Lecithocera balteiformis, Yu & Wang, 2024

Yu, Shuai & Wang, Shuxia, 2024, The genus Lecithocera (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae) from China, with descriptions of twenty-one new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 924, pp. 1-74 : 7-8

Lecithocera balteiformis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E792FE7F-AE01-4890-9DB3-C7C19586C39D

Figs 1E , 6C , 10E , 15E

Diagnosis

The new species is similar to L. longivalva Gozmány, 1978 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished from L. longivalva by the smaller size of the adult (11.0‒12.0 mm), in the male genitalia by the gnathos with a subovate basal plate and the cucullus about 3/5 the length of the valva; whereas in L. longivalva , the adult is larger (≥ 20.0 mm), the gnathos has a distally widened basal plate ( Gozmány 1978: pl. 27 fig. 44) and the cucullus is half the length of the valva ( Gozmány 1978: 105).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ balteiformis ”, referring to the taenioid posterolateral processes of the seventh abdominal sternite.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA – Shanxi Province • ♂; Yicheng County, Dahe Forest Farm ; 35º27′ N, 111º55′ E; 1202 m a.s.l.; 23 Jul. 2013; S.L. Hao and M.J. Li leg.; slide no. LSR13346 ; NKU.

Paratypes

CHINA – Henan Province • 7 ♂♂; Xixia County, Huangshian ; 890 m a.s.l.; 17 Jul. 1998; H.H. Li et al. leg.; slide nos ZMR10131 , YS18197 ; NKU .

Description

ADULT ( Figs 1E , 6C ). Wingspan 11.0‒12.0 mm. Head pale yellow.Antenna pale yellow; flagellum ringed with dark brown in basal ¼. Labial palpus pale yellow; second palpomere mixed with brown scales on outer surface; third palpomere about ⅔ length of second palpomere. Thorax and tegula pale yellow, mixed with brown scales. Forewing with costal margin slightly arched, apex bluntly rounded, termen oblique; ground colour pale yellow, covered with dense dark brown scales; markings blackish brown: discal stigma small rounded; discocellular stigma larger, elliptical; fringe pale brown, basal line pale yellow; R 3 and R 4+5 arising from same point, R 4 and R 5 stalked, R 5 to apex, M 2 and M 3 free, CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hindwing and fringe grey; fringe with pale yellow basal line; M 3 and CuA 1 stalked for shorter than half-length.

MALE GENITALIA ( Fig. 10E ). Uncus V-shaped; caudal lobe elongate digitiform, with rounded apex. Gnathos with basal plate subovate; median process uniform in basal 3/5, thereafter narrowed to distal ¼, distal ¼ slender, curved ventrad before apex by right angle. Valva broad basally, narrowed to cucullus; cucullus about 3/5 length of valva, parallel-sided in basal half, thereafter narrowed to narrowly rounded apex, nearly straight on costal margin, densely setose, with row of bullet-shaped setae along basal half of ventral margin; costal bar narrow, widened from middle toward valva, angled at middle; sacculus distinct basally, uniform. Vinculum broad; saccus semiovate. Juxta shield-shaped, with small notch at middle on posterior margin, with tiny projection at middle on anterior margin; posterior lobe semiovate basally, taenioid distally, extending outward. Aedeagus about 3/5 length of valva, curved at basal ⅓, parallel-sided from basal ⅓ to apex, with dense granules in vesica; cornuti consisting of L-shaped sclerite, bar-shaped sclerite medially, bundle of spines at distal ¼ and tooth apically.

SEVENTH ABDOMINAL STERNITE ( Fig. 15E ). Anterolateral rib thin, curved, not reaching posterior margin of sixth abdominal sternite; posterolateral lobe broad taenioid.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

China (Henan, Shanxi).

Figures

Fig. 1. Adults of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU), dorsal view. A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, male. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, male. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, male. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, male. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, male. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., paratype, male. Scale bars=2.0 mm.

Fig. 6. Wing venations of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853, all paratypes (NKU). A. L. angustifolia sp. nov., male, slide no. YS19608. B. L. asticta sp. nov., male, slide no. YS20005. C. L. balteiformis sp. nov., male, slide no. YS18197. D. L. bicornuta sp. nov., male, slide no. YS19610. E. L. bigeminata sp. nov., male, slide no. YS20003. F. L. duplicispinea sp. nov., female, slide no. ZMR10313. Scale bars =2.0 mm.

Fig. 10. Male genitalia of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU). A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, slide no. YS19101. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, slide no. YS19008. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19607. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19603. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LSR13346. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19614. Scale bars =0.5 mm.

Fig. 15. Male seventh abdominal sternite of species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 (NKU). A. L. alpestra Park, 2005, slide no. YS19101. B. L. alpina Park, 2016, slide no. YS19008. C. L. angustifolia sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19607. D. L. asticta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19603. E. L. balteiformis sp. nov., holotype, slide no. LSR13346. F. L. bicornuta sp. nov., holotype, slide no. YS19614. G. L. bigeminata sp. nov., paratype, slide no. LSR13407. H. L. chersitis Meyrick, 1918, slide no.YS19635.I. L. duplicispinea sp. nov., paratype, slide no. ZYM06270. Scale bars =0.5 mm.