Torodora masoalella ( Viette, 1955 )

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo & Minet, Joël, 2020, Review of the Malagasy lecithocerid species described by Pierre Viette and deposited in MNHN (Paris), with new generic combinations and descriptions of a new subfamily and genus of Momphidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea), Zootaxa 4845 (2), pp. 151-190 : 171-172

Torodora masoalella ( Viette, 1955)

( Figs. 15 A–E)

Lecithocera masoalella Viette, 1955: 110 . TL: Maroantsetra.

Torodora masoalella ; Park 2018: 1085.

Type. 1♂ (Holotype), North-East Madagascar, near Maroantsetra, Ambodivoangy forest, 23-27 iii 1952; Muséum Paris, Mission P. Viette, Sept. 1951 - March 1952; Lecithocera masoalella n. sp., Holotype ♂, P. Viette; genitalia: prep. P. Viette no. 2836.

Adult ( Figs. 15A, B ). Wingspan, 14 mm. This species is characterized by the forewing pattern: a large darkbrown area in basal 1/3; discal spot large, black, rounded at end of cell; postmedian band well-developed, sharply angled medially. The hind wing has M 3 merged with CuA 1. Abdominal spinose zones are narrow, banded, with the spines strong, sparsely distributed along tergite posterior edges ( Fig. 15E ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 15C, D ): See also the line drawing given by Viette (1955, Fig. 31). Uncus rather short, narrowed toward apex, with round apex. Basal plate of gnathos rounded on caudal margin; median process relatively small, sharply pointed at apex. Valva broad at base; costa expanded anteriorly basally; basal part longer than cucullus; ventral margin nearly straight with slightly emarginated before cucullus; cucullus thumb-like, with arched outer margin and round apex. Juxta with short, triangular latero-caudal lobes. Aedeagus as long as valva, strongly bent, with numerous spinules.

Remarks. Park (2018) transferred this species to Torodora , on account of its characteristic wing venation (with M 3 free in the forewing and M 2 present in the hind wing).

Distribution. Madagascar (East) ( Viette, 1955).

Figures

FIGURE 15. Torodora masoaella (Viette, 1955): A, holotype; B, labels; C, male genitalia, prep. P. Viette no. 2836; D, aedeagus; E, abdomen. Scale bar for the genitalia and aedeagus: 0.5 mm.