Nemophora badagongshana, Liao & Hirowatari & Yagi & Wang & Wang & Huang, 2023

Liao, Cheng-Qing, Hirowatari, Toshiya, Yagi, Sadahisa, Wang, Min, Wang, Xing & Huang, Guo-Hua, 2023, The fauna of the family Adelidae (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Adeloidea) from China, Zootaxa 5348 (1), pp. 1-152 : 24-25

(19) Nemophora issikii Kozlov & Hirowatari, 1997

(Plate X-1)

Nemophora issikii Kozlov & Hirowatari, 1997 , Ent. Scand., 28: 95, figs. 5, 7 (TL: China, Taiwan, Sinsuiei [Chinshuiying]; USNM); Shao et al. 2008: 550 (Checklist of Taiwan).

Diagnosis. This species differs from N. aritai and N. marisella by the oblique central fascia of the forewing. and differs from N. honeella by the pale ochreous base of the forewing and relatively larger size.

Specimen examined. Holotype ♀ in USNM.

Distribution. China (Taiwan).

Remarks. Although this species was described based on a single female adult, the special structure of the female antenna is sufficient to make it as an independent species. The base of the female antenna is thickened by covering scales in many Nemophora species, but this character is well developed in this species, which is similar to N. maxinae from Thailand and Myanmar ( Kozlov & Robinson 1996b). However, the latter species has no forewing central fascia and is thus distantly related to N. issikii ( Kozlov & Hirowatari 1997) .

3.5 Nemophora aurifera species group

Diagnosis. This species group can be distinguished by the following characters: the male eyes are moderate or relatively small, with eye size index less than 1; the forewing ground color is black with blue-purple luster, usually scattered with many yellow scales apically; the transverse central fascia is usually placed at 1/3 of the forewing, narrow, light yellow to orange-yellow, both sides with narrow black margins; the sacculus of male genitalia usually expands medially but does not form an angular process; and the aedeagus is distinctly curved dorsally with asymmetrical or serrated apical lobes.

Remarks. This species group consists of twelve species, eight of which have been recorded in China. Among these, three species are described as new in this paper, namely N. badagongshana sp. nov., N. longlabiae sp. nov., and N. quadrata sp. nov. In addition, N. associatella ( Zeller, 1839) is widely distributed in Europe, whereas N. pruinosa Hirowatari, 2005 , N. tenuifasciata Hirowatari, 2005 , and N. umbripennis Stringer, 1930 (Plate X-4) are only known in Japan. Due to their very similar external appearance, genital dissection is very important and necessary for identification in this group.

Key to species of the aurifera group based on external morphology and male genitalia

1 Body small, wing expanse 14–15 mm ..................................................................... 2

- Body moderate, wing expanse 16–20 mm .................................................................. 4

2 Forewing central fascia yellow, wider, not interrupted in middle................................................ 3

- Forewing central fascia whitish, narrow straight, widely interrupted in middle............................. N. limenites

3 Forewing base without yellow stripe; central fascia approximately equal in width; abdomen dark brown dorsally and yellow ventrally.................................................................................. N. tyriochrysa

- Forewing base with longitudinal yellow stripe near costal margin; central fascia with anterior margin narrower than posterior margin; abdomen brown dorsally and bronze ventrally.............................................. N. solstitiella

4 Forewing central fascia obviously wide, distinctly curved outward in the middle............................ N. servata

- Forewing central fascia narrow, straight................................................................... 5

5 Eyes large in male, eye size index about 7; labial palpus very long, more than vertical diameter of eyes, covered with dense long hairs; costal half of forewing central fascia about twice width as dorsal half...................... N. longlabiae sp. nov.

- Eyes small to moderate in size; labial palpus very short, with sparse short hairs; forewing central fascia equal in width, at most slightly wider somewhere............................................................................... 6

6 Eyes moderate in male, eye size index about 3.8; median process of transtilla short, with distinctly wide base whose width equal to the length of median process..................................................... N. badagongshana sp. nov.

- Eyes small, eye size index about 1; median process of transtilla long, with narrow base whose width no more than half length of median process..................................................................................... 7

7 Forewing central fascia obviously broad, equal in width; subapical yellow scales occupied apical half of this area; valva with obvious basal process laterally; suspensorium trapezoidal............................................. N. aurifera

- Forewing central fascia obviously narrow, slightly narrow at anterior margin; subapical yellow scales occupied apical 2/3 of this area; valva without basal process laterally; suspensorium almost quadrate...................... N. quadrata sp. nov.