Acanthocorona wichardi, Mey & Léger & Lien, 2021

Mey, Wolfram, Leger, Theo & Lien, Vu Van, 2021, New taxa of extant and fossil primitive moths in South-East Asia and their biogeographic significance (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae, Agathiphagidae, Lophocoronidae), Nota Lepidopterologica 44, pp. 29-56 : 40-42

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/nl.44.52350
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5B777D53-A07E-5C5F-A4DF-799D4320DC7D
treatment provided by	Nota Lepidopterologica by Pensoft
scientific name	Acanthocorona wichardi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Acanthocorona wichardi sp. nov. Fig. 23 View Figures 18–25

Material.

Holotype ♂, Burmese amber, NIGP 173717 View Materials ( NIGP).

Etymology.

The species is named in honour of Wilfried Wichard for providing material and taking photos of Microlepidoptera of Burmese amber.

Preservation.

Completely preserved in an oval piece of amber with much particulate detritus particles and some air bubbles, wings overlapping, legs and post-abdomen clearly visible in ventral view, one additional insect specimen present (one female of Hydroptilidae , Trichoptera , a single minute Coleoptera ).

Description.

Length of forewings 3.8 mm, antennae light brown, 24 flagellomeres, long spines on legs absent.

Male genitalia (Fig. 23 View Figures 18–25 ): segment IX with median prolongation; rod-like spine on ventral apex of valvae absent, replaced by a bulbous area with short and long bristles, apical part of valvae enlarged forming an oval lobe with short denticules of on inner side, no denticles on margins, inner side of valvae with long spine, directed dorso-mediad; basal spikes of valvae absent; median plate short, rectangular in ventral view. Phallus long, tubular and curved ventrad.

Remarks.

A. wichardi sp. nov. differs from the remaining species of the genus by lacking spines on the legs, absence of basal spikes and apical, rod-like spines of the valvae. The presence of a long spine on the median side of the valvae instead of emerging on the ventral corner is a unique character. The species is provisionally included in the genus until better preserved material becomes available which may lead to a different systematic placement.