remark. This species was collected in the upper montane zone, up to 1,200m a.s.l. ( Figure 11 ).

Etymology. The new species is named after the Phuan people inhabiting the Xiengkhouang Plateau, where the new species was collected.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Habitat of Meganola spp. in Laos, the entrance of Ban Tha (Xiengkhouang Prov.), near the three-way intersection.

FIGURES 1–5. Adults of Meganola spp. 1a. Meganola phuana sp. n., male (holotype, INU-9479). 1b. ditto, thorax. 2a. ditto, male (paratype, INU-9478). 2b. ditto, thorax. 3a. Meganola canaliculata sp. n., male (holotype, INU-11979). 3b. ditto, thorax. 4a. ditto, male (paratype, INU-9468). 4b. ditto, thorax. 5a. M. tetrodon, (INU-9466). 5b. ditto, thorax.

FIGURES 6–10. Male genitalia and 8th segments of Meganola spp. 6. Meganola phuana sp. n., male (holotype, INU-9479).7. ditto (paratype, INU-9478). 8. M. canaliculata sp. n., male (holotype, INU-11979). 9. ditto (paratype, INU-9468). 10. M. tetrodon, male (INU-9466).