Prays orthacantha 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 : 206-207

Prays orthacantha Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 5 , 23 )

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Yunnan Province: Nankang [24.82°N, 98.78°E], Baoshan , 2009 m, 16.VII.2015, coll. Kaijian Teng and Xia Bai, genitalia slide No. CPX15149.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to P. iota Moriuti, 1977 and P. kappa Moriuti, 1977 in the male genitalia by having a broad valva with truncate apex, but it can be distinguished from the latter two species by the sinuate apex of the valva not bearing any tooth, while the valvae of the latter two species bear several teeth at apex; and by the socius with the distal half abruptly narrowed to a thorn, which is hooked distally in P. iota ( Moriuti, 1977: Plate XXIII, fig. 253) and gradually narrowed in P. kappa ( Moriuti, 1977: Plate XXIII, fig. 254).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 5 ): Wingspan 11.0 mm. Head white. Labial palpus white, first and second segments brown on outer surface, second segment brown at base on ventral surface. Antenna with scape white, mixed with grey scales on dorsal surface, bearing white flap on anterior margin; flagellum grey. Thorax white; apical margin deep grey medially, black laterally. Tegula deep grey in basal half, white in distal half. Forewing greyish brown, with several blackish brown and white stripes distally; costal margin with eight to nine wide black strigulae alternated with white; irregular oblique white fascia extending from before apex of costal margin to beyond tornus; longitudinal white band from base of forewing ranging along fold, radiated to both sides by many white stripes, basally joined with three basal costal strigulae, apically meeting white fascia from costal margin, then extended obliquely inwards to dorsum; dorsum with six to seven black strigulae, with a blackish brown triangular spot at tornus; cilia pale brown mixed with white except white along costal margin. Hindwing and cilia brown. Foreleg with coxa and femur grey, tibia dark brown, with white streak on outer surface at base and middle respectively, tarsus dark brown; midleg with coxa and femur white, femur mixed with grey scales on ventral surface, tibia dark brown, with white streak at base and middle respectively, tarsus white on inner surface, dark brown on outer surface; hindleg white except dark brown on outer surface of tibia and tarsus.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 23 ): Socius oblique outwards, basal half wide, distal half sharply narrowed to a thorn. Tegumen produced into a pair of triangular processes medially, about 1/3 length of lateral band; lateral band slightly oblique outwards anteriorly. Gnathos band-like, narrowed medially. Valva narrowed basally, widened gradually to before middle; distal half separated from sacculus, slightly narrowed to truncate apex, dentate on dorsal margin; transtilla narrow triangular, connected by a sclerotized broad quadrate plate medially; sacculus about 2/3 length of valva, setose, produced to a free short horn-shaped process distally; large membranous area between sacculus from basal 1/3 to before apex and valva. Vinculum broad U-shaped; saccus almost same length as socius, narrowed basally, slightly widened distally, rounded apically. Juxta semicircular; anellus lobe short thumbshaped, incurved obliquely, arising from anterior angle of juxta. Aedeagus about 1.4 times length of valva, slightly curved medially; cornuti consisting of several thorns and a cluster of numerous spines and spinules, extended from basal 1/4 to apex of aedeagus.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin adjective orthacanthus, referring to the distal half straightly thorn-shaped 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).