Mesoptila murcida Mironov & Galsworthy

Mironov, Vladimir G. & Galsworthy, Anthony C., 2012, A generic level review of Eupithecia Curtis and some closely related genera based on the Palaearctic, Nearctic and Oriental fauna (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), Zootaxa 3587, pp. 46-64 : 53

Mesoptila murcida Mironov & Galsworthy , sp. n.

(Fig. 3)

Material Examined. Holotype 3: Kletak Tengger, E. Java, 6000’, June 1934 (J. P. A. Kalis), Rothschild Bequest B.M. 1939–1 ( BMNH). Paratype 3: Nongkodjadjar, E. Java, 4,000’, January 1934 (A. M. R. Wegner), BM Geom. slide no. 220073 ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. Externally easily distinguished from other known representatives of the genus Mesoptila by the unicolorous wings with large discal spots, and four dark costal spots on the fore wing. Rather similar to the widespread Asian species Eupithecia subtacincta Hampson , in the grey-brown colour of the wings and the red abdomen, but can be distinguished by the large costal spots on the fore wing and larger discal dots on all wings. The male genitalia are very similar to those of M. melanolopha, Swinhoe , but in M. murcida the tip of the uncus is narrower, the valve narrower at the apex and the eighth sternite has pointed basal lobes.

Description. A small species. Wingspan 17 mm; fore wing 8 mm. Thorax and abdomen covered with rusty red scales. Fore wing elongate with slightly bowed costal margin, evenly curved termen and relatively pointed apex; ground colour grey-brown; transverse lines not visible; four very distinct dark costal spots; discal dot large, black, ovoid. Hind wing with straight anal margin, angled termen, and rounded apex; unicolorous with fore wing, with darker shading between anal margin and discal cell; discal dot relatively large but paler than on fore wing, commalike; terminal line on all wings blackish, interrupted by veins; fringes almost unicolorous, grey. Male genitalia (fig. 18). Uncus short, relatively broad, uniapical, with two elongate basal lobes. Valve narrow, evenly narrowed to very narrowly rounded apex; costal margin slightly sinuate; sacculus weakly sclerotized. Vinculum very short, relatively narrow. Apices of anterior arms of labides without papillae, but with a membranous cushion bearing a row of setae along their ventral margin. Aedeagus narrow, shorter than length of valve. Vesica covered with numerous denticules, and armed with one narrow, elongate, clavate cornutus. Sternite A8 very short and narrow, with two slightly diverging, narrow, apically blunt arms, connected with each other by short basal band; basal lobes pointed; basal hollow very shallow; apical hollow membranous, relatively deep and broad. Female unknown.

Range. Indonesia: Java. Evidently a montane species.