Teliphasa erythrina Li

Liu, Linjie, Wang, Yiping & Li, Houhun, 2016, Taxonomic review of the genus Teliphasa Moore, 1888 from China, with descriptions of four new species (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Epipaschiinae), ZooKeys 554, pp. 119-137 : 127

Taxon classification Animalia Lepidoptera Pyralidae

Teliphasa erythrina Li sp. n. Figs 7, 15

Type material.

Holotype ♂ - CHINA, Bubang, Mengla County (21.60°N, 101.59°E), Yunnan Province, 650 m, 23.viii.2005, leg. Yingdang Ren, genitalia slide No. WYP05198.

Diagnosis.

This species is obviously different from its congeners by the forewing reddish brown and the hindwing deep gray tinged with pale reddish brown in the distal area. In addition, this species is distinguishable by the subtriangular uncus and the relatively narrow valva with length obviously longer than the maximum width in the male genitalia. In other Teliphasa species, the uncus is not subtriangular, and the relatively broad valva is shorter than or equal to the maximum width.

Description.

Adult (Fig. 7): Wingspan 36.0 mm. Head white, mixed with pale yellow and blackish brown scales. Male labial palpus grayish white, with scattered brown scales; second segment dilated near base; third segment shorter than 1/10 length of second. Antenna with scape white, mixed with brown; flagellum alternately yellowish brown and brown. Thorax and tegula white, mixed with brownish yellow and black scales; tegula with brown long scales distally. Forewing white in basal 2/3, suffused with pale yellowish, pale brown and brownish black scales, with blackish brown scale tuft near base, mottled white; costa with brownish black scales from basal 1/3 to 2/3, diffused to above cell, with a white spot at outside of postmedian line, spreading to R5; distal 1/3 reddish brown, tinged with white scales; antemedian line black wavy, extending from costal 1/3 obliquely outward to below cell, then obliquely inward to scale tuft near base, thereafter obliquely outward to 1A+2A, finally straight to dorsal 1/3; postmedian line black, extending from costal 2/3 obliquely outward to M3, then running obliquely inward to dorsal 2/3, its inner margin serrated; discal and discocellular spots brownish black, the former circular, the latter subrectangular; terminal line grayish white, with subrectangular blackish brown spots uniformly placed along its inner side, interrupted by pale brown at veins. Hindwing with basal 2/3 white mixed with grayish scales; distal 1/3 deep gray tinged with pale reddish brown, gradually paler from costa to dorsum; discocellular spot pale brown; cilia of fore- and hind-wings brownish yellow, blackish brown along extension of veins. Legs yellowish white, mixed with blackish brown and pale brown scales; tarsi blackish brown, white at apex of each tarsomere.

Male genitalia (Fig. 15). Uncus triangular, concave medially on anterior margin. Gnathos gradually narrowed to gently hooked apex; about 3/5 length of scaphium. Valva relatively narrow, length about three times width at base. Costa narrowly banded, reaching valva apically. Transtilla joined medially in a small knot. Sacculus narrowly banded, reaching 1/2 length of valva on ventral margin. Juxta bilobed, each lobe gradually narrowed distally, inner side strongly sclerotized. Saccus not separated, protruding triangularly, acute apically. Phallus slender, slightly curved at basal 1/3; cornutus broad basally, slightly curved medially, dilated distally, protruding to a stout hook laterally.

Female unknown.

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin erythrinus (red), in reference to the forewing reddish brown in the distal area.