Thliptoceras filamentosum Zhang

Zhang, Dandan, Xu, Jiawen & Li, Jinwei, 2014, Review of the genus Thliptoceras Warren, 1890 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Pyraustinae) from the Oriental region of China, Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 265-286 : 274-275

Thliptoceras filamentosum Zhang , sp. nov.

Figs. 13, 26, 27, 37, 44

DIagnosIs. Thliptoceras filamentosum with modified scales along the forewing hind margin in the male, is closely related to T. impube sp. nov., both with a weakly modified antenna in male and a distal sacculus process, but the former can be distinguished by the smaller size and the yellowish brown colour, the setose uncus, the long, slender, finger-shape, dorso-distally directed distal sacculus process, as well as an aedeagus with a loose group of cornuti. Female genitalia with a tightly spiraled ductus bursae characterize this species.

DescrIptIon. Head. Frons deep yellow, with white lateral bands. Vertex pale yellow, sometimes with creamy white scales medially. Labial palpus exceeding frons by about length of head, yellowish, contrastingly white at base ventrally. Maxillary palpus yellowish, whitish terminally. Basal scaling of proboscis creamy white. Antenna in male with scape enlarged, base of flagellum with small dorsal expansion covered with small scale tuft, following segments weakly compressed and slightly bent basally in male; yellow, with creamy white or pale yellow scales dorsally. Thorax. Pale yellow dorsally, creamy white ventrally. Legs yellow dorsally, creamy white ventrally, hind tibia with inner mid-spur longer than other inner spurs and outer mid-spur minute in male, other outer spurs about half length of inner. Wing expanse 20–22 mm. Wings yellow-brown, gradually deepening from postmedial line to termen, markings fuscous. Forewing with antemedial line and orbicular stigma indistinct; reniform stigma a short streak; postmedial line with anterior 4/5 distinct, slightly dentate, from 2/3 costa arched to middle of CuA2; posterior margin with a band of modified, broad scales pointing obliquely forwards in male; basal half of fringe deep yellow, distal half fuscous. Hindwing translucent whitish at base along costa; postmedial line slightly dentate, from 3/4 costa to nearly straight behind CuA1, then bent basad and ending at anal fold; fringe as in forewing, paler in tornal region. Abdomen. Pale yellow dorsally, creamy white ventrally. Male genitalia. Uncus short and stout, wide at base then parallel-sided with tapered tip, distal half setose dorso-laterally. Valva with basal 2/3 of costa straight and ventral margin very weakly sinuate, apex recurved with a minute excavation at apex of costa; editum short, stout and distal half inflated, globular, bent dorsad, sparsely setose; sacculus with an erect, short, stout, thumb-shaped process medially and a long, slender, straight, finger-shaped dorso-distally directed distal process with its inner margins lightly serrate. Juxta anchor-shaped, with a low carina. Anellus indistinct. Aedeagus with a long series of spine-shaped cornuti, vesica with filiform parallel wrinkles, distal end with minute spinules. Female genitalia. Ovipositor lobes flat, crescentic, densely setose. Apophyses anteriores almost twice length of apophyses posteriores. Lamella postvaginalis lightly sclerotized and spinulose, projecting as a low hump posterior to ostium and forming a vertical fold in dorsal wall of antrum; short, sclerotized, cylindrical antrum posteriorly fused with wide invagination with a lateral pocket on each side and a deeply bilobed and projecting ventral margin. Ductus seminalis originating just anterior to antrum. Ductus bursae tightly and regularly spiraled, length about 3 times diameter of corpus bursae, anteriormost coil much wider, lined with short, sclerotized spinules. Corpus bursae globular, signum small (less than half diameter of corpus bursae), angles bearing carina pointed and of the angles without carina one blunt, the other slightly extended; accessory bursae arising from posterior end of corpus bursae.

MaterIal examIned. Holotype: ♂, CHINA, Guangdong: Mt. Danxiashan (25°04'N, 113°64'E), Shaoguan County, alt. 96 m, 6.VI.2012, coll. Li Jinwei, genitalia slide No. ZDD10068; Paratypes: Guangdong: 2 ♂, 5 ♀, Mt. Danxiashan (25°04'N, 113°64'E), Shaoguan County, alt. 96 m, 6–7.VI.2012, coll. Li Jinwei, genitalia slide No. ZDD10059, ZDD10069, XJW12003, XJW12009; Jiangxi: 1 ♂, Mt. Jiulianshan (24°54'N, 114°46'E), alt. 500 m, 12.VII.2008, coll. Jia Fenglong, genitalia slide No. ZDD10074.

DIstrIbutIon. China (Jiangxi, Guangdong).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin filamentosus = filiform, referring to the filiform wrinkles in the vesica.