Torodora lecithocerella (Viette, 1956) Park & Koo & Minet, 2020

Park, Kyu-Tek, Koo, Jun-Mo & Minet, Joël, 2020, Review of the Malagasy lecithocerid species described by Pierre Viette and deposited in MNHN (Paris), with new generic combinations and descriptions of a new subfamily and genus of Momphidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea), Zootaxa 4845 (2), pp. 151-190 : 165-167

Torodora lecithocerella (Viette, 1956) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 10 A–F)

Lecithocera lecithocerella Viette, 1956: 470 . TL: Andohahelo massif.

Type. 1♀ (Holotype), South [eastern] Madagascar, Andohahelo massif, Integral Natural Reserve no. 11, alt. 1,800 m, i 1954, R. Paulian leg.; Muséum Paris, [ex-] Coll. I. R.S.M, 1954; Lecithocera lecithocerella n. sp., Holotype ♀, P. Viette; genitalia: prep. J. Minet no. 1663; 1♀ (paratype); genitalia ♀: prep. P. Viette no. 2888.

Adult ( Figs. 10A, B ). Wingspan, 16 mm. This species is superficially similar to Torodora cameronella (Viette) , which was described from Ankaratra Massif, Central region of Madagascar, especially in the forewing colour pattern with a yellowish-white antemedian band and more or less zigzagged yellowish-white postmedian band, but it can be distinguished by the larger size (via 11. 5 mm in the latter) and the yellowish-brown head dorsally, while the head is greyish white dorsally in M. cameronella .

Female genitalia ( Figs. 10 C–E): Illustrated for the first time. Eighth abdominal sternite deeply incised in Vshape medially. Ductus bursae long broadened medially, narrowed in posterior 1/4 and in anterior 1/4; ductus seminalis arising from the posterior part of the broadened part of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae large, ovate; signum elliptical, with numerous conic spines on surface. Viette (1956) did not figure the genitalia.

Remarks. The species was described on two females. Even though the forewing colour pattern is very similar to that of Torodora cameronella , this species has a M 2 vein in the hind wing and undoubtedly belongs to the ankasokella species-group. Viette (1956) noted that this species is superficially similar to Lecithocera acrosphales Meyrick (described from Antananarivo, Madagascar), although the type of this species has not yet been located so far ( Clarke 1955a) .

Distribution. Madagascar (South-East) (Viette, 1956).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Torodora lecithocerella (Viette, 1956), comb. nov.: A, holotype; B, labels; C, female genitalia, prep. J. Minet no. 1663; D, close-up of abdominal segment VIII and ostium bursae; E, close-up of signum; F, abdomen. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.