Halista batillosa Park & Kim, 2020

Park, Kyu-Tek & Kim, Sora, 2020, Two new genera, Halista Park, gen. nov. and Mireana Park, gen. nov. and six new species of the family Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera) from the Philippines, Zootaxa 4803 (2), pp. 316-328 : 317-319

Halista batillosa Park & Kim , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 A–I)

Type material. Holotype: ♂, Philippines, Palawan, Mantalingajan, Pingasana 600 m, 24 Sept. 1961, Noona Dan Exp. 61–62; gen. slide no.CIS-6950, in ZMUC.

Paratypes: 2♂, same locality and date as for the holotype, wing slide no. CIS-7411, in ZMUC .

Diagnosis. The new species is characterized by the forewing with ground color light yellow to light orange, with dark-brown spots along costa beyond 3/4 and along termen; second segment of labial palpus unique shovelshaped, with concaved, dark brown inner surface; the front leg with long, hair-like, pale-yellow scales in middle. The male genitalia are similar to those of Frisilia compostoma Meyrick , which is an Afrotropical species. But, the new species can be distinguished by lacking the long sword-shaped caudal process of juxta.

Description. Male. ( Figs. 1 A–D). Forewing length 5.5–6.0 mm.

Head: vertex light yellow to light orange.Antenna light orange, about 1.2 times than forewing length; flagellum without annulations; basal segment elongated, pale yellow, without annulation. Labial palpus with second segment uniquely developed, shovel-shaped, more or less triangular, concaved on inner surface covered with dark brown scales, light yellow on outer surface; 3rd segment minute.

Thorax: Tegula and light yellow to light orange dorsally. Fore leg with long, hair-like scales medially, black scales covered with pale yellow scales dorsally; tibia dark brown. Hind tibia grayish yellow on outer surface, with dark-brown median and apical spurs. Forewing ground color light yellow to light orange; without any distinct markings, with several dark-brown-spots along costa beyond 3/4 and also along termen; apex slightly produced; fringe concolorous with ground color; cell closed; venation ( Fig. 1C ) with R 1 arising from before middle of cell; distance between R 1 and R 2 about twice length that of R 2 and R 3; R 3 and R 4 stalked for about basal 1/4; R 4 and R 5 stalked beyond 2/3; R 5 to termen; M 1 remote from base of R 3+4; M 2 slightly closer to M 3 at base; M 3 from lower corner of cell; CuA 1 and CuA 2 short-stalked. Hindwing slightly narrower than forewing; ground color paler than that of forewing; apex produced; fringe concolorous with ground color; venation with Rs and M 1 long-stalked; M 2 extending from near base of R-vein to termen M 3 and CuA 1 coincident; CuA 2 arising from near lower corner of cell; cell opened.

Abdomen ( Fig.1I ): No spinous zones on dorsal surface, with a long hair-pencils arising from IV–V; sternite VII with short lateral anterior rods; sternite VIII with long lateral anterior rods.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 1 E–H): Basal lobes of uncus semi-ovate, directed outward. Median process of gnathos broad basally; apical 1/3 heavily sclerotized, strongly bent downward. Costal bar connecting tegument and valva strongly angled at middle. Basal part of valva broad basally; cucullus thumb-like, as long as basal part of valva, broadened distally with round apex; sacculus broad, extending half of valva in length. Juxta deeply emarginated medially on caudal margin, in V-shape, with membranous latero-caudal flap. Aedeagus stout, broader than cucullus, with large, plate-like cornutus, as long as 3/5 of aedeagus; with short, minute lateral conic spines pre-apically.

Female genitalia. Unknown.

Distribution. The Philippines (Palawan).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin, batillus (= shovel) with a Latin superlative ending -osa, referring to the shovel-shaped labial palpus.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Halista batillosa Park & Kim, sp. nov. A, labial palpus; B, distal part of forwing; C, wing venation D, adult; E, male genitalia, prep. No. CIS-6950; F, aedeagus; G, gnathos; H, saccus; I, abdomen with long hair-pencils. Scale bar: 0.5 mm