Idiopteryx jansei 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 : 79-81

Idiopteryx jansei Park & De Prins , sp. nov.

( Figs. 7E , 9 A–C)

Types. Holotype: male, [ South Africa], Transkei [Eastern Cape], Umtata , 2 i [19]89, N.J. Duke, in TMSA . Paratypes: 1♂, Grahams town , 29 xii 1973, gen. slide no. CIS-7222/ Park ; 1♂, Transkei , Umtata, 24 xii [19]87, N.J. Duke, both in TMSA .

Diagnosis. This new species has a similar forewing pattern as I. obliquella , but can be distinguished by the fol- lowing characters: a dark-brown short streak distinctly present at base of costa; the antemedian band broader than in obliquella; the postmedian fascia with broadly developed inner margin, followed by an overlapped, dark-brown triangular fascia bordered with a yellowish-white line. That of I. obliquella has a narrower inner margin, connected with the outer margin by several transverse narrow streaks. The male genitalia have more distinguishable characters with a small apical spine at apex of the valva.

Description. Male ( Fig. 7E ). Wingspan 16 – 17 mm. Head: yellowish white to pale yellow in frons and dorsal surface. Antenna with basal segment elongate, yellowish white ventrally and dorsally, with dark-brown bands at lateral sides; flagellum yellowish white throughout. Labial palpus with thickened 2 nd segment, yellowish white, speck- ling with brownish scales in basal 1/3 on outer surface, yellowish white on inner surface; 3 rd segment shorter than 2 nd segment, dark brown dorsally, yellowish white ventrally. Thorax: yellowish white dorsally with two longitudinal blackish bands; tegula dark brown, with creamy-white scales along posterior margin. Hind tibia with long, rough scales beyond median spurs. Forewing slightly dilated distally; ground color creamy white to yellowish white, with pale yellow scales densely covered in upper 1/3; antemedian band broad, dark brown, slightly convex medially; postmedian fascia dark brown, broadly developed, followed by a large, dark-brown, overlapping triangular outer fascia, bordered by a yellowish-white line; subterminal fascia dark brown, as wide as antemedian band, reaching apex; costa slightly arched around basal 1/3 and oblique beyond 3/4; apex obtuse; termen slightly concave before middle, with narrow dark-brown band along margin; fringe grayish white, except some dark-brown scales at apex. Hindwing broader than forewing, with weak, narrow, dark-brown postmedian band and dark- brown line along termen, more distinct in apical half; apex acute; termen oblique, slightly concave medially; fringe grayish white, with narrow, weak brownish basal line.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 9A, B ): Uncus more or less broad with rounded apex. Gnathos narrower toward apex, strongly bent beyond 2/3, with sharply pointed apex. Tegumen broad, weakly sclerotized. Valva broad, nearly parallel-sided, with a small spine at apex; costal margin gently oblique near base, then concave medially; ventral margin nearly straight. Juxta shield-shape, concave medially on caudal margin. Aedeagus more or less slender, slightly longer than valva, bent medially; cornutus absent. Abdomen with spinous zones on tergites, segment VIII without specially modified sclerite ( Fig. 9C ).

Female unknown.

Etymology. The species name is named in honor of the Late Dr. A.J.T. Janse who was a pioneer for the Microlepidoptera studies in the Afrotropical Region.

Distribution. South Africa (Eastern Cape).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Adults. A, Dragmatucha proaula Meyrick, male; B, Idiopteryx bivia (Meyrick), male; C, I. discopuncta (Janse), female; D, I. obliquella Walsingham, male; E, I. jansei sp. nov., paratype, male; F, ditto, hind leg; G, I. natalensis sp. nov., holotype, male; H, ditto, hind leg.

FIGURE 9. Male and female genitalia of Idiopteryx. A, male genitalia of Idiopteryx jansei sp. nov.; B, ditto, aedeagus; C, abdo- men; D, male genitalia of I. obliquella Walsingham; E, ditto, aedeagus; F, female genitalia of I. obliquella. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.