Lecithocera montiatilis Park

Park, Kyu-Tek, 2009, Genus Lecithocera of Thailand. Part IV. Descriptions of three new species and notes on a little known species (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae), Zootaxa 2208, pp. 58-64 : 60-61

Lecithocera montiatilis Park , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2, 2 a, 2b, 6, 10, 10a, 10b)

Holotype. 3, Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Pakia 1500 m, 5–7 Aug 1987 (Moriuti, Saito, Arita, Yoshimoto), gen. prep. No. CIS-5830/Park. Paratypes: 4 3, same data as holotype, wing prep. No. 5836. 1 3, Vietnam, Tam Dao Nat. Park, 24 May 2007, gen. prep. No. CIS-5441/Park.

Diagnosis. The forewing of Lecithocera montiatilis is distinct from congeners in pattern and coloration, venation (e.g., with R5 terminating at the apex), and shape (e.g., narrow-elongate). However, there is no doubt that it is congeneric with other Lecithocera on the basis of the combination of the abdomen without spinous zones on the terga and the overall configuration of the male genitalia. The male genitalia are similar to those of L. rubigona Park , also described from Thailand, but the aedeagus is more slender and lacks strong sclerites internally.

Description. Male. Head: Brownish orange dorsally, pale orange laterally. Scape of antenna elongate, pale grayish orange dorsally, dark brown ventrally; flagellum pale grayish orange dorsally, speckled with dark brownish scales ventrally in basal 1/4, distal 3/4 pale orange with pale brownish annulations. Labial palpus ( Fig. 2 b) not strongly upturned as in L. anglijuxta ( Fig. 1 b); second segment thickened, covered with brownish scales on outer surface, shiny pale grayish orange on inner surface; 3rd segment slender, shorter than 2nd, dark brown on ventral surface. Thorax: Hind tibia with orange-white, hairlike scales dorsally, brownish orange laterally, with orange-white scales at apex; tarsi brownish orange with orange white apex on each segment. Wingspan 14.0–15.5 mm. Forewing elongate, densely covered with dark brownish scales on surface; costa nearly straight to 4/5 wing length, nearly parallel to posterior margin; a small transversally elongate discal spot on anterior margin of cell medially and a narrow blackish, oblique streak at end of cell, often extended nearly to posterior margin of wing; apex somewhat acute; termen oblique, not sinuate; fringe pale brownish gray, with narrow basal band. Venation ( Fig. 6 ) with R1 arising at 2/5 length of cell; R2 arising at 2/3 length of cell; R3 stalked with R4+5 near basal 1/3; R4 and R5 stalked for nearly 2/3 length; R5 terminating before apex; M1 far from R3+4+5 at base, extending nearly parallel to M2; M3 closer to M2 than CuA1+2 at base; CuA1 and CuA2 stalked in basal 1/3, then approximate; cell closed. Hindwing pale brownish gray, with costa nearly straight; apex acute; termen strongly oblique. Venation with Rs and M1 stalked to 2/3 wing length; M2 well developed; M3 and CuA1 stalked for 1/2 length. Abdomen: Brownish orange, without spinous zones on terga. Male genitalia (Figs 10a, 10b) with uncus lobes forming V-shaped process on caudal margin. Gnathos with a relatively short median process. Costal bar heavily sclerotized in basal half, connected to valva at about 1/3 length of valva. Valva broad in basal 1/3, narrowing to apex; distal 1/3 extremely narrow, fingerlike, with dense setalike scales on surface and with small cone-shaped setae along ventral margin; apex round. Juxta with very short lateral processes; saccullus narrowly developed to half length of valva. Aedeagus slender, shorter than valva, broadened at basal 1/6, with a sac of spinues preapically. Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Thailand (Chiang Mai), Vietnam (North).

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin, mons (= mountain), with the adjectival suffix- atilis, meaning “found in.”

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Adults of Lecithocera species (a: dorsal view of head and thorax parts; b: lateral aspect of labial palpus). 1, Lecithocera anglijuxta Wu; 2, L. montiatilis sp. nov.; 3, L. pakiaensis sp. nov., 4, L. cornutima sp. nov.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Venation. 5, Lecithocera anglijuxta Wu; 6, L. montiatilis sp. nov.; 7, L. pakiaensis sp. nov.; 8, L. cornutima sp. nov.