Dichomeris leontovitchi (Ghesquière, 1940) Bidzilya & Rajaei, 2024

Bidzilya, Oleksiy V. & Rajaei, Hossein, 2024, An illustrated and annotated catalogue of type specimens of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Tervuren, Belgium), with taxonomic changes, Zootaxa 5496 (2), pp. 191-213 : 198

Dichomeris leontovitchi (Ghesquière, 1940) , comb. nov.

( Figs 9a–e; 10a–c )

Cymotricha leontovitchi Ghesquière, 1940 — Revue de Zoologie et Botanique Africaines, 34 (1), 105.

Type material. Holotype ♀, [ DR Congo] Musée du Congo, Terr. Lisala, Bayanga, 17.ii.1937, Leontovitch | Holotype, C. leontovitchi Gh. | 1/Rubidaceae | R. Det. 4408 E | Cymotricha leontovitchi, Ghesq., 1940 | Cymotricha leontovitchi sp. nov. | gen. slide 230/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA). Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as for holotype, but R. Det. 4408 F | gen. slide 231/24, O. Bidzilya; 2 ♂, same data as for holotype but R. Det. 4408 F | gen. slide 235/24, O. Bidzilya ( RMCA).

Remarks. Cymotricha leontovitchi was described based on a female (holotype), two males and one female (paratypes). The assignment of C. leontovitchi to Dichomeris Hübner, 1818 is clearly supported by external and genitalia characters, therefore we herewith transfer this species to the latter genus. The species is distinguished by having a greyish-brown forewing with diffuse brown spots and a strongly sinuate costal margin suffused with yellow in the basal half. Other species of the genus with distinctly sinuate costal margin ( D. acratopa ( Meyrick, 1926) , D. erixantha ( Meyrick, 1914) , D. eurynotus ( Walsingham, 1897)) clearly differ from D. leontovitchi in the forewing pattern. The male genitalia with a very slender sacculus in combination with the long and slender lateral cornutus in the phallus are characteristic. The female genitalia are unique among Dichomeris species in having sclerotized and multiple twisted ductus seminalis.

Male genitalia (described here for the first time, Figs 9d–e ). Uncus 2–2.5 times longer than wide, apex rounded; gnathos, gradually curved, sickle-shaped, equal in length to uncus, extending to 2/3 length of tegumen; tegumen parallel-sided, about as wide as uncus, anterior margin with broadly rounded emargination; cucullus weakly broadened through distal 2/3, apex rounded, extending well beyond tip of uncus; valvella short, weakly pointed apically; sacculus very slender, twice as long as valvella; juxta processes uniform in its width, with short subapical tooth on outer margin, apex rounded, left process slightly longer than right process; saccus short and broad, subrectangular; phallus tubular, same length as tegumen and uncus, with one long narrow, apically pointed lateral cornutus.

Female genitalia (described here for the first time, Fig. 10c ). Papillae anales subtriangular, sparsely equipped with long setae; apophyses posteriores moderately thick, 3 times longer than papillae anales; sternum VIII subtrapezoidal, twice as wide as long, anterior part narrowed and produced anteriorly, evenly sclerotized; apophyses anteriores of same length as sternum VIII, weakly curved; ductus bursae narrowest at 1/4, then gradually broadened anteriorly, with indistinct transition to corpus bursae; antrum tubular, with distinct irregular sclerotization; ductus seminalis strongly sclerotized, characteristically spiraled; corpus bursae pear-shaped, gradually broadened anteriorly, accessory bursae very slender with distinctly inflated, bulbous anterior part.

Distribution. DR Congo: Mongala Province.

Figures

FIGURES 8–11. 8. Dichomeris craspedotis (Meyrick, 1937), holotype, male. 8a. Adult. 8b, labels. 8c. head, lateral view. 8d, male genitalia. 8e, phallus. 9, 10. Dichomeris leontovitchi (Ghesquière, 1940). 9. Paratype, male. 9a, adult. 9b, labels. 9c, head, lateral view. 9d, male genitalia. 9e, phallus. 10. Holotype, female. 10a, adult. 10b, labels. 10c. female genitalia. 11. Dichomeris loxonoma Meyrick, 1937, holotype, male. 11a, adult. 11b, labels. 11c, head, lateral view.