Promalactis ciliavalva 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 : 23

Promalactis ciliavalva Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 22 , 55 )

Type material. Nepal: Holotype ♂, British Embassy , Kathmandu, 4500 m, 20.V.–23.VI.1983, leg. Allen, Brendell, Robinson, Tuck, slide No. NHMUK010317036 .

Paratype. 1♂, same data as holotype, slide No. NHMUK010317022 .

Other material examined. 1♂ (abdomen missing), same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other described species of the group in the male genitalia by the asymmetrical valva with the costal part ciliate and finely serrate along margins, and the setose sacculus produced into a long free process.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing length 5.0– 5.5 mm.

Head. Vertex snowy white, frons deep grey, occiput yellowish brown. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous brown on outer surface, pale orange yellow on inner margin; third segment black except white apically. Antennal scape snowy white dorsally, greyish white ventrally; flagellum black, alternating with white dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula ochreous brown. Forewing orange yellow; markings white edged with black scales: costal spot sub-rectangular, from distal 1/3 extending to above posterior angle of cell, sinuate laterally; basal streak from dorsum oblique inward to base of fold; antemedian streak from middle of dorsum to basal 1/3 of anterior margin of cell, subparallel with basal streak; dorsal streak short, slender, from before end of fold slightly widened to inner margin of tornal spot; tornal spot rounded, extending upward to below costal spot; apical spot wedge-shaped, widened to termen; termen with a smaller spot near apical spot, interrupt by black scales; fringe orange yellow except grey around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur brown ventrally, tibia with white spot at base and middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a white dot basally, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; hindleg yellowish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal four tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 55 ). Uncus wide at base, narrowed to pointed apex, sclerotized laterobasally and distally. Gnathos slightly shorter than uncus; mesial plate lingulate, squamous, rounded apically; basal arm narrowed to mesial plate. Tegumen straight medially on anterior margin; lateral arm narrowed to anterior end. Valva asymmetrical: Left valva with costal part elongate triangular, wide at base, narrowed to pointed apex, serrate and finely ciliate along costa and ventral margin; sacculus wide at base, narrowed to basal 3/5, distal 2/5 produced into a free sub-rhomboic process finely serrate on margins, with a ridge running from middle to before apex above ventral margin. Right valva with costal part narrow at base, broadened at middle, again narrowed to pointed apex, with densely tufted setae along costal area, costa finely serrate, concave at base, arched medially, ventral margin folded basally, concave distally, with several denticles at middle and before apex respectively; sacculus wide at base, narrowed to apex, distal 1/2 produced to a free finely serrate and ciliate ventral process, spine-like and bent dorsad at a right angle distally, with an erect, narrow blade-like process extending from beyond basal 1/3 of dorsal margin to before distal 1/3 above ventral margin. Saccus clavate, slightly shorter than left valva, slightly narrowed to pointed apex distally. Juxta composed of paired large auriform plates. Phallus approx. 1.8 times length of left valva, bulbiform basally, tubular distally; with two cornuti: one cornutus located at middle, the other cornutus placed distally.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Nepal.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin cilia- and valva, referring to the densely ciliate valva of the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 17–23. Adults of Promalactis spp. 17. P. vulgaris sp. nov.; 18. P. apicibilobata sp. nov.; 19. P. apiciserrulata sp. nov.; 20. P. bacilliforma sp. nov.; 21. campanimorpha sp. nov.; 22. P. ciliavalva sp. nov.; 23. P. abortiva sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 52–57. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 52. P. apiciserrulata sp. nov.; 53. P. bacilliforma sp. nov.; 54. P. campanimorpha sp. nov.; 55. P. ciliavalva sp. nov.; 56. P. abortiva sp. nov.; 57. P. magnisaccata sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 52–53, 55–57 = 0.2 mm; 54 = 0.5 mm.