Promalactis trispina Wang, 2024

Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 1-58 : 32

Promalactis trispina Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 32 , 65 )

Type material. Brunei: Holotype ♂, Rampayoh R. (north) LP 195 , lowland for. 400 m, 1–3.III.1982, leg. G.S. Robinson, slide No. NHMUK010317161 .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. palawanella Lvovsky, 2000 in male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the valva having three apical spines, and one of the two cornuti with three long spines distally in the male genitalia. In P. palawanella , the valva has two apical spines, and one of the two cornuti has several short and one very long spines distally.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 32 ). Forewing length 4.0 mm.

Head. Vertex snowy white, frons silvery grey, occiput rust brown. Labial palpus with second segment rust brown, mixed with black scales on outer surface, brown on inner surface; third segment black except white at base and apex. Antennal scape snowy white on dorsal surface, pale greyish brown on ventral surface; flagellum with basal four flagellomeres white, rest flagellomeres dark brown alternating with white on dorsal surface, black on ventral surface.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula rust brown, with a few white scales posteriorly. Forewing rust brown; markings white edged with black scales: costal spot sub-triangular, extending from distal 1/3 obliquely inward and crossing anterior angle of cell, its inner and outer margins curved below middle; basal streak from dorsum oblique inward to base of fold; antemedian fascia from middle of dorsum oblique inward to basal 1/4 of costal margin, parallel with basal streak; dorsal streak from before tornus oblique outward to posterior angle of cell, almost touching costal spot; apical spot sub-ovate; fringe greyish black except white on extension of apical spot. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur brown ventrally, tibia with white spot at base and middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apex of basal tarsomere and on entire second tarsomere; midleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a white spot at base, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apex of basal tarsomere and on entire second and apical tarsomeres; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apex of basal tarsomere and on entire distal four tarsomeres.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 65 ). Uncus sub-lingulate, rounded apically. Gnathos membranous, semicircular, rounded apically. Tegumen widened posteriorly; lateral arm sclerotized and concave at about posterior 1/3. Valva narrow at base, widened to apex, with three apical spines almost evenly spaced; costa with a large sub-triangular process at distal 1/3, with a denticle before dorsoapical spine; sacculus band-like, concave at about distal 1/3. Saccus about 2/3 length of valva, narrowed to pointed apex. Juxta with lateral arm narrow at base, widened to apex; basal lobe short, digitate. Phallus as long as valva, straight; with two cornuti: one cornutus long, curved basally, with three spines distally, the other one straight, about 2/3 length of longer cornutus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Brunei.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin tri- and spina, referring to the three apical spines of the valva in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 30–33. Adults of Promalactis spp. 30. P. spinellosa sp. nov.; 31. P. subfalcata sp. nov.; 32. P. trispinata sp. nov.; 33. P. varilonga sp. nov. 30–32: Males and holotypes; 33: Male and paratype. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 64–66. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 64. P. subfalcata sp. nov.; 65. P. trispina sp. nov.; 66. P. varilonga sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.