Protolychnis natalensis Park & De Prins, 2019

Park, Kyu-Tek & Prins, Willy De, 2019, A review of the Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) of southern Africa, based on type specimens deposited in the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (TMSA), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4623 (1), pp. 61-89 : 84-87

Protolychnis natalensis Park & De Prins , sp. nov.

( Figs. 10B , 11 E–H)

Type. Holotype: male, [ South Africa], Natal , Mkuzi ; 115 50 NWcnr, 27˚30̍ S 32˚05̍ E, 23 iv 1982, Scoble , Lawren- son & Kroon, gen. slide no. CIS-7216/ Park, in TMSA.

Diagnosis. This new species is superficially very similar to P. maculata Walsingham with similar forewing pattern, but it can be distinguished by having a more elongated forewing with a distinctly rounded, larger discal spot on the forewing. The male genitalia are also similar, but can be distinguished by the uncus being pointed apically, not exceeding the caudal margin of the basal plate of the gnathos, whereas in P. maculata , it is rounded apically and exceeding the basal plate; the valva is slightly concave on ventral margin medially, the juxta with different length of caudal lobes, whereas in P. maculata , the lobes are nearly symmetrical.

Description. Male ( Fig. 10B ). Wingspan 14 mm. Head: Vertex and frons smoothly scaled, with purplish darkbrown scales, with short, orange-white erect scales laterally. Antenna stout, orange-white, shorter than forewing, about 4/5 length; basal segment elongated, orange-white latero-dorsally, fuscous ventrally; flagellum not ciliate, orange-white. Labial palpus slightly upturned; 2 nd segment thickened, dark brown in basal 4/5 and orange white apically on outer surface; orange white on inner surface, with dark-brown scales along dorsal and ventral margin in basal half; 3 rd segment shorter than 2 nd segment, yellowish white, with sharply pointed apex. Thorax: Tegula and thorax uniformly purplish dark brown. Hind tibia dark brown on outer surface, with rough scales above and beneath. Forewing slightly broadened distally; ground color uniformly dark brown, with a small, irregularly shaped, orange- white spot in middle and a large, orange-white, distinctly rounded spot at end of cell; costa slightly arched near base, nearly straight medially, then slightly oblique pre-apically, with small triangular costal patch near 3/4 length of costa; apex obtuse; termen slightly oblique; fringe with narrow white basal line and broad dark-brown median band. Hindwing gray, broader than forewing. Abdomen: spinous zones on tergites narrow along posterior margin of segments.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 11 E–H). Uncus elongate, curved downward, with acute apex, not exceeding caudal mar- gin of basal plate of gnathos. Gnathos small. Valva elongate, narrowed toward apex, densely setose; costa expanded anteriorly at basal 1/5, then abruptly oblique, smoothly concave; ventral margin concave medially. Juxta with dif- ferent length of caudal lobes: left one large, reaching middle of tegumen, right one shorter, triangular. Aedeagus slender, arched, longer than valva, with a bundle of broom-like setae apically.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The species name is derived from the type locality.

Distribution. South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Adults and venation of Protolychnis species. A, adult of P. maculata Walsingham, male; B, P. natalensis sp. nov., holotype, male; C, P. chlorotoma Meyrick, holotype in NHMUK; D, P. maculata Meyrick, holotype in NHMUK; E, P. marginata Walsingham, holotype in NHMUK; F, venation of P. maculata; G; additional specimens of P. maculata in TMSA; H, Lecithocera flavipalpis Walsingham, female.

FIGURE 11. Male and female genitalia of Protolychnis species: A, male genitalia of P. maculata Walsingham; B, ditto, aedea- gus; C, ditto, close-up of uncus+ gnathos; D. ditto, abdomen; E, male genitalia of P. natalensis sp. nov.; F, ditto, lateral view; G, ditto, aedeagus; H, ditto, close-up of uncus + gnathos; I, female genitalia of P. maculata Walsingham, holotype in NHMUK; J, female genitalia of P. marginata Walsingham, holotype in NHMUK. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.