Lecithocera naromoruensis Park, 2024

Park, Kyu-Tek, Yu, Tae-Uk & Jeong, Su-Yeon, 2024, The genus Lecithocera (Lepidoptera: Lecithoceridae: Lecithocerinae) in Kenya and Tanzania, with descriptions of six new species, Zootaxa 5538 (6), pp. 575-588 : 585-586

Lecithocera naromoruensis Park , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:42C850A0-789A-4557-9A4B-5A30D0A9499D

( Fig. 14 )

Type specimen. Holotype male: Kenya, Naro Moru ( Nyeri Co. , Central) 6,500 ft, 27 xii 1999, leg. D.J.L. Agassiz, gen. slide no. CIS-7627, in NHMUK . Paratype, 2♂, same data as holotype, gen. slide no. CIS-7628, in NHMUK .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to the preceding new species, L. grisella Park , sp. nov. described from Tanzania, but it can be distinguished from the latter by the characters of male genitalia: the basal plate of the gnathos is broader, cucullus narrowly tapered towards the apex, and aedeagus is slender. The male genitalia of the new species are also similar to those of L. ptyona Park, 2024 described from Uganda, but the new species can be distinguished by the form of the basal plate of the gnathos which is nearly quadrate; the juxta with poorly developed protrusions on its caudal margin; the aedeagus being slender, about 1/3 the width of the base of valva. Additionally, in new species described here the saccal zone of vinculum is rounded anteriorly, whereas in L. ptyona , the basal plate of gnathos is fan-shaped; protrusions on caudal margin are well-developed, half-moon-shaped; the aedeagus is about 3/5 the width of the base of valva, and the saccal zone of vinculum is triangularly produced anteriorly.

Description. Male and female ( Figs 14, 14a ). Wingspan 13.5−14.0 mm.

Head: yellowish brown on frons and on vertex with shiny light-orange erect scales laterally. Antenna as long as forewing; scape elongated, slightly dilated distally, light orange throughout; flagellum light orange, with brownish annulations. Second palpomere ( Fig. 14a ) thickened, yellowish brown on the outer surface, pale yellow on the inner surface; 3rd palpomere much shorter, about 2/3 the length of 2nd palpomere, yellowish brown throughout.

Thorax: notum and tegula yellowish brown. Forewing elongated; ground colour yellowish brown evenly; stigmata in discal cell invisible; costa slightly arched near the base; apex obtuse; termen oblique; fringe concolourous with the ground colour. Hind wing greyish white.

Abdomen: lacking long, hair-pencils; sternite VIII broadened ( Figs 14d, e ).

Male genitalia ( Figs 14b, c ): uncus basal lobes digitate, slightly dilated apically, deeply incised into V-shape on the caudal margin. Gnathos basal plate large, nearly quadrate, slightly concave on the caudal margin. Costal bar nearly S-shaped, sclerotised. Valva broad basally; cucullus tapered toward apex, as long as basal part of valva, with heavily sclerotised linear ridge arising from base extending to apex, bearing numerous strong setae; sacculus weakly sclerotised, narrower toward termination. Juxta deeply incised medially, poorly developed protrusions on the caudal margin. Vinculum broadly developed; saccal zone rounded anteriorly. Aedeagus slender, broadened at base; cornuti consisting of two small, curved linear plates beyond basal 2/3, with a patch of spinules near apex ventrally.

Female unknown.

Distribution: Uganda (Kabarole Distr.).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the name of the type locality, Naro Moru in Nyeri county, central Kenya.

Figures

FIGURES 14–15. L naromoruensis Park, sp. nov.: 14, adult (male, holotype); 14a, labial palpus; 15, male genitalia (holotype, gen. slide no CIS-7627); 15a, aedeagus. 15b, close-up pregenital segment of the paratype (gen. slide no. 7628); 15c, abdomen (holotype). Scale bar: 1.0 mm.