Vangatinea sontraensis Heppner & Bae, 2023

Heppner, John B. & Bae, Yang-Seop, 2023, New species of colorful tineids from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam in the new genus Vangatinea (Lepidoptera: Tineidae: Erechthiinae), Zootaxa 5264 (3), pp. 369-380 : 373

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5264.3.5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7836758
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3A0C87F6-DD1C-A71B-51D9-FF22FD86FAF3
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Vangatinea sontraensis Heppner & Bae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Vangatinea sontraensis Heppner & Bae , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1-3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURES 3–5 , 6 View FIGURES 6–8 , 9 View FIGURE 9 , 12 View FIGURE 12 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9049044D-891E-43A5-9162-133718592689

Type locality: Vietnam ( Son Tra Forest Reserve , Danang Prov.) .

Type materials. Holotype: ♁, Son Tra Forest Reserve (400–500m), Danang (Son Tra Peninsula), Danang Prov., Vietnam, 20–22 Apr 2012, J. B. Heppner (gen. slide JBH–2997; adult photo 11237) ( MGCL) (deposited at MGCL) . Paratypes: 2♁, same site data as holotype (head and wing slide JBH–4257) ( MGCL) .

Diagnosis. This species is distinctive in having the distal half of the forewing mostly golden-orange (mostly purple-brown with orange patches in the other two species), and the male genitalia with valvae of mandible-like shape with tooth-like saccular edge (similar to typical lepidopteran larval mandibles), and uncus developed as bifurcate dorsal projections.

Description. Wing expanse: 10.7–11.4 mm male (n = 3). Male ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3–5 ). Head ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 6–8 ): vertex orange-yellow; frons yellow-white; caudal eye margin yellow; labial palpus light yellow to white, with bristles light brown; antenna dark gray, with basal 1/5 yellow; scape light yellow. Thorax: bronze-golden (lighter medially near patagia); venter dark golden; legs yellow-white to white, with dark brown intersegmental rings. Forewing ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 3–5 ): basal half dark bronzegolden, with small round spot of equal color on costa just beyond 1/2, and larger semi-triangular mark on costa at 3/4, distal thin line near apex, and thicker long tornal marginal line; remainder of forewing golden-yellow to light orange; fringe golden-yellow around apex, then brown along termen and tornus; venter dark brown, with tan emargination on costa to tornus; light tan-white on cubital section. Hindwing: pale white, with distal dull brown from 1/2 along costa and along termen to tornus; fringe pale brown to whitish distally, with mostly white along anal margin; venter dark brown, with thin tan emargination from apex to tornus. Abdomen: dark bronze-golden (lighter on T1–2); venter golden-white; genital tufts golden; small lateral pregenital coremata on S6 ( Fig. 9b View FIGURE 9 ); S6 and T6 caudally concave. Male genitalia ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ): compact and strongly sclerotized tegumen-vinculum cylinder; uncus projected dorsally as bifurcate finger-like appendages, distally slightly recurved; valva quadratic and mandible-like, with tooth-like saccular margin (somewhat asymmetrical, with saccular margin of left valva convex and of right valva distally projected) (Note: Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 shows the valvae in ventral view), and termen rounded from strongly sclerotized dorsal margin; apparent saccus very short and turned inwards; juxta-anellus fused as short tubular complex; saccus indistinct inward spur; aedeagus narrow and long; cornutus a long tubule (subequal to aedeagus length). Female: unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the Son Tra Forest Reserve, Danang, Vietnam (see Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 ).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from central coastal Vietnam (Danang) ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 map).

Discussion. The new species was discovered on the Son Tra Peninsula, next to northeast Danang, which is a small isolated forested mountain (to 500m) and peninsula, now protected as the Son Tra Forest Reserve ( Fig. 13 View FIGURE 13 ). This site has a remnant coastal forest of diverse small trees and shrubs where the moths of this new species were found at lights, but likely are day-fliers.