Prays erromera Li

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Prays Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 201-227 : 208-209

Prays erromera Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 7 , 25 )

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Yunnan Province: Xiaoheishan Nature Reserves [24.52°N, 98.84°E], Longling , 1974 m, 17.VII.2013, coll. Shurong Liu et al., genitalia slide No. CPX15210 . Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype, genitalia slide No. CPX15164 ; Chongqing: 1 ♂, Dahonghai, Mt. Simian , 1000 m, 19.VII.2010, coll. Xicui Du and Lifang Song, genitalia slide No. CPX15171 ; 2 ♂, Tudiyan, Mt. Simian , 1200 m, 15–17.VII.2012, coll. Yinghui Sun and Aihui Yin, genitalia slide Nos. CPX15168, CPX15217 ; Xizang Autonomous Region: 1 ♂, Hanmi, Motuo , 2380 m, 9.VII.2003, coll. Xinpu Wang and Huaijun Xue, genitalia slide No. JQ 08159.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. omicron Moriuti, 1977 and P. spiniprocessa sp. nov. in the male genitalia. It can be separated from P. omicron by the stout saccus widened distally, and the gnathos narrowed medially; in P. omicron , the slender saccus is sub-parallel laterally, and the gnathos is approximately uniform in width ( Moriuti, 1977: Plate XXIII, fig. 256). The differences between this species and P. spiniprocessa sp. nov. are stated under the latter species.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 7 ): Wingspan 10.0–12.0 mm. Head with vertex dark brown mixed with white; frons white mixed with pale brown. Labial palpus with dorsal surface white, ventral surface dark brown. Antenna with scape white, mixed with dark brown scales on dorsal surface, bearing white flap on anterior margin; flagellum dark brown. Thorax yellowish white except basal 1/4 and apical margin blackish brown. Tegula blackish brown in basal half, yellowish white in distal half. Forewing deep greyish brown; costal margin with a white strigula near base, with four pairs of white strigulae alternated with greyish brown before basal 3/5, first three pairs to fold, fourth pair to upper margin of cell, with ill-defined triangular blackish brown spot beyond basal 2/3; wide white fascia extending obliquely inwards from distal 1/5 of costal margin to beyond tornus, its posterior half with a transverse greyish brown band close to outer margin; large irregular black speckle at middle of forewing, anteriorly extending to below fourth pair of strigulae of costal margin, posteriorly meeting blackish brown strigulae from dorsum; two curved blackish brown marks located before blackish brown apex, edged with white scales on outer margin; dorsum with about six blackish brown strigulae alternated with white, extending to fold directly or discontinously, with a triangular blackish brown spot at tornus; cilia white mixed with pale brown except dark brown around apex. Hindwing and cilia greyish brown. Foreleg with femur white on dorsal surface, first and second tarsomeres white apically on outer surface, remaining part blackish brown; midleg with coxa white, femur white on dorsal surface, blackish brown on ventral surface, tibia blackish brown, with white streak on outer surface at base, middle and apex respectively, tarsus blackish brown except first and second tarsomeres white on outer surface apically; hindleg white except tibia and tarsus blackish brown on outer surface. Abdomen grey on dorsal surface, white on ventral surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 25 ): Socius stout, bearing dense denticles and long setae; basal half wide, sub-square; distal half slightly narrowed, covered with dense short thorns along ventral margin; apex rounded, produced directly ventrad into a large tooth. Tuba analis with a slender sclerotized band at base medially. Tegumen produced into a pair of triangular processes medially, extending close to gnathos; lateral band almost parallel laterally. Gnathos widened laterally, gradually narrowed to middle, with a short heavily sclerotized thorn-shaped median process. Valva narrowed at base, broadening to before middle, distal half separated from sacculus, slightly narrowed to narrowly rounded apex, dorsal margin nearly straight; transtilla triangular, connected by a wide band medially; sacculus about 2/3 length of valva, ventral margin with long setae, arched in basal 4/5, shallowly concave inwards in distal 1/5, free distally, rounded apically; large membranous area between sacculus from beyond basal 2/5 to 4/5 and valva. Vinculum U-shaped; saccus stout, about 3/4 length of socius, narrowed at base, gradually widened to rounded apex. Juxta semicircular; anellus lobe thick thumb-shaped, arising from anterior angle of juxta, extending obliquely inwards. Aedeagus 1.3 times length of valva, uniform; cornuti being a slender thorn and a cluster of numerous spinules, placed in distal 2/3 of aedeagus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Chongqing, Xizang, Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Greek erromeros, referring to the stout socius in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 10. Adults of Prays spp. 5, P. orthacantha sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 6, P. spiniprocessa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 7, P. erromera sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 8, P. cingulata, ♂; 9, P. kalligraphos, ♀; 10, P. rectangula sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 23 – 28. Male genitalia of Prays spp. 23, P. orthacantha sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15149); 24, P. spiniprocessa sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15159); 25, P. erromera sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15164); 26, P. rectangula sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. JQ 08151); 27, P. bisechinata sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15195); 28, P. tauricornis sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15162). (Scales = 0.2 mm).