Tawaya rutila M. Omelko, Ponomarenko et N. Omelko, 2021

Ponomarenko, Margarita G., Omelko, Michail M. & Omelko, Natalia V., 2021, New genus of gelechiid moths (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) from Borneo, and its four new species, Zootaxa 5004 (3), pp. 465-480 : 472-473

Tawaya rutila M. Omelko, Ponomarenko et N. Omelko sp. n.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Borneo, E Malaysia, state of Sabah, 24 km N Tawau , 21.08.2019 (leg. M. Omelko).

Paratypes: 1♂, 2♀, same locality, 18.08– 03.09.2019 (leg. M. Omelko); GS 155 (♂), 159 (♀) MP .

Diagnosis. The new species can be easily separated by the rhomboidal shape of the tegumen, the presence of medial triangular lobes in the distal part of the juxtal processes, and the aedeagus with an arched sclerotization beyond the middle in the male genitalia; and by the 8 th segment with a transverse band-like sclerite ventrally, the narrow antrum with lateral sclerotized sides, and the culliculum with a twisted sclerotization in the female genitalia. In contrast, in T. luteola there are no lobes in the distal part of the processes of the juxta in the male genitalia; and a colliculum and transverse band-like sclerite ventrally in the 8 th segment are lacking, and the antrum has a different shape in the female genitalia.

Adult ( Figs 3, 4 ). Head pale sandy, yellowish-brown, or dark grey. Antennal scape whitish with black band at middle; flagellum with alternating white and black segments in proximal part, and with alternating one white and two black segments in distal part. Basal segment of labial palpus brownish or blackish; second segment brownish or blackish, white-ringed distally; third segment white, with two black rings at base and before apical third.

Forewing length 2.2–2.7 mm. Forewing yellowish-brown, with two blackish indistinct spots in proximal part, distal part with two black spots at middle and in apical part near dorsal margin, both spots bordered by whitish scales and each with black strigula dorsad; apical part with a row of black dots along costal part and termen. Fringe yellowish-brown along wing apex and termen, dark grey along dorsal margin. Hindwing and fringe dark grey. Legs pale sandy or sandy laterally, with blackish or fuscous tibiae and tarsi. Foreleg tibia with oblique white stripe at middle and white-ringed distally. Mid-leg tibia with raised elongated scales dorsally in proximal part and collars of elongated scales in middle and distally. Hind leg tibia with brush of hair-like pale sandy scales on dorsal and ventral margins in proximal part.

Male genitalia ( Figs 13‒15 ). Tegumen rhomboidal, with sclerotized longitudinal ridge at middle of anterior part, lateral angles strongly sclerotized at junction with parategminal sclerites and basal processes of valvae. Cucullus slightly narrowed at 0.66 distally, and weakly inflated towards base, with dense crest of flattened chaetae along rounded apex, with large quadrangular basal process. Aedeagus longer than total length of genitalia, narrow, tubelike basally, with strong arched sclerotization beyond middle, curved to right at 0.66 distally, distal 0.33 with left side sclerotization. Ejaculatory duct entering along longitudinal axis. Vinculum, juxta, and probably sacculi fused into single ventral sclerite surrounding aedeagus latero-ventrally; distal processes of juxta pointed apically and with triangular lobes limiting mobility of aedeagus dorsally. Saccus triangular, its length slightly exceeding its width at base.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 24 ). Ovipositor short, membrane between 8 th and 9 th segments 0.5 length of papillae anales, with large membranous sack (of uncertain function) arising from near posterior margin of 8 th tergite. Papillae anales sclerotized, moderate in length, slightly shorter than apophyses posteriores. Apophyses posteriores almost of same length as apophyses anteriores. 8 th segment with transverse band-like sclerite ventrally. Ostium at level of middle part of 8 th segment. Antrum narrow, with sclerotized lateral sides. Ductus bursae membranous posteriorly, in anterior part with semi-sclerotized colliculum spirally left twisted and enclosing S-shaped, ribbon-like sclerotization. Bursae copulatrix membranous and elongated, as long as ductus bursae, signum absent; ductus seminalis arising from posterior part of bursae. Tergite of 7 th segment with anteriorly diverging pockets containing strong subulate chaetae ( Fig. 25 ).

Distribution. Malaysia (Sabah).

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin “ rutilus ” meaning reddish-yellow, which refers to the colour and brightness of the forewings.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Adults, wing venation and 2nd sternite of Tawaya gen. n. spp. 1, T. flaventia sp. n., holotype, male; 2, T. flaventia, paratype, female; 3, T. rutila sp. n., holotype, male; 4, T. rutila, paratype, female; 5, T. luteola sp. n., holotype, male; 6, T. armeniaca sp. n., paratype, male; 7, T. armeniaca, paratype, female; 8, T. flaventia, venation, voucher V-MP-621; 9, T. luteola sp. n., 2nd sternite of the female. Scale bar 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 10–15. Male genitalia of Tawaya gen. n. spp. 10, T. flaventia sp. n., voucher V-MP-621, GS 153 MP; 11, T. flaventia, ventral view; 12, T. flaventia, dorsal view; 13, T. rutila sp. n., paratype, GS 155 MP; 14, T. rutila, ventral view; 15, T. rutila, dorsal view. aed—aedeagus, b.pr—basal process of valva, cl—cucullus, jux.pr—process of juxta, l.rid—longitudinal ridge of tegumen, p.scl—parategminal sclerite, sc—saccus, teg—tegumen.

FIGURES 22–28. Female genitalia, 2nd sternite and 7th abdominal segments of Tawaya gen. n. spp. 22, T. flaventia sp. n., paratype, GS 156 MP; 23, T. flaventia, 2nd sternite; 24, T. rutila sp. n., paratype, GS 159 MP; 25, T. rutila, 7th abdominal segment, paratype; 26, T. armeniaca, paratype, GS 158 MP; 27, T. armeniaca, 7th abdominal segment, paratype; 28, ditto, 2nd sternite, paratype. Scale bar 0.2 mm.