Promalactis furciuncata 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 : 13-14

Promalactis furciuncata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 12 , 45 , 73 )

Type material. Thailand: Holotype ♂, San Pakia RFD Watershed Station, Chiang Dao , Chiang Mai, 1450 m, 28.IV.–1.V.1994, leg. I.J. Kitching et al., slide No. NHMUK010316895 .

Paratypes. 1♂ 2♀, same data as holotype, slide No. NHMUK010317037 ♀ .

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished by the U-shaped uncus with lateral arms unequal in length, the mesial plate of the gnathos distally narrowed and curved to apex, and the asymmetrical valvae with a cluster of strong setae at the apex.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 12 ). Forewing length 5.0–6.0 mm.

Head. Vertex snowy white; frons brownish grey; occiput grey medially, ochreous brown laterally. Labial palpus with second segment ochreous brown on outer surface, orange yellow on inner surface; third segment black. Antennal scape snowy white dorsally, grey ventrally; flagellum black, with white annuli dorsally.

Thorax. Mesonotum and tegula deep ochreous brown. Forewing ochreous yellow; basal fascia white edged with black scales, slender, extending from dorsum obliquely inward to above base of fold; antemedian fascia white edged with black scales, extending from middle of dorsum obliquely inward to basal 2/5 of anterior margin of cell, wider than basal fascia; costal spot sub-triangular, white edged with black scales, with dense black scales on inner side anteriorly, extending from distal 1/3 to above posterior angle of cell; tornal spot triangular, deep grey, edged with black scales on inner margin, extending to below posterior angle of cell; apical spot sub-ovate, deep grey, mixed with black scales on inner margin; fringe orange yellow, except grey along distal part of costal margin and around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Foreleg black except femur white ventrally, tibia with white dot at base and middle, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two tarsomeres; midleg greyish brown ventrally, black dorsally, tibia with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsus white at apices of basal two and apical tarsomeres; hindleg yellow ventrally, black dorsally, tarsus white at apices of basal four tarsomeres and on entire apical tarsomere.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 45 ). Uncus U-shaped, each lobe spine-shaped, narrowed to pointed apex, left lobe slightly longer and wider than right arm. Gnathos as long as left lateral lobe of uncus; mesial plate uniformly narrow from base to basal 2/3, distal 1/3 heavily sclerotized, bent ventrad, narrowed, and curved to pointed apex. Tegumen furcate from posterior 2/5; lateral arm narrowed to rounded anterior end. Valva asymmetrical: Left valva narrow at base, widened to basal 2/3 where a dorsal projection protrudes, thereafter uniformly narrow to rounded apex, with two strong setae before middle, a tuft of long setae at basal 2/3, three strong setae lined from before basal 2/3 to distal 1/5, and a cluster of strong setae at apex; slender, clubbed process arising from basal 1/4 ventrally, setose and slightly inflated distally, not reaching apex of valva; costal process wide at base, narrowed to basal 1/5 where it curves, becoming slender distally, acute at apex. Right valva uniformly wide in basal 1/3, narrow medially, inflated ovately from distal 1/3 to apex, with four or more strong setae lined from beyond distal 1/4 ventrally, with a cluster of strong setae at apex; slender, clubbed process arising from beyond basal 1/3 ventrally, setose distally, reaching apex of valva; costal process wide at base, narrowed to basal 1/5, curved twice medially, slender distally, acute at apex. Saccus 3/5 length of right valva, slightly widened before obtuse apex. Juxta weakly sclerotized; basal lobe short, slender. Phallus 1.3 times length of left valva, straight, with a sclerite apically; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 73 ). Apophyses anteriores 2/3 length of apophyses posteriores. Eighth sternum lined with sparse setae on posterior margin; slender lateral process arising from anterior corner, straightly reaching posterior margin. Lamella postvaginalis large, tubular, sinuate on posterior margin. Antrum heavily sclerotized, tubular. Ductus bursae with longitudinal wrinkles, slightly inflated toward corpus bursae. Corpus bursae ovate, as long as ductus bursae; signum rounded, with two spines.

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin furcus and uncatus, referring to the U-shaped uncus.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Adults of Promalactis spp. 9. P. inaequilonga sp. nov.; 10. P. pallidistriata sp. nov.; 11. P. auriculata sp. nov.; 12. P. furciuncata sp. nov.; 13. P. gracilenta sp. nov.; 14. P. lativalva sp. nov.; 15. P. longiclavata sp. nov.; 16. P. parvispinata sp. nov. All males and holotypes. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 40–45. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 40. P. arcilineata sp. nov.; 41. P. curvilineata sp. nov.; 42. P. inaequilonga sp. nov.; 43. P. pallidistriata sp. nov.; 44. P. auriculata sp. nov.; 45. P. furciuncata sp. nov. All holotypes. Scale bar: 40–44 = 0.2 mm; 45 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 73–78. Female genitalia of Promalactis spp. 73. P. furciuncata sp. nov.; 74. P. gracilenta sp. nov.; 75. P. lativalva sp. nov.; 76. P. vulgaris sp. nov.; 77. campanimorpha sp. nov.; 78. P. parvissima sp. nov. Scale bar: 73–74, 76–78 = 0.25 mm; 75 = 0.2 mm.