Meleonoma artivalva, Wang & Zhu, 2020

Wang, Shuxia & Zhu, Xiaoju, 2020, Study of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species (II), Zootaxa 4881 (2), pp. 257-289 : 280-281

Meleonoma artivalva sp. nov.

( Figs 22 , 44 , 55 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Type material. CHINA, Fujian: Holotype ♂, Sangang ( 27.75°N, 117.68°E), Mt. Wuyi , 740 m, 24. V .2004, leg. HL Yu, slide No. YAH15295 ( NKU) . Paratypes (2♂ 2♀): 1♀, 27. V .2004 , other same data as holotype, slide No. YAH15296; Zhejiang: 1♂, Shunxiwu, Qingliangfeng , 390 m, 20. V .2012, leg. LL Yang & ZG Zhang, slide No. YAH15299; 1♂ 1♀, Mt. Longtang, Qingliangfeng , 500 m, 22. V .2012, leg. LL Yang & ZG Zhang ( NKU).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to M. bifoliolata (Wang, 2006) in the forewing pattern. It can be distinguished by the gnathos with a large elliptical ventral plate, the crescent valva sinuate on the ventral margin, and the sacculus produced to a thumb-shaped dorsoapical process in the male genitalia; and the antrum weakly sclerotized in the female genitalia. In M. bifoliolata , the gnathos lacks a ventral plate, the triangular valva is not sinuate but projected on the ventral margin, and the sacculus has a sub-rounded process dorsoapically; and the antrum is heavily sclerotized ( Wang 2006a: 16, figs 8, 24).

Description. Adult ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 9.0 mm.

Head yellow. Labial palpus yellow; second segment with dense blackish-grey scales on outer surface, with scattered blackish-grey scales on inner surface; third segment about 2/3 length of second segment, with a blackish-grey ring at distal 1/3. Antenna black, scape yellow distally; flagellum alternated with yellow on basal several flagellomeres, with deep grey on remaining flagellomeres.

Thorax and tegula greyish black. Forewing greyish black; costal margin with a small yellowish-brown spot at middle and near apex respectively, indistinct in some individuals; dorsum with a sub-rectangular yellow spot at end of fold, extending upward to posterior margin of cell; fringe concolourous with wing. Hindwing and fringe greyish brown. Legs yellow; on ventral surface, foreleg blackish brown, coxa and tibia yellow apically, midleg with femur blackish brown, tibia yellow apically, tarsi of fore- and midlegs yellow at apex of each tarsomere, hind tibia greyish brown, hind tarsus with basal four tarsomeres greyish black except yellow at apices.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 44 ). Uncus wide at base, narrowed to before apex, bifurcate apically, forming two apical spines; with an elongately banded process on dorsal surface. Gnathos nearly as long as uncus; ventral plate large, elliptical; lateral arm slender, more than twice length of ventral plate. Tegumen widened medially, concave in broad U-shape on anterior margin; lateral arm elongate, evenly narrow. Valva elongately narrow, crescent, gently arched medially; ventral margin sinuate; costa wide, occupying half width of valva, apically rounded and exceeding apex of valva, with a banded process from basal 1/6 extending obliquely downward and roundly joined by membrane medially. Sacculus broad, sub-quadrate; apex deeply concave at middle, forming two apically setose processes: dorsal process stout, thumb-shaped, obtuse at apex; ventral process sub-triangular, narrowly rounded at apex. Saccus wide at base, narrowed to rounded apex; about same length as uncus. Aedeagus slightly longer than valva, evenly slender, curved near base, with several denticles apically; cornutus short, spine-shaped, placed at distal 1/5.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 55 ). Papillae anales sub-rectangular, setose. Apophyses posteriores approximately 3.0 times as long as apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternal plate with posterior margin deeply and narrowly concave at middle, forming two sub-ovate plates with dense long setae; anterior margin almost straight. Lamella antevaginalis narrowly banded medially, produced posterolaterally to a long, digitate process. Antrum weakly sclerotized. Ductus bursae narrower than antrum, membranous, wrinkled, with a curved sclerite medially; ductus seminalis arising from ductus bursae, dilated basally. Corpus bursae rounded, spiculate at centre.

Distribution. China ( Fujian, Zhejiang).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin artus and valvatus, referring to the shape of the valva.

Figures

FIGURES 21–24. Adults of Meleonoma spp. 21. M. annulignatha sp. nov., ♂; 22. M. artivalva sp. nov., ♂; 23. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., ♂; 24. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., ♂. All holotypes. Scales = 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 43–46. Male genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 43. M. annulignatha sp. nov., holotype, slide No. ZXJ19134; 44. M. artivalva sp. nov., paratype, slide No. YAH15299; 45. M. sinuicosta sp. nov., holotype, slide No. YAH15285; 46. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., holotype, slide No. MNHU-NK110. Scales = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 52–56. Female genitalia of Meleonoma spp. 52, M. segregnatha sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19163, 52a, enlarged view of signum; 53, M. taeniophylla sp. nov., slide No. ZXJ19223; 54. M. annulignatha sp. nov., slide No. YAH12313; 55. M. artivalva sp. nov., slide No. YAH15296; 56. M. taiwanensis sp. nov., slide No. MNHU-NK111. All paratypes. Scales = 0.5 mm, except 52a = 0.1 mm.