Lecithocera asticta, Yu & Wang, 2024

Yu, Shuai & Wang, Shuxia, 2024, The genus Lecithocera (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 924, pp. 1-74 : 6-7

Lecithocera asticta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:50FACF21-AE59-47DD-8FBA-D2D8E885D032

Figs 1D , 6B , 10D , 15D

Diagnosis

The new species is superficially similar to L. meyricki Gozmány, 1978 in appearance by sharing a greyish brown forewing without maculation. It can be distinguished by having the forewing with R 3 and R 4+5 arising from the same point, and in the male genitalia by the cucullus widened medially; whereas in L. meyricki , the forewing has veins R 3 and R 4+5 stalked and the cucullus is narrowed from base to apex ( Gozmány 1978: pl. 25 fig. 37).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ astictus ”, referring to the forewing without maculation.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA – Yunnan Province • ♂; Tengchong City, Xiaodifang ; 24º52′ N, 98º45′ E; 2116 m a.s.l.; 12 Jul. 2014; K.J. Teng et al. leg.; slide no. YS19603 ; NKU.

Paratype

CHINA – Yunnan Province • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; slide no. YS20005 ; NKU .

Description

ADULT ( Figs 1D , 6B ). Wingspan 12.0‒13.0 mm. Head yellowish brown. Antenna pale orange; flagellum ringed with dark brown. Labial palpus pale yellow; third palpomere shorter than second palpomere. Thorax and tegula yellowish brown. Forewing widened distally, costal margin slightly arched, apex rounded, termen oblique; ground colour greyish brown; basal streak dark brown, distinct at base; fringe greyish brown, with pale yellow basal line; R 3 and R 4+5 arising from same point, R 4 and R 5 long-stalked, R 5 to apex, M 2 and M 3 subparallel, CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown; M 3 and CuA 1 long-stalked.

MALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 10D ). Uncus subtriangular, shallowly concave on posterior margin; caudal lobe short digitiform. Gnathos with basal plate subquadrate, roundly produced on posterior margin; median process broad in basal ⅓, narrowed to distal ⅓, distal ⅓ slender to pointed apex, curved ventrad at distal ¼. Valva broad and parallel-sided basally, narrowed to cucullus; cucullus about half as long as valva, slightly widened medially, narrowed from middle to narrowly rounded apex, nearly straight on costal margin, setose ventrally, with several bullet-shaped setae ventrobasally; costal bar narrow in basal half, widened from middle toward valva, gently angled at middle; sacculus distinct basally, taenioid. Vinculum broad; saccus not developed, rounded on anterior margin. Juxta shield-shaped, with small notch at middle on posterior margin, produced at middle on anterior margin; posterior lobe semiovate basally, narrow taenioid distally, extending outward. Aedeagus shorter than valva, arched, wide at base, narrowed to basal ⅓, thereafter tubular, without dorsal denticle, with dense granules in vesica; cornuti consisting of elliptical ring placed medially, cluster of spinules from basal ¼ to before middle, and several spines at distal ¼.

SEVENTH ABDOMINAL STERNITE ( Fig. 15D ). Anterolateral rib thin, forked basally, curved distally, reaching posterior margin of sixth abdominal sternite; posterolateral lobe weakly sclerotized, triangular.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Figures

Fig. 1. Adults of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU), dorsal view. A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, male. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, male. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, male. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, male. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, male. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., paratype, male. Scale bars=2.0 mm.

Fig. 6. Wing venations of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, all paratypes (NKU). A. L. angustifolia sp. nov., male, slide no. YS19608. B. L. asticta sp. nov., male, slide no. YS20005. C. L. balteiformis sp. nov., male, slide no. YS18197. D. L. bicornuta sp. nov., male, slide no. YS19610. E. L. bigeminata sp. nov., male, slide no. YS20003. F. L. duplicispinea sp. nov., female, slide no. ZMR10313. Scale bars =2.0 mm.

Fig. 10. Male genitalia of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU). A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, slide no. YS19101. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, slide no. YS19008. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19607. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19603. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LSR13346. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19614. Scale bars =0.5 mm.

Fig. 15. Male seventh abdominal sternite of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU). A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, slide no. YS19101. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, slide no. YS19008. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19607. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19603. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LSR13346. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19614. G. L. bigeminata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LSR13407. H. L. chersitis Meyrick, 1918, slide no.YS19635.I. L. duplicispinea sp. nov., paratype, slide no. ZYM06270. Scale bars =0.5 mm.