Promalactis kathmanduensis Wang, 2024

Wang, Shuxia, Liu, Chen & David, Lees, 2024, Partial revision of Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), based on specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 1-58 : 5

Promalactis kathmanduensis Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 , 35 , 68 )

Type material. Nepal: Holotype ♂, British Embassy, Kathmandu , 4500 m, 20.V.–23.VI.1983, leg. Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317057 .

Paratypes. Nepal: 7♂ 2♀, same data as holotype, slide No. NHMUK010317061 ♀ ; 1♂ 2♀, British Embassy , Kathmandu, 1400 m, 12–13.VI.1984, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317055 ♀ ; 1♀, 30km E. Kathmandu, Dolalghat , 950 m, 9.IV.1983, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317059 ; 1♂ 1♀, Chautara , 1800 m, 24.IX.1983, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317056 ♂ ; 2♂, Babai Dam , Bardia, 190 m, 28.II.–5.III.2003, leg. M.G. Allen, slide No. NHMUK010317058 .

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the forewing having a large black basal patch that extends narrowly along the costal margin to the inner costal spot; in the male genitalia by the sacculus with a small dorsal notch beyond the middle, the rectangular juxta concave in a broad U-shape at apex and the phallus having a strong apical spine; and in the female genitalia by the corpus bursae having two large gear-shaped signa.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 2 ). Forewing length 4.0– 5.5 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons greyish white, mixed with dark brown scales; occiput black. Labial palpus black mixed with white scales, third segment white at base and apex. Antennal scape black with a longitudinal fine white streak at middle dorsally, grey ventrally; flagellum black, alternating with white dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula black, mottled with white scales. Forewing yellow; basal patch quadrangular, black, edged with a white line on outer margin, occupying 1/5 length of wing; costal margin with two black spots: inner black spot ovate, at basal 2/5, slightly crossing anterior margin of cell, joined with basal patch by a narrow black band along costal margin, outer black spot sub-quadrate, from distal 1/4 extending to above posterior angle of cell; dorsum with a triangular black spot at distal 1/3, its inner margin edged with a white streak; tornal area with scattered dark brown scales; apical spot white, ovate, small, with dense black scales on inner margin; fringe yellow, mixed with black around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black, femur white ventrally, tibia with a white dot at middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; midleg pale brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales at middle and apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal four tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 35 ). Uncus sub-campaniform, wide at base, narrowed to middle, thereafter abruptly and uniformly slender to before pointed apex. Gnathos as long as uncus; mesial plate lingulate, with scaly protuberances in distal 1/4. Tegumen furcate from posterior 2/3; lateral arm extending obliquely outward to obtuse anterior end. Valva parallel sided in basal 2/3, narrowed from distal 1/3 to rounded apex, setose distally; costa almost straight; sacculus a wide band, slightly narrowed and produced into a free distal process bent dorsad and exceeding apex of valva, concave in a small notch on dorsal margin beyond middle. Saccus triangular, 2/3 length of uncus, broad at base, narrowed to pointed apex. Juxta rectangular, concave laterally near base, deeply concave in a broad U-shape at apex, forming two spine-shaped lobes. Phallus slightly shorter than valva, slightly tapered distally, with a stout apical spine; cornutus small, 1/7 length of phallus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 68 ). Apophyses anteriores about 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum sub-rectangular, spiculate, with sparse setae. Antrum cup-shaped. Ductus bursae membranous, with several spines posteriorly. Corpus bursae rounded, membranous, longer than ductus bursae; with two large gear-shaped signa, one edged with seven short spines, the other with nine short spines.

Distribution. Nepal.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality, Kathmandu.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Adults of Promalactis spp. 1. P. robinsoni sp. nov.; 2. P. kathmanduensis sp. nov.; 3. P. asymmetrica sp. nov.; 4. P. latissima sp. nov.; 5. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 6. P. subflagellaris sp. nov.; 7. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 8. P. curvilineata sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 34–39.Male genitalia of Promalactisspp.34. P.robinsoni sp.nov.; 35.P.kathmanduensis sp.nov.; 36.P.asymmetrica sp. nov.; 37. P. latissima sp. nov.; 38. P. magnicornuta sp. nov.; 39. P. subflagellaris sp. nov. 34–35, 37–39: holotypes; 36: paratype. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 67–72. Female genitalia of Promalactis spp. 67. P. robinsoni sp. nov.; 68. P. kathmanduensis sp. nov.; 69. P. asymmetrica sp. nov.; 70. P. subflagellaris sp. nov.; 71. P. curvilineata sp. nov.; 72. P. pallidistriata sp. nov. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.