Pityocona transovata Li

Chen, Mengting & Li, Houhun, 2017, Review of the genus Pityocona Meyrick, 1918 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in China, with descriptions of five new species, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 347-357 : 353-354

Pityocona transovata Li , sp. nov.

Figs 2 c, 3c

Type material. CHINA: Holotype ♂, Tianchi, Jianfengling (18.73°N, 108.87°E), Hainan, 787 m, 9.III.2016, coll. Qingyun Wang, Suran Li and Shengnan Zhao, slide No. CMT16068 . Paratype: 1♂, 8.III.2016, slide No. CMT16062, other same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the gnathos with the basal 1/3 horizontally expanded, the distal 2/3 conical and straight, and with a denticle in the basal 2/5 on the ventral surface.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 2 c) with wingspan 12.0–13.0 mm. Head creamy white, with sparse pale brown scales above compound eyes. Antenna with scape greyish brown mottled pale yellow; flagellum greyish brown and pale yellow alternately. Labial palpus with second segment creamy white on inner surface, greyish brown mottled yellowish white on outer surface, with compact scale tuft on ventral surface; third segment with basal 3/4 yellowish white, mottled greyish brown scales from basal 1/4 to 1/2, blackish brown in distal 1/4 except apex whitish yellow. Thorax and tegula pale brown. Forewing greyish brown, mixed with creamy white scales; four evenly spaced subovate blackish spots placed near base of Sc vein, at basal 1/3 of cell on upper margin, at both middle and end of cell respectively, joined by an arched longitudinal greyish white band; fold with an ill-defined longitudinal greyish white stripe, with black spot at basal 1/3 and distal 1/3 respectively, the former sometimes inconspicuous; narrowly straight blackish brown band placed centrally between outer margin of cell and apex of wing, accompanied by greyish white band along its anterior and posterior edges; distal part of costal margin and termen brown, with pale yellow spots; fringe greyish white. Hindwing protruded at apex; termen wavy, distinctly indent; greyish brown; fringe two to three times of wing width. Fore- and midlegs dominantly greyish white, coxae and femora mixed with greyish brown on ventral surface, tibiae and tarsi blackish brown on outer surface, tibiae with greyish white strips basally and medially, tarsi with greyish white ring at apex of each tarsomere; hindleg pale yellow, tibia with long pale greyish white hairs, tarsus blackish brown at base of each tarsomere on outer surface.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 3 c): Uncus about 3/5 length of valva; lateral lobes of equal width for basal 2/5, then narrowed to 4/5, slightly expanded from distal 1/5 to before rounded apex, with clustered setae near base. Gnathos with basal 1/3 expanded horizontally in ovate shape, distal 2/3 straight, conical, narrowed to apex, with denticle at basal 2/5 on ventral surface; culcitula ovate. Tegumen divided from near base; lateral lobe broad, equally wide, blunt anteriorly. Valva elongate, slightly exceeding top of uncus apically; basal 1/3 of equal width, narrowed from 1/3 to 2/3, constricted and curved before distal 1/3, rounded at apex, with clustered setae at 3/5, with long dense setae throughout distal 1/4; ventral margin with sub-rectangular process at 3/5. Aedeagus with basal 1/3 expanded, narrowed to basal 2/3, distal 1/3 sharply narrowed to pointed apex.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Hainan).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin trans- and ovatus, referring to the gnathos transversely ovate at base in the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Adults of Pityocona spp. a, P. bifurcatus, ♂; b, P. longovata sp. nov., holotype, ♂; c, P. transovata sp. nov., paratype, ♂; d, P. monoprocessa sp. nov., holotype, ♂; e, P. mastoidea sp. nov., holotype, ♂; f, P. sinuosa sp. nov., holotype, ♂. (Scales = 2.0 mm)

FIGURE 3. Male genitalia of Pityocona spp. a, P. bifurcatus, slide No. CMT 15231, a 1, enlarged apex of gnathos, slide No. CMT 16020; b, P. longovata sp. nov., holotype, slide no. CMT 16083; c, P. transovata sp. nov., holotype, slide No. CMT 16068; d, P. monoprocessa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. CMT 15282; e, P. mastoidea sp. nov., holotype, slide No. CMT 16070; f, P. sinuosa sp. nov., holotype, slide No. CMT 15230. (Scales = 0.2 mm).