Prays semilunata Li

Cong, Peixin & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Prays Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 201-227 : 215-216

Prays semilunata Li , sp. nov.

( Figs. 14 , 30 , 42 )

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Hainan Province: Yinggeling , 30.IX.2010, coll. Bingbing Hu, genitalia slide No. CPX15147 . Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype, genitalia slide No. CPX15201 ; 1 ♂, Bawangling , 261 m, 19.VII.2015, coll. Qingyun Wang et al., genitalia slide No. CPX15153 ; Yunnan Province: 1♀, Baihualing, Mt. Gaoligong, Baoshan , 1473 m, 29.VII.2013, coll. Shurong Liu et al., genitalia slide No. CPX16011 .

Diagnosis. The thumb-like socius, the valva with distal 1/3 ovately expanded, the sacculus arched dorsally in the male genitalia, and the eighth sternite protruded rectangularly at middle on the anterior margin in the female genitalia make P. semilunata sp. nov. separabable from its congeners.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 14 ): Wingspan 10.0–12.0 mm. Vertex pale brown except white around eye; frons pale brown mixed with white. Labial palpus white on dorsal surface, brown on ventral surface, each segment white apically. Antenna with scape white on ventral surface, pale brown on dorsal surface; flagellum greyish brown. Thorax blackish brown; tegula pale brown, white apically. Forewing deep greyish brown; costal margin with approximately twelve blackish brown strigulae alternated with white in basal 4/5, with a white spot at distal 1/5, with an ill-defined triangularly blackish brown spot before apex; white strigulae irregularly radiated to both sides along fold, interrupted by a blackish brown spot at basal 3/5; dorsum with approximately six ill-defined blackish brown strigulae, with a triangular blackish brown spot at tornus; apex with a few white dots; termen creamy white, with several blackish brown dots along inner margin; cilia pale brown. Hindwing and cilia pale brown. Foreleg with coxa white, femur brown on ventral surface, greyish white on dorsal surface, tibia dark brown, with a white streak on outer surface at distal 1/3, tarsus dark brown, first and second tarsomeres white on outer surface apically; midleg with coxa white, femur pale brown on ventral surface, greyish white on dorsal surface, tibia dark brown, with white streak on outer surface at base and middle respectively, apical spur white, tarsus dark brown, each tarsomere with a white streak apically; hindleg with coxa white, femur pale brown, tibia pale brown on outer surface, remaining part white, tarsus white on inner surface, pale brown on outer surface, each tarsomere with a white streak apically.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 30 ): Socius thumb-like, bearing long setae, inner margin nearly straight, outer margin concave at basal 1/3, apex blunt. Tegumen medially extended for 1/4 length of lateral band, anterior margin straight, concave semicircularly at middle; lateral band slightly oblique outwards anteriorly. Gnathos equally wide. Valva with basal 2/3 nearly uniform, distal 1/3 separated from sacculus, expanded ovately, covered with dense long setae, apex bluntly rounded; transtilla widely banded; sacculus almost as long as valva, semilunar, dorsal margin arched, ventral margin concave medially, covered with dense long setae along dorsal and ventral margins, narrowed distally and produced to a thorn curved ventrad. Vinculum broad U-shaped; saccus about two times length of socius, narrowed medially, expanded distally, rounded apically. Juxta broad U-shaped; anellus lobe fused, sub-rounded. Aedeagus slender, approximately 2.3 times length of valva, slightly thickened basally, curved medially, thinned distally, rounded apically; cornuti consisting of two slender thorns and a row of spinules, placed in distal half of aedeagus.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 42 ): Apophyses posteriores about five times length of apophyses anteriores. Eighth sternite protruded rectangularly at middle on anterior margin. Lamella postvaginalis being a pair of adjacent semielliptical processes, bearing sparse long setae. Antrum cup-like, widened posteriorly; ductus bursae slender, about 4/5 length of corpus bursae, sclerotized, widened posteriorly, slightly narrowed anteriorly; ductus seminalis arising from posterior margin of corpus bursae, close to ductus bursae. Corpus bursae oviform; signum elliptical, concave elliptically in posterior half, dentate along margins, placed medially.

Distribution. China (Hainan, Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin semi - and lunatus, referring to the shape of the sacculus in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 16. Adults of Prays spp. 11, P. bisechinata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 12, P. tauricornis sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 13, P. longisaccula sp. nov., holotype, ♂; 14, P. semilunata sp. nov., paratype, ♀; 15, P. tineiformis, ♂; 16, P. semicircularis sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm).

FIGURES 29 – 34. Male genitalia of Prays spp. 29, P. longisaccula sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15160); 30, P. semilunata sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15153); 31, P. tineiformis (slide no. CPX 15202); 32, P. semicircularis sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 16003); 33, P. lobata (holotype, slide no. YHL 00282); 34, P. dorsiprotrusa sp. nov. (holotype, slide no. CPX 15142). (Scales = 0.2 mm).

FIGURES 39 – 43. Female genitalia of Prays spp. 39, P. kalligraphos (slide no. CPX 15165); 40, P. tauricornis sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15138); 41, P. longisaccula sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15163); 42, P. semilunata sp. nov. (paratype, slide no. CPX 15201); 43, P. tineiformis (slide no. CPX 16005). (Scales = 0.5 mm).