Triscaedecia svetlanae Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich & Hobern, 2019

Ustjuzhanin, Petr, Kovtunovich, Vasiliy & Hobern, Donald, 2019, A taxonomic review of the genus Triscaedecia (Lepidoptera: Alucitidae) in the world fauna, Zootaxa 4571 (3), pp. 373-382 : 378-379

Triscaedecia svetlanae Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich & Hobern sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 10 , 14 )

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from all others in the genus by the markings and coloration. The transverse medial stripe across both wings is clear and relatively narrow. The transverse white distal line across the fore wing is wavy, outlining a well-defined comb-shaped dark brown patch that extends into the bases of the lobes. The hind wing lacks a clear white distal line but includes two further comb-shaped dark brown patches. The fore wing discal spot is curved and oblique. In size, the new species is close to T. septemdactyla and T. sarawaki .

In the male genitalia, the new species is characterized by the uncinate curvature of the valves distally, the lobes of the valves shaped as membranous oval petals, and the robust sclerotized saccus.

Description. Wingspan 16 mm.

Head whitish brown, thorax and tegula white with small brown scales. Labial palpus yellow, three times as long as longitudinal diameter of eye, third segment detached and directed upwards. Maxillary palpus long, almost equal to length of third segment of labial palpus. Antenna yellowish-brown, ringed, scape thickened.

Thorax. Wing whitish brown. A series of distinct small tufted bulges at regular intervals along costal edge of fore wing, linked by narrow white semicircular lines in the intervals. Discal spot narrow, brown, slightly concave, obliquely aligned. Distal part of fore wings delimited by transverse white line, noticeably wavy; prominent dark brown patch between this line and the clefts, including basal portions of lobes. Wide white transverse stripe across both wings medially. Hind wing basally white with poorly traced narrow brown stripes, medially brown with broken white stripes and two prominent dark brown patches. Lobes of all wings, except for the first lobe of the fore wing, brown, banded with distinct white stripes. Distal portions of lobes darker brown. First lobe of fore wing whitish brown with longitudinal white stripe. Hind legs pale yellow with two pairs of spurs of unequal length.

Male genitalia. Symmetrical. Uncus reduced. Valve strongly sclerotized, with uncinate curvature distally, and with lobes of the valves shaped as membranous oval petals. Anellus arms long, smoothly bent inwards. Sacculus wide, sclerotized. Saccus robust, wide, slightly widened distally. Aedeagus long, robust, slightly bent and widened.

Female unknown.

Type material. Holotype: male. Malaysia: West Pahang, Genting Tea Estate , 600 m, 30.xi.1994, G.S. Robinson ( BMNH 22798 ), in BMNH.

Etymology. The species is named after Svetlana Gavrilova (Saratova), participant in entomological expeditions in Transbaikalia in 2004-2006.

Distribution. Malaysia.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Known Triscaedecia localities. All recorded localities for Triscaedecia species, based on Pagenstecher, 1900; Hampson, 1905; Fletcher, 1910; Gielis, 2009 and present publication.

FIGURES 1–6. Adults. 1, Triscaedecia dactyloptera. 2, T. septemdactyla. 3, T. sulawesi sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH. 4, T. sarawaki sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH. 5, T. svetlanae sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH, 6, T. suva sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH.

FIGURES 7–10. Male genitalia. 7, Triscaedecia septemdactyla (Pagenstecher, 1900). 8, T. sulawesi sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH 22793. 9, T. sarawaki sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH 22797. 10, T. svetlanae sp. nov., Holotype, BMNH.